Ronald's diner

chapter 13

I.

"Welcome home." Ronald said as he opened the door to his apartment the next day. No, he corrected himself, not his apartment, their apartment.

"It feels good to be home." Bonnie replied before stopping to contemplate the word, "Home. It's funny how it wasn't that long ago. I would never have thought of this place in those terms."

"I know. Things change, and all we can do is change with them."

"All too true." Bonnie said sadly.

"Do you need anything? Water, something to eat, or a pillow?" Ronald asked.

"Just a glass of water so I can take my antibiotics."

"Coming right up." Ronald answered as he rushed to the kitchen to fulfill the request.

"Thank you." Bonnie said as she used the water to wash down her pill. "But I told you once already that I don't need you babying me. I can take care of myself."

As if to prove that point, Bonnie stood up from the couch and snatched up the small plastic bag from Smartymart that contained a pair of pajamas for her and made her way to the bedroom.

"Are you sure? I can stay here if you need me to." Ronald protested as he began to follow.

Bonnie then turned around and snapped at Ronald, "Ronald, I told you in the car that I'm perfectly capable of staying here and resting while you go to the diner. In fact I told you that twice but you won't listen. I don't need a protector."

Ronald stood there and looked both hurt and dejected. He had thought that they were now a couple, but apparently, his definition of being a couple was different than Bonnie's.

Seeing the hurt look on Ronald's face, Bonnie softened her tone before continuing, "I'm sorry, Ronald. I didn't mean to snap at you like that. But I mean it when I say I don't want a protector. What I want is a boyfriend, a partner, an equal." Bonnie then sat down her bag and stepped towards Ronald. "Over the past few days, you've been a better boyfriend to me and looked out for me more than anyone else ever was. But I don't want to be a burden to you," Bonnie then held up her hand to cut off Ronald's protest, "I know your going to tell me that I'm not a burden. But that's how I feel, and I don't want to be that, I want to be a partner. And right now, the only way I can keep from being a burden is to stay here and rest and let you go and work at the diner. OK?"

Ronald looked at the woman in front of him and smiled as he gently hugged her. "I'm sorry, Bonnie. I guess I didn't realize how you felt or that maybe I was smothering you. It's just that you've become so important to me that I'm just a little overly cautious, is all." Then releasing his girlfriend, he continues, "I'll let you get your rest because tomorrow you're coming to work at the diner with me. If you feel up to it, that is."

"I'm sure I will. Now get out of here so a girl can have some privacy." Bonnie teased with a wink.

II.

Ronald sat down at one of the tables of his diner with a glass of water to take a break. He had been working for the past couple of hours cleaning, sorting, and generally getting the place ready for business tomorrow. The time spent doing any number of generally mindless chores had allowed him to think over his feelings and all that had happened during the past few days. Taking a sip of water, a part of Ronald wished that he could be back at his apartment with Bonnie. He missed her and wanted to check on her to make sure she was doing ok. Another part of Ronald wished that she could be here working beside him at the diner. Those were the days he always liked best. It was nice to have someone to share the burden of work with and share the same complaints about said work. It was also nicer when you could do that with a friend. But there was also a small part of Ronald that was actually glad to be working at the diner alone. It was giving him the chance to think through and digest what had happened the past few days and what had happened in Middleton. His first thoughts drifted back to the lunch he had had with Kim two days ago.