As I passed through Mount Pleasant, whose fast-growing population was being watched by urban developers across the country, I began to wonder about myself and my life in general. Seemed like I was doing that sort of wondering more and more often. It wasn’t that I was so miserable or so ungrateful or even jealous of Leslie. It was just that I wondered how a girl like me could ever make her life mean anything.

Chapter 2: Bee Calm

“Hunter? Did you know honey bees have pockets on their legs to store pollen? It makes them weigh fifty percent more by the end of their day.”

“What? They need to go to Weight Watchers!”

“Oh, Hunter.”

Chapter Two

Bee Calm

Somewhere between leaving the hospital and arriving at Publix to buy groceries, I made a decision. I was going to invite Archie MacLean and the boys over for dinner. Why not? Carin had been in heaven for long enough for him to enjoy some female company without feeling guilty. And with Momma in the hospital—they were keeping her overnight for observation and to run some tests—the timing was perfect. I was excited about the possibilities of company, daydreaming that the boys were mine and wondering what it would be like to be married to a man ten years older than I was. I didn’t even unload my car or take the groceries inside. I was so excited, I’d even coughed up the money for store-bought flowers, a rare indulgence. And, the weather felt a lot cooler than it had been in the morning, which I took as a good omen. In fact, everything seemed like a good omen.

I marched right up their front steps, crossed the porch, knocked on the door, and waited.

Archie answered and, of course, Tyler and Hunter were right behind him, nearly colliding with each other as they sock-skated toward the door across their gleaming heart pine floors. Archie, whose longish hair was sexy as hell, was wearing corduroy pants, a plaid shirt, and a thin cardigan, looking every inch the kindly and distinguished professor that he was. He reminded me of Alexander Skarsgård. I mean, break a sweat.

“Well, hi, Holly,” he said. “Would you like to come in? How’s your mother?”

“Oh, no, thanks; she’s fine. Nothing broken. Her doctors wanted her to stay the night just to be sure she’s okay.”

“Well, that’s good news,” Archie said. “I’m sure you’re relieved, too.”

“Of course,” I said.

“Mith Holly!” Tyler shouted. “Come see my map of Italy I’m drawing for extra credit!”

“Cool it, Tyler,” Archie said.

I smiled and said, “I was just thinking, wouldn’t it be nice if y’all came over for dinner?”

“Well, thank you! I was just going to order a pizza for the kids.”

“Well, I’m making chicken and mashed potatoes with little green peas. Nothing fancy.”