Chapter 2 #2
“It’s so good to see you,” Darcy started as we entered his office. “How’s Tobias? Tabitha?”
“They’re good, thanks. Tabby has about six more months until she’s home.” I took a seat as Darcy scuttled to settle himself behind his desk.
“Such a strain on your family; her service is so appreciated.” He clicked a few things on his computer as he spoke. “How’s business? Keeping you busy?”
I chuckled. The good thing about web design was I could work from anywhere. Technology allowed me to meet with clients from across the world, although the majority of my work was with individuals and businesses in the States. “Business is good. I like to stay busy.”
“Good, good,” he said absently as he scribbled something on a notebook. “Sam, I brought you here today because I’m in need of your services. Well, Sugar Pine is.”
I cocked a brow. I’d done some work for the Evergreen County Library, the Sugar Pine grocery store, a used car lot in Jack Pine, and the county fair along with a couple individuals in Sugar Pine and neighboring towns.
But most of my work was spread out across the country and even across oceans. “I’m listening.”
“Sam, when I took over as mayor of Sugar Pine, I falsely believed our people, food, and nature would be enough to sell our location to the tourists.” Darcy sighed as he stood and moved to the window.
“Over time, I’ve realized that we must do more if we’re to be the top town in Evergreen County. The website is sorely lacking—”
“We have a website?”
“Exactly.” He tutted around his office watering various plants as he spoke. “Of course, I want a professional to work on this job, but keeping it local is important too.”
My gut told me the next words out of his mouth were going to be about money. It was always about money.
“Now, Sam, we’d pay you, of course,” Darcy said. “I wouldn’t expect you to work for free.” He gave a hearty chortle. “Not going to argue if you want to offer a discount, though.”
There it was.
“Anyway,” he waved away the comment before I could reply, “I also want new artwork around town, as well as featured on the website. I’ve brought in another local; I think the two of you will make a fabulous team.”
As if planned, a knock sounded at the door.
“Ah, there he is now. Come in.”
The door swung open, and Mattie blew into the room like sunshine. Back then, things always seemed better when he was around. And now, it seemed not much had changed. How did everything feel softer, lighter, and more enjoyable just because this gorgeous man had walked in?
Mattie was the personification of He lights up a room, and there was no better way to describe him. Intense, emotional, and displaying a tendency to pour his feelings into his work, but also so easy-going and fun.
“Mattie Brightwell, I’d like you to meet Sam Benton.” Darcy gestured between us. “Sam, this is Mattie. He’s an artist. A Sugar Pine boy through and through.”
Not being one to skip manners, I stood and held out my hand with a smile. “Mattie.”
His lips quirked, and he yanked me into a back-slapping hug. “Sam, you don’t look a day over thirty-nine. How you doin’, man?”
I let his warmth spill over me, the clean, fresh scent of his skin tickling my nostrils, and hugged him back.
“Well, I’ll be,” Darcy exclaimed. “Do you boys know each other?”
I couldn’t tell from the sparkle in the old man’s eyes if he was just truly pleased with the surprise or if he’d known about me and Mattie before and was just playing innocent.
Either way, I wasn’t upset to have a reason to be talking to Mattie.
“We go way back,” Mattie said, squeezing my arm. “Mayor, I would have been excited about the chance to spruce up Sugar Pine anyway, but knowing you want Sam and me to work together makes it all the better.”
“Good, good. Well, this is just perfect.” Darcy launched into his wants and wishes for the website.
“It needs to be user-friendly and really give the vibe of Sugar Pine. We have someone on staff in charge of advertising, so don’t worry about any of that.
You boys will just be in charge of making it look nice.
” He jotted something in his notebook. “Mattie, when we spoke, you indicated you could provide us some good prices on your paintings and photographs to hang around town.”
Mattie nodded. “Sure can.”
“We’ll likely want something in the main businesses and definitely in the cabins down by Pine River.
The lodge too.” He clasped his hands in front of him.
“Now, I can pass this along to someone else, but Mattie is a hometown boy, and Sam might as well be since he’s been here so long, so I thought I’d put it to you boys first.”
Mattie’s eyes shone bright, and he waggled his brows in my direction.
“Our summer and fall seasons bring in the most tourism with camping and hiking. Spring can be wet and cold, but folks like to hit the trails and water as soon as we get a few warm days. The winter season used to be a lucrative time, but tourism is down.” Darcy turned his computer screen our way and pointed to it.
“There’s a grant being offered to a struggling small town.
Now, I don’t like to admit we’re struggling, but that grant money sure would come in handy. ”
“What’s the requirement?” Mattie asked.
“We have to pull in the largest percentage of income compared to the same time period last year, have a fresh, new website, and involve locals in making it all happen.”
“Deadline?” I asked.
“Christmas Eve.”
The matching grunts of surprise escaping Mattie and me had Darcy holding up a placating hand.
“I know it’s not much time, but I think it can be done.
Mattie, the pieces don’t have to be new or one-of-a-kind.
You mentioned you had some pieces you’d had printed in multiples, those would be just fine.
Sam, we have an existing website, so you’re not starting from scratch—however, if it would be easier to do so, you have cart blanche with that, obviously.
What we really need is something to draw folks to Sugar Pine in the winter.
The trails are great year-round, but that goes for all four towns in the county.
Most of our big festivals are in the summer and fall.
Jack Pine and Red Pine lucked out with the higher hills for skiing, although we pull in our fair share with the sledding hills for families of all ages.
” He tapped a finger against his lips. “You’re both creatives in your own right.
We need something that can grow year to year and continually pull people in.
I’m not trying to steal tourists right out from the other Pines’ noses, that’s just not very hospitable.
But my mind sees tourists coming to stay in the White Pine Hotel or our little cabins and spending their days visiting all the grand things to do in each town.
Right now, I’m not sure Sugar Pine has that big draw, and that’s what I’m counting on you boys for. ”
The meeting wrapped up, and Darcy had us meet with Pam to sign contracts regarding dates, pay, and requirements of the job. Then Mattie and I were out on the sidewalk in the late fall sunshine.
“Wanna get lunch and brainstorm since we’re colleagues for a while?” I asked.
Mattie smiled, a million megawatts sending unfamiliar flutters to my chest. “Absolutely. And maybe you can tell me why you’ve been avoiding me.”