Smiling, I took her hands in mine and gave them a squeeze. “Don’t even worry about it. I heard you had a busy season of your own here on the farm.”
She nodded and motioned for me to have a seat in the small area she’d set up for folks who wanted to buy homemade treats or have a cup of tea with fresh honey. This area of the store was my favorite. It was so lovely, and I longed to do something like this in our little shop, but I hadn’t found the time to get it done yet.
The area was decorated in a quirky style that screamed Arabella. The four tables were made from old wooden wine barrels and had the most adorable white iron chairs scattered around them. Antique chandeliers hung above each table, giving off the perfect glow for ambience. In the corner was a long bench with a comfortable cushion where you could sit and read a book or work while enjoying whatever yummy treat Arabella and her mom, Sharon, had come up with that day. A large white antique table that looked like it was straight from old-timey France sat in front of the corner bench to offer a place to put drinks or food. Fresh flowers from Sharon’s beloved garden were always on the tables.
“It’s been so insanely busy,” Arabella said as we both sat down on the cushioned bench. “I heard the orchard has had a good fall as well.”
“We have had a good fall, which is nice. We’re still a bit busy, but as it gets colder, things are slowing down.”
She exhaled and looked out the window. “Thank goodness we have the store here. The hives have all been wrapped up for winter, so there are no more tours, but the store is still a big hit. Especially since we teamed up with Karen Rogers to help make the food we’re serving.”
That made me sit up straighter. “Bree’s mom is doing catering now?”
Arabella nodded her head in excitement. “Yes!”
“Even with running the Willow Tree Inn, she has time for catering?”
“Apparently so. She was the one who approached me about adding more items to our menu, and I couldn’t say no. She hired another person to help her in the kitchen. I’m keeping it simple since we’re still small, but it’s been a very successful partnership so far.”
“Oh, Arabella, I’m so happy for you. I know you’ve been wanting to make the bee farm so much more than just an apiary.”
“Well, Daddy really is the one who manages all the hives. I reap the benefits of what the bees produce, and I just embellish a bit.”
I couldn’t help but chuckle. “You do more than embellish. That picnic basket you made up for Aiden was a huge hit.”
She dug her teeth into her bottom lip and then busted out with, “I can’t take it anymore. What is going on with you two? Are you together?”
I felt my cheeks burn. “Yes.”
“Oh, Willa. I know how much you’ve cared for Aiden through the years. You’ve got to be on cloud nine.”
I sighed in an overly dramatic way that had both of us chuckling again. “I’m so over the moon, Arabella. And Ben simply adores him. A part of me thinks maybe we’re moving a bit fast, but I feel like he’s been gone for so long, and now that he’s back, I selfishly want him all to myself. I’m half tempted to ask the man to marry me!”
Arabella tilted her head. “You should. Ask him to marry you.”
I waved her off. “We haven’t been together long enough to go down that road. We have a few things to work through, and Aiden has his own bad memories he’s attempting to conquer. He’s partnering up with another SEAL to start helping others deal with traumatic instances.”
“Like other soldiers?” she asked.
I shook my head. “No, he doesn’t want to limit it to only soldiers. He’s really just at the beginning stages of all this, but I can see it in his eyes…he’s very passionate about it, and I think it will do him good. He needs to keep his mind busy. When he’s alone, he thinks…and that stirs up memories he needs to learn to deal with.”
Arabella stared at me for the longest time before I placed my hand over hers. “Bell, are you okay?”
“What?” she asked in a whisper.
“Are you okay?”
She smiled. “No, I’m great. I’m fine. I was just thinking how hard it must be for Aiden. I can’t even begin to imagine what he’s seen.”
All I could do was nod in agreement as those two words swirled around in my head. “I’m fine.”
“So, to what do I owe the honor of your visit?” she asked.
It was clear she was ready to move on from our conversation, so I did just that. “I need more honey for the Brussels sprouts I’m making for Thanksgiving, as well as some beeswax candles. The tapered ones, if you have them.”