Chapter17
The morning started well enough.Cassidy sat at Harbor Brew with her laptop, reviewing vendor contracts and feeling the quiet satisfaction of a project coming together.The festival timeline spreadsheet glowed on her screen, every task color-coded and assigned.She’d learned to balance the Harbor Ladies’ traditional requirements with practical modern updates.
Jan refilled her coffee without being asked.“You look happy.”
“Do I?”Cassidy glanced up from the spreadsheet.
“You’ve got that look people get when they’re doing something they love.”Jan topped off the mug.“It’s nice to see.”
After Jan moved to the next table, Cassidy sat with what Jan had said.Happy.That word kept coming up.Her corporate colleagues used words like driven, focused, and intense.Never happy.
Her phone buzzed with a text from Bryan.Found three more food vendors who want in.Sending contracts now.
She smiled as she typed back.Perfect.We’re at capacity for the pier section.
The door opened, and a man in a pressed suit walked into Harbor Brew.He looked around the casual coffee shop as if he’d accidentally walked into the wrong establishment.Everything about him screamed business, from his expensive watch to his Italian shoes.
He spotted Cassidy and headed straight for her table.
“Ms.Wren?”He extended his hand.“George Morton, Oceanside Development.Do you have a few minutes?”
Every professional instinct she had developed over the years went on alert.She recognized a corporate pitch when she saw one coming.
“I’m working on the festival right now.”She gestured to her laptop.
“Actually, that’s exactly what I wanted to discuss.”He pulled out the chair across from her without waiting for an invitation.“I understand you’re co-chairing the Harbor Festival this year.”
“That’s right.”
“I’ve been following the progress.Very impressive what you’ve accomplished in such a short time.”He set a leather portfolio on the table.“The vendor lineup, the expanded programming, and the Heritage Recipe Competition.You’ve brought real professionalism to the event.”
The compliment felt false.Cassidy closed her laptop slowly.“What can I do for you, Mr.Morton?”
“Please, call me George.”He opened the portfolio and pulled out a folder.“Oceanside Development is very interested in supporting community initiatives in Starlight Shores.We believe the Harbor Festival represents an excellent opportunity for partnership.”
“Partnership?”
“We’d like to be the festival’s primary sponsor.”He slid a paper across the table.“This is our proposed contribution.”
She looked at the number written at the top of the page.Her breath caught.It was more than their entire current budget.More than she’d dared hope to raise from all local sponsors combined.
“That’s very generous.”
“We believe in investing in the communities where we operate.”George’s smile was practiced and professional.“The festival is an important tradition.We want to help ensure its success.”
There it was.The word that always preceded the catch.She had sat through enough corporate pitches to know nothing came without strings attached.
“What would Oceanside expect in return?”
“Minimal branding.Very tasteful.”He pulled out another document with glossy renderings of what the festival would look like with Oceanside’s involvement.“We’d install branded archways at the main pier entrance, some banners along the waterfront, and recognition in all marketing materials as the main sponsor, of course.”
She studied the renderings.The archways were massive.Sleek, modern structures that would completely change the character of the historic pier.The Oceanside logo was everywhere, overshadowing the festival’s own identity.
“This is more than minimal branding.”
“It’s proportional to our investment.”George’s voice remained pleasant.“We’re contributing significant resources.We deserve appropriate recognition.”
She thought of Bryan and the way he’d talked about his grandfather grilling fish on the beach during the first festival.And Dorothy and her husband setting up vendor tents with their own hands.Of seventy-four years of community gathering around simple traditions.
