Chapter 15
15
Honey
CT seemed more tired than usual the next morning, but Honey suspected it was from this little heat wave they were having. It was taking its toll on her too. “You didn’t eat your banana,” she reminded him when she found him in his recliner watching True Grit for what must’ve been the hundredth time—this year. Of course, he didn’t really “watch” it. He just let it play, taking in bits and pieces. She supposed it was comforting because the characters and scenery were somewhat familiar.
She peeled the banana and handed it to him. “It’s good for you.”
He just grunted but took a bite. She sat down across from him, trying to think of a conversation topic that wouldn’t frustrate or confuse him. “It’s gonna be hot again today.”
He nodded as he chewed.
“I don’t remember June being this hot before.”
“June?” He frowned.
“Yes. It’s June. Supposed to be in the high nineties today.”
“High?” He looked at the ceiling.
“Really hot,” she clarified.
“Yeah. Really hot.” Suddenly his eyes grew wide. “My bees.”
“They’ll be running their fans,” she reassured him. Back when he had all his bearings, he’d told her how the worker bees would use their wings like fans to cool the hive. Like an organic AC.
“Water.” He tried to put the footrest down on his recliner but couldn’t get the lever to work.
“You want a glass of water?” Honey asked.
“I can get it,” Cooper offered as she came down the stairs.
“No.” CT raised a shaky hand. “Bees. Need water .”
Cooper came over. “You water the bees, Grandpa?”
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 the footrest 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.”
“I didn’t get a chance to ask how your date with Aaron went last night.” Honey poured milk on her granola.
“First of all, it wasn’t a date.” Jewel sat down at the table. “Not in my mind, anyway.”
“What about in his mind?” Honey carried her bowl to the table and sat across from Jewel. “Didn’t you two used to date?”
“Mom used to date that guy with the pickup?” Cooper asked as she came into the kitchen.
“Good morning, Cooper.” Jewel tossed Honey a warning look. “I saw you out there with the bees. They don’t intimidate you?”
Cooper answered with an eye roll, then swiped an arm across her forehead as she yawned.
“You okay, sweetheart?” Honey asked her granddaughter. “Did you sleep well?”
“I guess. It was so hot up there, it took a long time to get to sleep.”
“Sorry about that.” Honey shook her head.
“Speaking of heat, I’m looking into getting some kind of AC,” Jewel told them. “Aaron recommended a guy.”
Cooper filled a cereal bowl. “Is that the dude you used to date?”
Jewel rolled her eyes. “He’s just the contractor setting up Grandma and Grandpa’s new house.”
“You sure that’s all, Mom? You guys looked pretty cozy yesterday.”
Jewel seemed aggravated but simply sipped her coffee.
“Is he your new boyfriend?” Cooper’s tone grew teasing.
“Mr. Hanford owns the manufactured house company,” Honey told Cooper. “I doubt there’s anything serious between him and your mother.”
“But he took her to dinner,” Cooper persisted.
“Yes, Coop, he took me to dinner,” Jewel said. “I’m trying to stay in his good graces. At least until the house is in place.”
“So you’re manipulating him?” Cooper had a mischievous twinkle in her eyes as she poured milk on her cereal.
“No,” Jewel stated firmly. “I’m just trying to keep things running smoothly. For some reason, he seems interested in renewing our friendship. Anything wrong with that?”
Cooper shrugged. “No, of course not. Just curious. Don’t overreact.” She held up her bowl of cereal. “I’m going to go eat this with Grandpa. He’s not as touchy as some people.”
Jewel made a snorting noise that made Honey laugh. “Family dynamics,” Honey said quietly. “You never know quite where they’re headed.”
“That’s for sure.”
“But she makes a good point. You’re not manipulating Aaron, are you? I mean, it’s impressive how fast the wheels of progress are turning on this new house business, but I hate to think you’re using your womanly wiles on him.”
“Womanly wiles?” Jewel frowned. “Are you serious, Mom?”
“Not too serious. Just curious.”
Jewel let out a long sigh. “To be honest, I had my own doubts. But I’m trying to keep everything with him aboveboard. If he takes my friendship as something more, that’s his problem.” She lowered her voice. “I’m curious though. Do you know anything about Miguel’s deceased wife? She was Aaron’s baby sister, and he seems to hold her death against Miguel. Is there a reason for that?”
Honey thought about this for a moment. “I do know there’s some bad blood between them, but honestly that’s all I know. And only because Marta confided to me once. Miguel never speaks of it.”
“Well, I think it’s a sore spot.” Jewel bit her lip. “And I saw Miguel and Anna last night, you know, when I was with Aaron. And it felt sort of awkward.”
Honey slowly nodded. “Well, you weren’t doing anything wrong. It’s too bad Aaron isn’t on friendlier terms with the Oroscos. Especially for his niece’s sake. Anna is such a sweet girl.”
“Yes. Miguel feels bad about the estrangement too.”
“Miguel told you about it?” Honey was surprised.
“Not in great detail. But he mentioned it.”
“You and Miguel seem to get along pretty well.” Honey peered curiously at her daughter, hoping to glean more information.
“The Oroscos are good neighbors.” Jewel carried her empty mug to the sink. “And it’s so great that Anna and Cooper are becoming friends.”
“Yeah, I think both girls were lonely.”
“Hopefully the friendship will help Cooper get used to living here.” She rinsed her coffee mug and set it in the dishwasher. “Now I’m going to check the irrigation system on the lavender field to make sure that leak is fixed. Want me to water your garden while I’m out there?”
“I already asked Cooper to take care of that.” Honey sipped her coffee. “I’m afraid you girls are going to turn me into a lazy old woman.”
“Fat chance of that.” Jewel laughed. “We just want you all better before you start trying to run the world again.”
Honey smiled. “Cooper barely let me work in my own garden yesterday. She was like a mother hen, making me sit in the shade while I told her what needed doing. She seems like a natural gardener.”
“Maybe your DNA got passed down.”
“I don’t know. But I do think you’ve raised a very sweet girl, Jewel. You can be proud of her.”
Jewel seemed surprised. “Really? Green hair and all?”
“I guess mothers are the last ones to know they did well, eh?” Honey lifted her coffee mug like a toast. “By the way, I’m proud of you too.”
Jewel leaned over and kissed her mother’s cheek. “Thanks, Mom.”
As she watched Jewel head out to the field, Honey resisted the urge to get up and get busy herself. She might as well enjoy this quiet moment while she had it. Because she never knew when craziness would break out again.