Honey thought for a moment. “Oh, I remember now. He puts out a tray of water for them on a hot day. With pebbles in it.”
“Yes.” He nodded eagerly, still trying to stand. “Water for bees.”
“You stay here,” Honey told him. “Cooper and I can get it.”
He was still fumbling with the recliner as Honey led Cooper through the kitchen and onto the back porch. “I use a couple of old cookie sheets,” she explained. “I think they’re out here.” She dug around a cabinet until she found them. “Then you line it with pebbles and fill it with water.” She handed Cooper a bag of pea gravel. “But not above the tops of the pebbles.”
“Why?”
“So the bees don’t drown. They can land on the pebbles, get some water, then take it back into the hive.” Honey could hear CT yelling at her from the house.
“Like a bee pond. Cool!” Cooper readjusted her grip on the cookie sheets and pea gravel. “I can set it up.”
“Thanks. Just set them in the shade of the hives. And check on them throughout the day, if you don’t mind.”
“Do I need to wear the bee suit?”
“Grandpa never does. Not for just this. But if you’re uneasy, I think you should.”
“No, I’m fine. I like the bees. So that’s all? Just put the cookie sheets out there?”
“That’s it. And thank you.” Honey patted her back and turned to face the house where CT was still hollering. “I better go check on your grandpa before he has a conniption fit.”
By the time she got back to the living room, CT had somehow trapped himself in the recliner. With one foot stuck within thefootrest and the other on the floor, he looked like he was about to topple over.
“Sit back down,” she commanded him.
“I can’t,” he yelled at her.
“Then let’s pull your foot out of there.” She attempted to balance him, but he refused to extract his foot.
“Can’t!” he yelped.
“Looks like you need help,” Jewel said as she came into the room. “Here, let me take one side and you take the other, Mom.” Together, with some tugging and pulling, they managed to free CT’s foot and get him back into the chair. But he was breathing heavily with the excitement.
“Cooper is tending to your bees,” Honey reassured him.
“Huh?” He looked bewildered and she realized he must’ve forgotten about the bee water by now.
“Never mind.” Eager for a distraction, Honey pointed to the TV screen. “Hey, there’s John Wayne.”
“Rooster,” CT corrected her.
“Oh, that’s right. Rooster Cogburn.” Honey exchanged looks with Jewel.
“Did you have breakfast yet, Mom?”
Honey considered this. She had fixed CT a bowl of instant oatmeal, but it hadn’t appealed to her. “I had coffee.”
“You need to eat something,” Jewel told her.
“You’re probably right.” Honey followed her daughter into the kitchen. “Have you eaten?”
“I had a bowl of cold cereal,” she said. “I got up early to go out and take a good look at where they’re going to start excavating for the manufactured home. Just wanted to be sure we really picked the best spot yesterday.”
Honey reached for the granola cereal. “I thought it seemed like a nice location. Not too far from the house but enough to feel separate. Is there a problem?”
“I don’t think so. It actually looks pretty great. You’re going to love the wide-open view you’ll get from your front porch.” Jewel poured a cup of coffee. “Guess it’s just nerves.”
