“How long did you stay at The Welcome Center?”
“I was there for about eight months. Rental accommodation is so scarce that people are put off living here. Buying a house isn’t much better. I was lucky to find my cottage when I did.”
“It’s in the perfect location—close to work and near town.”
“That’s what I thought when I saw it, too.”
Aidan pointed to a barn and a group of outbuildings in the distance. “That’s the first view of the camp our guests will get.”
Jackie peered into the distance. “The barn must be huge.”
“From what I’ve seen of others in the area, it is. Inside, we’ll have the camp kitchen and dining room, additional guest accommodation, bathrooms, an indoor events area, and separate quarters for the property manager. It’ll be three floors of rustic charm.”
Jackie was looking forward to seeing it. “When will it be ready for your guests?”
“We’re hoping it’ll be finished by next May. Luckily, the previous owners were halfway through converting the barn into rental accommodation, so most of the plumbing’s already been done.”
When Aidan turned off the highway, Jackie’s excitement mounted. The closer they came, the more impressive the property seemed. “This is gorgeous. It must be spectacular in the summer.”
“I brought the architect’s plans with me so you can see the images they’ve included. It’ll give you an idea of how everything will look without the snow.”
Jackie looked at the driveway. “Someone’s been busy plowing the road.”
“The contractors were out here this morning. We start remodeling the barn tomorrow.”
That was a lot sooner than Jackie imagined. Aidan parked his truck and led her across to the barn. With each step, she felt the anticipation building inside her, curious to see what BioTech had planned.
“Here we are,” Aidan announced, spreading his arms wide as they reached a large, weathered barn and an adjoining ranch hand accommodation wing. “This is the beginning of the guest living quarters for the camp.”
Jackie’s eyes widened in admiration, taking in the rustic charm of the structures. She could already envision families settling into the cozy buildings after a long day of activities, sharing stories and laughter late into the night.
“It’s beautiful, even without the remodeling,” she told him.
“I thought the same thing when David showed me the photos of the property. We’ll be building additional cabins around this area, creating a communal area in the center of everything. It’ll be perfect for campfires and family-friendly events.”
“That sounds wonderful,” Jackie murmured, her mind racing with thoughts of children roasting marshmallows and singing songs under the starry skies. It reminded her of her own childhood dreams, the things she imagined other families did.
Aidan took a key out of his pocket. “We’ve secured a contract with the equestrian center next door. They’ll provide horse riding experiences and other horse-related activities for the families. And that’s not all. There’ll be an adventure playground, a high-wire course in the trees, an impressive zipline, and fishing, canoeing, and rock climbing.”
As she listened to Aidan’s plans, Jackie was impressed with the scope of the project. She knew how much this camp would mean to the families of children who’d lost a limb, especially those like Sandy and Josh Wilson who wanted the best for their daughter but didn’t have a lot of money.
Aidan pushed open the door. “We want to create a place where children and their families can escape their everyday lives and make lasting memories.”
Jackie admired what he was doing. She knew he could have returned to Manhattan, but he’d chosen to invest his time and energy into creating something meaningful for other people. “BioTech’s lucky to have someone like you helping with this project.”
“It’ll be even better if we can raise enough money to bring people here at no cost. Have a look at the plans.”
As Aidan walked into the barn, Jackie’s mouth dropped open. It was the most awe-inspiring building she’d been in.”
Aidan grinned. “I felt the same way when I first came here. That’s one of the reasons the previous owners spent a lot of money remodeling it.” He placed the plans on an old table and opened them to the second page. “This is what we’ll create.”
Jackie studied the plans, then turned to the next page. Compared to what she was doing at her store, this project was massive.
But looking at the plans became insignificant as they wandered through the cavernous rooms. The view of the surrounding land was spectacular. You could stay here forever and never get tired of the scenery, regardless of the time of the year.
Aidan’s enthusiasm for what he was helping to create was infectious. If they could bring some of that excitement to the Christmas gala, she’d be thrilled.
As they made their way to the top floor, Jackie knew Aidan was making a difference—not just in the lives of the children who’d attend the camp, but in her own life as well. And for that, she was grateful.
