Another star pulled her in. Andre's first day at the police academy. The weight of purpose settling on his shoulders. Not just a job but a calling. To protect. To serve. To stand between danger and those who couldn't defend themselves. She felt his pride, his determination, the certainty that this was who he was meant to be.
Andre's presence surrounded her, and she knew he was experiencing her with the same intensity. Understanding flooded between them. The cosmic space began to pulse with their heartbeats. Two rhythms finding synchronization. This connection would live beneath their skin, behind their eyes, between their breaths. They would walk through the world as two people but never again alone.
The last thing she experienced before the vision released them was complete understanding. She knew Andre down to his atoms. And she knew he held the same complete knowledge of her.
When the vision faded, they were tangled together in his bed. Joy could feel Andre inside her now, a warm presence that would never leave.
Chapter
Twenty-Seven
Three months later,Andre stood on the porch of their expanded cottage, watching his sister's car drive up the main ranch road. The late morning sun filtered through the pine trees, casting dappled shadows across the gravel drive.
"They're almost here," Andre said, opening the door of the workshop.
"I'm so excited to show Tommy the bees," Joy said, stepping outside into the warm light. Her hair caught the golden rays as she shielded her eyes to watch the approaching car.
Andre glanced toward the bee yard where thirty-six hives stood in neat rows, twelve more than the twenty-four that had burned. They'd spent the last three months rebuilding the hives and expanding Joy's tiny home. The original structure remained at the heart, but now it connected to a proper bedroom, a real kitchen, and a guest room.
Andre's heart jumped as the car door slammed and a small figure in a bright red jacket bounded toward him, his sister Megan hurrying to catch up behind him.
"Uncle Andre!" Tommy launched himself forward. "Are the bees awake? Can we see them now?"
Andre caught his nephew in a bear hug, feeling something warm and full settle in his chest. "Hey there, mountain man. They've been waiting for you."
Tommy squirmed down, his serious brown eyes taking in everything at once—the expanded house, the bee yard stretching beyond, the goats in their pen. "It's bigger than in the pictures!"
"We've been busy," Andre said, pride creeping into his voice. This place, this life they'd built together—it was something worth showing off.
Megan approached more slowly, carrying two-year-old Lucy on her hip while four-year-old Jake clung to her free hand. Behind her, Cliff emerged from the driver's seat, lifting a diaper bag and cooler from the trunk.
"Sorry we're a bit later than planned," Megan said, looking slightly frazzled. She shifted Lucy to one arm and gave Andre a quick hug. "Lucy had a meltdown about leaving her stuffed elephant at the cabin, and we had to go back."
"No worries at all," Andre said warmly.
Lucy immediately reached for him with both arms, babbling "Ankah! Ankah!"
"There's my girl," Andre said, gently taking Lucy from Megan. The toddler settled against his chest with a happy sigh.
Cliff stepped forward, pulling Andre into a brief hug before turning to Joy with a warm smile. "And you must be Joy. I'm Cliff. It's wonderful to finally meet the woman who's made my brother-in-law so happy."
"Same here," Joy said warmly. "Andre talks about you and the kids constantly."
"Thanks for making the trip,” Andre said. “I know it's not easy traveling with three kids."
"Are you kidding?" Cliff grinned, ruffling Tommy's hair. "This is the adventure of a lifetime according to this one. He's been practicing 'bee walking' around our house—moving super slowly and talking in whispers."
Joy laughed. "Well, he's got the right idea. Want to come see the whole operation? We've got plenty to show everyone."
They started with the bee yard, of course. Tommy practically vibrated with excitement as Joy helped Tommy and Jake into the tiny blue bee suits, they'd ordered specially for their visit.
"Remember what we talked about?" Andre asked, adjusting their veils. "Slow movements, gentle voices."
"Like I'm visiting sleeping giants," Tommy recited solemnly.
While Tommy and Jake got suited up, Cliff held Lucy, who babbled at the bees from a safe distance.
"There's so many!" Jake exclaimed. "Are they making honey right now?"
