Wes frowned. “I don’t know the first thing about event planning.”
“You don’t have to. Partner with someone who does. Cassie, maybe? She does theatre. She understands staging and logistics. Or hire a part-timer during peak seasons.” Pedro paused. “The point is, you’re already good at creating atmosphere. Christmas proves that. You need to think bigger.”
It made sense. More sense than Wes wanted to admit.
“What about you?” Wes asked. “How’d you do it? I understand you had seasonal issues, too.”
“I did. Landscaping slows down in winter—people don’t care about their yards when everything’s dead. So I pivoted. Added hardscaping, which doesn’t depend on warm weather. Started doing maintenance contracts for businesses—year-round income. Added holiday lighting installation in November and December.” He smiled. “Turns out people will pay good money to not climb a ladder in the cold.”
Wes huffed a small laugh. “Yeah, I bet.”
“It wasn’t easy. Took some time, trial and error. But diversifying saved my business. Gave me stability I didn’t have before. Well–” Pedro paused, smiling. “Other than Titus. Don’t get me wrong, I love him more than words can express, and he would give me the world on a platter if I asked. But I like having a little something that’s my own. You get me?”
“I do.”
They sat in silence for a moment. Wes picked at his cinnamon roll.
“The banker,” Pedro said. “Barb said he’s staying with her. He’s helping you with this?”
“Yeah.”
“What’s he like?”
Wes hesitated, unsure how to answer.Competent. Kind. The kind of guy who listens when you talk and looks at you like you matter.
“He’s good at his job,” Wes said finally. “Knows what he’s doing. Doesn’t talk down to me like some bankers do.”
Pedro studied him. “That’s good. It’s important to have someone in your corner who respects you.”
“Yeah.”
“Do you trust him?”
Wes thought about Jake’s hands tracing the carved Santa, the softness in his voice when he’d saidYou’re an artist. The way he’d looked at Wes, like he saw something worth saving.
“I think so,” Wes said. “I’m trying to.”
“Trust is hard. Especially when you’ve been carrying everything alone for so long. But sometimes letting someone help—really help—is the bravest thing you can do.”
Wes looked up, meeting Pedro’s steady gaze.
“I’m not just talking about the farm,” Pedro added gently.
Wes’s throat tightened. He looked down, back at his coffee.
Pedro didn’t push. He just waited.
“It’s complicated,” Wes said finally.
“It usually is.”
“I don’t—” Wes stopped, frustrated. “I don’t know what I’m doing.”
“With the farm... or with him?”
Wes huffed a breath that might’ve been a laugh. “Both.”
Pedro smiled. “You don’t remember this because you were little, but I’ve been in a similar situation–personally, as well. Titus was my employer when we became...involved.”
