Chapter 12: Starting Anew
Agent BM: Yep and yes
The next morning at breakfast, Honey told her parents about her plan.
"You want to do what?" Trevor and Wanda asked together.
"I'm thinking about selling my business." Honey told them.
"But you've worked so hard to get that place." Trevor mentioned.
"I know. But lately I don't feel like this company is really bringing me much joy. I mean look at what it did to my health. Physically and mentally."
"She does have a point, Trevor." Wanda replied.
Trevor looked at his wife, and then back at his daughter.
"Well Honey, if this is something you want to do we'll support you. But you have to talk to Zeke and Sophie about this, and make sure 101% that this is what you really want." he told her.
"Don't worry, Dad. I'm taking this very seriously."
When Honey flew back to New York she was happy to see Zeke, Sophie, and Zack waiting for her at the airport.
"Hello, everyone." she greeted.
"Welcome home, Honey." Zeke greeted.
"Mom you're back." said Sophie.
"Mama." squeaked Zack.
Honey kissed Zeke on the lips, hugged Sophie and kissed her cheek, and took Zack from Zeke's arms.
"How was your visit with your parents?" asked Zeke, as he took her bags.
"It was nice. They're doing well, and send their love."
They went out to the car, and drove home with Honey telling all about her trip.
After dinner that night, and getting Sophie and Zack to bed, Honey and Zeke went to their room.
"Zeke there's something important I need to talk to you about." Honey told him.
"What's that? Did your visit home not go as planned?" Zeke asked.
"No, it made me think about something."
"What's that?"
"(Takes a deep breath), Zeke I'm thinking about selling my business."
"Sell your business? Why? What will you do without it?"
"I want to go back to what I used to do."
"You want to start over and make a new shop is what you're saying?"
"Yeah, but just a small simple one. I've realized that being up in that office answering phones, doing paperwork, and being in meeting all day isn't making me happy."
"Well know I support you in whatever you do. But be kind of odd to try to start over here in New York don't you think?"
"I know, that why I'm think we might need a change of scenery."
"You want to move, huh? Sure this'll be a big change for the kids. Won't you miss this view?"
Zeke took honey to their bedroom window to look at the city skyline around them. Honey looked at the different buildings and skyscrapers.
"I will Z. But if we stay here after I sell reporters and tabloids will be all over us."
"Understandable. But just so you know you might have to give up some of your luxuries. Like limiting your spa trips. And no buying expensive jewelry on a whim."
"I know that. But we'll still have a good amount of money bank."
"Yes but those stocks can only be good so long, despite how good you are at that. Just be prepared to have the news on your back when you do this."
"I know Zeke, I know."
"Have you told your parents this news?"
"Yes I did."
"What'd they say?"
"They said to make sure it's 101% what I want to do and that they'd support me."
"So I'm assuming you want to move closer to them, since you were showing signs of homesickness for a bit."
"Well, actually I'm thinking of somewhere else, and maybe I'll bring mom and dad with us."
"Alright. Well I support you, just don't do anything you will regret later. I'm sure someone somewhere is gonna recognize you no matter where we go, you were in those bad movies and TV commercials before we had the kids."
"Don't worry, I'll figure this out." Honey assured him.
The next day Honey thought more about moving. It seemed like the right decision, but how could she make sure? So she decided to clear her head by going to the library. She'd always enjoyed going there when she was younger, and hadn't been to one in years.
When she stepped inside, the smell of books hit Honey's nose.
"Ah, I miss that smell." she told herself.
She walked further into the library, and looked at the different sections. And then she came to the section where they kept the books about different states, counties, and other places. Honey took a couple books, picked out a seat, and started reading.
She spent a good amount of time reading and looking at different places. And then, as she was reading a book about different states of the U.S., and came across the state of Colorado.
She saw pictures of the different scenery, like mountains, meadows, and hills. Then she looked at pictures of the nice cities, towns, and how safe it looked.
"Hmm, maybe this is a place we could go." she whispered.
"What do you mean, Honey?" asked Bumble.
"Maybe this is where we can move to." she told them.
"Colorado?" Buzz wondered.
"Yeah, it's far away and I don't have any stores out there."
"You think you'd want to move out there?" Stinger wanted to know.
"It's an option."
That evening, Honey brought up the idea to Zeke.
"Colorado?" he asked.
"Yeah. It's far away, and no one knows who I am." Honey told him.
"Well, Honey if that's where you want to go then we can try it. But we have to tell Sophie."
"Right, we'll talk to her about it tomorrow."
The following day, Honey and Zeke sat Sophie down and talked to her.
"Sophie, your mother and I need to talk you about something important." Zeke told her.
"Is something wrong? Am I in trouble?" Sophie asked nervously.
"No, it's nothing like that." Honey assured.
"We've been thinking about moving."
"Moving, you mean to a different house?"
"No, we mean moving to a different state."
That surprised Sophie.
"Really?"
"Yes, you see sweetie. Mommy's been feeling a little stressed and overworked lately, and in order to better myself we're going to have to move."
