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Gia’s nose scrunched from the dust in the air. “It needs a ton of work.”
My stomach sank. “It does.”
She shook her head. “It won’t be ready in time for the summer.”
“I don’t have the money to take care of the renovations yet.” Maybe once we held a couple of events at the farm, I’d have enough to think about improving this place.
Gia stared at the space, her brain still turning. “It has potential, though. We could even use it as a kitchen for catering the events.”
“I hadn’t even thought of that.” That sounded more expensive than a bridal party suite.
Gia smiled as she made her way to the screen door and fresh air. “That’s why you have me.”
“Thank you for looking. I really appreciate hearing what you think.” Her enthusiasm encouraged me to continue with my plans. There was hope for the future. I was just worried about what it meant for my house.
“Don’t worry about the summerhouse or the main house yet; we can see how Zoe and Max’s wedding goes before we make further plans.”
I nodded, even as my stomach sank. “Like a dry run, of sorts.”
“Yes, but I think it’s going to be amazing. You have a gem here.”
My heart overflowed with joy and excitement. I couldn’t wait for spring to arrive, to see Zoe walking down the flower-lined aisle toward Max. “We’re going to throw the best wedding for them.”
Gia nodded solemnly. “That’s what we do. I wouldn’t give the go-ahead if I didn’t think this property had everything we need to make it a success.” She pointed toward the barn. “But that car needs to go so we can play with the setup and lighting.”
“I’ll talk to Jake.”
“See that you do. Let me know if the car will be available to drive the bride and groom from their hotel or bed-and-breakfast in town. If so, I’ll take a few pictures and add it to the portfolio for this venue.”
I could see the GTO becoming part of the brand I’d envisioned for the flower farm. A bride and groom waving to their guests as they drove down the lane.
“Have you thought about a name?”
“I’ve always thought of it as the rose farm.” I hadn’t imagined it would be something official. A destination for couples.
“Write down your ideas. We can meet with everyone and brainstorm options.”
Gia clasped her hands together as we neared her SUV. “Thank you so much for opening your home to Happily Ever Afters.”
“It was a plan of mine for a while. I just wasn’t sure I had the time or money to make it a viable option.”
Gia opened the driver’s side door of her car. “Whatever you need, let me know. I’ll make it happen.”
Not only were Max and Zoe friends of ours, but we had a reputation to uphold. I knew Gia wouldn’t allow the wedding to go forward if I wasn’t ready. It added pressure to the situation. I hoped I could pull it off.
When she left, I returned to the barn, intending to throw the tarp over the GTO, but instead, I ran my hand over the shiny gold paint. The interior was white leather but tinted yellow from age. The material from the roof hung. It might need new interior, upholstery, and tires from sitting in the garage for so long. It could be restored, but was it worth it? Would the property survive without it? Or would it be the icing on the cake for the wedding venue?
I thought back to that conversation with Jake about business. It was about figuring out what made me unique and adding that to my offerings. I couldn’t help but think my grandparents’ love story would be perfect.
Could I swing adding another building on the property and a garage to house the van and this car? It would be practical to have a garage in the winter. It would add value to the property, but where would I get the money?
First, I needed to know what Jake thought of the car. What it would take to restore it and how much it would cost.
I typed out a message, asking if he could stop by tonight to discuss it. I’d ignored the issue for as long as I could. I thought in the back of my mind, if the car was still here, I had a reason to be involved with him. But that was ridiculous. We had more than cars between us.
Opening the door and sliding into the backseat, I let the memories of that first night with Jake assailed me. I touched the cool leather, remembering how he’d held me while the rain came down. The car held memories not only for my grandparents, but for me too. Was I okay with selling it? With letting someone else make new memories inside?
The thought of letting go of any of my grandparents’ things was painful. But what if Jake and I didn’t work out? What if he wasn’t ready for a relationship? Would I still want the reminder in my garage? I wasn’t so sure.
