Page 43 of Must Love Bees
“It’s been this way all day.” Van chuckled again. “Those girls have energized the lot of them.”
Charlie paused in the kitchen doorway, taking a moment to acclimate himself to his surroundings. Like everything else about the Hill house—and Astrid Hill herself—what he found was surprisingly delightful.
On the far side of the sunlit room, Nova lay propped up on what appeared to be a carpet of sleeping dogs. He couldn’t tell where one dog ended and the other began, but she seemed to be reading to them. A large parrot perched on the back of a kitchen chair nearby, bobbing his head and clicking whenever she turned a page.
Halley stood between Astrid and Camellia, staring into a large pot on the stove. That was likely the source of the cinnamon.
A taller woman emerged from a door in the opposite corner of the room and came to a stop—her vivid green eyes sweeping over him before she offered a smile. “You must be the infamous Charles Driver?” She placed the bag of sugar on the counter and headed straight for him. “You don’t look especially intimidating.” She held out her hand. “I would know, I’m the intimidating one in the family. Magnolia Hill.”
Charlie wasn’t sure what the proper response was but he answered anyway. “It’s not a label I strive for.”
“Really?” Her thin dark red brows rose. “I adore it. It adds an air of mystery. I find mysteries fascinating. You should know, mysteries are few and far between in a town the size of Honey.” She winked, hooking her arm through his.
“Charlie.” Nova sat up. “Hi.” She waved, eliciting the wagging of at least five tails from the pile of dogs around her.
He waved back.
“Charlie.” The parrot squawked. “Charlie. Hi.”
“That’s Lord Byron.” Nova pointed at the bird. “He is so funny.”
“He’d be much funnier stuffed and mounted on the mantel, if you ask me,” Magnolia murmured for his ears only. “But do watch out. If he doesn’t like you, he’ll let you know.”
Once again, Charlie found himself at a loss for words.
“Hey, Charlie.” Halley turned. Not only was her hair braided back like Nova, she was wearing a ruffled apron with Honey Makes Everything Better written on the front. “We’re making creamed honey. Cinnamon.”
“It smells good.” He nodded, processing. A warm reception, for him, from Halley was a rare thing.
“One of our best sellers.” Astrid’s smile was a breath of fresh air. Free and easy and beautiful.
The tightening of his throat was instantaneous. Because of Astrid. Because of his response to her. He cleared his throat. “Looks like you’ve been busy.”
“It’s been a good day.” Astrid looked at Halley for confirmation.
His daughter nodded. “I’ve learned so much. It’s been, like, way cool.”
Charlie couldn’t help but note the affection in Halley’s gaze as she glanced between Astrid and Camellia. “Way cool sounds good.”
Camellia turned, her smile welcoming. “Your daughters are delightful young ladies.”
He nodded. “A fact I should be more vocal about.”
Halley’s eyes widened before she turned back to the pot they’d all been watching when he came in.
“Very nice,” Magnolia whispered, patting his arm before letting him go. “I hope you like lasagna, Charles.”
“It’s not my best meal but it’s hearty and filling.” Camellia wiped her hands on a bee-embroidered dish towel and walked toward him.
Van draped his arm around the woman. “Don’t let her fool you, Charlie. If Camellia cooked it, it’ll be melt-in-your-mouth delicious. She’s magic in the kitchen.”
“Says you.” She patted the man’s chest and smiled up at him. “You might be a tad biased.”
“A tad,” Magnolia echoed with real affection. “You’ll have to excuse them, Charles. They have a hard time not being moony-eyed and touchy-feely with each other.”
“It’s ’cause theyreallylike each other.” Nova had gone back to reading to the dogs, but stopped long enough to announce this.
“That we do.” Van hugged Camellia close against his side. “That we do.”