"We understand that you may be upset, but..."
Then Sophie spoke up.
"Mom, Dad I'm not upset."
Honey and Zeke were surprised to hear that.
"You're not?"
"To be honest, I don't really like my school. I've told you, Mom those other kids just care about money and status, and to be honest my teacher isn't very nice either."
Honey and Zeke looked at each other, and then smiled.
"Well Sophie we're glad you have an open mind about this move." Honey told her.
"And who knows, maybe a change in scenery will be good for you." added Zeke.
Honey then started the process of moving and selling her company. She held a press conference, announcing she was stepping down as CEO and would be selling her company. She also hired a broker, to help out with the deal.
While she was doing that, Zeke was making preparations to move. Honey and her broker met with potential buyers, and Zeke looked at potential places to live in Colorado.
"How goes the selling?" Zeke asked, after Honey came home.
"Slowly, but going. How goes the move?"
"I think I've found a nice little town here. It's safe, has good schools, nice work opportunities, and it has an overall good atmosphere."
"That's nice."
"How goes the selling process?"
"It's slowly coming along. We may have some potential buyers."
"Sounds like everything's coming along."
Eventually, Honey and Zeke decided to fly out to Colorado and check out some houses. They had brought Zack with them, and they dropped Sophie off in Illinois with her grandparents. In Colorado, they wound up in a town called Hilltop Springs.
A small town a few miles outside of Denver. There, they met with a real estate agent and saw several nice houses. They also had to find a new house for Honey's parents, since they planned to bring them along to Colorado with them.
They had to decide if they wanted a simple houses or nicer luxurious ones.
"What do you think, Zeke?"
"I'm thinking, we should go with simple houses for now. We don't want to attract too much attention."
"Oh, good idea."
And with that, they found two simple yet nice houses. They also checked out some of the elementary schools and day cares. And they managed to find places where they could get jobs. Zeke was going to work at a garage and Honey would be working at a bakery.
They went back to New York, and told everyone that they found the right place. Sophie was excited, and Wanda and Trevor were looking forward to living in a new place. Honey and her broker managed to find someone to buy her company.
They signed the paperwork, and Honey had officially sold her company. After that, the family started their moving process. They hired a moving crew, had Sophie's school records sent to her new school in Colorado, and started to pack up their belongings.
A couple days before the big move, Honey was starting to get little nervous. This was another big step for not just her but her family too. That night, after putting Sophie and Zack to bed, Honey and Zeke lied in bed watching TV.
While flipping through the channels, and came across a new report about her.
"Honey Shaw has sold her entire company. Is she crazy? Is she ill? Why would she make a decision like that? She's been unavailable for any questioning." a reporter said.
Honey sighed, and then Zeke took the remote from her and turned it off.
"Don't let those reporters bother you, Honey. You know why you're doing this and it's none of their business." Zeke told her.
"I know, I just hope I'm doing the right thing." Honey replied.
Zeke smiled at her.
"Don't worry, Honey. We're all behind you on his."
He brushed a strand of her hair behind her ear, and gently kissed her on the lips.
"Mmm, that felt nice."
"Want a little more?"
"Yes please."
And with that, Honey took off her glasses, and turned off the light.
After packing up their belongings, movers loaded their furniture, boxes, and other large things into the truck. Honey gave the movers the address of their new house in Colorado, and told them they would meet them there.
They saw them drive off, and then got their suitcases together. "Is everyone ready to go?" asked Zeke, as he put on his seat belt.
"I'm ready, you kids ready?" Honey wanted to know.
"Ready, Mom." Sophie said.
Zack just babbled.
"Then let's go off to a new life." Honey declared.
And Zeke drove them to the airport. Honey still had her private jet, and they were going to use it to get to Illinois to help her parents pack up, and then use it to get to Colorado.
When they landed in Illinois, they met Trevor and Wanda at the airport. After hugs and kisses, they went to their house to help pack up.
"I can't believe we're finally moving." said Trevor, as taped up a box.
"It's a whole new beginning and adventure." Wanda added.
"I'm glad you're coming with us, Grandma and Grandpa." Sophie told her grandparents.
"So are we, sweetie." said Wanda.
"I'm gonna miss this place." Honey mentioned, as she and Zeke brought out more boxes.
"I remember when you first brought me here, Honey." Zeke recalled.
"So do I." Trevor replied.
After getting all the boxes together, they ordered takeout, and ate dinner in the living room while Trevor had one last fire burning in the fireplace.
"This is nice." Wanda sighed as she helped feed Zack.
"You got that right, Mom." said Honey, as she walked into the room with a handful of clothes.
"What's that, Mom?" asked Sophie.
"Mommy's old work clothes."
"What are you gonna do with them?" Zeke wanted to know.
Honey just simply stood in front of the fireplace, and then threw her work clothes into it. And Honey watched as they burned a symbol of how her old life was ending and her new one was about to begin.
That's chapter 12