Page 29 of Heir to a Curse
“I’m a little old for doorways in the back of wardrobes.”
“Are you though? Is anyone? We all would love a bit of adventure, right?”
“This year has been adventurous all on its own.”
“Zach,” she scolded.
“It’s true.”
“Okay, put the trouble of the outside world aside for a few minutes. Right now you’re here, trying to create the dream Sofia never got to realize. The house and real love.”
“I just met this guy. He’s probably not even real.” Yet I’d felt that pull to him, a bond of something I couldn’t quite explain. A connection we had no right to have yet.
Addy gazed at me like she could hear my thoughts. “How about instead of shutting down, you open up? Look around you, find joy. You love the job. Building things is how you create. Take this on as another project.”
“A project of what? Love?”
“Sure. Sofia loved the house and the property. Even though it never worked for her like she wanted it too. Maybe you can do the same.”
“But Sofia wanted it to be a place of parties, weddings, and elegance. That’s not really my thing.”
“But the nature is. The house sits on a huge plot of land with a private lake. You can’t tell me there aren’t millions of nature lovers out there who wouldn’t love to spend a few days out here, basking in the beauty of all this, but able to return to the big house at night and chef created meals? I’d be all over that shit and I’m not even a nature girl. Then there are the things you can offer.”
“Like what?”
“Your skill. What if you did a summer camp for kids? Taught them how to work with their hands? Build things? Look at the world and find the small changes to help everyone?”
“No one is going to let this old queen teach their kids. We are still living in a fucked-up world,” I reminded her. Though it had been even worse in the last few years.
“I think it will always be that way in some regard. But I still think it’s worth trying. You could use a break from all the running around since you have guys that do an amazing job for you now. Spend some time focused on smaller things instead of always trying to save the world one house at a time,” she said.
I knew what she was referring to as I had more than a bit of a sliding scale on my construction fees. I’d spent damn near a year in Flint Michigan trying to help repair the pipes in some folk’s houses and make it safe. But I was one man, and couldn’t fix an entire city of problems, no matter how many pipes I replaced and filters I installed. Though I had to admit, the way people smiled at me, thanked me for the work, like I had really changed their lives, that had been as good as any drug I could ever imagine. Teaching kids how to do construction stuff? That would be sort of cool. Giving back to the future generations. Jerry and Mike had begun that way. Taught by parents and trade school instead of expensive college degrees. Not enough kids had that guidance or chance anymore.
I sighed. “I miss hugging you.”
She grinned. “Me too. Soon as this madness is all over we’ll catch up on those.” She stood. “How about you walk me back to my truck. Gotta head back so I can feed the horde.”
“Wouldn’t want them to eat Carl instead,” I joked as I got to my feet. The rabbit was still outside the cabin, though in a different spot.
“Your friend is still hanging out,” Addy said.
“So we’re really going with the dream is real idea?” I stared at the rabbit as we passed. “That could be a talking rabbit.”
“Like Alice in Wonderland? Doesn’t seem late for anything. But sure. Dream is real. Chase your dream man for a while, what’s the harm in that?”
“Heartbreak,” I said, as we arrived back at the house.
“Or true love.” She put her hands to her chest. “You guard your heart so much you never let anyone in.”
“I love you. I loved Sofia.”
“And now you have a hole where Sofia was. Maybe instead of just healing with a big jagged scar over your heart, you’ll find something to fill it?”
“You’re so sappy,” I teased her.
“But not wrong,” she echoed Jerry’s words and waved her phone. “Text me if you see your magical prince again.”
I sighed and walked her to her truck. “Magical prince. I’m a construction contractor. What am I going to do with a magical prince?”
“Do you need a manual? I know you read gay romance novels. There should be plenty of ideas in there.”
“Go home and bother Carl. I’m reminded why I don’t see you every day anymore. You’re annoying.”
She laughed, the sound actually easing my loneliness a little. I really had missed her the past few months. And it didn’t sound like this madness was ending any time soon. “Don’t be a stranger. Or a workaholic. Remember you have people who love you.”
“Thank you,” I said. “Now go. Before I do something stupid and hug you with all my germs.”