Chapter 21
Kaiah snapped a few photos of the long line snaking down the sidewalk as she and Becca walked to the first of the garden tours.
“It’s official, Becca. Coral Cove Brightening Blooms is gonna be a huge success! Just look at that line.” She pointed toward
the few dozen people waiting to tour Mrs. Gordon’s rose garden.
“That’s not even the best part.” Becca rested her hand on Kaiah’s arm and lowered her voice. “We’ve already raised more than
five thousand dollars for the school, and it’s only Sunday. I think we’re going to exceed our goal.”
Kaiah grinned. “That’s amazing news. I bet that means you guys can renovate the lighthouse too.”
She took a few more photos before they took their place in line. “Your dad was so sweet to keep the girls today so we could
tour the gardens.”
“My dad loves to have the girls to himself. He likes to show them ‘boy things,’ as he says.” Becca made air quotes with her
fingers.
“What are ‘boy things’?”
“Oh, you know,” Becca began, waving her arms around. “Taking them to car shows, showing how to use a screwdriver, stuff like that. I walked in on him once with the hood of the car open. He was showing them how to change their oil.”
Kaiah laughed. “It’s never too early, I guess. I’m definitely not good at keeping up with car maintenance. Maybe your dad
can show me a thing or two.”
Becca laughed too. “I think my dad was hoping for a grandson, but he won’t admit it.” She faced the front of the line, and
her smile flattened for a fraction of a second.
Kaiah held her breath. The journalist in her wanted to ask her what she was thinking about, but the friend in her wanted to
respect her privacy. “My sister Kam just found out she’s expecting.”
“That’s awesome news.” Becca’s wide smile was back. “Her first?”
Kaiah nodded. “They’ve been trying for a while now. I’m so happy for her.”
“I love that for her.” Becca fiddled with the large diamond and gold band on her ring finger. “Brynn always said she wanted
a dozen kids, but Reid said he’d only agree to a half dozen.”
“A half dozen, huh?”
Becca chuckled. “You don’t like kids?”
Kaiah held her hands up. “I didn’t say that. But as the middle of five, along with another four stepsiblings, I can assure
you big families can be chaotic. And sometimes . . . sometimes kids get lost in the shuffle.”
“That makes sense.” Becca pulled out a tube of lip balm and smoothed it over her lips while the line inched up a few steps.
“I’d just like a couple more.”
Kaiah felt a twinge in her chest for her friend. “Don’t give up hope.”
“I won’t.” She stuck the lip balm in her pocket. “I’ve gotten all kinds of advice. It happens when you least expect it, blah, blah, blah.” Her lips tipped downward. “I just hope it happens at some point.”
Kaiah rubbed her shoulder.
“Now that I’ve brought the conversation down . . .” Becca gave her a somber smile. “What’s new with you?”
“Hayes texted me again.” Kaiah blurted the words out without thinking.
Becca’s dark eyes narrowed. “For real? What did he say this time?”
Kaiah grimaced and summarized the text messages. “He’s still trying to apologize, and he’s practically begging me to talk
to him.”
Becca’s dark eyes scrutinized her. “Does he know your email address?”
“Of course.”
“I know you want him to reach you if he has a story lead or wants to return George. But what if you told him you’re blocking
his texts? And he can only email you?”
Kaiah released a long breath in defeat. “That’s a good idea.”
“Seriously, block the jerk. If he really needs to find you, he’ll email you. And if you see his emails show up in your inbox,
you can scan the subject line and delete them if you need to.”
“Good point.”
They moved forward in line and purchased tickets for the garden tour, along with a map.
“I’m so thrilled with how this turned out.” Becca pointed to the map. “This is Mrs. Waterson’s garden.” She leaned toward
Kaiah and lowered her voice. “She’s known for her roses. Personally, I think my mom’s roses are even more spectacular. But
promise you won’t quote me on that.”
“I won’t.” Kaiah chuckled. “Let’s go through all the gardens, and I’ll take photos.”
They wandered through the large, picture-perfect yard, and Kaiah took photos of the rosebushes. She marveled at the rows of
flowers in every color of the rainbow—even multicolored ones. She knelt down and took several close-ups, capturing tight buds
to blooms spreading their petals to the sun, and even a few wide shots to capture the fullness of the foliage. Becca walked
through the beds, pointing out the most vibrant blooms for Kaiah to capture. Spectators ranged from ages five to eighty-five,
and all were marveling at the blooms sending their perfume into the warm spring sunshine. It was truly a gorgeous day for
a garden tour.
“Have you spoken to my brother today?” Becca asked while they moved on to the next garden, which belonged to Mrs. Phillips.
Kaiah sidestepped a group of teenagers who hurried past giggling. “No. Why?”
