All Chapters of Desiree mixed genre collection : Chapter 41 - Chapter 50

maya's pov I almost didn't go. Sat in my truck outside Sophie's farm for ten minutes debating whether to drive away.The farm looked good. Freshly painted fence. New sign that said Barrett Honey. Fields of wildflowers stretching back toward the woods.Sophie appeared on the porch before I could make a decision. She waved.I got out of the truck."You came." She walked down the steps. "I wasn't sure you would.""I said I would.""You also said there was nothing to talk about." She smiled. "Come on. I'll show you the hives."We walked behind the house. Twenty white boxes sat in rows. Bees moved between them and the flowers. The sound was constant. Buzzing."I have forty thousand bees right now." Sophie stopped at the first hive. "By summer I'll have double that.""That's a lot of bees.""It is." She opened the top of one box. Bees crawled over frames thick with honey. "They're calmer than people think. Respect them and they respect you.""And if you don't respect them?""Then you get s

maya's pov Franco arrived at Sophie's farm with two inspectors. I stood on the porch with Sophie while they examined the barn."This is ridiculous." Sophie's hands were shaking. "That barn is solid.""Did you get the inspection in writing?" I kept my voice low."No. Just verbal from Dave Miller." Sophie looked at me. "Why didn't I get it in writing?""Because you trusted him."Franco walked back twenty minutes later. "The barn's fine. Structurally sound. Whoever called this in was wrong." He handed Sophie a form. "I'm clearing it.""Who made the report?" Sophie asked."Anonymous tip." Franco looked between us. "But this feels personal. Someone doesn't like you two together. Watch your back."He left. Sophie sat on the porch steps."This is because of me." I sat beside her."No. This is because some people are small minded." She leaned against my shoulder.My phone buzzed. Emma.*Is Sophie okay? Heard about the inspection.**She's fine. Barn passed.**Good. But Maya, be careful. Mrs.

Maya's pov I stayed at Sophie's farm that night. Slept on the couch. At six am Officer Harlow called."Maya. We need you at the station. Kevin Morrison's here. He's confessing."I woke Sophie. We drove to the station. Kevin sat in an interview room looking terrible. Eyes red. Hair messy.Officer Harlow let us watch through the glass. "He came in an hour ago. Said he couldn't live with himself.""What did he confess to?" Sophie asked."The anonymous calls. The dumpster fire. All of it." Officer Harlow pulled out his notes. "He wanted to scare you away."Kevin saw us through the glass. His face crumpled."I want to talk to him." I moved toward the door.Officer Harlow nodded. "Five minutes."I went in. Kevin looked up."Why?" I sat across from him."Because I was angry. Because you chose her over me." He wiped his eyes. "I wanted to scare her away so you'd come back to me.""Did you send that text? The one threatening to hurt people?""No. I swear. I made the calls. Started the fire. B

Maya's pov Four weeks passed. Amber stayed in jail. Kevin pleaded guilty. Life got quieter.Sophie's first farmer's market was on Saturday. I helped her load jars into her truck at five am. Fifty pounds of honey in mason jars with labels Emma designed. Simple. Clean. Barrett Honey with a bee drawing."You nervous?" I carried the last box to the truck."Terrified." Sophie checked her list for the third time. "What if nobody buys anything?""They'll buy.""You don't know that.""I know your honey's good. That's enough."My mom met us at the market. She'd already set up Sophie's table. White tablecloth. Jars arranged in rows. Price signs."This looks great Mrs. Chen. Lisa." Sophie started unpacking more jars."You're going to do wonderful." Mom squeezed her shoulder. "People are going to love it."The market opened at seven. By seven fifteen Sophie had sold six jars. By eight, twenty. By nine, she was down to her last ten."I need to make more." Sophie counted money. "Way more.""That's

Maya's pov Six months later, I stood in Sophie's rebuilt barn. New wood. Fresh paint. Twenty hives arranged in neat rows outside."Hand me that frame." Sophie was up on a ladder installing shelves.I passed it to her. She hammered it into place."That's the last one." She climbed down. "We're officially done with construction.""Took long enough.""Six months isn't bad for a complete rebuild." She looked around. "It's smaller than before, but it works."The house was more compact too. One bedroom instead of two. Kitchen and living room combined. But it was ours. We'd built it together.My phone rang. Mom."Maya, just checking if you're still coming to dinner.""Yeah. Seven, right?""Right. And bring Sophie. I made her favorite.""Will do."Sophie smiled when I told her. "Your mom's been feeding me every Sunday for half a year. I'm getting spoiled.""She likes having someone to cook for." I pulled her closer. "Plus she loves you.""I love her too." She kissed me. "You ready for today?