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“Does New Bern have gangs?” Adam asked, nodding to the graffiti.
“Not that I know of. Probably just wannabe punks bored on a Saturday night.”
“Easy enough to take care of.” Adam took out a small notebook and began jotting down issues.
“It’s got potential for sure,” Spencer said. “The location is great. Close to everything but not in the crowded part of town. Downtown is nice, but it’s tough to park there. This huge parking lot is a real bonus.”
“There’s enough room on the left side to make a drive-thru for that space. If we could get a big-name fast food place in here…”
“Yeah, that’d be a good draw. Or a coffee shop? What happened here anyway? Why’s everything vacant?”
“The old landlord died, and his only heir lives on the West Coast and has no interest in it. No one was taking care of the place, and it finally fell into such disrepair that, one by one, the tenants made other arrangements and moved out. It’s been vacant ever since.”
“Idiot,” Spencer said. “He’s sitting on a gold mine and can’t be bothered to fly out here and make arrangements for repairs and a property management company?”
“His loss is my gain. Well, potential gain. He just wants to get rid of it, so I’m getting a rock bottom, sold as-is price. I just have to decide whether it’s worth the time and effort to fix it, or should I take the easy way and go with something already ready and rented?”
“Well, youarepretty good at flipping houses. Just need to scale up a bit,” Spencer said. “And you’d have a good team to—”
He was interrupted by a chunk of old signage falling to the ground.
“So, hard hats for everyone,” Adam said as they backed up a few steps.
“I could start a business or buy into a franchise and lease one of the spots myself,” Adam said. “The profit from the other lessees could cover my rent and really reduce my overhead.”
“That’s not a bad idea,” Spencer said. “Open a sandwich shop, have someone else manage it, and you just make money.”
“And get free sandwiches.” They laughed.
“So, how are things going with Kate?” Spencer asked when they were back in the car.
“Oh, good. I think she’s a little perturbed with me right now, but that doesn’t have anything to do with business.”
“You mucking up the personal part? I wondered at how smart it was to mix business with pleasure.”
He’d promised Kate he wouldn’t tell anyone, but figured his best friend didn’t count. Spencer would tell his wife but no one else. Plus, he was sure Kate had told her sisters. Fair was fair.
“Let me ask you something.” Adam turned to his friend. “How did you know you and Jodie would last? How’d you know you were in love? What does love even look like?”
“This is about your commitment issues, isn’t it?” Spencer said. “You just have to trust yourself and your feelings. Love will never be perfect. Everyone has flaws, and everyone makes mistakes, but love says you accept the flaws and forgive the mistakes. You have to be okay with her quirks, and she has to be willing to put up with yours. Once you find that person, and once you commit to her and vice versa, you can get through the rest. There are ups, and there are most definitely downs, but you stick through them both together.”
“Damn, dude. That’s deep. What about when something goes wrong?”
“Oh, something’s always going to go wrong. Guaranteed. You just have to love the person enough to get through it. Go in with your eyes wide open, but not with the attitude that it’s doomed to end someday. It’s like what Henry Ford said, ‘Whether you think you can or you can’t, you’re right.’ If you go in thinking it will end, then it will.”
“Makes it sound like I have an attitude problem.”
“Maybe when it comes to relationships, you do.”
“Ouch,” Adam said, putting his hand over his heart.
“Honesty is also important in a relationship. Ours is strong enough that I can be honest with you. You’ve seen your mom through a lot of shit, but at least she’s trying. She puts herself out there and believes love is possible. Even if she is picking losers, she’s picking.”
“Why do I feel like you’ve had all this in your back pocket and have been looking for an opportunity to hit me with it?”
Spencer chuckled. “I worry about you. You’re like a brother to me, and I want to see you happy.”
“Ten minutes ago, I thought Iwashappy. Are you saying I can’t be happy without a wife?”
