Page 100 of Must Love Bees
“Does he understand?” His knowledge of birds was limited.
“I think so.” She nodded. “Don’t you? Camellia is okay, pretty boy.” She ran a hand over his head, speaking with a low, soothing tone. “It’s okay. She will be home soon.” She reached into a small basket on the counter and fed the bird. “Camellia will be home.” Astrid’s voice cracked. She glanced back at him. “Sorry.”
“Don’t be.” It hurt to see her cry but if that’s what she needed, he’d deal with it. “You can cry. It’s been a hell of a day.” He took the hand she offered him. “You need sleep.”
“You’re right.” She nodded, letting him tug her along behind him.
She led him up the stairs and down the hall. “My room.” She opened the door and pulled him inside after her. She sat on the edge of the bed and he squatted, pulling off her shoes.
“I’ll be downstairs on the couch.” He stood.
“It will be less crowded up here with me.” She yawned and patted the bed beside her.
“Less crowded?”
“The dogs will want to sleep with you. All of them.” She lay back on her pillow. “I promise, I won’t bite.” She smiled up at him.
He chuckled and went around to the other side of the bed. He unbuttoned his shirt and draped it over the chair by her vanity, followed by his slacks, and joined Astrid in the bed.
“I feel overdressed,” she murmured.
It was only then that he realized he’d undressed. “Force of habit.” He sighed. “Want me to—”
“Get in the bed, Charlie.” She waited for him to lie down beside her before covering them both with the extra quilt from the foot of her bed.
He lay flat on his back, staring up at the ceiling.
“Charlie?” She rolled onto her side, draped her arm across his waist and rested her head against his chest. “Is this okay?”
He let out a deep breath, his arm slipping beneath her to come around her waist. “Yes.” It was better than okay. He rested his cheek against the top of her head and closed his eyes. With her close, things were better.
It was wrong to need someone this way but he didn’t know how to stop it. She felt so good against him and he was so tired, he could barely keep his eyes open.
His dreams were disorienting. One minute he was back in the condo in Fort Worth and the girls were solemn-faced and ready for school. The next he was standing in Rebecca’s kitchen with Halley, Nova and Astrid chatting and laughing and waiting for him to make breakfast. Back in the condo, he was going room by room but they were all empty. No Halley. No Nova. No Astrid. The more doors he opened, the more appeared. Nothing was there. He called out for them but there was no answer. Emptiness and white walls. He was alone—running down tunnel-like halls only to find another door.
He woke up suddenly, breathing hard. Lost.
“Charlie?” Astrid glanced back at him, her eyes puffy from sleep.
He lay on his side, spooning Astrid. She was so soft. So real. “I’m sorry.” He panted, burying his nose at the base of her neck.
“Bad dream?” She hugged his arms against her stomach.
“Hmm.” He didn’t want to talk about it. This reality was better than any dream.
Her breathing evened out and she relaxed in his hold, but he couldn’t sleep. He didn’t know how long they stayed that way but he was perfectly content. Eventually, the front door opened and voices echoed up the stairs.
Nova, he recognized her laugh.
He smiled, carefully sliding his arms from around Astrid. She needed sleep. He needed to check on his girls. He left the lights off, dressing in the semi-dark and tiptoeing from the room—with his shoes in his hand.
He heard Halley say “Where is everyone?” on his way to the kitchen.
“Morning,” he said, stifling a yawn. “How was your night?”
Halley stared at him, her expression unreadable. Was she upset? Did she know about Camellia? Or was she angry with him?
“We had so much fun, Charlie.” Nova skipped around the kitchen. “We had s’mores and pizza and watched movies and ate popcorn.”
