Bibi barked, and they looked up from where they were eating oatmeal drizzled with honey for breakfast.
Lawson moved to the front window.“Delivery van.”
“My bees.”
Lawson shook his head.“I can’t believe bees get sent in the post like a regular package.So weird.I wonder if the driver knows what’s in the box.”
Dani laughed.“Both the bees and the driver are perfectly safe.It’s not like it’s a live crocodile.”
After Dani signed for the delivery, they headed to the garage to gather the materials she’d need.She slipped the bees and a few tools into a backpack.Before she could put it on, Lawson took it and slung it over his shoulder.She’d never had a high school boyfriend who carried her book bag, but this had the same giddy thrill she would have felt back then.As promised, she’d texted Jolie and Amber, letting them know the bees had arrived, and they would be at the field within the hour.
The family vibe hit her hard.Again.
This was what family was supposed to be like.
She squeezed Lawson’s hand and then stopped.“I’m going to call Evelyn.”
His eyebrows shot up.“Now?”
She grinned.“Now.I’m feeling like I’m part of a family right now.Your family specifically.I’d like to include her in that.Maybe she’ll want to watch as well.”
Lawson nodded.“Good idea.And if she’s busy, you still have a few more bee packages coming.Maybe she can be there for one of them.”
“That might be even better without all the new people.”But she wanted to follow through on the idea and see if her sister would pick up.She made a video call.
In only moments, her sister answered, makeup perfectly in place, wearing a pink suit jacket and a softer pink blouse.It looked like she was in an office, but Dani didn’t know the company headquarters well enough to see if it was there.“Daniella?Wait, sorry.Hello, Dani.”
She remembered and was trying.Dani would do the same.“Hi, Evelyn.We got interrupted when you were here, but I thought you might be interested in seeing a little of my property.”
Evelyn’s eyes widened, and she smiled.“I’d like that.I can tell you’re outside.Is this where you keep your bees?”
Dani nodded.“We’re almost there.I’m here with Lawson and Bibi.”
She angled the phone, and Lawson nodded.“Hello, Evelyn.”
He didn’t growl, and she knew it had to be hard for him.
Her sister’s manners were impeccable as she responded.“Hello, Lawson.It’s nice to meet you.”
Dani angled the camera toward her dog.“And this is Bibi.”
Evelyn smiled softly.“She’s a beautiful dog.”
Dani pulled the phone back to her face.“She is.Very sweet-tempered for the most part.”
Evelyn’s face tightened, and Dani realized she might have taken that as a dig.Bibi had been anything but even-tempered when they’d met in the driveway.
Dani moved on, hoping to explain.“A new batch of bees arrived today, and I’m going to show Lawson how to start a new colony.”
Lawson dug the bees out of the pack and held it up, making Evelyn’s eyes widen.“You get bees in a box?”
Dani laughed.“Delivered by mail.We’re going to start a new colony in a new field, but I thought I’d show you what the working apiaries look like.”
They arrived at Beatrice’s field, and Lawson turned to her.“Why don’t I take the phone?That way, you have free hands to show things to your sister.”
Grateful that he wanted to help her connect with her sister despite his suspicions of Evelyn’s husband, she nodded, and they moved to the apiaries.
Evelyn gasped softly.“Shouldn’t you have on one of those big suits to protect you?”
