He reached up and toyed with her curls. “I’m going to miss you while I’m gone.”
Her mind went numb. She opened her mouth to tell him about Huck, but all she could think of was his deceased wife and how Jack had entrusted Arianne with his mourning heart only for her to reject him.
“Say good-bye to Emma for me.”
“I will.” Emma was excited to be making Huck cupcakes with Sherry right now and doubted her daughter would flinch.
Emma wanted Huck to be her daddy. The thought knocked Arianne flat every time it entered her mind. She wanted the same thing, but she’d fallen into bad judgment before and had barely clawed her way out.
“How’s your mom doing?” Arianne asked, ignoring the bone-crushing ache that began whenever she thought of Huck breaking her heart.
But not telling Jack was unfair. She needed to tell him now…or maybe she’d wait until he got back. He had enough to worry about with his mother so ill. Maybe waiting would be the charitable thing to do.
Jack shrugged. “Better. The doctors are running more tests.” He glanced at his watch and then tenderly cupped her elbow. “Life’s short, Arianne.”
He looked away. When he turned back, his eyes held a rawness that froze her pulse. “I hope you know by now that I don’t rush into things. That I look ten times before I leap.” He swallowed. “I’m leaping.”
Jack removed his hand from her waist. A platinum gold ring with a large, flawless diamond appeared between his fingers. She covered her mouth. Her lungs refused to cooperate. The room dimmed.
“Will you marry me?”
Tell him! Tell him now. The mantra played in her head but her lips were paralyzed.
Jack’s grin wobbled. “Don’t answer me right away. I want you to think about it, pray about it. That’s why I’m asking you now, so you’ll have space while I’m gone to make a wise decision.”
He took her hands in his and she managed to close her mouth.
“Can you do that for me? Pray about it?” He pressed the ring into her palm and touched her lips in the softest of kisses.
Tears filled her closed eyelids, but she couldn’t decipher their motive.
“I love you. I’ll call when I get to Philly.”
Jack slipped into his coat and left her shop.
She pressed her fingers to her lips and watched his car exit the parking lot and disappear down the highway. Emotion clogged her throat. Jack wanted to marry her. No doubt he’d be faithful, a devoted helpmeet. She slipped the ring onto her finger. A perfect fit.
Tears fell. If she married Jack, she’d forever separate herself from the man she truly loved. If she didn’t, she’d break Jack’s already fractured heart. Jack was someone she could grow to love like she loved Huck. Right?
The clock ticked on the wall behind her. She sank onto the chair beside the rack of bridal shoes. Her heart wanted Huck. Her body responded to Huck like no other. She loved him soul-deep. There was no question, no doubt; but a decision couldn’t be made based on her needs or wants. She had to do what was best for Emma. Her daughter needed stability. Could Huck offer them that?
She stared at the ring and admired how the light caught every facet of the diamond. “A wise decision,” she whispered.
~*~
“Mommy, Mommy! He’s here. He’s here.” Emma clapped her hands and bounced on her tiptoes.
Arianne issued an apologetic smile to her customers and walked over to the birthday girl. Five. Where had time gone? She pitied Adam. He didn’t even realize what a treasure he’d left behind or how much he’d missed.
Huck breezed through the door wearing an olive-colored fleece pullover and faded jeans. Emma ran to him and he scooped her up. Girlish giggles echoed through the store. Arianne playfully held a finger to her lips then pointed at him in a scold. Huck winked and flashed his dimples at the customers who were making their way to the veil display. The two women melted like butter at a picnic on the Fourth of July.
Arianne knew the feeling well. “Let me get our coats, and we’ll be ready.”
Huck followed her to her office, carrying Emma. The two made quite a pair.
She’d prayed hard the past three days about Jack’s proposal. A clear answer had yet to come, though the uneasiness wrapped around her whenever she thought about either man. Right now, in this moment, seeing Emma’s little arms hugging Huck’s neck, Arianne knew exactly where she desired to be. But was that where she was supposed to be?
“What’s wrong?” Huck’s brows knit together.
