Page 4 of Honey Be Mine
Everett nodded, his jaw clenched tight. He wasn’t the quick-to-temper type, but today was testing that. Rather, Mayor Dennis Hobart was testing that. Still, better to be relieved at the truth than riled up over the way the man had presented things to Everett. He took pictures, made some notes on his phone, and walked Hobart back to his office before climbing into his truck. He hadn’t had time to check in with his office this morning, so as he drove back to Honey, he called his office.
“Morning, boss.” Libby Owens-Baldwin, his recently hired secretary, answered on the second ring.
“Morning. I’m headed to the office now. Anything I need to know about?”
“Nope. Pretty quiet.” She paused. “Everything okay?”
“Yep. Had to make a run to Alpine Springs before I came in.”
“I must have missed that on the calendar. Okay, I’ll make a fresh pot of coffee.”
“I’d appreciate that.” He disconnected and let the drive soothe his nerves. Until he reached his office, he wasn’t going to think about Mayor Hobart, the paint splatters all over the park, or the phone calls he’d have to make. He turned on the radio and scrolled through the stations. Nothing worth listening to. He flipped off the radio and peered out the window.
The late August sun had turned things mostly brown and brittle. An occasional sunflower stood defiantly amid the dry grasses, swaying in the still-balmy breeze. A few Hereford cattle grazed in a nearby field. There were a couple of handmade signs along the roadside advertising this weekend’s farmers market before he drove past the You’re Entering Honey Country sign. By the time he parked in front of the county courthouse, he’d relaxed.
Libby looked up from her computer as he stepped into the office. “Hey, boss. I put the paper and your messages on your desk. I’ll get you a cup of coffee.”
“Thank you.” He headed for his office, but his phone pinged so he paused and pulled it from his pocket.
A text from his sister, Jenny.
We missed you this morning, but thanks to one of the Bee Girls for bringing over the onesies for the baby goats, Gramma Dot isn’t mad at you.
Damn.He’d forgotten. Once Mayor Hobart called, picking up knitted onesies from the Hill place was the last thing on his mind.
Then an image popped up on his screen. He’d expected to see Astrid or Tansy—not Rosemary. Rosemary Hill. Rosebud to him. He swallowed, staring closer at the picture. She hadn’t changed. She was still as beautiful as he remembered. His Rosebud.
Nope. Not mine.She’d never been his.
In the picture, she and Jenny were laughing as they each held up a onesie-clad goat kid. Gramma Dot and his mom grinned alongside them. They all looked so happy, he found himself smiling.
“Aw, how cute.” Libby stood at his side, a mug of steaming coffee in her hands but her eyes on his phone screen. “Who is... Is that Rosemary Hill?”
“Looks like it.” He closed the image and tucked the phone back into his pocket. He’d expected her to hightail it out of Honey now that her aunt’s wedding was over—not drop by to visit his mother, sister, and grandmother. But from the looks on their faces, the visit had been a good thing.Today’s been full of surprises.
“I guess she came to town for her aunt’s wedding.” Libby had a thoughtful look on her face. “Probably not staying for long, though.”
He shrugged.
“You don’t know?” She smiled up at him. “I always thought you two were close.”
“We were. I guess. Sure.” He frowned. “I mean we are...friends.” Friends that had only talked a handful of times the last twelve months or so.
Her brows rose, and her smile grew. “Right.Friends.” But the emphasis on the last word was a little too pointed to miss.
“Good morning, Everett.” Lorna Franks, his education and outreach facilitator, opened the door. “Libby.” There was a hint of frost in her voice.
“Lorna,” Libby gushed, her smile bright. “How are you? Did you bring your adorable baby?” She paused, giving Lorna a once-over. “You’re getting your figure back. Good for you.”
Lorna opened her mouth, then shook her head. “Everett, this will be a quick visit. Do you have a moment?”
“Of course.” He opened his office and stood aside, a sinking feeling settling into his stomach. He nodded his thanks as Libby pressed the cup of coffee into his hands, then pulled his office door shut behind him. “What can I do for you?”
“It will never not be weird to walk in here and seeher. Why did you hire Libby Owens?” This was a whisper. “Wherever that woman goes, she leaves a wake of destruction behind her. And no, I’m not exaggerating. She and her sister love nothing more than to stir up trouble. You don’t need that here, in your place of work—or in your life.”
He sat on the edge of his desk and crossed his arms over his chest. “She was the only qualified applicant.” This wasn’t the first time he’d gotten a talking-to about hiring Libby. There was plenty of talk about the Owens sisters, he knew that, but the applicant list had been short. As in Libby and one other person. What choice had he had? All he wanted was someone who’d show up for work, do their job, and be pleasant. So far, Libby had done just that. “I’m thinking you didn’t come in just to ask me about my secretary?”
“No.” Lorna sat in one of the chairs facing his desk. “Everett, I’m here to give you my two-week notice. I need to be home right now—I hope you understand.”
