The Crescent City was beautiful. The way the Mississippi wound through the city, the beautiful old buildings and even the city skyline were all breathtaking. Bonnie felt like she really did get to have a taste of New Orleans as they flew through the city.
The helicopter was so much fun. She’d never been in one before, and she vastly preferred it to a plane, even Dylan’s private jet. She loved being able to hover over something and really be able to get a good look.
She couldn’t wait until she could come back and explore the city on foot after the trial. There were so many places that she wanted to see the inside of, and she wanted to meet the people dancing on the street and throwing beads at tourists.
The helicopter didn’t bring them back to the airport. Instead, it brought them out into the deep bayou where an air-boat was waiting to take them. Dylan greeted the captain and introduced him to Bonnie.
“So, how does this work?” Bonnie asked
, climbing into the boat. The boat was small with just two seats and a captain’s chair behind them. A giant fan sat on the back of the boat.
“Have a seat, and I’ll show you,” Captain Lafayette told her. He handed her a headset once she was settled next to Dylan in the two chairs.
The engine roared to life, and suddenly Bonnie understood the need for the headsets. The sound of the fan vibrated through the entire boat.
“This engine allows us to go in shallow water a normal boat engine can’t go in,” Captain Lafayette explained through the headset. She was impressed that he’d answered her question without her having to ask it. “There’s no operating parts under the water, so we don’t have to worry about getting stuck.”
He pulled the boat out onto the river. The sky was crystal blue, and the bayou was calling them. Dark trees covered in Spanish moss rose out of the murky edges of the river to greet them. Herons flew overhead and everywhere Bonnie looked there was life.
“Look over there,” Dylan said through the headset. He pointed at the river bank where a massive alligator slowly lumbered into the water. Bonnie’s jaw dropped. She hadn’t expected to see one that big this close to civilization.
Bonnie settled in and watched the river transform into life. The river was green and brown, and then it meandered off into the trees. Everywhere she looked, she could see birds, turtles, alligators, and fish. She didn’t know just how alive the bayou was until that very moment.
It was stunning, and Bonnie could see exactly why Dylan loved this place.
She loved PawPaw and his relationship with Dylan. She knew she was special since Dylan was choosing to share the person he respected most with her. She knew it was love.
She reached over and took his hand. He looked up from the water and grinned at her. Hope shone in his eyes as she smiled back. He was showing her his world. It meant everything to her. This was what was important to him and being out here meant more to her than any gaudy trip to LA or New York City ever could.
Chapter 31
Bonnie
Bonnie was sad to leave. She loved this house. She loved PawPaw's hospitality. She loved how Dylan shared his childhood with her and the way he smiled at everything. She was happy here. She felt almost as safe here as she did at the ranch.
But, she wanted to get home. They were still too close to the city for her to feel comfortable. Dylan had made sure there was plenty of security, and while they did blend into the background, she could always tell that they were there. She saw them out of the corner of her eye and would startle until she realized they were security and not intruders.
“Thank you so much for having us,” Bonnie told PawPaw as the limousine drove up to get them. “I hope you'll come out and visit us sometime soon.”
PawPaw wrapped her up in a big bear hug and squeezed. “I'd love that. You know you're invited out here for Thanksgiving, right?”
“I wouldn't miss it for the world,” she assured him. PawPaw grinned before turning to Dylan.
“This one's a keeper,” PawPaw told him.
“I already knew that,” Dylan replied, but he beamed with pride. PawPaw hugged his grandson.
The limo pulled to a stop, and Dylan helped PawPaw put their things in the trunk before one more round of goodbyes. PawPaw stood on the porch, waving goodbye as they drove away. Bonnie opened the window and waved for as long as she could before the limo turned, and PawPaw was obscured by the trees.
“Thank you for bringing me here,” she said softly, rolling up her window. The air conditioning felt cold after the heat of the sunshine. Even though it was still early in the day, the New Orleans' southern heat was rising.
“Thank you for coming,” he replied. Dylan leaned over and kissed her cheek, making her smile.
She watched as they drove, taking in the sights. The big oak trees covered in Spanish moss were so different than the big pines of home. With a start, she realized that she now thought of Colorado as home, rather than New Jersey.
She looked over at Dylan as he too watched the world out the window. It wasn't Colorado that was home. It was Dylan. Where ever he was, that was home.
The limo came to a stop just outside the tarmac of the small airport. It was larger and busier than the one in Silver Springs. Several people with suitcases walked along the sidewalk. Most were busy talking into cell phones or checking their departure times, but it made her uneasy. There were a lot of eyes here.