“What do you mean?” Her words came out too rushed to be convincing as nonchalant.
“You sighed.”
“I did?” Arianne grabbed her coat and handed Emma hers.
“Yes, you did.” Huck set Emma down so she could put it on. He gripped Arianne’s chin between his thumb and finger, his gaze intense, concerned. “What is it, baby?”
How could one simple word make her want to jump in his arms and never leave?
“Nothing,” she whispered.
Everything.
He studied her a moment more before his gaze dropped to her lips. She physically ached to pick up where they’d left off last time. But Emma…
She pulled away, and Huck groaned as he dropped his hand from her chin and balled it into a fist. He stepped back, putting distance between them. His eyes never left hers. “Ready, Emma?”
Arianne watched as her daughter struggled with the zipper. “Here, sweetheart, let me help you.”
“I can do it, Mommy. I’m five now.”
Yes, she was. And tomorrow she’d be twenty-five, coming here to pick out her own wedding dress. Which man would be there to walk her down the aisle?
Huck patted Emma’s head. “It’s not that cold out. You keep workin’ on it while we head to the truck.”
Emma left the office. Huck shook his head and chuckled, throwing his arm around Arianne’s shoulders. He turned off the light and closed the door behind them.
Braelle, her first and only part-time employee, stood at the veil rack, helping a customer choose a veil that best fit her face shape. She flipped her long, chestnut hair off her shoulder as she explained the importance of a veil in addition to a stunning gown. The girl had a passion for weddings equal to Arianne’s.
Arianne fished the register key from her pocket, confident Braelle could close up on her own. She’d gone over the routine with the girl twice.
Braelle left the customer to try on the merchandise. Arianne handed her employee the key. “If you have any questions, don’t hesitate to call.”
“I will.” Braelle’s smile accentuated the freckles on her nose.
Huck guided Arianne by the small of her back to the door. Emma held his other hand, humming the happy birthday song. They strolled to the truck like The Three Musketeers.
More like The Three Stooges.
A white SUV peeled into the parking lot. Tires screeched as it swung into a vacant space. Arianne and Huck exchanged glances. Amy Mason, the first customer she’d had at the new location, jumped from the vehicle, opened the back, and pulled out a wedding dress protected in a clear bag.
She sprinted to Arianne, tears dripping down her cheeks, mascara streaked beneath her eyes. “My dress. It’s ruined!”
Arianne froze. Amy’s wedding was tomorrow. “What happened?”
“We had our rehearsal this morning, since we have so many guests coming in tonight for the wedding. My aunt was pressing napkins when the flower girl bumped into the ironing board and the iron fell on my gown.” Sobs interrupted. “The fabric’s melted. It looks awful. Can you fix it?”
Her heart broke for Amy, but it was Emma’s birthday. Arianne had fulfilled her contract. She could say no, but her conscience wouldn’t let a bride walk the aisle in a burnt, crispy gown. She sighed inwardly. “The damage can’t be repaired, but it can be covered. Take it in. I’ll see what I can do.”
Amy jogged into the boutique.
Arianne moaned. “If I hurry, I can at least mak
e it to the party.” She fought tears of frustration. Emma’s special day was ruined.
Huck pulled her into a hug, knowing exactly what she needed. “Let me go ahead and take her. It’s not fair for her to sit behind a counter on her birthday. I’ll take her to the honey house as planned. That’ll give you time to finish the dress, and we’ll see each other at the party.”
Bless Sherry for having it at her house and insisting on doing all the work. “All right, but keep her bundled up. And don’t give her too much sugar.”
“It’s her birthday.”
“Remember what happened last time?” She grinned, recalling the first time he’d watched Emma.
“Oh. Yeah.” He opened the truck’s passenger side door and bowed to Emma. “Your carriage awaits, princess.”
Emma climbed inside, and he buckled her seatbelt. Arianne took his place to kiss her daughter goodbye and yanked on the seatbelt to double-check. “Be good. I’ll see you at the party.”
“OK, Mommy.”
