Page 109 of The Burbs and the Bees
“Will you two hurry up?” Tyler calls from downstairs.
“We’re coming,” I shout back.
Beck huffs. “Why are we late for everything?”
“Because we have two kids,” I holler out. Tyler mumbles curses. “Hey, no swearing in front of the kids.” I touch Alyson’s arm after she slips in her earrings. “All set?”
“All ready,” she says, sounding a bit breathless.
“Nervous?” I ask.
She tucks a strand of hair behind her ear. “A bit.”
“You’re going to do great. You know that, right?”
She nods, her eyes brimming with confidence. “I do.” She goes up on her toes and presses her soft lips to mine. Jacklyn coos and tugs at her hair. We laugh and break apart, heading downstairs to find Mom, Tyler, and Beck waiting for us. Mom beams at Alyson.
“You look beautiful.” They hug, and I usher everyone outside. Cluck circles the SUV. Yeah, I had to buy a new vehicle so I could accommodate my big family.
“He is not coming,” Alyson says, and Cluck crows at her.
“Why not? He plays a major part in the book, doesn’t he?”
“Jay…”
I laugh and shoo Cluck away. “Go find Princess Lay-A,” I say. He takes off, and I buckle Jacklyn into her seat. I try to help Perry into his booster, but he’s not having any of that. Like his mother, he hates to ask for help, but sooner or later, like Alyson, he’ll realize it’s okay to count on those who love you.
“Can we go already?” Tyler says. “I’ve got chicks to—”
“Disappoint,” I say and slide into the driver’s seat.
“Ha-ha. Very funny, old man.” I glance at Tyler in my rearview mirror. I’m so damn proud of the kid. After high school, he enrolled in agricultural college and now works the farm full-time with me—and yeah, he’s still a total pain in my ass, but I wouldn’t want it any other way. I turn my attention to Beck, who’s dreamily looking out the window. He’s in his last year of veterinary college, and we plan to put up a building on the property we took back from Charlie Miller, so Beck can also help out with our own cattle. Life couldn’t have turned out any better. Everyone I love lives close, and now with our kids sporting Dad’s and Jack’s names, it’s a way to keep the two men here, in our hearts.
“You okay, Beck?” I ask.
Tyler snorts. “He’s just missing Lily.”
“Who’s Lily?” I ask.
Beck punches Tyler in the shoulder. “Mind your own business.”
“Boys, come on now. It’s Alyson’s day,” Mom says. “Let’s all get along.”
Alyson smiles from the passenger seat, her cheeks a soft shade of pink and glowing. The last time I saw her glowing like that was…
“Push over,” Tyler says, shoving Beck, and I roll my eyes at my wife. Wife. It’s been four years, and I still can’t believe I get to call her that.
Every day she works the farm and parents our children with me, and at night when I don’t have her tucked beneath me, she loses herself in her writing.
I negotiate the road that leads to the town’s main street, and there is already a crowd lined up outside the bookstore. She wanted to have her first signing in our small town instead of the city, and I’m sure all of the residents of Farmington are here to support her tonight. She sure worked her way into a lot of hearts. But she also found herself here and is now taking over Jack’s traditions by setting up the haunted house at Halloween and hosting numerous weddings. She’s run off her feet, but she loves every minute of it.
I reach across the seat and give her thigh a reassuring squeeze. Her book is going to be a big hit. I should know. I read it, and it’s hilarious.
I finally find a parking spot, and my huge family slides from the car. Tyler carries Jacklyn inside, while Beck takes Perry’s hand. I laugh as the girls in the crowd stare with wide eyes. Those babies are like chick magnets, and I have to say, my brothers would both make amazing fathers.
We walk past the crowd, which takes forever as everyone wants to talk to Alyson. We finally get inside, and Alyson stops dead in her tracks, her hands pressed to her face when she sees the big display set up.
“I can’t believe this,” she says, tears filling her eyes. “This is a dream come true.”
