Page 68 of The Beekeeper's Cottage
‘Yes, it seems our friends from America were rather more perceptive than I gave them credit for. Amos, the weekend was never about putting the icing on the cake of the deal as everyone had assumed. It was really the other way around – to check if what they thought about Paul held water, or whether he would prove them wrong. Sadly, it didn’t turn out quite that way.’
‘And I was one of the reasons for that… I’m so sorry, Grace.’
‘No! Zac didn’t like the way Paul treated you, it’s true, but you didn’t make them change their mind, it was already made up. They were lovely about it, actually, I really liked them and I’m not sorry about their decision. It’s about time Paul was taken down a peg or two. He behaved appallingly and now he’s realised that maybe he can’t get away with it after all.’
‘And you’re certain that’s the only outcome? Is there no way Paul would change his mind?’
A ladybird was crawling along the back of the bench and Grace watched it for a moment, feeling a little unsure of herself.
‘I don’t know for certain, because when Flora rang to tell me you’d gone, I’m afraid I rushed off…’ She broke off, blushing slightly. ‘I was so desperate to find you, I threw my apron at Paul and told him he could cook breakfast by himself. Believe me, it was worth it just to see the expression on his face… But that was the deal, Amos, you know that… I can’t see why Paul would change his mind now. It was his last threat as it happens, just before I left…’
Amos was quiet for a moment. ‘You know, Grace, your home is not four walls and a roof, it’s what you carry inside of you that makes it so. You have a peace and serenity, an inner state of being that fills any space you occupy. It’s one of the reasons why I fell in love with you…’
He looked up, smiling, the same depth of emotion shining from his eyes as she hoped was shining from hers.
‘But you make the mistake of thinking that way of being comes out of your home. It doesn’t, it never has. It has always come from you. You could make your home anywhere and the effect would be the same. You just need to realise that whatever is within you flows outward too.’
She opened her mouth to speak, leaning forward in her eagerness, but Amos held up his hand to stop her.
‘I didn’t finish just now, when you asked me why I left. It’s true, Iwasfeeling that I would find it difficult to stay in one place all the time. Your way of life is very different from the way mine has been but, bizarrely, as soon as I left I realised I no longer felt that way. Perhaps it’s just that I’ve finally realised it’s time I stopped running, that I no longer need to, but I suddenly find myself, if not exactly longing for comfort and security, at least being able to appreciate its merits.’ He smirked. ‘I think I might be ready to settle down, Grace, is what I’m, very badly, trying to say.’
Grace could feel her heart thumping in her chest, its beat quickening as she listened to his words. Because if Amos was saying what she thought he was saying then… She stared at him and then burst out laughing, getting to her feet and dragging a bemused Amos with her. She took hold of his hand and began to tow him back down the path.
‘Come with me,’ she said, mysteriously. ‘Don’t say anything,’ she added. ‘All will be revealed in a minute.’
She began to lead him out of the churchyard, still holding his hand.
‘Can I just check something?’ she asked.
Amos dipped his head, a slightly cautious smile on his face.
‘Am I right in thinking that you’ve just spent the last few weeks helping me come up with a business plan to try and save my house, or at least allow me to carry on living there, and in the process just might have fallen a teeny bit in love with me…?’
Amos blushed, but nodded.
‘And that this was a bit of a problem because you couldn’t imagine anything worse than having to live in one place, or being with someone whose whole life revolved around her house and garden…?’
Again, a small nod.
‘But that now you might have changed your mind, and might want to come and live with me, after all?’
‘That’s pretty much the size of it, yes,’ agreed Amos.
She stopped as she reached the gate. ‘I thought so,’ she said. ‘Which is a bit ironic really, given that I drove here in this…’
She looked towards the layby where she had parked and pointed at the camper van she had borrowed from Bill.
‘You see, I find myself in the curious position of not caring that I’ve lost the house. I’ve realised that it’s not what’s truly important in my life any more. I’m just like you, Amos, except that instead of guilt, I made my house my prison, locking myself inside so that I almost became a part of the furniture. I couldn’t see a life without it, and therefore no one else could see a life with me that didn’t include the house…’
‘And now you think differently…?’
‘Yes,’ she said simply. ‘Now I see differently. You were right about me, Amos, and it’s you that’s given me the courage and the strength to see that. I can be anyone I want to be, and anywhere I want to be. And where I want to be is with you…’
She looked up at his expectant face, his expression changing as he took in her words. He looked between her and the camper van as a slow dawning crossed his face and the radiant smile she had come to love lit up his eyes.
‘You really came here in this?’ he asked, pulling her into his arms.
‘I really did…’
