Chapter 9 Calliope #3
“No,” I answered as we approached the first frame.
“They create clusters within the hive to keep themselves warm. Bees have the incredible ability to create winter bees, which are bigger and have a longer lifespan. They also kick the drones out during the winter to ensure there’s enough food for the colony to survive. ”
“What’s a drone?”
I opened up the observation window on the hive so he could see inside. There wasn’t much activity, not like there would be during the summer, but he still got to see some movement.
“Drones are the male bees. They don’t have stingers, and their sole purpose in life is to mate with the queen. When winter comes, they get kicked out of the colony, and generally die from starvation or the cold.”
Starbucks leaned over to get a better look. “What is with you and your obsession with animals that kill all the males? I feel like my dick should be walking on eggshells around you.”
I laughed. “Just doing research for when you piss me off.”
He turned his head up to give me a the fuck look. It only made me laugh harder. Standing he looked around my apiary. “I didn’t expect you to have so many, uh, stacks?”
“Frames or hives is the general term,” I corrected, closing the observation window.
I also had an observation hive that I took with me to local schools to do a bee demonstration with the students.
I’d even been to a couple of senior centers to talk to the adults about the benefits of bees and their lifestyle.
I rarely brought the observation hive to the farmers markets, because it was just one too many things for me to carry on my own.
I wondered off handedly if I could get Starbucks to come with me next summer.
“Different beekeepers use different frames. I went with the cheaper, less flashy versions. Each column has three to six framed boxes. I could go higher, but that would involve a stepladder and I prefer to keep both feet on the ground when caring for my bees.”
Starbucks chuckled. “You’re lucky your parents have such a large backyard.”
I nodded. “When I started out, I only had two very small hives and they were closer to the house. After I started to expand, I knew that I needed to spread out more. The trees back here provide natural wind protection too, and my mom’s expansive flower garden offers them plenty of food.”
I now had fourteen hives. It was a lot of work, but with expanding my honey business and with my new store, I was going to need the supply.
“I need to get you over to the club property. I already spoke to Demo about reserving a plot of land for us in the Square, but I have no idea what it is your bees will need or if you need one of those sweat huts in our backyard. The club has plenty of property so we can move elsewhere if we need to, but I thought you might like our house to be next to Dosia and Pumpkin’s. ”
His words did not shock me. I might have never stepped foot on club property in person, but I’d dreamed about it many times over the years. I even knew what the layout of our future home was going to look like.
“For now, I’ll need to leave everything here. We’re not moving into our home until the spring, anyway, so there’s no rush to figure it out. Eventually, though, I would like to move my bees closer to home, but like I said, that’s a future problem.”
Starbucks paused, shifting to look down at me. “And here I thought I was the one moving too fast and you’d tell me to slow down. I’m used to jumping in with both feet.”
“You forget that I’ve already been in this with both feet since I was sixteen,” I reminded him. “This isn’t too fast for me, Starbucks. I’m beyond ready to start our life together, and learn you for who you are, not just the man I’ve gotten to know in my visions.”
He took my face in his hands. I had to wonder if he even knew just how much I loved it when he did that.
“It’s hard to believe a week ago I didn’t even know you existed.
That you lived so close to me, and yet I was blind to your presence.
I’m not blind anymore, Winnie. And I want this, all of this.
Bees, bearded dragon, and even your horde of spirit animals that may or may not be plotting my death.
I’m all in.” He leaned down and pressed his lips to mine.
“Now, let’s hurry up here so we can get to our store.
I have plans for you tonight, and none of them involve working late to get your store ready for Friday. ”
Starbucks made to drop his hands, but I grabbed him before he could step away. Going up on my toes, I kissed him. “I’m all in, too,” I declared. “And keep in mind that my bees are not the only things we’re going to have to move and find room for.”
He raised an eyebrow. “Do you have a colony of spiders I don’t know about? Because I’m pretty sure spiders is where I draw the line.”
I fought to keep a straight face as I said, “You haven’t seen my sex toy collection yet, but trust me, we’re going to need more than a single nightstand.”
His arm snaked around my middle. “Fuck me, woman. Could you get any more perfect for me?”
Smiling, I shook my head. “Nope.”