Page 9 of Like Bees to Honey
“Oh.” It was all she could manage. Today was turning out to be full of all sorts of surprises.
“Earlier? I should have come right out and said I don’t like Harald Knudson.” He ran his fingers through his thick salt-and-pepper hair.
“I picked up on that, Van.” She smiled, she had to.
“I figured as much.” The corner of his mouth quirked as he shook his head. “Do you remember what I said? About how you deserve a man that will treat you right—”
“Take an interest in me and be there for me, no matter what?” How could she forget what he’d said, or the way he’d said it?
“I should have come right out and said I was talking about...me.” Van took a deep breath. “If you’ll have me, that is.”
Camellia couldn’t move. “You?”
“Now you know. I’m not entirely unbiased when it comes to you and Harald Knudson. I felt the need to make that clear. I’ll do my best to respect whatever decision you make.” His smile was as warm as ever. “I guess I’ll let you get back to those cookies now.” He turned and ambled toward the steps.
Her head was spinning, her heart clipping along so fast she feared it might burst right out of her chest.He’s leaving. Camellia sucked in a deep breath. “Were you really in the neighborhood?”
Van paused, turning on the top step. “No.” He chuckled. “My nerves got the best of me.” He nodded at the camellias. “Those came into the store and I wanted you to have them.” The look he gave her almost made her knees give way. “I can’t see a camellia without thinking of you, Camellia Hill. And thinking of you makes me smile...always.”
Camellia was still standing on the porch, holding the pink camellias, long after Van’s truck had disappeared from sight.
CHAPTER FOUR
CAMELLIASIPPEDTHEchamomile tea Astrid had made for her, hoping its purported calming benefits would take effect—any minute.
“I think she should wear her hair up.” Tansy gathered up Camellia’s curls, looking at the reflection in the vanity mirror. “It shows off your neck.”
Did she want to show off her neck? Camellia blinked at her reflection.
“I like it down.” Astrid shook her head. “She always wears it up. This is...different.” She brushed aside her sister’s hands. “She has such lovely hair. I mean, your neck is lovely, too, Auntie Camellia.”
“Thank you,” Camellia murmured.Differentwas the word of the day.I’m going on a date. That was definitely different. If thinking the words made her break into a sweat, how would she make it through the date without turning into a nervous puddle?
“I think you should ask her. Shouldn’t they, Bea?” Shelby lay sprawled across Camellia’s big four-poster bed, Bea cooing and wriggling atop the quilt beside her. “What do you think, Aunt Camellia?”
“I have no idea.” Her giggle sounded more like a squeak. She took a sip of tea.
“You don’t have to be nervous.” Tansy squeezed her shoulder. “It helps that you know he likes you.”
“Not that he deserves you.” Mags sat on the edge of the bed, interjecting her thoughts on the whole dating thing as she saw fit.
“No one deserves her.” Astrid smoothed Camellia’s hair. “But a good man, the right man, will never stop trying.”
“Which dress did you decide on?” Shelby slid off the bed, Bea on her hip, and held out the skirt of the pink flowered dress, then gave the navy blue dress a once-over. “They’re both lovely.”
“And new.” Mags sighed.
Camellia’s gaze met her sister’s in the mirror. “You were the one that told me to buy both of them.”
“Because you look beautiful in both of them.” Mags pushed off the bed and joined Shelby, holding out her hands for Bea. “I just hope you’re dressing up foryou, not him. He’d be lucky to get you in your house slippers and coveralls.” She smiled down at Bea. “Wouldn’t he, Bea?”
Bea smiled and clapped her hands.
“Now, that would make quite an impression.” Tansy laughed.
“We’d have to record his reaction when the door opens so we could send it to Rosemary.” Astrid was smiling as she picked up the hair iron and began working Camellia’s curls into silky shoulder-length waves.
“I wish she was here.” Camellia missed her youngest niece—they all did. “Not that she’d enjoy this much.”