Arianne closed the door. Huck gave her a mock scowl. “I saw that.”
“What?”
“You checked to make sure I know how to use a seatbelt.”
“It’s an old truck. I was testing it.”
He moved toward her, acting angry. She played along and backed against the truck bed. He trapped her against it with his arms, one on each side of her, his fingers curled around the metal. “This old truck didn’t come with seatbelts. These are state-of-the-art. Installed them myself.” He rested his forehead against hers. “Don’t you trust me by now? I won’t let anything happen to that little girl.”
His nearness made her dizzy. “Of course I do.”
He lowered his head, hovered his lips beside her cheek. His warm breath tickled.
Huck kissed her cheek, blazing a trail closer to the corner of her mouth, setting fire to her belly. She turned to give in, and he backed away. If her arms had been long enough, she’d have shaken that smug look off his face.
He chuckled. “Bring your party hat.”
~*~
The wind played with Emma’s hair as they drove over the bridge toward the honey house. She’d propped her little feet on the dashboard. Her shoes were wearing thin at the toes. She needed a sturdy pair of boots. He’d see to that.
When they reached the honey house, Huck parked beneath the oak tree, remembering the picnic they’d enjoyed there over the summer. Emma hopped to the ground and pointed to the hives stacked amid the tree line. “Those are supers. Where the bees live.”
Huck smiled. “Very good.”
“Can we see them now?”
His chest swelled at his protégé’s enthusiasm. She’d be so excited when she saw what he’d bought her. “Soon. First, we have to get their protein supplements ready and then you’ll open a birthday gift.”
“Can I open it now?”
“Soon.”
Emma frowned and followed him to the door. “What’s a protein supplement?”
Huck opened the door and flipped on the lights. They hummed for a moment then flickered on. “Remember how I told you that when bees forage for nectar, a yellow powder from the flowers and trees stick to their hairy bodies?”
She nodded.
“That yellow powder is pollen. It gives the bees protein—energy—to be strong and work hard. Since they’re not foraging much right now because of the cool weather, we need to give them protein, so they’ll be ready for spring.”
“Can we take the bees to my party?”
He unzipped her coat and hung it on the peg beside the door. “No, but when we open the hives later, I’ll show you the queen.”
“Can I be the princess?”
“That’s what your party is for.” He put a finger on the tip of her nose. “You’ll get to be the queen bee.”
Huck shed his coat and led her to the supply room where he kept bee antibiotics, mite treatments, supplements, and extra equipment. They prepared the protein supplements and placed everything they’d need in a wheelbarrow. Then he took her to his small corner office where her wrapped gift waited on his desk.
Emma eyed it warily. “What is it?”
He viewed the gift from her perspective. The box was distorted and the pink, polka dot wrapping paper had more creases than a bulldog’s snout. He’d tried. “Open it and find out.”
Paper ripped and collected on the floor. She lifted the lid and peeked inside. “My very own bee mask?”
He nodded. “That’ll protect your face and neck when you help me with the bees. There’s long gloves in there too.”
She grabbed the items, dropped the box, and danced on the loose wrapping paper.
He laughed. “Let’s suit up and get busy.”
Huck’s cellphone rang. He pulled it from his pocket and glanced at a number he didn’t recognize. “Give me a sec.”
Micah Rollings, a member of his beekeeping association, was frantic. His bees were dying at an alarming rate, and he couldn’t detect a reason. Huck scratched his chin. “Have you checked for mites?”
Micah grunted. “Of course. That’s the first thing I did.”
Stupid question. Micah’d been a beekeeper longer than Huck had been alive. The man knew about mites. “Pesticides?” Though no one should be using them this time of year.
“I checked that avenue too. None of my neighbors have used any, and the county hasn’t either.”
Hmm. He pulled the phone away from his mouth. “Emma, give me a minute. I need to help this guy on the phone, and then we’ll go out.”
“Ooo-kaaay.” She dropped onto a chair, hung her head, and kicked her feet back and forth.
