Page 11 of Finding Basil
“I did. I was done. I ran away to the country, to a house that seems to be falling apart, because I was too excited to read the appraisal.”
“These places always have a glitch, but they’re worth it. My brother lives in the suburbs of Chicago in a new house. He said it’s like a cardboard box.” Basil jerked his head toward the front. “I can help you fix that hole, if you like.”
“I have a contractor on it, and he’s replacing the entire porch, but thanks. I may hit you up to fix a few more things around here, though.”
That blush creeped quickly back over his cheeks. That was no mistake, that was no coincidence. Basil was thinking things that Herb would definitely like to know.
When he bid goodbye to Basil, it was at the back door, and Basil lingered, like Herb had hoped he would. “So, the greenhouse, uh, I’ll go look at it and then I’ll be back soon with a tape measure. I have a truck, so I can pick up the glass we’ll need.”
“I’ll send you with a credit card.”
“Unless you just want to come along? I mean, with the house as it is…you might need to know where the hardware store is.”
That made him smile wider. “Funny!”
“You like that?”
Man, the guy was sexy, funny, sweet…everything Herb dreamed of with a guy.
“Okay, well, let me get the measurements, and we can hit the hardware store tomorrow. They do glass cutting in the back. They’re gonna love you.”
“Yeah, I’ll definitely be putting all their kids through college.”
“You probably will, yeah.”
Herb hated to see him go, but before he had time to mourn, there was yet another knock on the door. “I swear, people are alive too early here.”
There were two little girls on the porch, and both were smiling gayly as they chimed in unison, “we’re from the Camp Eckley Club, and we’re here to give you the opportunity to buy the world’s best popcorn!”
“Oh, wow, great. Let me see what you’ve got.”
As one handed him the brochure, the other, a little blonde girl with her hair in two long braids, asked, “Did you know you had a big hole in your porch?”
“Yes. I was aware. Thanks.”
He had the plumber come at exactly eight, and as the man worked, Herb unpacked more of the boxes. Having the kitchen and his clothes out of bags and boxes felt like a ton was off his shoulders, and it was the first bit of accomplishment he felt since moving.
Later that day, Cordelia arrived with a flourish, coming in just as Herb opened the door. “I brought some bad news. The contractor is busy for this week. He had to repair the town hall basement; it had some water damage from the boiler. A friend of his, though, will come do a fast repair so no one falls through that hole and gets hurt enough to sue you.”
“Well, that’s…good, I guess.”
She sat on the orange couch, cringing. “This is the ugliest couch.”
“So I’ve been told.”
“There’s a furniture store on the interstate about thirty miles from here that has nice things.”
He sat beside her and sighed, “If I can afford it after all the repair work around here.”
“Oh, right. Best wait. Now, you’ll need the chimney cleaned before winter, so I’ve called someone to come do that.” She had atablet in her hand and was checking off the list of things she was handling for him.
“Cordelia, it was my own fault for not reading the appraiser’s letter. I don’t expect you to do all this.”
“It’s a small town, Herb. Being that most folks pass their homes down to relatives, that means I don’t have a lot to do. Besides, I will never have a client say I sold a terrible house and didn’t help make it better. And I’ll likely charge you for my services. I have a family to feed, after all.”
She was at least sixty. He didn’t imagine she had young kids, but he wasn’t one to assume things about others.
“I’ll gladly pay you. My condo had a super, and I paid monthly for the services, so this wouldn’t be a lot different from that.”
