“Ready?” Alice asked.
“Jules, it’s so busy here. You sure you have time?” Horatio asked, casting a glance around the store.
“Go,” Lacey called as she passed through with a tray. “We can spare you an hour.”
“Horatio! Nice to see you again,” Dad called.
“Nice to see you too, Mister Dayton. Mind if I borrow Julie for a bit?”
“Take an hour, Julie. We’ve got you covered. Oh! And I have something for you. I almost forgot.” Going behind the counter, he pulled out a bag and handed it to me.
“What is it?” I asked.
“Ice skates. They belonged to your mother. You’re the same shoe size, right? Don’t you remember when she used to take you down to Lily Hill Park? You went every winter when you were a kid…well, until Mom’s back started to give her problems. You know she wanted to be a professional ice skater? She was part of the Chasing Stars skate team. I just found her trophies and photos the other day when I was packing some things up.”
Chasing stars. I slowly unwrapped the package and looked at the ice skates. They were white and decorated with faded silver stars. All at once, memories of my mother and me ice skating flooded over me like they’d been unlocked from somewhere deep within my memory. All these years I thought she’d wanted me to play it safe because that’s what she did. I’d either forgotten or never knew that she, too, had wanted more. And in that moment, I understood my mother in a way I never had before.
“Do you remember how to skate?” Horatio asked.
I shook my head. “No, but I’ll try,” I said then started pulling on my coat. Following behind Rayne and Alice, Horatio and I headed outside.
Main Street was closed to traffic and had been transformed into a winter wonderland. The snow and ice sculpture competitions were well underway. Fat snowflakes drifted downward. A sleigh pulled excited revelers past, the jingle bells ringing merrily. Across the street, Milt Row and the other husbands of the coven witches were standing around a bonfire as they sold Christmas trees from a lot just near The Grove.
“Where’s Viola?” I asked.
“Stuck,” Horatio answered. “Falling Waters is booked.”
“We’ll get her out today yet, if I have something to say about it,” Rayne said, gazing longingly toward the restaurant, his eyes twinkling. I looked from Horatio to Alice. Neither of them seemed to notice the expression on Rayne’s face.
“You going to spend the whole day on your butt again?” Alice asked Horatio jokingly.
“Hey, I spent the week practicing so I wouldn’t look like a total failure in front of Julie. Thanks for completely shattering the image.”
Alice laughed. “Sorry!”
Rayne sighed heavily then turned his gaze from the restaurant.
Walking arm in arm with Horatio, my mind got busy.
“And just why are you grinning like that?” Horatio asked, leaning in to kiss my cheek. “My sweet,” he added, nibbling my ear.
“Oh. No reason,” I said, but I was already thinking through the recipes in the box. My heart was brimming with love. I wanted everyone to feel just like I did. Maybe Rayne and Viola just needed a push in the right direction.
Well, that was nothing a magical cupcake couldn’t solve.
The Bee Charmer
The Chancellor Fairy Tales, Book III
When your heart makes a wish, even impossible dreams can come true
Viola
After years of working for my family’s business, I’m finally back in college and ready to chase my dream of becoming a perfumer. It seems like the stars are all aligning when Chancellor College invites a preeminent French fragrance expert to speak at a symposium. Everything is working out just right, as long as I can continue to ignore my growing feelings for a certain hippie beekeeper. That, it seems, is turning out to be easier said than done.
Rayne
The elders sent me on a mission to Chancellor to help Alice, owner of the local bagel shop, find true love. So far? Well, not so good. The bees and I have to double up our efforts if we have any hope of helping our girl find the road to happiness. While I know Alice should be my priority one, my heart, however, seems to have a mind of its own. If I could just get Viola Hunter out of my mind, I could focus on my task. That, it seems, is turning out to be easier said than done.
“All our dreams can come true, if we have the courage to pursue them.”
