Page 82 of Lovebug
Wait, sugarmaking? No. He’s a sugarmaker,but it’s syrup making. Whatever.
“That’s… interesting,” I say slowly. “But I was asking more about your use of the word partner.”
“Oh.” He casually tosses a lock of sandy hair off his forehead. “Well, we’re all looking for a partner, aren’t we?”
He gives me a pointed look. I’m getting really tired of this guy being so cryptic.
“Um, sure. I guess? But a tree?”
“Course.” He shrugs and gestures to my honeycomb display. “Surely, you know a thing or two about partnering with nature.”
What on earth is he…
“Bug Lady!!” a sweet little boy voice calls and shakes me out of… whatever is happening between Wally and me. Are we fighting? Flirting? Philosophizing?
“Holden buddy, hey!” I turn and squat down, and he runs right into my arms. “So happy to see you, pal!”
“Can I finally have a honeycomb?!” Holden pulls back and asks with a huge gap-toothed smile. He’s been excited about this festival and tasting his first honeycomb this whole week.
“Of course you can! You know the scoop! All you have to do is have your mommy sign the ‘Save the Bees’ pledge at my booth and—”
“Will Daddy’s signature do?” a handsome guy who looks a heck of a lot like Holden says from a few feet away. He strolls up to us and reaches out to shake my hand. “Holden’s father, David,” he declares proudly, then points at the tiny baby strapped to his chest. “And Holden’s little brother, Carl.”
Carl. Hm. An odd choice for a baby. Maybe it’s a family name.
“Wow, hi!” I say a bit too enthusiastically. “It’s so nice to finally meet you. I’m—”
“Mabel. The bug lady, I know.” He cuts me off. “Holden never stops talking about you.”
“That’s not true, Daddy!” Holden says with pink-tinted cheeks. “Sometimes I talk about arachnids.”
“That’s true, pal. Sometimes you do talk about arachnids.” He faces me and answers the unspoken question on my lips. “Renée is getting some much-needed ‘me-time’ at home.”
“Oh, good,” I say. “She has seemed a bit stressed at drop-off lately.”
“She has been, yeah. So I’m babysitting the boys today.”
I take in the expression of pride on his face, then ask, “Wait, how can you be babysitting if you are the dad? In this case, shouldn’t it just be called… dadding?”
His face falls. Oh, shoot. Should I not have said that? I’ve definitely lost my polite filter today.
“I, uh… Yeah, uh. I guess you’re right.” He laughs awkwardly, then breaks the tension by addressing someone over my shoulder. “Hi there. Are you Mabel’s boyfriend? Husband?”
“I am. Hi.” A male voice rumbles from behind me.
I whip my head around to see Wally flashing his megawatt smile and sidling up next to me, just before his heavy arm wraps around my shoulder. I’d completely forgotten he was there. Why was he hovering over me like that? Though I suppose in all fairness, I was the one hovering in front of his booth.
“Which one is it?” Holden’s father chuckles as the two men shake hands. “Boyfriend or husband?”
“Yes” is Wally’s weird response.
“What?!” I squeak and make a quick escape from underneath his meaty arm. It falls down heavy at his side. “No. No, he is not my husband! Or my boyfriend! He’s… he’s my…”
Silence.
“I’m your what, babe?” he prompts. Then he immediately turns serious when our gazes lock. “What am I to you, Mabel?”
Time stands still for a moment.
