Page 66 of Hiding Rose
Chapter Nineteen
We strolled down the beach, his arms holding me up. "How are we going to get all the flowers back to the hotel?" I asked.
We had laid languidly on the beach in each other's arms after we made love again. At nearly ten, it was time to get back to the hotel before they sent out a search party for us.
“I have secret elves retrieving them as we speak.” Sawyer pointed at Gideon's bungalow. "Looks like the boss is up. We should stop and talk to them." He waved my left hand and smiled wide, his laughter carrying across the breeze.
"I don't know, Sawyer. They might be in for the night."
He tapped my nose. "Then they won't answer the door."
He knocked quietly rather than ring the bell and chance waking up Hope. Gideon answered the door, a five o'clock shadow lining his jaw and fatigue lining his eyes. Guilt tore through me at how much my problems were affecting him. I put my arms around him and hugged him. "I'm sorry, Gideon. I didn't realize what a toll this was taking on you."
He held me out by my shoulders and shook his head. "No blame and no guilt, remember? I'm tired, but only because Hope has been up a lot the last few weeks. Her leg hurts terribly at night. We thought at first it was growing pains, but the doctor wants to do some more extensive testing."
Sawyer closed the door behind us. "Poor Hoppy Bear," he said using his pet name for her.
"Kate is with her now," Gideon said, as I noticed a little head peek around the corner.
"Daddy, who is it?" she asked in a stage whisper.
"It's Chef Veggie Bear," Sawyer answered in a low, goofy voice.
Hope squealed and half-limped, half-ran to see us. "Auntie Rosie, save me from Chef Veggie Bear!"
I grabbed her and she hid behind me, giggling as she peeked out at Sawyer.
He knelt and motioned her over, giving her a hug after she limped to him. I glanced up at Gideon concerned, and saw the same fear reflected in his eyes.
"I hear Hoppy Bear isn't hopping much these days," he said to the little girl.
She hiked her long shorts up to show him her leg. "I'm tired of the bee stings. It hurts to hop."
Sawyer questioned Gideon. "Bee stings?"
He nodded. "She describes the feeling as bee stings."
"I know it well," I said. "Definitely a nerve problem. Walking, hopping, or putting any pressure on it will make it worse."
I leaned over to talk to Hope. "There are two things bees don’t like, Hope. Do you know what they are?” I asked. She shook her head no and I patted her sweet face. “Hot and cold. Bees like the temperature we always are, so if you heat up or cool down your leg when the bees start stinging, they’ll stop. Do you like to play in the sand?”
“I love it!” she said excitedly.
“Chef Veggie Bear taught me a secret about sand. It’s warm. If you’re out playing and the stinging starts, have your mommy or daddy bury your leg in the sand and it will feel oodles better in minutes.”
She stared at me skeptically. “Dat’s crazy, Auntie Rosie.”
I crossed my heart. “It sounds crazy, but it’s true. If you aren’t in the sand you can ask your mommy for an icepack or a few ice cubes in a washrag and rub it on your skin. Bees hate the cold,” I said, shivering. “They’ll fly right away.”
Hope gazed up at her daddy until he picked her up. “Do you think it would work, Daddy?”
He gave her a palms up. “It’s worth a try, right?”
She wiggled and he put her down. Hope hugged Sawyer and he promised to make her a big stack of pineapple pancakes tomorrow.
She turned and hugged me, her eyes fixed on my hand. “Auntie Rosie, where did you get dat pretty ring?” she asked, touching the diamond at the top.
“From your Chef Veggie Bear,” I answered, winking at him.
