Page 87 of The Sweetest Thing
“Say Anything?”The aunts spoke in unison.
Tansy’s hands slid from her face.
“The movie your parents saw on their first date,” Aunt Camellia said, exchanging a smile with Aunt Mags.
“I know,” Tansy whispered, nodding.
“It’s always been one of Tansy’s favorites.” Astrid glanced her way. “I think it’s sweet that you two watched it.”
Tansy had, too, but now... Her head was as tangled and achy as her heart. Dane wouldn’t have done this. “I can’t believe he’d do this.”
“It wouldn’t be the first time a Knudson has stolen a recipe from our family, Tansy. It happened before you girls had come to live here.” Aunt Mags pinched her nose again.
“What?” Astrid glanced between her aunts.
Tansy was too shocked to say a thing.
“Harald’s first wife, Evelyn—Dane and Leif’s mother. Well, she was a dear friend. Tall and blonde—Dane has the same presence she did. Warm and playful. When she passed, Harald was...well, the man broke. And your Aunt Camellia stepped in to help, as she always does.” Aunt Mags spoke with true affection. “If it wasn’t for you, I don’t know how he would have managed.”
“I loved those boys.” Aunt Camellia shook her head. “Dane was such a joy, so bright and funny. He worked so hard to cheer his father. Baby Leif was a pudding, all smiles and giggles.”
“He was a rather adorable baby.” Aunt Mags shrugged. “As far as babies go.”
“And I loved Harald. It just happened. He was here most every day, talking to Poppa and laughing. They’d always gotten along so having him here made sense.”
Astrid sat in the chair beside Tansy. “What went wrong?”
“One day, Harald showed up and said all sorts of things that I didn’t understand—then. How he had to put his children and his home first. That sometimes, as a father, sacrifices had to be made to meet his responsibilities. That beekeeping was hard and times were especially hard then.” She shrugged. “He said he wished things were different, that I wasn’t so clingy and needy and wouldn’t pressure him for more.”
All this time, she’d had no idea. “You are none of those things.” Tansy’s dislike for Harald Knudson continued to grow.
“That was it. No more Harald or Dane or baby Leif.” There was so much pain on Aunt Camellia’s face.
“The man’s a bastard,” Aunt Mags snapped. “He said all that to soothe his conscience. While your sweet aunt was envisioning wedding dresses, he’d snuck into the Hill Bee Log and tore out the family clover recipe.” She paused. “He knew we used it as a special edition honey and that it was popular. Poppa Tom thought Granna Hazel knew it and Granna Hazel thought Poppa Tom knew it—I suppose we all just took it for granted that it was safe in the Hill Family Bee Log.”
“But it wasn’t,” Aunt Camellia continued. “I didn’t realize the recipe was missing until Viking Clover Honey hit the shelf. They were offering samples at Kettner’s and the minute I tasted it, I knew. I came home, opened the Bee Log and it was gone.”
Tansy was in shock. It explained so much. “I’m so sorry, Aunt Camellia.”
“He’s not a nice person. I figured he said those awful things tonight because he was so distraught—which I’d understand.” Astrid shook her head. “Really, he’s just mean. I don’t blame Leif for being so angry with him.”
Neither did Tansy. But it made her so sad to see such hostility between a father and son. Not just Leif and Harald—but Dane and Harald. No wonder Dane was so involved in Leif’s life. Who else did they have, besides each other?
“What awful things did he say?” Aunt Mags’s eyes narrowed to emerald slits.
“It doesn’t matter.” Tansy stood and hugged her aunt Camellia. “There’s enough stress without adding to it.”
“Dane Knudson is not his father.” Aunt Camellia hugged her back.
Tansy wanted to believe that but she was suffering from a case of whiplash—thanks to Dane. One minute he was telling her he needed her to be safe, the next that she had to go.
“This is not history repeating itself.” Aunt Camellia released Tansy.
“Can you remember the recipe?” Astrid asked.
“Mostly, yes.” Aunt Camellia nodded. “It’s just the last bit I’m uncertain about. We can tackle it tonight or start early in the morning?”
“It is early in the morning.” Aunt Mags nodded at the clock. “It’s four thirteen to be exact.”
