Page 80 of Keeping it Local

“The resort? Yup, that’s me.”

He looked me up and down, taking his time to study me. I wasn’t sure what to make of it, but as soon as I was going to ask him, he chimed in again.

“Name’s Red. Good to meet you. I’m the seller.”

I shook the hand he held out to me, and even though he seemed frail from afar, his handshake was sturdy and warm. “Johnny.”

“You know? I kept asking my agent what was taking so goddamn long to close, and he said it was some kid trying to figure out funding.”

My eyes widened at the ‘kid’ remark. I was waiting for him to diminish or cut me down in some way until he started sharing.

He chuckled to himself and crossed his hands across his lap. “And you know what I told him? I told him, ‘Sounds like me when I bought this place all those years ago.’”

I tilted my head at him.

“I was young and full of piss and vinegar, but I knew this was what I wanted. Held onto it a few years too long as you can tell by the state of the place, but that’s neither here nor there. It’s got good bones. You look like you’ll figure it out and get it back into shape.”

“Yeah, it’s a little rough around the edges, but I’m excited to put the work into it.”

“Good. Good. That’s what it needs.”

“Can I ask you?” I turned to him. “What made you hold onto it so long after you shut it down?”

He rubbed his thumbs together, looking into his lap before glancing up at me. “I’m an old man now, but I bought that place for Mabel back when I was young and in love and didn’t know what I wanted to do with my life.” He took a deep breath. “She kept giving me the cold shoulder, but I knew eventually I’d win her over. And I did. We had a wonderful life there. Lived in the house next door. Raised our kids there. Fireworks. Sunrises. Welcomed families from across the state and farther. Good times. Bad. All of it. She passed a few years back—breast cancer. I know I let it go to shit, but I couldn’t bring myself to sell it.

“My kids finally pushed me to do it, and…” He tossed his hands in the air. “I’m glad. It deserves a new life. Someone who will make it thrive again. Just like my Mabel would have wanted.”

“Wow.” I didn’t know what to say. I didn’t know what I was expecting, but it wasn’t that.

“You married? Have a family?” he asked.

“Uh, no. Nothing like that.”

“Just wait. When it all happens, that’s what makes everything worth it.” He had one of those goofy smiles that lit up his face.

The door to the waiting room creaked open, and Nancy popped her head in. “You ready, gentlemen?”

Red followed Nancy in, and I looked over at him and wished I could build a life like the one he was talking about. But how could I when I was afraid it would break me?

Chapter 29

Beth

I’d been home only a couple weeks, but after talking with my mom, I knew what I needed to do. I’d done what I did best—diving into everything there was to know about buying a business, selling a business, starting over, all of it. If I was going to make one of the biggest decisions I’d ever made, I needed to be prepared. I even reached out to Professor Mackey. Of course, he was all about it. And as awkward as it was, I reached out to Michael. Luckily, he was supportive, if not disappointed with my decision.

It felt good to make my own plans for once in my life, my own decisions.

This afternoon was the time I’d set aside to meet with my parents about the business and what it meant for our family.

I hadn’t brought anything up since talking with my mom and I hadn’t wanted to worry her while I’d figured out what I needed to do. It was time though.

I wanted to feel as comfortable and in control as possible as I brought this up to my parents, so instead of our usual chat around their dinner table, I invited them to come to the office. We rarely used the office anymore, except for interviews and meetings with vendors and customers, but in this case, I wanted to feel on equal footing as my parents. I didn’t want to seem like their daughter. I needed to feel like their business partner.

I arrived a few minutes before the set meeting, and I sat at my office desk, flipping through my proposal and the ideas that I planned to present to them.

My stomach did flips, and part of me felt like I was going to get sick. I knew this was the right thing to do, but I was still scared. I loved getting approval from my parents, and now, I’d be stepping out on my own.

Photos of past company picnics lined the walls. Awards shown from when we won at previous festivals or received “Top Vendor” from different events we’d joined. And on my desk, a photo of my parents and me. It was only a few months after my dad’s episode all those years ago. It was taken the first day he was back in the office, and we all had wide smiles on our faces, glowing for the camera.