Page 86 of The Baby Dragon Cafe
Aiden finished patting the soil and stood. When he did, he noticed Saphira, and the moment he registered her, his eyes brightened, his lips spreading into a smile. There was such an expression of genuine joy on his face to see her that she was overcome with emotion.
In that moment, she felt loved. Even if he didn’t love her, for the duration of his smile, he at least made her feel like he did.
Saphira went to him. “What is this?” she asked, touching the white petals of the flowers he had just finished planting.
“It’s white wild indigo,” he said.
“Pretty.”
“It’s a strong plant,” he explained. “It can tolerate clay, gravel—even poor soil. It only needs occasional watering, but it can also survive droughts, or flooding. After the winter, it’ll go dormant, but then bloom again in the following spring.”
“Ooh, interesting,” she said, smiling. He looked shy.
“I know, I’m such a nerd,” he said, rubbing the back of his neck.
“No! I love your botanical knowledge.” She looked around at the white flowers. “They’re beautiful.”
“Incredibly so,” he replied, but he wasn’t looking at the flowers, he was looking at her.
She blushed, and then he turned back to the white indigo and said, “Useful, too. Look.”
There were more than a few bees attracted to the flower, pollinating. Sparky was steering clear away, scowling.
“Baby dragons hate bees,” Saphira said.
“The bees won’t bother them, and this way you don’t have to worry about any baby dragons ruining the fence or hopping over,” Aiden said, proud of himself. “They’ll stay in the middle of the playpen.”
“Oh my goodness! It’s perfect. Thank you.”
He was too sweet. She reached up and kissed his cheek. She would have kissed him properly, but then a bee buzzed by her, and she yelped. Saphira ducked behind Aiden, hiding.
“Don’t tell me you’re afraid of bees too?” Aiden asked, laughing.
“I’m not afraid!” she argued. “I just don’t like them! And I hate the buzzing!”
She clutched his arm tightly, watching from over his shoulder.
“It’s nothing to be afraid of, darling,” he said. “Look.”
He stepped toward one of the white wild indigo flowers, where a bee was pollinating. Appalled, Saphira watched as Aiden touched one of the bees.
She screeched, shutting her eyes tight.
“Let me show you,” Aiden said, taking her hand.
“No, no, no!” she cried, as he pulled her forward. “I’m good! I amsogood.”
Still, she let him bring her toward one of the flowers, where a bee sat on a white petal. Her heartbeat quickened with fear, and she braced herself as Aiden held her finger up, bringing her closer and closer to the bee.
She squeezed her eyes shut.
“Saphira, open your eyes,” Aiden said, voice soft.
Slowly, Saphira pried her eyes open. With gentle hands, Aiden brought her finger to the bee, petting it.
The bee was fuzzy, like a little puffball. It didn’t mind being petted; it was minding its own business, unbothered.
Saphira released her breath, shocked. Aiden was right. There was nothing to be afraid of.
