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“Is she right here in Petaluma?”
“Yes. Do you know where Cramer’s Cheese and Winery is?”
“Yeah, I’ve taken Seraphina there on a date or two.”
“Oh!” I didn’t have a clue that he had a female companion. If even Dwight can find love, then it shouldn’t be impossible for me to do the same. “Okay, well, it’s the second farm before the turn-off.”
“All right.”
“Do you want me to give you the address?”
“No, the bees—or at least their carcasses—will call to me.”
I pull the phone away to avoid him hearing my laughter while I shake my head and grab the bridge of my nose.
But once I collect myself, I say, “Okay. Sounds great, man. Thank you. I really appreciate it.”
“I’m not doing it for you. I’m doing it—”
“Yeah, for the bees. I get it. Well, thanks anyway. We’ll see you tomorrow evening.”
Dylan walks in as I hang up. “Well?” he asks.
“The guy is a certified weirdo. But he’s going to do it.”
“That’s great. Mina’s going to be so excited. Is it okay if I go over there quickly to tell her the good news?”
“Fine. But hurry back. We still have to drive home.”
“Right.”
***
“Hey, stranger!” Mae shouts through my window the following evening. She looks gorgeous, as usual, and I think I must be developing a thing for female farmers. Or at least, women who look like they’ve been exerting themselves all day. That must be it because the only other explanation is that I’m starting to fall for Mae Dale, and that cannot happen.
“How’s it going?” I ask her.
“Pretty good. So, when should we expect this friend of yours to come?”
“Dwight—uh, he shows up when he feels like it.”
“I see.” She shoots me a smile and again, I feel that zap of attraction shoot through me.
“Oh, and I had a follow-up conversation with him today. He’s going to bring this special suit that a man from Wales developed after a friend of his suffered an allergic reaction while visiting his hives. I guess it’s thicker than normal suits or something. So, Mina will be extra protected once the bees arrive.”
“Wow, thanks for thinking of that.”
“Of course.” I’m not getting soft for this woman, I tell myself. I can’t become soft for her.
“That sounds kind of expensive. How much do I owe you?”
“Don’t worry about it.”
“Are you sure? I know I don’t have stable employment right now, but I don’t want to be a charity case.”
“You’re not. It was such a nominal price. It wouldn’t even be worth it to Venmo me or whatever.” That isn’t exactly the truth. It cost me almost two hundred dollars, but continuing to get in her and her family’s good graces will have me seeing multiple zeroes behind that number in no time once the condos are built. So, I see it as a small investment in the future.
“Okay, if you’re sure.”
