I sat on the edge of a deck lounger, my legs folded beneath me. I tugged the hem of Alistair"s shirt down over my knees in an unsuccessful attempt to cover my bare thighs. The heavy veil draping down past my shoulders pulled at one side of my headdress, constantly forcing me to straighten it atop my head. Occasionally, I caught whiffs of smoke drifting around the corner.
I lost track of how many minutes I had been waiting while I watched the dwindling number of bees roaming the patio, my own private countdown to when the beekeeper would call for me to come help capture the hive. I figured the fewer bees on the patio, the closer I was to being finished. I did not like bees.
Finally, he poked his head around the corner. “Come on back, but be careful not to trip.” He disappeared back around
