Page 112 of Must Love Bees
She did. Frowned. Then read it again. “You’re going to sell me Rebecca’s property? For...for six dollars?” She stared at him, her mouth open.
“A dollar for each Bee Girl.” He nodded. “Legally, Mr. Delaney figured selling it would keep anyone—my sister—from questioning the legality of it...” He shrugged. “If you want it?”
“Of course I do. But, are you sure?” She clutched the paper to her chest.
“You were meant to have it. It’s yours.” He swallowed, knowing there was more to be said. This was too important. She was too important. He took her hand. “Astrid, I—”
The sudden wailing of Bea flooded the kitchen, causing two of the dogs to jump up from their spot on the floor and howl along.
“I’m coming,” Shelby called out, the screen door slamming behind her.
He waited, hearing every footfall on the stairs as Shelby made her way to her screaming child. The dogs kept baying until Bea’s cries stopped.
He opened his mouth—
“Oh, my, look at that diaper.” Shelby’s voice echoed off the walls. “Oh, Bea, honey, that’s toxic.”
Charlie closed his eyes and shook his head. He spun around, until he found the baby monitor.
“You poor,poorthing.” Shelby kept going. “Oh, whew, that is so gross—”
Charlie turned off the monitor. Deep breath in, strong breath out. He turned and headed back to Astrid. Looking into her eyes helped. “I have to tell you—”
“You’re wrong.” The screen door creaked open, then slammed shut. “I told you the whole thing lasted four nights.” Leif came into the kitchen, followed by Benji. “Hey,” he said, heading straight for the cookie jar. “What’s up?”
“Did the girls like the exhibition, Mr. D?” Benji asked.
“They’re in the living room.” Charlie ran a hand along the back of his neck, his nerves on end. “They have a tart.”
“We need forks,” Halley called out from the other room.
“On it.” Benji grabbed a handful of forks ran out of the kitchen.
“Food.” Leif carried the cookie jar with him. “I’m starving.”
Before Charlie could get a word out, Tansy’s shriek of laughter reverberated down the hall.
Seconds later, Dane arrived with Tansy over his shoulder. Shelby trailed behind, a much quieter Bea in her arms.
“Is that everyone?” Charlie’s patience was nonexistent now. “Anyone else coming?”
“What’s wrong?” Tansy asked as Dane set her down. “Is it Aunt Camellia?”
“I talked to her not ten minutes ago.” Shelby hugged Tansy. “Don’t worry.”
Dane was frowning. “Then what happened?” He took one look at him and shook his head. “You look like hell, Charlie.”
“I’m fine. I’m trying to tell Astrid that I love her. I was hoping to have a moment alone—to make it special. Instead—”
Astrid threw her arms around him. “You love me?”
He frowned. “I love you.”
Suddenly the room was empty.
“Stop frowning.” She was grinning.
“I had a speech. It lists off all the reasons you should probably not decide to be with me.” He pulled the cards from his back pocket.