- Walt Disney
Chapter 1: Rayne
The sound of the honey bees buzzing all around me was sweeter than any Vivaldi concerto I’d ever heard. I sat lotus style in the apple orchard, inhaling the sweet scent of the apple blossoms. My eyes closed, I could feel the white petals falling on me as a soft wind sent them spiraling. The warm spring sunlight shone down on my face. It must have been almost noon. The rays of sun felt warm on my skin. I listened to the bees hum as they danced from flower to flower. Perfection. I inhaled deeply, and with each exhale, set my enchantments on the wind:
Bring a love for Alice.
Now is the time.
Bring a love for Alice.
One that’s finer than wine.
Wine? Not a very good enchantment, and not a very good rhyme. No wonder Alice was no closer to meeting the man of her dreams than she’d been the day I met her three years ago when I’d gotten my assignment.
Wine…of course it would be wine. Ever since I’d set eyes on Viola Hunter, the dark-haired wine heiress who just happened to be the sister of my best friend, I’d been distracted. I imagined her skipping nymph-like through the apple orchard under the spring sun. Imagining, however, was as far as I’d ever taken anything. Viola Hunter, whose family’s vineyard sided my small country farmhouse, had already friend-zoned me. There was little use pining over a woman who just wasn’t into me. After all, Alice was supposed to be my focus. I needed to shake Viola from my thoughts. Poor Alice. I was doing my best, but she still wasn’t where she was supposed to be. I needed to try harder.
I shut out all thoughts of Viola Hunter and set my mind on Alice once more. I tuned into the sounds of nature: the humming of the bees, the rustling of the new leaves, and the feel of the warm sunlight on my skin. This time, I lifted the willow wand sitting in my lap and gave it a wave as I intoned:
Over hill, over dale,
Through brush, through brier,
Over park, over pale,
Through flood, through fire
Bring Alice her love!
This time when I said the enchantment, I could feel the magic. A little sound, like the chiming of a hundred small bells, told me that the spell had worked. I could almost see my words glimmering like gold on the wind, twisting and turning upward toward the sky in search of the one who would bring Alice’s heart joy.
I opened my eyes and looked down at the wand. For a moment, I wished I could just give it a wave and have everything I wanted. But that wasn’t how this worked. Whatever I wanted, I was going to have to work for it. Good thing I didn’t need much. But the moment I thought it, Viola came to mind once more.
My phone, lying in the grass beside me, buzzed. I picked it up to see I’d received a text from Alice. So soon? When I opened the message, however, I was perplexed.
Crisis, she’d written.
What’s wrong? I answered back.
Dumped again. Bring chocolate.
I sighed heavily. When Alice started dating Tom, Chancellor’s local sheriff, I knew it wasn’t meant to be. He wasn’t a bad guy, but they were completely wrong for one another. And I also knew that uniting Alice with her true love meant that Tom would have to go away. But that fast? Wow, maybe I was getting better at this than I thought. Or maybe, it was just time.
On my way into town now. I replied.
There was no answer. It was the midday lunch rush at Alice’s bagel shop. No doubt that would keep her busy, her mind occupied. I frowned. Also, it was the worst time of day to get dumped.
“Time to get to work,” I told the bees. They stopped the
ir tasks then and swarmed, making a passing spiral around me, from my feet to my head. I could sense their questions, their excitement.
“Help me?” I asked. “Help me find the one for Alice?”
With an excited buzz, they flew off happily. I had no doubt they’d do everything they could.
“Thank you,” I called behind them then headed out of the orchard.
My old pickup sat waiting near the barn. Shielding my eyes with my hand, I gazed across the horizon at the row after row of vines owned by Viola’s family’s business, Blushing Grape Vineyards. I could just make out the roof of the Hunter family’s elaborate mansion sitting along the shore of Lake Erie. So close, but so far away. I sighed and looked out at the lake; the waves were dark blue that morning. The wind blowing off the lake was still cold, even though it was April, but I could feel the earth coming back to life. Spring had come again.
I picked up the cases of honey I’d packed up earlier that day and set them in the back of my truck. Sliding into the driver’s seat, I glanced once more at the Hunter family mansion. Where was Viola today? Working at the estate? Was she busy at the family restaurant downtown? Or was she over at the college where she’d started taking classes once more? The image of her laughing and running through the orchard played again through my mind.
