Page 48 of Must Love Bees
Dane didn’t take the bait. “Yeah, yeah. You’re hilarious.”
Nova giggled. “I think you’re both funny.”
“I think so, too.” Van had scooted his chair closer to Aunt Camellia’s so it was easier for him to hold her hand.
As always, their attentiveness had Astrid smiling.
“We can help clean up,” Halley offered.
“Well, now, you two have already been such a help.” Aunt Camellia beamed at the two girls. “But Dane and Van have cleanup duty tonight. We girls can sit on the porch and have some cookies for dessert.” She led the girls out of the dining room and down the hall, the telltale click-click of Aunt Camellia’s dog pack following seconds later.
Neither Van nor Dane argued. Instead, they started clearing the table.
“I’ll get the cookies.” Astrid barely looked at Tansy. She was more concerned about Charlie. Hopefully, Aunt Mags hadn’t terrified him so that he’d bolted from the house. The girls might be at ease here but she couldn’t shake the feeling that tonight had been an utter failure as far as Charlie went. Pelting him in the chest with a cherry-tomato projectile hadn’t exactly helped.
“Stop frowning,” Tansy whispered. “You’ve got nothing to worry about.”
“What are you talking about?”
“Him. Charlie.” Tansy rolled her eyes. “You. Astrid.”
“What? He ate dinner. That’s it.” She kept frowning. “What does that mean?”
“Right. Okay. Sure.” Tansy sighed. “But the only thing that man is really interested in is you.” She shook her head. “I’m going to need extra cookies tonight so bring lots.”
Astrid was frozen in place as Tansy and Aunt Camellia escorted the girls out onto the porch. But deep down, a tiny flicker of hope took root. Astrid was still smiling when she carried the piled-high cookie plate out to the front porch.
“YOUREMINDMEof someone.” Magnolia Hill held up his now spot-treated shirt to the light. “My uncle. He was a man of few words, too. He said people talked too much and thought too little. You strike me as quite the thinker.” She tossed his shirt into the washer. “A quick rinse should do.”
“Thank you.” Charlie was on the same page as Nova. He would have been content to throw the damn shirt away when he got home.
“For the character assessment or the shirt?” Magnolia put away the detergent.
He ran his hand over his white undershirt—that was also stained but he refused to remove it—and scrambled for an appropriate response.
“I thought so.” She nodded. “Since Uncle Glinton preferred his own company, people decided that made him a snob.” Her gaze darted his way. “In reality, he was uncertain around people. Stumbled over his words. Which got him more flustered.” Magnolia walked out of the laundry room and into the kitchen, leaving him to follow.
He did.
“I always liked my uncle. When he did have something to say, he was always honest and insightful—if a little clumsy in the delivery.” She poured herself a cup of tea. “Tea?”
“No, thank you.” The kitchen was empty but there was a lively conversation taking place on the porch—they could hear the odd word all the way in the kitchen. He was fine staying right where he was.
“I’ve been told I take after my uncle Glinton. I, too, believe that people talk too much without actually saying a thing.” She seemed to be waiting for his answer.
“I don’t disagree.”
“Good. I think I like you, Charles. I think we’re going to get along just fine.” Her brows rose as she nodded. “Astrid’s been quite the advocate for you. She seems...invested in your little family. I’m sure you’ve noticed.”
Charlie had noticed a lot of things when it came to Astrid—and all of it was elusive and unnerving as hell. Not that he would say as much. He’d prefer the floor open up and swallow him whole.
“My niece is determined to keep you, I think.” Once again, Magnolia seemed to be waiting for an answer.
Charlie, however, was speechless. What the hell did that mean? And now that hollowness was back, bigger and heavier than ever.
“I suppose we’ll have to see what happens.” She hooked arms with him. “You should have at least one of my sister’s cookies before you head home this evening. It’s a new recipe. Lemon raspberry cookies with a honey glaze.”
He was still filtering through the woman’s cryptic words after he’d wedged himself between his girls on the porch swing.
