“Too hot for bees?”
“Too hot for me.”
“Then you should get into the shade. Or inside the house.”
“The house is shade.” He frowned as if trying to make sense of his own words. “Sun?”
“Come on, Dad. Before we both get heatstroke.” She linked her arm in his and walked him back along the fence line toward the house. “How are your bees?”
“Buzzin’.” He grinned. “Makin’ honey.”
“Cooper wants to help you with them.”
“Cooper?”
“You know, the one with green hair.”
“Where’s Cooper?”
“Helping Mom in the kitchen.”
“My mom?”
Jewel glanced at him. “Honey, your wife.”
“Oh, yeah.” He nodded like he got this, but she assumed he was just playing along.
“How are you feeling?” she asked.
“Feeling?” He pursed his lips. “Okay.”
She decided to push him a little. “What does okay feel like?” Maybe it was futile, but she still felt if she could get him to think, it might help stave off this devastating, brain-invading disease.
“Okay.” He nodded vigorously. “Okay is okay.”
“Right. So do you know what today is?” Cooper had gone over the date with him at breakfast this morning.
“Today,” he answered.
“Right.” She couldn’t help but smile. Her dad’s best defense was attempting to be clever. And since it worked sometimes, why should she question it?
“It’s sure hot today.”
“Hotter than...” He frowned as if trying to remember the rest of what he wanted to say.
“Hotter than a revenuer’s pistol?”
“Yeah. Hotter than that.”
A movement on the other side of the fence caught her eye, and she recognized Miguel walking toward them. She grimaced,realizing this could turn into a mess. She made a cautious wave, hoping he might rethink this encounter, but he continued toward them.
“Hey, neighbors,” he called out.
Dad growled. “What doeshewant?”
“Just saying hello,” she told him, smiling toward Miguel. “Hey there.”
“I was about to call your mom,” he said to Jewel, “but then I saw you out here and thought I’d talk to you in person.”