Alice. I needed to focus on Alice.
I lifted my phone again. Still no reply from Alice.
“Sorry, Alice. I’ll try to do better. Looks like you’re stuck with the worst fairy godfather ever.”
Chapter 2: Viola
“For next class, be sure to finish the equations on pages seventy-six and seventy-seven and prepare for your exam on chapter thirty-two,” Professor Wallace said, scribbling on the board.
I quickly scrawled the assignment down in my notes while wondering when in the world I was going to get everything done. I needed to give up sleep. That was all there was do it.
I cast a glance at Meredith who was sitting beside me.
She shook her head. “And in a few weeks, finals. Are we having fun yet?”
“Of course,” I replied with an eye roll. But the truth was, as hard as it was to work and study, I was having fun. In fact, I was the happiest I’d been in a long time. My first three years of college had been amazing. My grades had been great, I’d made lots of friends, and I was starting to get a good grasp on where I was going in life. And then, Mom had died and my world had fallen apart. Dad needed my help at the family business so I’d set my goals aside to help out. But then everything just snowballed. Dad took Mom’s death hard. It changed him. And little by little, I found myself running more aspects of Blushing Grape Vineyards than I’d ever intended. I didn’t mind my family’s business. In fact, I actually loved enology. I loved to create new vintages, new flavors. It wasn’t a far leap from my true passion, which was perfumery. But that passion had been put on hold. I didn’t want to play the role of wine heiress any more than my brother Horatio had wanted to play a wine baron. But, thank goodness, those darker days were over now. My dad was back to his old self, taking over aspects of the company once more. My brother had a new job, a new girlfriend, and a new life. And me, I’d reenrolled in college and was just coming to the end of my first semester back. In a year, I’d have my degree and be able to start chasing my dream.
“See ya,” Meredith called then headed out.
I waved to her then finished packing up my things.
“Viola?” Professor Wallace called.
Hoisting my bag over my shoulder, I approached the podium. Professor Wallace was a slip of a man, perhaps my father’s age, with thinning white hair. He was touted as one of the hardest chemistry professors on campus, and while the work was tough, I knew I was learning a lot. I wanted to understand the science of what I was doing, and a degree in chemistry was just what I needed. While other students in the class were, no doubt, studying to become doctors or scientists, my motivations were much different, and Professor Wallace was one of the few who knew about my passion.
“Professor?” I asked politely.
“Thank you very much for preparing the programs for the symposium. I know our department administrative assistant appreciated your help.”
“Anything, professor. The symposium is going to be a wonderful event,” I replied. In was, in fact, honored when Professor Wallace asked me to help out in preparation for the chemistry symposium that would be held that week. If working at my father’s company had taught me anything, I knew that networking was a key to success. Wherever people were doing things I was interested in, that’s where I needed to be. And this week, that was the research symposium.
“Oh yes, oh yes. We have some really excellent minds coming in. The sister city group is sending a delegation from Japan. I think your brother is working on the sister city event?”
I nodded. In addition to the research symposium, this was a busy week in Chancellor. Every spring, Chancellor celebrated its relationship with our sister city, Narashino, Japan. And this year, my brother was organizing the festivities. “Yes, Horatio is overseeing that project. He’s organizing the Cherry Blossom Ball.”
“Very good,” Professor Wallace said with a nod. “Now, Miss Hunter, I was hoping I might ask your help once more?” he said as he slipped his yellowing lecture notes into his worn, brown satchel.
“Of course, professor.”
“As you know, we’ve got a number of scholars and professionals coming in from all around the world to deliver papers. There is one gentleman, however, I think might share your interests. Luc Beaumont is a scholar from the Provence area. He is a chemist, of course, but his main business is—”
“Luc Beaumont? The perfumer? From the Beaumont brand?” I asked, unable to control my excitement.
The professor smiled. “You’ve already heard of the Beaumont family. I had assumed so.”
