Page 24 of Must Love Bees
“Options and practice and kissing all the frogs?” Astrid’s good mood dimmed. “What a horribly depressing conversation, Tans. Really, talk about a pep talk.” She twisted her hair up and tied it in a messy bun at the back of her head. “Maybe I’ll follow Aunt Camellia’s lead and collect strays?”
“You would be guaranteed unconditional love.” Tansy put the van into gear and pulled out onto the gravel road leading out of Abner Jones’s homestead. “Don’t judge me but, deep down, I was sort of hoping Charlie Driver was the amazing man Rebecca had made him out to be. I mean, you’d already be ahead on the lots and lots of babies and, he might be an ass, but he’s handsome and all that. Then you’d have what you want and I’d have what I want—you here forever with me.” She held her hand out.
Astrid took her sister’s hand. “It was a nice idea. And Charlie is handsome.” He seemed to get more handsome every time she saw him. But she was nothing but a nuisance to him. “I haven’t told him about the Junior Beekeeper project yet. Can you drop me off on the way home?” She’d put it off long enough.
“Can do.” Tansy squeezed her hand, then let it go. “And if he is rude to you, Dane has offered to come and talk to him on your behalf.”
“Thanks.” Astrid could only imagine how that talk would go. Dane didn’t need to be involved. She could do this. He’d seemed less prickly by the end of her last visit. While he might not be thrilled over the Junior Beekeepers invading his space, he’d honor Rebecca’s wish. Astrid had to believe that.
FROMHISDESK, Charlie could see out the large picture window that sat in the middle of the front wall of his aunt’s home. He’d commandeered the formal dining room for his office because it was in the center of the house. He could hear every creak and pop in the wooden floors or squeaking older hinge and he could see anyone coming or going. Thankfully, there hadn’t been much of either the last couple of days.
But it looked like all of that was about to change.
He sighed, crossed his arms over his chest and leaned back to watch his neighbor draw ever closer to his house. It was Astrid. Here. Again. Without notice. She pulled a wagon behind her. Her white veiled hood hung back between her shoulders so her long red-blond hair was visible. If he hadn’t known she was a beekeeper, her getup might have been cause for alarm as the head-to-toe white suit looked a lot like a hazmat suit. But it was the determination on her reddened face that had him kicking into fight-or-flight mode. What was she after?
He could pretend they weren’t home, turn her away or find out why she was here dressed like that—without giving him some sort of advanced notice.
“Charlie, Charlie!” Nova’s voice was excited—followed by rapid footsteps descending the stairs. “Did you see?” She ran into the living room and sucked in a deep breath. “Did you see Astrid and what she’s wearing?”
Now that Nova was in the mix, his choices vanished. He’d have to engage with the woman. He ran a hand over his face. “I did.”
“She’s dressed like a spaceman, sort of.” She grabbed on to the arm of his chair, her wide eyes earnest. “For protection. Do you think she’s here to do some bee fighting with Rebecca’s bees?”
Charlie couldn’t help but smile at the image of Astrid squaring off against a swarm of bees. Something told him she was more likely to charm the bees than fight them. Which was, for him, an odd thought to have.
“She’s got lots of stuff.” Nova stood on tiptoe. “Is she staying for a while?”
He hoped not. “She does have lots of stuff.” He rolled his head, stretching his neck.
“Is that Astrid?” Halley appeared from the living room, her headphones around her neck and her phone in her hand. “She looks like some cool chick from an end-of-the-world or alien movie.”
“I like her boots,” Nova added.
Charlie felt certain nobody looked cool or chic in a bee suit but he didn’t argue. Besides, there wasn’t enough time. Astrid was climbing the steps and...knocking on the front door. Four knocks. Then silence. He didn’t move.
“Are you going to let her in?” Halley took a couple of steps toward the door and stopped.
“What if she is here because there is a bee emergency?” Nova’s little face crumpled into concern. “To warn us?”
“I’m not sure that’s a thing, Nova.” Halley wrapped her arm around her sister’s shoulders. “Don’t worry. If there is a bee emergency, Astrid will fix it.”
The girls had spent less than eight hours with Astrid so how was it they both looked at her like she was some sort of superhero. Nova was into superheroes—which meant Charlie was into superheroes—and, apparently, a lot of them came from outer space. Astrid was not from outer space. She was not a superhero. She was a persistent nuisance he wasn’t sure how to deal with.
Astrid knocked again, then stepped back. The problem was, she stepped back just enough so that she could see through the window. His window—the very window they were all staring through. He could only imagine how strange it would be to find the three of them inside not opening the door. First, she made eye contact with the girls, who waved wildly, then her gaze met his. She waved once, then stood there.
Manners dictated he answer the door, but he was sorely tempted to just close the curtains. If he did, maybe she’d get the hint. He’d had two blissfully normal days and now she’d popped up and whatever happened next would be anything but normal. Closing the curtains sounded good—
“Charlie?” Halley hissed.
“I can open the door if her outfit is scaring you.” Nova offered, patting his arm. “It is a little scary.”
Both girls were staring at him with round, expectant eyes.
“I’ll get it.” He stood, took a slow breath in, then out. As he crossed to the door, he did it again. He opened the door. “Miss Hill.”
“Hi.” She waved again. While her style was nothing like the business suits and pressed shirts required for all his virtual conferences and meetings, Astrid had her own version of presentable. Normally. But not at the moment. Her cheeks were flushed pink, there was a smudge of ash on her cheek, and her hair was a mess of braids slipping free from a knot at the back of her head. “I’d like to check on Rebecca’s hives, if that’s all right? It won’t take long.”
He nodded. She wasn’t coming in. This could work.
