Page 49 of Must Love Bees
“Bees don’t wear dancing shoes.” Nova slumped in disappointment.
“Oh?” Had that been a possibility? He glanced around the porch—at everyone and everything except Astrid.
“The girls wear dancing shoes to their dance class,” Camellia said, then sipped her tea.
Charlie couldn’t argue Nova’s logic. “Why wouldn’t the bees?”
“I wanted to know who made the bees’ shoes and Astrid said they didn’t wear any.” Nova sighed heavily.
“But they still dance.” He nudged her. “And that’s still...cool. Even without shoes.”
Nova looked up at him. “It is.”
“Did you just saycool?” Halley’s shock was there, all over her face.
“Was that the wrong word? Fun? Awesome?” Charlie watched a slow smile form on her face. “Swell? Or neat?”
“Swell?” Halley laughed. “No. Nothing iseverswell, Charlie.”
First a smile, now a laugh. He couldn’t remember the last time he’d made Halley do either. Maybe tonight wasn’t all bad.
“Not for the last thirty years, anyway.” Tansy laughed, too.
“Coolis good, Charlie.” Nova patted his knee.
Charlie was surprisingly relaxed—considering he was only wearing his stained undershirt in front of a group of mostly strangers.
“What’s wrong withswell?” Van had his arm draped around Camellia’s shoulder. “I used it when I was about your age, Halley.”
“Exactly, dear.” Camellia leaned into the man. “And I’m sure you sounded cool saying it. You were probably quite the hipster.”
That made everyone laugh.
“Cookie?” Astrid held the plate forward.
“Thank you.” Charlie took one, careful not to touch her or look her way.
“They’re really good, Charlie,” Nova whispered. “I ate two.”
“You did?”
“Yummy.” She nodded. “Everything here was good.”
“Thank you, Nova. And thank you for all your help today.” Camellia smiled. “She helped zest lemons and squeeze the juice. She sifted flour and washed the bowls. And she tested the batter a time or two.” The woman winked at his little girl.
“I was a soup chef.” Nova beamed with pride.
“Sous-chef,” Halley corrected.
“Yep. That.” Nova nodded. “Halley, too. She helped cook for the bees.”
“For the bees?” Charlie did look at Astrid then—for clarification. But once their eyes locked, he went a little hazy on what he was hoping to clarify. How did she do that?
“The drought is hard on the bees. Things can’t bloom so the bees can’t eat. Astrid and Tansy make pollen patties so they don’t starve.” Halley paused. “Is that right?”
“I couldn’t have said it better myself.” Astrid gave her a thumbs-up.
“Charlie, the Hills are famous,” Nova not-whispered in true Nova fashion.
