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"Y-yes I am. I heard you, I just can't believe it. I'm trying to process."
"I know. I didn't expect him to… I was just talking at lunch, and I had been on the phone with you, so they had asked me about you, and one thing led to another. Kai's grandfather was sitting close to me at the table, and he asked me what you did for a job. I showed him pictures, and he loved them. He really did. We parted ways just now, and I gave him your number. He said that he was going to have someone call you for more information."
"Oh Beau, I don't even know what to say. I'm shaking. This went from being… this is the best birthday ever. I'm stunned. Do you think there's a chance that he'll actually follow through and something will happen, or was he just being nice?"
"He wasn't being nice. He's obsessed with them. He stared at them and wanted to order several for his dog, Yuki. He told me all about her. He thinks they'll go over really well in Japan. He was asking me about the exact letter size in millimeters. He wanted to know about the process and specifically about your tools, but I wasn't sure what to tell him. I had your tag in my pocket, and I almost showed him, but I wasn't sure if it was the same letters you're using now."
"It's the same letters, but I'm still glad you didn't show him. Oh, my goodness, Beau. Thank you. I don't even know what to say. I mean, even if it doesn't work out, it's just amazing to know that you're on the other side of the world, showing people my stuff."
"He loved it. I didn't have to talk him into anything. Obviously, you won't know what he'll offer or even if you want to work with him, but I'm pretty certain he'll be calling you—if not him, then his son or someone from their office."
Beau heard her take a deep breath, and he wished he was there to see her. He felt proud of Holland and happy that Kai's family saw something special in her work.
"Thank you, Beau. I just feel so thankful."
"You're welcome. I wish I could take more credit, but it was honestly easy. So easy it was probably God."
"That's amazing," she said the words slowly and in a high-pitched tone, trying to hide the fact that she was crying.
"I have to go," he said. "And I'm sure you'll be sleeping when we get back, so I'll be in touch later tonight, when it's morning for you.
"That's fine," she said.
They said goodbye, and Beau felt like he wanted to tell her he loved her. He knew it was too early to say it, but the miles that separated them made it seem more urgent. He almost said it, but he settled for goodbye.
Holland McArthur was everything he wanted, and the beautiful thing was that she wanted him, too. He knew she was being honest and she felt for him. He could hear it in her voice.
Chapter 16
Holland
My very first thought when I hung up the phone with Beau was the fact that the little strip of leather with my name on it had been in his pocket. I was astounded that something could possibly come from Kai's grandfather wanting to contact me about my business, but that information took a backburner in my mind. I loved thinking about Beau carrying my name around in his pocket. I smiled every time it crossed my mind, which was a lot. Even if nothing worked out with Mr. Mori, I still had that one piece of knowledge—that Beau had carried my keychain with him to Japan.
My day had somehow transformed into the best birthday ever.
I was smiling as I fell asleep that night.
I heard from Kai's grandfather the following day. I did not email with him personally, but I corresponded with someone who represented him. They were prepared to offer me a franchise deal where they would use my branding and reproduce my designs. They would work with me to streamline production and train a manager while keeping the operation small with the same boutique, handmade feel.
They thought in much bigger terms than I did, and they were already prepared to talk about outsourcing leather, production, and distribution. Mr. Mori thought of it as a personal project—something that was fun. It was small in comparison to the major international company he ran, but really big and overwhelming for me.
I was floored by it all. We would determine a certain amount to invest in necessary upgrades for my own setup, and then we would replicate the new and improved set-up in Japan with, of course, Japanese characters. I would have a counterpart there who would manage it.
All of this took place during a series of exchanges I made with Mr. Mori's assistant. I talked to him when it was morning in Japan and evening in Arkansas. Our email conversation was spread out with breaks in between, but it lasted until well after midnight my time.
He sent a whole proposal the following day, and I signed it. It was not for two million dollars like I might have dreamed. In fact, the actual cash payout would be minimal, but it was a good, solid deal for a new business like mine, and it was surreal that it was happening on any level.
My products and packaging would only get better, and the outsourcing and new equipment would go a long way in helping me produce them faster. We would also have someone doing the marketing with ads and media for both locations. It was all in the contract.
The fact that Mr. Mori was efficient enough to dream up a plan and come up with a contract within two days was beyond me. He described it as an impulse purchase for himself, and said that he had always been a carpe diem type of person.
He assured me that Mr. Mori was treating me like a friend of his grandson's and being fair and reasonable to me. I had no problem trusting him, and I told him that I was ready to sign the papers.
We had an appointment set up for Thursday evening at 7pm my time, which would be 9am in Tokyo. We would connect on a video call and go over some logistics. The plan was for me to ultimately sign papers during this meeting. Mr. Mori would have multiple people in the room including Beau, who had been kept in the loop as the deal went along. Beau told me he was invited to be in the boardroom for the meeting, and that felt like a huge relief.
Kai had told him to wear professional attire. Thankfully, Beau gave me this bit of information. I wasn't planning on wearing my pajamas, but after he said that, I began to put more thought into my outfit. I drove down to Little Rock that morning where I bought a new outfit and had my hair and makeup done by a professional. It was way more makeup than I would ever apply on my own, but I FaceTimed a friend of mine from back home in Chicago, and she told me it looked natural on the screen.
I talked to Beau thirty minutes before the conference call was scheduled. He was in his room, and we made a video call so that he could see me and encourage me before the big meeting. I also wanted him to see what I was wearing so that he could make sure it was okay before we placed the call with everyone else. I had the computer set up where the Japan crew could see my workstation, and I held my phone there and talked to Beau from that perspective. Everything was clean and straight and in its place. I had worked on the angle of my camera and what was in the scene.
