Page 5 of Honey Be Mine
Everett had been expecting as much. Lorna was one of the most efficient and likable people he’d ever known, and he’d miss having her around. But he respected her decision to stay home with her baby girl. Even if it did leave him shorthanded.
“It’s not that I don’t love my job, Everett. I do. Working remotely, part-time—it’s a sweet deal. And you’re a dream to work for.” She sighed. “But this isn’t where my heart is.”
He nodded. “I appreciate the notice.”
“Of course.” She stood. “And you know I’ll help with my replacement. Whatever questions they have, I’ll only be a phone call away.”
“I appreciate that, too.” He cleared his throat. “I don’t suppose you have anyone in mind?”
“I’d say one of the Hills. They’ve been pretty much in charge of the Junior Beekeepers for months now anyway. But I think Tansy might be too busy with the agritourism stuff she and Dane are developing. Astrid’s a newlywed and pregnant, so her plate is pretty full, too. Any idea if Rosemary is staying in town?”
He shook his head. Everything he’d heard about Rosebud was that she was living the life she’d always wanted. There was no way she’d trade that for this—even if he was a dream to work with. And he was happy for her.
“I’m sure you’ll find the right person.” She leaned forward to whisper, “A hint, the right person isnotKate Owens-Knudson.”
He chuckled. While he’d never had any negative firsthand dealings with Libby, he couldn’t say the same for her sister, Kate. She’d gone and married his best friend’s father—then done her best to tear that family apart. “Thanks. I’ll try to remember that.”
Lorna chuckled. “I better let you get back to work.” She paused. “Did you see the paper yet?”
“No.” He walked with her to the door. “Haven’t had time yet.”
“Oh.” She smiled. “Well, you made the front page. And...it’s a good article.”
“Good.” That was something. But, for now, being in the paper was the least of his worries. “Take care.” He closed the door behind her, then turned to Libby. “Can you find Lorna’s job description for me? I want to review and update it before we post the opening.”
“Oh.” She glanced at the now-closed door. “Can do, boss. Anything else?”
“Not that I can think of.” He stifled a yawn. “I’ve got a lot of phone calls to make.” Phone calls he couldn’t put off any longer.
“I’ll do my best to keep things quiet out here.” She laughed, smoothed her tight sweater over her chest, and smiled at him. She did that sometimes. Smile and look at him like she was expecting something more. There wasn’t anything more, so with a nod, he went back into his office.
He pulled the door closed behind him and sat behind his desk. While he waited for his computer to load the day’s schedule, he sipped his coffee. It’d been a long day, and it wasn’t even ten in the morning. He took a sip of his coffee—scanning his messages and the paper.
“What the hell?” The headline jumped out, mocking and impossible to miss. “On the front page?” He shook his head.What have I ever done to Daisy Granger?He’d thought he was friends with the woman who’d interviewed him, but this... This was just mean. And now that it was out there, there was nothing he could do about it.Great. Just great.
First things first, those phone calls. He had no doubt everyone was scrambling to come up with a safety plan—active-shooter threats were nightmare-scenario situations that were both time-consuming and high stress. The sooner he could assure them things weren’t what they’d been led to believe, the better.
The reactions he got were mixed. Some were amused. Others, not so much. But the overall consensus was relief. That, Everett decided, would be what he’d focus on. Relief. He’d take paint-gun vandalism over potential casualties all day, every day.
Around noon, Libby poked her head in to tell him she was taking lunch. When she asked him if he wanted to come with her, he declined. Hiring her had led folk to speculate, but so far, there hadn’t been much talk linking him and Libby Owens-Baldwin outside of the office. He’d like to keep it that way.
He was poring over next year’s proposed operating budget when there was a knock on his office door.
Dane Knudson, his best friend, leaned inside. “Earth to Everett?”
He set the papers aside. “What brings you into town?” He held his breath, waiting for Dane to start teasing him over the damn newspaper headline.
“Lunch. You free?” He nodded at the desk. “A man’s gotta eat.”
Everett stood. “I could eat.” Maybe Everett had caught a break and Dane hadn’t seen the paper. “Where’s Tansy?”
“Spending some time with her sisters.” Dane shrugged. “She and Astrid are worried about something being up with Rosemary, so I figured I should make myself scarce. Let them talk.”
If he’d thought things through, he wouldn’t have asked, “What’s going on with Rosebud?” But the question was out, and Dane was grinning at him. No matter how many times he told his best friend his feelings for Rosebud were over and done with, Dane didn’t buy it. “Come on, now.” Everett sighed. “You set me up for that.”
Dane shrugged, then slapped him on the back. “Food.”
While they walked from the courthouse to Delaney’s, Everett forced himself not to think about what Dane had said. If Rosebud’s sisters were worrying, then something was up, but they’d sort it out. The three of them had always been close—in tune with one another. A couple of years and a thousand-plus miles wasn’t enough to change that. She had plenty of people to help her; she didn’t need him in the mix.