I smiled. “I…I studied all the French perfumers. I was hoping, one day, to study abroad in France at a perfumery.”
“Yes, I remember reading that in your reflection essay. Seemed serendipitous, I thought. Now, would you be willing to meet Luc Beaumont? He’ll arrive in Chancellor tomorrow. The college has lodged him at Lavender Fields Bed and Breakfast. In your guise as both a student and a Chancellor notable, would you be willing to show him around? The college is rather keen on impressing him. The Beaumont family would certainly prove excellent benefactors to our college. And it was President White who suggested I ask your help.”
Caught. Definitely no way to say no now, not that I would anyway. “Of course, professor. Tell President White I’m happy to help.”
Professor Wallace nodded. “Good, good. Here is his information,” he said, handing a paper to me. “I’ll let him know to expect you.”
“Of course.” This was a golden opportunity. Monsieur Beaumont was a preeminent perfumer. His family had been in the business of crafting fragrances for hundreds of years. And he had several apprenticeship programs.
“Very well, very well. Thank you, Viola. Oh, and well done on your research paper. Your analysis of bee pheromones was very well researched.”
“Thank you,” I said, smiling. “I’ll check in with Monsieur Beaumont tomorrow. Thank you, and President White, for the opportunity.”
He nodded then turned back to packing up his bag.
Clutching the paper, I walked out of the classroom. Well, my Hunter name had put me under the spotlight once more, but I could hardly be angry. More than anything, I wanted to study perfumery in France. Meeting Monsieur Beaumont and charming the pants off him was just the chance I needed—though it wouldn’t have to go as far as actually pants off. Luc Beaumont was probably my father’s age. What I was really going to need was the hospitality of a wine heiress mixed with the charm of a Disney princess.
I pulled out my phone, turning the volume back on since I’d set it on silent for the duration of the class. When I did, however, I saw I had a text from Alice.
Come to the deli when you have a chance?
Just out of class. You okay?
No. Can you come?
Yep. On it like a bonnet, I replied back then hurried out of the chemistry building and across the campus green. It was a beautiful spring day. The wind blowing off Lake Erie was crisp and fresh. The air smelled sweet. I could smell daffodils and hyacinths in the air. Lovely. I stuffed the paper Professor Wallace had given me into my bag and walked toward town, which sat at the bottom of the hill along the lakeshore. From this viewpoint, I could see all of Chancellor, including Falling Waters, the restaurant my family owned. I had enough time to stop by Alice’s deli before I needed to get ready for work and the evening dinner rush. I sighed. I loved Chancellor, but I was ready to do what I wanted to do. No doubt I would miss it here when I went to Provence for an internship at Beaumont perfumery.
Chapter 3: Rayne
The engine rods in my old truck knocked a few times after I switched off the ignition. I hopped out and grabbed the boxes I’d stored in the back. Heaving up the box of goods, I walked into The Curiosity Curio. The little shop sat along a refurbished alleyway in which one could also find a bookstore, a smoke shop, an imported foods store, and a small French restaurant. I pushed open the door to the small antique stop and was instantly met with the strong scents of old books, polished wood, and other interesting, aged aromas.
Tess, the shop owner, looked up from the jewelry cabinet where she’d been working. “Hi, Rayne,” she said in her quiet voice.
I noticed she had four pieces of old jewelry set out on the cabinet. Like many of the items in the shop, something struck me as off about those four pieces. They had an odd shadow to them, much like the antique store owner. Being a faerie living in the human world afforded me a sense of sight most humans didn’t share. I was able to notice all sorts of otherworldly touches, most of which escaped human notice. And in Chancellor, well, if regular people knew just how different the little college town actually was, they’d be surprised. All those witch and fairy tales that made up the town’s folklore were more than just legend. But who was I to tell them what they couldn’t see? And besides, there were more things that went bump in the night in Chancellor than even I understood. In some cases, I could sense something was different, but I never knew just what. Such was the case with Tess and her little antique shop.
The Chancellor Fairy Tales Boxed Set: Books 1-3 Page 14