“Just wondering.” Becca shrugged, but her lips formed a grin.
They moved through the gate, and Kaiah spotted a few columns of tall white boxes beside a colorful spray of wildflowers.
Beehives.
They were beehives. With thousands of bees. Right here. In this garden.
She froze while Becca continued to walk farther ahead. After a few moments, Becca stopped and turned around, her expression
stoic. “You okay, Ky? Your face is as white as a sheet.”
Kaiah’s finger trembled while she pointed toward the hives. “I, uh, I don’t do bees. Or any flying insects, for that matter.
I’m allergic to bees, and wasp stings hurt to high heaven. So I’m terrified of all of them.”
“Oh?” Becca looked concerned as she glanced toward the hives and then back at Kaiah. “Oh no. I didn’t realize that.”
“Yeah, I had a bad reaction to a beesting when I was a kid.” Kaiah rubbed her arm as the memory flared in her mind, and her entire body started to shake. “I’m sorry, but I just can’t.”
Becca looped her arm around Kaiah’s shoulder in a side hug. “Hey, it’s no problem. There are plenty of other gardens to tour.
Let’s get you out of here.”
They continued following the map and touring gardens for the next hour. When they arrived at Blake and Sue’s house, they found
Astrid and Piper sitting at a table in the driveway, handing out cups of lemonade and homemade chocolate chip cookies to the
visitors.
“What’s going on here?” Becca asked as she and Kaiah approached the table.
Piper pointed to her grandfather. “We asked Grandpa if we could give out snacks to everyone who came to see Nana’s roses.”
“We made lemonade and cookies,” Astrid chimed in.
“Uh-huh.” Becca covered her mouth and whispered something to her father.
Blake, her father, shook his head. “We’re not trying to buy votes for best garden. They just wanted to hand out snacks.”
Becca seemed unconvinced, but she also helped herself to a cup of lemonade and a cookie.
Kaiah held up her camera. “Would you lovely ladies please smile for me?”
As if on cue, Piper and Astrid threw their arms around each other and sang, “Cheeeese!”
Kaiah captured several photos, including a few with the girls serving their customers. They were going to be an adorable addition
to the article. “Thanks, ladies.” She swiped a cookie and then followed Becca to a gate that led to the backyard.
They followed the slate path around the large house, then stopped at the edge of the yard. Kaiah glanced around in awe, taking in the two fountains, a row of benches, and the stone pathway leading to a large deck flanked by walls of rosebushes.
“Wow,” Kaiah gushed. Her eyes could hardly believe how vibrant Sue’s flowers were, and the variety of colors. “This garden is
phenomenal. Seriously, it should be on HGTV. It must have taken years to get it just right.” She grabbed her camera and captured
photos of visitors enjoying the view. “These flowers are breathtaking.”
“Right?” Becca asked. “Better than Mrs. Waterson’s.”
“By far.”
For the next thirty minutes Kaiah walked around the yard and filled her camera roll with Sue’s glorious blooms. A couple of
bees buzzed by her, and she tried to ignore them, despite the hair standing on the back of her neck.
Just ignore the bees. You’re a grown up, Ky! They’re here for the flowers, not you.
She took a few more photos of the roses and started back across the yard with Becca. “I think I want to try some of that lemonade,”
she said. “It looks really—”
Her words were cut off when she felt a sharp prick—a sting?—on her shoulder.
“I . . . I, um . . .”
Kaiah trailed off as she began to sway, her tongue beginning to grow thick and hot in her mouth.
Becca took her arm. “Ky? You okay?”
She felt another prick on her neck, then on her forearm. Pain radiated down her back, continuing to her arm and shoulder.
What was that?
She stopped short, and a wave of nausea washed over her as she felt the color drain from her face.
“Kaiah, you’re pale.” Becca’s voice shook as she led Kaiah to a bench. “Sit,” she ordered, and Kaiah complied. Worry fell over Becca’s face. “What’s wrong?”
“I don’t . . .” Kaiah dipped her chin down and found a waterfall of welts cascading down her right forearm. “Becca, I don’t . . .
feel well.”
Her head started to pound, and her throat felt thick. Suddenly she couldn’t swallow, and she could hardly breathe. It was
as if there was a large knot clogging her throat.
“B-Beck,” Kaiah stuttered. “I think . . . somethinth ith . . .” But her voice sounded funny. Her words were slurred. She wilted
back on the bench as she suddenly found it hard to breathe. She wheezed.
“Kaiah!” Becca pulled out her phone as her features were frozen in fear. “I think you were stung. Do you have an EpiPen?”
Her voice was full of panic.
Kaiah shook her head.
A man rushed over. “Do you need help?”
“Call 911,” she said before reciting the address. “My dad is out front by the table. Ask him to come back here.”