Page 86 of The Lighthouse at the Cove
They wandered through the large, picture-perfect yard, and Kaiah took photos of the rosebushes. She marveled at the rows of flowers in every color of the rainbow—even multicolored ones. She knelt down and took several close-ups, capturing tight buds to blooms spreading their petals to the sun, and even a few wide shots to capture the fullness of the foliage. Becca walked through the beds, pointing out the most vibrant blooms for Kaiah to capture. Spectators ranged from ages five to eighty-five, and all were marveling at the blooms sending their perfume into the warm spring sunshine. It was truly a gorgeous day for a garden tour.
“Have you spoken to my brother today?” Becca asked while they moved on to the next garden, which belonged to Mrs. Phillips.
Kaiah sidestepped a group of teenagers who hurried past giggling. “No. Why?”
“Just wondering.” Becca shrugged, but her lips formed a grin.
They moved through the gate, and Kaiah spotted a few columns of tall white boxes beside a colorful spray of wildflowers.
Beehives.
They were beehives. With thousands of bees. Right here. In this garden.
She froze while Becca continued to walk farther ahead. After a few moments, Becca stopped and turned around, her expression stoic. “You okay, Ky? Your face is as white as a sheet.”
Kaiah’s finger trembled while she pointed toward the hives. “I, uh, I don’t do bees. Or any flying insects, for that matter. I’m allergic to bees, and wasp stingshurtto high heaven. So I’m terrified of all of them.”
“Oh?” Becca looked concerned as she glanced toward the hives and then back at Kaiah. “Oh no. I didn’t realize that.”
“Yeah, I had a bad reaction to a beesting when I was a kid.” Kaiah rubbed her arm as the memory flared in her mind, and her entire body started to shake. “I’m sorry, but I just can’t.”
Becca looped her arm around Kaiah’s shoulder in a side hug. “Hey, it’s no problem. There are plenty of other gardens to tour. Let’s get you out of here.”
They continued following the map and touring gardens for the next hour. When they arrived at Blake and Sue’s house, they found Astrid and Piper sitting at a table in the driveway, handing out cups of lemonade and homemade chocolate chip cookies to the visitors.
“What’s going on here?” Becca asked as she and Kaiah approached the table.
Piper pointed to her grandfather. “We asked Grandpa if we could give out snacks to everyone who came to see Nana’s roses.”
“We made lemonade and cookies,” Astrid chimed in.
“Uh-huh.” Becca covered her mouth and whispered something to her father.
Blake, her father, shook his head. “We’re not trying to buy votes for best garden. They just wanted to hand out snacks.”
Becca seemed unconvinced, but she also helped herself to a cup of lemonade and a cookie.
Kaiah held up her camera. “Would you lovely ladies please smile for me?”
As if on cue, Piper and Astrid threw their arms around each other and sang, “Cheeeese!”
Kaiah captured several photos, including a few with the girls serving their customers. They were going to be an adorable addition to the article. “Thanks, ladies.” She swiped a cookie and then followed Becca to a gate that led to the backyard.
They followed the slate path around the large house, then stopped at the edge of the yard. Kaiah glanced around in awe,taking in the two fountains, a row of benches, and the stone pathway leading to a large deck flanked by walls of rosebushes.
“Wow,” Kaiah gushed. Her eyes could hardly believe how vibrant Sue’s flowers were, and the variety of colors. “This garden is phenomenal. Seriously, it should be on HGTV. It must have taken years to get it just right.” She grabbed her camera and captured photos of visitors enjoying the view. “These flowers are breathtaking.”
“Right?” Becca asked. “Better than Mrs. Waterson’s.”
“Byfar.”
For the next thirty minutes Kaiah walked around the yard and filled her camera roll with Sue’s glorious blooms. A couple of bees buzzed by her, and she tried to ignore them, despite the hair standing on the back of her neck.
Just ignore the bees. You’re a grown up, Ky! They’re here for the flowers, not you.
She took a few more photos of the roses and started back across the yard with Becca. “I think I want to try some of that lemonade,” she said. “It looks really—”
Her words were cut off when she felt a sharp prick—a sting?—on her shoulder.