Huck ransacked his file cabinet for an article he’d saved from the Department of Agriculture on a study done on the diminishing bee population. As he looked, they discussed other possibilities that hit dead ends. He knew he’d kept the article. Was it in his home office?
After a thorough search, he came across a phone number for one of his contacts at Berkeley. “Give this guy a call, see if he can shed any light. In the meantime, I’ll keep searching for that article and get back with you.”
The cabinet closed with a bang. Huck turned off his phone and shoved it back in his pocket. “Ready?”
Emma’s chair was empty.
He glanced around the office.
“Emma?” His voice echoed through the building as he searched. Where had she gone?
A draft swept into the room. The open door swayed in the breeze. Emma’s coat hung from the peg where he’d left it. Arianne would kill him if she found out she went outside without her coat.
Huck stepped outside. “Emma?”
No answer.
He stalked the perimeter of the building, shouting her name. Water trickling in the brook was his only response. Panic kicked his gut. Was she playing a trick on him? If so, it wasn’t funny.
Branches creaked in the wind above the Gator. Instinct told him something wasn’t right. He looked around. A purple lump by the trees caught his eye, crumpled on the ground by the supers. “No!”
Huck sprinted to her, bile clogging his throat. The super lid had been lifted. Angry bees swarmed the still body in the dirt. They thwarted her to defend their colony, alerting more bees of the danger. They attacked her in waves.
He reached her and scooped her into a ball, protecting her with his body. Her new helmet slipped from her grip and crashed to the ground. Stings pinched his skin, but didn’t slow him down. He jogged back to the honey house and laid her on the floor. His bad leg screamed. His breaths labored. He yanked his phone from his pocket and dialed 911. Bee corpses collected around her little body.
“911—what’s your emergency?”
“I need an ambulance. Now!” He rubbed his forehead and rattled off his address.
The dispatcher assured him one was on the way and asked the nature of the emergency.
Swollen welts covered Emma’s face and neck. He’d no doubt a hundred others marred her little body. Tears burned his eyes
. “My little girl. She’s been attacked by bees, and she’s unconscious.”
Why had he insisted on teaching her about bees?
“Does she have a pulse?”
He reached down and touched the side of Emma’s neck. “Barely.” He needed to get her to the house. “Her lips are turning blue. I don’t think she’s breathing.”
Mortician bees carry dead bee corpses away from home to keep the hive hygienic.
34
No, God. Please. Not my daughter.
Arianne burst through the emergency room doors. Her cheeks were stiff from air-dried tears. The sobbing had started at a stoplight on the way there, but she’d forced herself to be strong for Emma. She had to get there, to hold her daughter and be assured everything would be all right.
She ran to the nurses’ station. The glass window was closed. Behind the thin pane, a gray-haired woman snacked on chocolate at a computer.
Arianne banged on the glass. “Where’s my daughter?”
The woman lifted her head. Annoyance flashed from her pale blue eyes, betraying her stoic expression. It seemed to take forever for her to slide open the window. A sigh. “Patient’s name?”
“Emma Winters.” Arianne swallowed the fear rising in her throat as the robotic woman pounded her thick fingers on the keyboard. Seconds, minutes, hours ticked by as Arianne waited. Was Emma stable? Scared? Crying for her? Arianne drummed her fingers on the desk and tapped her foot. “Please, hurry. I need to see my daughter.”
The woman raised her pencil-drawn brows. “Ma’am you need to calm down.”
Emma was in this hospital, possibly dying, and the woman wanted her to calm down? Fury filled her face and neck. “My daughter is back there somewhere, and I need to get to her.” Her voice rose with each word until she practically yelled.
The woman pursed her lips. “Ma’am, I understand your concern, but you need to calm down, or I’ll ask you to leave.”
Leave? Arianne raised on her toes to go after the woman when strong hands gripped her shoulders, gentle yet secure. The woman now stood behind the computer, clinching her fists.
“Arianne, let’s step outside.”
She whipped around. Huck. “I need to get to Emma.”
How to Charm a Beekeeper's Heart Page 26