Page 12 of Honey Be Mine
“That’sall?” She looked impressed. “I’d think managing festivals alone would be a full-time job. All those personalities and expectations. It sounds like a whole lot of pressure. Do you like it?”
“I do.” He grinned.
“You always were a people person.” She shrugged. “I guess someone has to be.”
He laughed then. “Just like I couldn’t spend all day in a lab.”
“Not every day. Some days I was out in one of the university apiaries. Those were the best days. A handful of people, working with the bees and studying their behavior. But it wasn’t the same as being here. Our bees. Our apiaries. Like Dorothy says, there’s no place like home.”
They kept delivering fliers as they talked.
“I’m sure your family is thrilled you’re sticking around.” He was. He could only imagine how happy her sisters would be.
“I think so.” Her smile was genuine once more. “But I have to find something to do. I like to stay busy, you know? Tansy and Astrid have been doing a fantastic job running the farm since I left. I don’t want to, I don’t know, cramp their style.”
“Did they say that?” He had a hard time picturing that.
“No.” She tucked a strand of red hair behind her ear. “It’s me. I guess, with so many changes, I don’t know exactly where I fit anymore. Does that make sense?”
“Kinda.” But the Hill sisters, the Bee Girls, were inseparable. “A few things haven’t and won’t change. This is your home, Rosebud. And they’re your family. You want to do something, they’ll support you. You’ll always fit here.”
Her green eyes locked with his. “And you’ll always be the best friend a girl could have?”
That’s me. The friend.“Yep.” And he was content with that. It hadn’t been easy for his heart to let go of Rosebud, but he had, and thankfully, she was none the wiser. He’d never risk losing her friendship—one of the most important friendships of his life.
They talked about Jenny, Gramma Dot, and the baby goat kids while they finished that side of Main Street. They’d just crossed to the other side when Dane’s truck appeared.
“Looks like your ride is here.” Everett took the fliers from her.
But Dane pulled in and parked. “Well, if it isn’t Honey’s most eligible bachelor?” He climbed out of his truck, Tansy sliding out behind him. “And Rosemary.”
Really?Everett shot Dane a warning look. He wasn’t in the mood for Dane’s teasing.
“I’m helping Everett pass out these fliers.” If Rosebud knew or heard Dane, she didn’t act like it. Instead, she handed a flier to Tansy. “We should all probably plan on attending the meeting.”
Tansy read over the flier, nodding. “Definitely. Wow.” She glanced at Everett. “Need an extra hand?”
He held his hand up. “That’s nice of you but—”
“But we’ll get it done in half the time.” Rosebud took a stack of the fliers off the top. “Come on, Tansy, we’ll start at the other end and work our way down.”
The two sisters were halfway down the street before he could stop them.
“Hill women.” Dane clapped him on the shoulder. “There’s no stopping them, so you might as well get out of the way and let them do what they want.”
“I’m not complaining. Today has been...something.” He glanced at Dane. “I’d appreciate it if you’d drop the whole bachelor thing.” He waited for Dane to nod. “Great.” He glanced at the sisters making their way back to them. “You know, I’ve still got some phone calls to make. Think they’d help with that?”
“Probably.” Dane followed him, reading one of the fliers. “Now Elginston, huh?”
Everett nodded. “I don’t want this getting out of hand.”
“I hear you. I bet folk are real upset over the mural. That’s not going to be an easy fix.” Dane glanced his way.
“You could say that again. You can’t exactly take a sandblaster to a work of art. But Mayor Rivas is already planning some sort of fundraiser to get the artist to repaint it.”
“That’s good.” He lowered his voice “You hear Rosemary’s planning to stay around for a while?”
“Yep.” But he suspected there was more to it. He didn’t believe her when she said she was great. Something had happened to make her give up the work she’d wanted more than anything. Dane had said Tansy and Astrid were worried about Rosebud—something was definitely up. Not that he was upset she was staying. It’d be nice to have Rosebud around.
