Page 14 of Honeybees and Sexy Tees
“What the hell is a honey shack? And you sold the condo? Also, why do you need a camping trailer?” I asked in quick succession lest I forget a part.
“The honey shack is where the magic happens, honeybee, no pun intended. I sold the condo yesterday, and the camping trailer is for me to live in since I haven’t bought a new place yet.”
“I didn’t know you listed the condo.” I sat back, the wind knocked straight out of me. “You love that condo. How did you sell it so fast?”
“I don’t love the condo. I hate everything about it, from the never-ending stainless-steel appliances to the leather couches to the loneliness that pervades every inch.” He shook his head. “I want to live somewhere without concrete,” he explained. “I want to live somewhere that when I wake up in the morning, I’m staring at sunshine or the lake, not the back of another building. I’ve had people lining up for years to buy that condo, Honey.” He brushed his hand behind his back. “Let them have it. I’m done with that life.”
“Wow,” I breathed out. “I didn’t think I’d ever see the day.”
“It was never more to me than a place to lay my head or to throw an occasional party. It wasn’t a home. It was a prison.”
“If that’s the case, then you’re one hell of an actor.” My head was spinning with all the changes he had thrown at me in the last hour. Had this man found his true self again? Was my Mattie finally coming home? I sure as hell hoped so.
He nodded as he pulled up blades of grass and laid them in geometric patterns in front of him. “I am. A well-trained one, by the looks of it. Regardless, I’m done. When you said those same words to me on Monday, I felt them like a punch to the gut. I’m going to live in your backyard until I find another place like this to buy.”
I spun on my butt to face him, sitting crisscross applesauce. “I’m confused about why you bought me a house and not one for yourself. Or for that matter, why you didn’t buy the house for yourself.”
“Well, as I said, this house came with the business, and it whispered your name the first time I saw it. Every room I walked through said, ‘Buy me for Honey,’” he said, his hand to his mouth as he used a scary ghost voice.
I shoved him in the shoulder until we were both giggling. “I’m trying to be serious here,” I scolded him.
“I know.” He grinned, resting his arm on my shoulder. “And I’m here because I’m tired of being serious. But for the moment we’ll put on our serious caps while I explain this. The house is yours to do with as you please. I promise not to get in your hair, that is, if you want to move in and keep working with me.”
I tossed my head back with laughter. “And there’s the catch. I knew there had to be one.”
By the time I lowered my head, he was holding my knees down with his, just like when we were kids. “No, there’s no catch. If you don’t want to work with me anymore, I’ll understand. The house is still yours. If you don’t want to move into it, I guess I can understand that, too, but I hope you do. It is your—”
“Dream house,” we said in unison.
“I’ll admit that I’m intrigued.” I turned around to stare at the house I’d dreamed about having since I was a little girl. It was beyond my reach then, and honestly, it still was. If he hadn’t bought it for me, it wouldn’t exist in my atmosphere other than as a place I once passed by in life. Now he was handing it to me on a silver platter. That didn’t mean I was moving in. “I’m intrigued enough to want to see your business plans and model projections.”
“I’ll show them to you. You deserve to see it all before you decide if you stay or if you go. I just hope you see, and believe, that I’m not the same Mathias you’ve dealt with over the last few years.”
I bit my lip and continued to avoid his gaze. “I hope you’re right. To be honest, I didn’t like him all that much. I suspected my Mattie was under there somewhere, though, and that’s why I held on.”
He twined my hand in his and rested it on his knees. “I’m glad you did. I can’t do this crazy life without my best friend. I want to make things right with you, and I hope this is the first step. I know it seems like I’m buying you off, but I’m not. You’ll see that when I show you the plans and the books tomorrow. I was just so excited to show you the house and to hopefully put a smile on your face for a little while. I pray I did that much.”
I finally forced my eyes to meet his and offered him a smile when I noticed how desperate he was for me to approve of what he’d done here. I might not understand it all yet, but I wouldn’t belittle what he was trying to do. I didn’t need to prove that I was right, but I did need my best friend in whatever capacity I could have him. “You did. I would be grinning ear to ear, but it’s so much to take in I don’t know if I should be excited, scared, or run away.”
“Maybe the first two are okay. I don’t recommend the last,” he said, winking.
That smile stayed on my lips and refused to leave. “I’m picturing how my cow collection would look on the built-in plate rail in the kitchen.”
“It would look like it belonged there, just like you do. All I want is for you to be happy, regardless of my happiness.”
“Which is why you’re willing to live in a camping trailer?” When he tipped his head in agreement, I shook mine. “I can’t picture Mathias Jørgensen living in a camper.”
“I can do it,” he insisted.
“I know you can, but I don’t know why you would.” I faced the back of the house with my hand to my eyes as I counted off the windows. “Four bedrooms, right?” I asked without looking at him.
“No, three and the nursery, which isn’t big enough for much.”
“Okay, so three bedrooms, two bathrooms, two sitting rooms, an office, a kitchen, and a basement. Even if I move in, and I’m not saying I am, but if I do, I can spare one of those bedrooms for you.”
When I spun back around, he took my hand and squeezed it gently. “It’s nice of you to offer, but you don’t have to feel guilty about me living out here in a camper. I’ll buy a nice one and resell it when I’m done with it. I’ll be okay for the summer.”
“I don’t doubt that. Mathias Jørgensen is always okay, but I’m still not going to let him live in a camper in my backyard when there’s a perfectly empty three-bedroom house a foot away. That’s just ridiculous and silly.”
