Queen Bee (Lowcountry Tales #12)(38)

“No.”

“You do realize you could make yourself more attractive than you do. And I mean that in the nicest possible way.”

“Why in the world would I change my looks? I mean, who’s looking at me?”

“Because, one, you never know who’s looking. And two, a good haircut and a little bit of makeup sends a message.”

“What does it say? For a good time, call Holly? Can we talk about something else?”

“No, you big dope. I’m just thinking, you don’t know who’s coming to the wedding. There might be someone there for you. And if you show up looking like hell, that fabulous guy will be lost forever!”

“I do not look like hell! And I’d be shocked if I liked any of Sharon’s friends.”

Momma waddled into the room and sat at the kitchen table.

“I don’t think I’d like any of her friends, either,” Momma said. “And Archie’s friends are probably too smart for you.”

“Momma!” Leslie said. “You couldn’t possibly have meant for that to sound as mean as it did.”

“What?” Momma said. “What did I say that was so terrible?”

“It’s okay,” I said. “I’m used to it. I think what she means is that they all have Ph.D.s and I’d feel inadequate around them. They’d be talking about some obscure stuff I couldn’t possibly know and I’d be embarrassed with my lowly B.A.”

“Just because someone has a huge amount of knowledge on a particular subject doesn’t mean they’re a genius,” Leslie said. “And for what it’s worth, I think you have as much raw horsepower as anyone I’ve ever met with a Ph.D.”

“Thank you, sister,” I said. “I think.”

“I’m just thinking that why not go get a great haircut, get your makeup done, buy a great dress, and let Archie know what he’s missing.”

“I don’t like to relive the past, but I did precisely that for your wedding, Leslie, and then your lovely father showed up with Lola,” Momma said. “What’s for dinner?”

“Seafood vegetable stew,” I said.

“Put in extra potatoes for me,” Momma said. “Never met a carb that I didn’t like.”

“Okay,” I said.

“But, Momma, you looked so great in all the pictures,” Leslie said. “Holly, it might be fun to get all glammed up. What do you think?”

What did I think? The thought of it made me nervous, that’s what. I felt like makeup and fancy clothes draw attention to you, and I wasn’t comfortable with attention. But how long had it been since I’d dressed up?

“Well, I might do it just for the fun of it, but I wouldn’t be doing it to try and get Archie’s attention on his wedding day. That’s for sure,” I said. “That would be gross.”

“Let me handle it,” Leslie said. “I still have some friends in the beauty business around here and I still have a few friends on King Street.”

“Okay, I’m going out to check on my bees,” I said.

“I want you to look fabulous in Archie’s wedding pictures,” Leslie said, calling after me.

“You’re such a good sister,” I heard Momma say.

Outside, I told my bees what was happening as I gave them some more water. They were buzzing all around me as though they were paying attention. I was excited to have the boys for a week, but I wasn’t excited that this wedding actually appeared to be happening. Then I sheepishly told them about Leslie’s proposed makeover. I decided I might as well go along with her scheme because otherwise she’d nag me to death until I did.

I looked over to Archie’s house and saw a window screen come sliding down from the second floor and hit the azaleas below. I looked up to see Hunter sitting on the roof. He had climbed out of the upstairs window. He waved at me with a big grin. I ran over to his yard in a total state of panic.

“Just what do you think you’re doing?” I called up to him.

“I’m sitting on the roof!” he called back.

“Crawl back inside this instant!” I said. My heart was beating against my rib cage.

“Don’t want to,” he said. “I’m protesting!”

“Why?” I said.

“Dad’s not taking me on his trip to Bermuda! That’s why!”

“But it’s his honeymoon!” I said. “You’re staying with me!”

“I want to go to Bermuda!” he said.

“That’s not how this works,” I said.

“Tyler said Sharon was marrying into our family and the honeymoon is to celebrate it. If that’s so then we, Tyler and me, ought to get to go, too.”

I almost couldn’t argue with that logic.

“You’ll understand when you’re a little bit older,” I said. “But your dad’s right. You boys should not be going on his honeymoon.”

“Why not?”

My heart was pounding. Where was Archie?

“Because it’s just for the bride and groom! Now go back inside and don’t ever let me see you on the roof again!”

He crossed his arms and gave me an angry stare.

“Hunter? Don’t make me call the fire department!”