She’s here right now, talking to you. Listen!
“Yes, but with my business degree, a job as a project manager at some company seemed like the most likely thing to do aside from the ranch. But while I was planning the Fourth of July picnic and thinking about Dad and all he did for the community, I wondered if I could carry that on in some way.”
She had his full attention. He leaned against his forearms on the edge of his desk, fajitas wrap in hand. “What are you thinking?”
“I want to help revive some of the local businesses downtown, starting with the bookstore. I learned from a friend at the barbecue that the owner is interested in retiring soon.” She pulled out several folders from her bag and set them on the desk. “Mrs. Walters has run the place for thirty years. The store is cramped and the stock hasn’t kept up with times and what’s most popular, particularly when it comes to younger readers. I think I can revamp the store and make it more appealing to a wider audience of readers.” She handed him the green folder. “In there is my business plan and proposed offer for the bookstore. Mrs. Walters is happy with the price and that the sale won’t go through until March of next year.”
“Why March?”
“Because she wants to do one more holiday season here in town and I’ll need a few months for renovations before I open the store after I graduate.”
“It’s a small space, if I remember correctly. I doubt the renovation will take more than a month or so.”
She handed him her red folder. “Inside there are four bids for not only renovating the bookshop, but also the empty space beside it. I want to turn it into a café attached to the bookstore. The second-story office spaces—four to be exact—need an overhaul, plus the four apartments on the third floor.”
“Wait. You want to buy the whole building?”
“Yes. If you’ll look at my business plan, you’ll see that it makes the most sense to buy the distressed building, where the apartment tenants have long since vacated and only two of the four office spaces are in use. Their leases are up this December. I’ve had the building inspected and appraised. Mr. Scott, who has owned the building for sixty years and has no heirs and is willing to sell just to get rid of the headache of taking care of the place, has also agreed to my terms.” She handed him the yellow folder. “Now, the building does need some big repairs and upgrades. The initial three bids I got for the work were okay. One low, one slightly higher, and one astronomically high. Then I remembered Dad used to talk about his friend Danny, who could fix anything.”
Cody nodded, trying to get his bearings as she supplied him with information and awed him with her business acumen. “Danny Quinn. Quinn Construction. One of the biggest firms in the state.”
“Well, I called him. He sent a guy. That’s the fourth bid, which is much more detailed and below the highest bid I received. I assume the lower bids would have gone up as the project went on. For me, Quinn wins the bid, but you can take a look and determine that for yourself.”
He held up the folders. “You did all this on your own over the last month?”
“Yes. I did my homework, consulted the right people, and put together the information needed to attain the money to buy the property and start my own businesses. Once I’ve got this up and running, I plan to take on the pizza place in town. They used to have the best food and service, but things have gone downhill over the last ten years. I think it could use a refresh.”
He gaped. “You want to buy a restaurant?”
“Yes. Mrs. Marino has been running it since her husband died years ago of a heart attack. He ran the business. She doesn’treally have the heart for it. And her kids have grown up and the last is about to go off to college. She hasn’t had the money to invest in the business because she needed it for her kids. I think an infusion of cash, a fresh look, and an updated and more upscale menu will be welcomed downtown, especially now that there are several office buildings close by. With delivery, the restaurant could do a really nice lunch and dinner rush.”
Cody had abandoned his food and simply stared at Brooke in front of him, wondering when she’d changed into…this smart businesswoman. “You’re serious.”
She stared right back with a scowl on her face. “Yes. When Mom and I moved here, Dad took me everywhere with him. He made this place feel like home. He made me love this town and all the people he introduced me to. I want to be a part of it. I think revitalizing downtown will draw other new businesses and help keep small business as the norm instead of them dying out like they’ve been over the last decade.”
“This is what you want to do with your life? Own a bookstore and pizzeria?”
“Well, I was thinking it would be really cool to have a salad and pasta bar to go with the pizza. Italian classics like spaghetti and meatballs, ravioli, pasta Alfredo, and other dishes. Not like a buffet, more like Italian fast food. It’s already prepared, you just tell the server what you want by the bowl or plate kind of thing.”
“That’s…” He couldn’t believe it. He loved the idea and so would the hundreds of downtown workers. “It’s an amazing idea.”
She shifted in her seat, uncomfortable with his praise.
He hated that. He, better than anyone, knew Brooke was smart, kind, empathetic, surprisingly wise for her age, and enthusiastic about the people and things she loved. He had no doubt she’d make this venture a huge success, because Brooke didn’t give up. It just wasn’t in her nature.
She leaned in. “I know it’s a lot of money, but I know I can do this, Cody. It will be a fresh start for me and help the community.”
“I think so, too.”
She sat back, her eyes going soft. “Do you think Dad would have liked my plans?”
Cody choked up and tried to hold it together. “He’d love this idea. He’d want you to use the money to make you happy and also ensure your future. You’re doing both. I’m really proud of you, and touched that it’s, in part, because of him.”
Her eyes softened with grief mixed with a whole lot of affection. “I loved him, too. He was the only dad I knew.”
“Your mom is the same for me. Without her kindness…the way she changed my dad…softened him…I don’t think I would have loved him the way I did at the end. We were better for having you both at the ranch and in our lives.”
“You sure about that?” She raised a brow. “Because it feels like lately we’re growing apart.”
