With a sigh, she patted her girl.“It’s a gorgeous day, Bibi.Lots of sunshine, and we discovered the queens survived the winter.It’s a good day.”
Better because she hadn’t received a single message from her family, and her research had shown nothing new.She no longer believed Lawson Malssum’s arrival was connected to them.It hadn’t taken long to discover that the man was exactly who he said he was.Jolie Malssum had posted several pictures of her siblings together, so he’d been easy to identify.
She’d also discovered that Lawson had served in the army for several years and now worked as a mechanic.Although he didn’t appear to have social media of his own, his sister had mentioned him several times, always in a positive light.
Dani didn’t want to admit to herself how long she’d searched trying to learn more about the attractive man.She’d overreacted to his presence and had been brusque, if not downright rude.
She could hear Frannie B’s chortle at that.If you aren’t rude to some idiot at least once a day, you’re letting them run right over you.
There were a lot of idiots in the world.Another good reason to have left the city behind.She knew the Malssums had had trouble with a few men since they’d inherited the farm, but Dani had been lucky.Her encounters in Vermont were invariably pleasant, even if they were few and far between.
Lawson Malssum wasn’t connected to her family.She hadn’t heard from them in over a year and doubted it would change.
Her parents and siblings weren’t known for their patience.If they’d been using Lawson somehow, they would have followed up after he failed to engage her in conversation.And in whatever plot they’d concocted to get her to marry the drip.Or a new drip, as Paul was probably long gone from their lives.
Dani’s imagination was mostly a good thing, but sometimes the conspiracy theories she created were so bizarre that they were ridiculous.Still, they kept her up at night with worries and fears.
She was such a mess.
“We’re better on our own, Bibi.You and me in our own corner of paradise.”
Tonight, she would believe that.Tonight, she’d catch up on the sleep that had eluded her.Nightmares about her family showing up.Fears that she’d succumb to pressure and do what they wanted.That she’d lose herself to the boring, staid lifestyle they were so proud of.
“I wish I had more of Frannie B’s gumption, Bibi.I’m a natural wimp, but at least I finally gathered enough courage to walk away from them and do my own thing.”
Bibi woofed and wagged her tail in approval, making Dani smile.“You’re right.This is the life for us.We don’t need any of that, and I certainly don’t miss a single thing.”
Which was sad.Surely was something wrong with her if she didn’t miss her parents.She didn’t miss her brother or sister, or the house where she’d grown up.
She hadn’t fit from the start.Her earliest memories were of Frannie B.In fact, all her positive memories were of her great-grandmother.
You’re different from them, Dani.That’s not better or worse.We all have to follow our hearts and our dreams.We’re just lucky that our hearts are more open than theirs and that our dreams are so much more fun.We’d be bored to tears with their dreams.So, live your life your way, Dani.Find what fills your soul and go for it.
Dani blinked back the tears that formed at the memory.She had dozens of similar ones.Frannie B had been all about finding your joy and using it to improve the world and make it a better place.She might have made a fortune in creating a cosmetics line, but there wasn’t a single fake thing about her.
Which made Dani think about her own life.
Having Paul propose to her in front of her family and their dinner guests had been the last straw.He should have known she hated being the center of attention.
They’d been on only three dates, all at restaurants where he’d asked for tables where they could see and be seen.
No private corners with soft lighting for romance.No focus on her at all.No concern about Dani not liking seafood, which had been the speciality at all three places.
It had all been about appearances.
He’d tried to kiss her when he’d dropped her at her tiny apartment after the third date, saying he’d like to come in and get to know her better.
She’d backed away from his kiss.Thanks for the dinner and the evening, Paul, but we both know we’re not looking for the same things in life.I’m sorry.Goodbye.
He’d brushed that away and said he’d call her.
A week later, he’d proposed at a dinner her mother had hosted for over twenty people.
Instead of answering, she’d walked away.Right out the door to her car.The blistering voicemails her family had left on her phone had cemented her decision to leave the city.
They’d been horrified and embarrassed by her behavior.Each one insisted she apologize and accept Paul’s proposal.No one asked how she felt or why she’d walked away, although they’d demanded that she fix things.
Instead, Dani had intensified her online search for a cottage and a piece of land where she could put her interest in running an apiary to good use.Less than two weeks later, she’d landed in Vermont.
