Chapter 1. Bees, planes, and dark green socks

Where we discover the surprising interdependence of three completely unrelated things

Note: Author commentary at the end of the chapter. This commentary is exclusive to the Cacao Muse; you won’t see it on Amazon, my author site, or printed inside the wrappers of my favorite chocolate bars.

“I can’t find my socks!”

“Which ones, sweetie?”

“The dark green ones. The ones I always wear on the plane.”

Jane Hammond blinked at the ceiling. Dr. Robert Hammond had a habit of packing frantically just hours before a trip, the rest of the family ready and waiting. The taxi was due to arrive in a few minutes—and airport cabs were always on time. They had to be. Dr. Hammond wouldn’t have it any other way.

“We’ll buy new socks at the airport. The car’ll be here soon.”

“No no no, I need my dark green socks. Sorry honey, I know you think I’m a little off with this but you know how important this trip is.”

She did. Jane Hammond did know. The bee colonies were dying all over the United States and Europe, and she wasn’t about to stand in the way of her husband finding a way to stabilize them. Their bags were stacked by the front door, zipped up, locked and labeled, all except her husband’s dark green suitcase that still lay thrown wide open, waiting for its matching socks.