“Here.” Glenn tucked a foil wrapped bagel into Lilah’s bag. “You didn’t eat any breakfast. Take this.”
“Thanks.” Lilah surprised him with a kiss on the cheek, then dashed out the door.
“She’s really something,” Sophie said softly.
“Yeah, she is.” He was still warmed by the fact that Lilah had kissed him all on her own without any prompting. In front of her mother. That had to mean something.
To his relief, Sophie went back to bed after Lilah left, and he decided against a second cup of coffee. The only thing that would settle him now was his bees.
Chapter Nine
When Lilah got home from school Glenn was still busy with his hives. The careful work of opening up each hive, checking for a queen and assessing overall health. Bee season began with a bang as soon as the weather warmed up and the bees became active, but he could hardly find time for his own bees in the spring when every client was calling. He never had enough time.
“Where’s Mom?” Lilah surged through the gate, fending off Charlie, who wriggled with delight. She shed her backpack and plopped onto the grass next to an open hive, careful not to put herself directly in the bees’ flight path. “She said she’d be here after school.”
Glenn set down the cover of the box he’d just opened. He’d situated the hives far enough from the house that they wouldn’t cause trouble, but close enough where he could keep an eye on them. A good, dry spot at the edge of the woods that got morning sun and dappled shade in the afternoon. A fresh water source from the stream that trickled through the wetland and never entirely dried up, even in summer. The top of the hive was alive with bees, a good sign. He gave them a puff of smoke so they’d retreat. “She’s having lunch with a friend, said she’d be back around three.” Of course Sophie was late, when did she not disappoint?
Lilah ran a hand up and down along Charlie’s back, standing his hair on end. Back and forth until the dog turned inpuzzlement to lick her. She was quiet, but Glenn felt the sharp edge of her disappointment.
“Hey,” he said, “hand me that bee brush, will you. It’s on the ground over there.” His stomach had been in a knot since breakfast, remembering the way Lilah had looked at Sophie. The frank longing. No matter what he did or how long he lived, he would never be enough. Lilah would always yearn for her mother.
She retrieved the brush, but instead of handing it over, she began gently coaxing the bees off the top of the open box so he could lift out the frames.
“Want a veil?” he said. He hadn’t put one on since most of the bees were out foraging, but he had one at hand in case they got testy. You never knew.
“I’m okay right now.”
He stepped back to get out of her way. She was good with the bees, had a nice, quiet way about her. Bees got agitated when people were jumpy. “She’ll be back,” he said. “She wants to spend time with you. That’s why she’s here.” It pained him to say this, but it was true. And Lilah needed to hear it.
“I know.” She didn’t look up but her shoulders unbunched a little.
“Why don’t you go ahead and lift out a frame.”
She carefully lifted the corners of the outermost frame, drawing it straight up and out to avoid crushing any bees. “This one looks good.” She held it up high with the sun to her back like he’d taught her so they could get a look.
“Plenty of brood, that’s what we like to see. Looks like we’ve got ourselves a queen in this one.” With his hive tool, Glenn carefully scraped off the burr comb along the top of the frame that would gum things up if he left it. The bees would fill every space if you let them.
Lilah leaned the frame against the outer box, and together they inspected the rest. “A little light on honey,” he concluded, “but that’s okay. Now that the pollen flow’s started they’ll be fine.” He never got over the industry of this all-female work force. The drones, good only for mating, didn’t lift a finger around the hive. In fact, the female worker bees kicked them out in the fall. Shiftless males who would just take up space over the winter and gorge on honey.
He smiled to himself remembering how horrified Lilah had been when she learned that. “That’s so harsh! They just leave them to freeze to death out there?”
“They pretty much die of starvation first,” he conceded.
That was a few years ago. She was less sentimental now, which was a good thing. You couldn’t let your emotions get in the way with bees. Not every colony thrived. You had to sweep up the dead bees and go on.
He pierced a capped cell with his hive tool, and a drop of golden liquid oozed out. He held out the frame. “Go ahead and taste it.”
Lilah swiped a finger and brought it to her mouth. “Mmhm.” She smiled, and his heart eased a little that something so simple could still make her happy. He’d crack open every comb to get a smile like that. “You going to help me bottle again this year?”
“I always do.”
“Just checking.”
Charlie heard it first, the crunch of Sophie’s car turning up the driveway. He heaved himself up and trotted to the gate.
Lilah hesitated. “Do you mind if I go?”
Glenn waved her off. “Go on. She’s here.”
