She wasn’t sure if it was Astrid or Aunt Mags or Aunt Camellia that screamed—maybe it was all of them. They’d done it. They’d won.
“Go on, Tansy, Aunt Camellia,” Astrid whispered, her hand pushing her forward.
“I can’t.” Aunt Camellia waved aside the hand she offered. “You go on. Make us proud.”
Her legs were so wobbly, she didn’t know how she made it to the stage. But she did. She made it and she was smiling and hyperventilating all at the same time.This is really happening.
“Congratulations.” Miss Hinojosa got her to hold an oversize ceremonial check, turn and take a picture. “We’re so excited to be working with you. Not only did we love the flavor of your honey, I’m excited to be working with an all-female-owned honey farm.”
“Thank you,” Tansy managed, shaking the woman’s hand.
“Congratulations.” The woman from Wild Fire Honey was trying to not look too disappointed as she shook Tansy’s hand.
“You did it.” Dane’s hands were warm around hers. “Congratulations, Tansy.”
“I can’t breathe.” But the words were a garbled mess. She’d hoped, sure, but she hadn’t believed it would happen. And yet... “I can’t believe it.”
Dane let go of her hands to clap. “You’ve earned it.”
And just like that, it was over. Tansy forced the family onstage to pose for what felt like a million pictures before she answered questions from a local paper and a beekeeping magazine, but she had no idea if she’d made any sense. She and Miss Hinojosa exchanged numbers and emails and parted ways.
“Let me look at it.” Aunt Camellia held the check up and kissed it before passing it to Aunt Mags.
“Don’t smudge it.” Aunt Mags stared at it, cradling the check in both hands. “One tiny slip of paper and all the world is right again.”
“Isn’t it wonderful?” Astrid asked, tears streaming down her face. “I can’t stop crying.”
“Happy tears are okay.” Tansy hugged her close, her heart picking up when she saw Dane, Leif, Shelby and a few others coming their way.
“This is so exciting.” Shelby hugged Aunt Mags, Bea balanced on one hip. “I’m so proud of you-all.”
“It affects you, too.” Aunt Mags touched the tip of Bea’s nose. “You’re both Bee Girls now.”
“That’s quite an honor.” Van nodded, still holding on to Camellia’s hand—Tansy noticed.
“We wanted to congratulate you.” Dane stepped aside for his father.
“Oh.” She swallowed. “Hello, Mr. Knudson.”
“We want to give you this.” Dane held out the Texas Viking Honey check. “It likely doesn’t cover the income you lost as a result of...”
“My actions.” Harald Knudson finally spoke up. “But, please, take it.” He spoke directly to Camellia.
Tansy blinked, staring at Dane.What was happening?
He shrugged, a crooked grin suddenly creasing his handsome face.
All Tansy could do was watch. Poor Aunt Camellia stared at the man, expressionless. Harald Knudson, on the other hand, was a little too expressive for Tansy’s liking. He could pine over Aunt Camellia all he wanted, but he’d missed his chance with her.
She glanced back at Dane and frowned—who laughed.
“You have my word that your recipe will never be used again,” Harald added. “Please accept my deepest and most sincere apologies.”
“I hope she doesn’t.” Aunt Mags took the check. “But we will accept this.”
It took considerable effort for the man to stop staring at Aunt Camellia. When he did, he turned to her and Astrid. “Tansy, Astrid. I am sorry for accusing you the night of the fire.”
“You did what?” Aunt Mags’s eyes narrowed to emerald slits. “You spineless weasel of a man.”
