Three Years Later, He Came Back Begging novel Chapter 161

Helen texted back right away. “Wait, what? That came out of nowhere. Where are you applying? And seriously, you’re still going for our ‘useless’ major?”

Bonnie replied, “You know I’ve always wanted to go to Oasinia. I’m applying to Kingswood University.”

Helen sent, “For real? You’re going to another school? Why bother? If you stay here in Cabinda, things are so much easier. The professors all like you, and you’d have a way better chance.”

Bonnie had gone back and forth over this decision—stay in her comfort zone, or start fresh somewhere new. In the end, she picked Oasinia. Five years of undergrad had brought her happiness and heartache in turns, but when she really thought about it, the pain always outweighed the good. She didn’t feel any attachment left for her current school.

Honestly, she just needed a change of scenery.

She typed, “Kingswood’s Professor Magee came here for a talk once. I really liked what he had to say about restoring old buildings and protecting architectural heritage. I want to try something like that. It just feels right to me.”

“And, well, it’s not a bad idea to keep studying. Getting a master’s would be a good buffer, a way for me to breathe a bit.”

Lately, so much had happened that Bonnie felt drained.

Helen sent a big sad face. “Alright. You always have your mind made up. I support you, but I hate that we’ll be in different cities. I’m really going to miss you.”

Bonnie’s guard slipped a little. “I’ll come back when I finish school. Cabinda is home. I won’t be away for long.”

Helen’s name popped up with the typing indicator. Bonnie watched it, half-nervous, and waited. The message finally came. “Is this because of Lawrence and Hannah?”

Bonnie’s hands went still above her phone. She was back in that moment, Hannah on her knees, begging her to leave Cabinda. To everyone else, maybe it looked like she was scared, like she wanted to run away.

But Bonnie understood her own heart. She wasn’t running this time.

“No, it’s not,” she typed back quickly. “Don’t worry about that.”

...

In the hospital, it was quiet after the nurse finished adjusting the IV and stepped out.

A couple of weeks earlier, right after Hannah’s birthday, she had announced she was getting back on stage. Said it would prove she didn’t need therapy anymore. No one in the family could say otherwise. Then, out of nowhere, Jasper got that raging fever, and they all had to drop what they were doing.

With Hannah busy at rehearsals, looking after Jasper was left to Lawrence.

At first, it seemed like a few days on IV fluids would be enough. But then Hannah came home late from practice one night, played with Jasper for hours. He broke a sweat, and by the next morning, his fever had gone through the roof.

It turned into pneumonia. He’d been hospitalized ever since.

Lawrence didn’t want to admit he was exhausted. His hand shook as he rubbed his temples. He tucked it quickly out of sight so Odette wouldn’t notice.

He finally looked over at his mom, his voice quieter and pleading. “Mom, after Hannah’s show is over, can we please take her to see Quentin?”

He couldn’t do this on his own anymore.