Page 34 of Must Love Bees
Astrid held the baby close and said, “It’s okay, Bea. We won’t tell Mom when we go bowling with cantaloupes.”
Bea giggled and babbled most of the way to the dog food aisle.
“Goodness, you are such a fuss bucket.” Astrid teased, hugging Bea close. “If only everyone was as easygoing as you, little Bea, life would be nothing but giggles and sunshine and happiness.” She gave the baby a bunny-nose rub, which made Bea laugh and grab hold of Astrid’s face so she could give Astrid a kiss. Bea loved giving big, open-mouthed kisses. And Astrid loved receiving them. As much as she loved her bees, they couldn’t give her hugs and giggles and open-mouthed kisses. And Astrid was beginning to ache for those things...
“Hey, Astrid. Hey, baby Bea.” Nicole, Astrid’s best friend, steered her grocery cart alongside them. “I just saw my mother circling the store and figured I should give you a heads-up before I bail. She’s been in an especially bad mood—which means she’s especially dangerous.” Nicole’s long hair was a mess of blond and green and black stripes on her head, poked through with chopsticks. “Grab what you need and make a run for it.”
Astrid laughed. “Too late.”
“Nooo.” Nicole drooped forward onto her grocery cart. “Is everyone okay? No casualties?” Nicole and her mother were not close—to put it nicely. “It’s too early in the morning for her crap.”
“Interestingly enough, Shelby totally derailed her.” Astrid nodded at the very skeptical look Nicole shot her. “Seriously. She has a whole lot of Aunt Mags in her.”
“I guess I need lessons.” Nicole scanned the grocery store. “I swear, Astrid, I don’t know what to do with her. She’s...she keeps pushing and pushing and I feel like I’m going to snap.”
“What happened?” Astrid hurt for Nicole and the constant trials she endured at the hands of her mother.
“Where should I start?” Nicole sighed. “First, she backs out of paying for Benji’s Young Beekeeper Ambassador Clinic, now she won’t stop pushing this offer some developer made on the salon. She can’t sell since we’re co-owners so she’s laying it on thick. She said it will allow her to retire—andgive her the cash to send Benji to the clinic. Classic mom manipulation, right there.” She chewed on a green strand of hair. “Grandmother of the year, too.”
“I’m sorry she’s being...challenging.”
“Challenging? I can’t say the words I’d use—not with little Bea on your hip. I’d hate for her to repeat one of them. Not exactly the sort of thing Shelby would want to put in Bea’s baby books.” She smiled. “But I love how hard it is for you to be mean about anyone—even when they deserve it. You’re a reminder that not all people suck.” Nicole nudged Astrid. “Isn’t that right, Bea?” she cooed, taking the baby.
Bea babbled something adorable that sounded like,Wawa bow too tee.
“You don’t say?” Nicole asked. “Right back at you.”
She watched Nicole with the baby. “How is Benji taking it?” She knew how much the teen had been looking forward to the weeklong conference in Houston.
“He’s awesome. As usual.” Nicole shrugged. “Seriously, I don’t deserve that kid.”
“You do, too. You’re a fantastic mom, Nicole.” She spied Tansy and Shelby and slowly headed their way. “Benjiisso awesome because he has you for a mother.”
“Sometimes I’m not sure who is parenting who.” Nicole shrugged again, her voice tight. “I feel bad for him. He’s only got me and we know I’m sort of...well, me.” Her smile was tight and forced.
“Which makes him lucky.” She draped an arm around Nicole’s shoulder. “Don’t forget, you’re an honorary Bee Girl. Meaning you’ve got the Hill womenandall the ones attached to us on your side.”
“All that?” Nicole took a deep breath and bounced Bea. “That’s a lot.”
Tansy and Shelby had been watching their approach so they both had questions ready by the time Astrid, Bea and Nicole reached them.
“What happened?” Tansy asked. “You’re eating your hair. That’s never a good sign.”
“Was I?” Nicole stopped chewing on her hair. “Willadeene.” She almost spat the name out. “I just...she can...ugh.”
“This sounds like we need some coffee and comfort food,” Tansy suggested. “Let’s check out and go eat carbs.”
Crackers, dog food and root beer acquired, they put their groceries in the van and headed down the block to the green awning of Delaney’s. After they were seated in a booth, Bea was occupied with a teething biscuit and coffee was poured, Nicole let it all out. Benji’s camp tuition, her mother backing out, the sudden pressure to sell the shop to this developer, as well as Willadeene’s constant poking at Nicole’s “questionable parenting style and stylist skills.”
“And I’ve got my cousin’s little girl, Ruthie, coming to stay.” She shook her head and took a sip of coffee. “I can’t believe I almost forgot about that.”
“First, Benji.” Shelby was pouring sugar packets into her coffee. “How much does this Young Beekeeper Ambassador Program cost? Is there a scholarship fund? Would there be someone in town who might sponsor him?”
Astrid smiled at her cousin. “That’s a great idea.”
Tansy and Nicole perked up, too.
Shelby glanced amongst the three of them. “It seems to me Willadeene shouldn’t be the one to decide whether or not he can attend. He’s not asking for a handout, he’s asking for sponsorship. From everything I’ve heard, Benji is a good kid with a bright future. I imagine a local business would love to send him and have him wear a company shirt every day or something, you know?”
