Her Hometown Dream #2
“I still have my parents’ money. I never spent a dime. I’ll buy the property, restore it, and use the project to launch my business.” Amy rubbed her hands together. If she did this, she could stay forever, achieving her dearest wish. She glanced at her two best friends.
Since graduating high school, they’d lived a lot of life without the others.
Could she really come home for good? Now or never.
Her contagious positivity brightened every sad face and hopeless word she had ever encountered.
If she wanted to stay, she’d have to focus her efforts on happy thoughts.
“I can’t wait to get started. You two have to help me. ”
“Of course. If you’re staying forever, I’m in.” Hannah grinned. “Whatever you need. I can paint, drop-off food, anything.”
Sam scrunched her face.
The pinched expression was one Amy recognized.
Sam was the boss, Amy was the big picture thinker, and Hannah was the worker bee.
As a unit, they complimented each other.
Sam reigned in Amy, and Hannah completed any task with her head down in determination.
Amy needed both. “Okay, Sam. What am I not seeing?”
“Everything.” Sam held her hands palms up. “What will you do with the building after it’s done?”
“I don’t know. Office space?” Amy asked. “Maybe I’ll rent out the rooms or something? I’m dreaming on the fly here.”
“You can’t run a boarding house or timeshare or whatever you’re planning.
” Sam shook her head. “That’s a hard job with a lot of hours that none of us can dedicate.
I’m full-time at my parents’ auction business.
I can help you part time, but I can’t run anything unless it’s going to replace my income. ”
Amy nodded and let her friend’s words sink into her brain.
Everyone had a family business in town, at least the people with families did.
She sipped her water and washed away the dull taste.
Raised by her aunt and uncle alongside her cousin Zoey, she’d been luckier than most orphans and had always known love and security.
The mansion had also been her late parents’ dream.
She considered the property a tangible connection to the family she would never know.
Sam leaned back and folded her arms over her chest. “I’m not trying to crush your dreams. I want to understand your goal. Can you really turn down a good job to stay here?”
Amy drew in a deep breath. Sam urged her to temper her joy and think rationally. Another reason Amy needed her friend’s support. “I have half an idea. Let me get more information.”
Sam nodded and dropped her arms. “Okay. I want you here but not at the expense of your future. Do you need the building? Wouldn’t finding clients and taking on someone else’s job be a better start?”
Taking a deep breath, Amy swallowed her retort.
Restoring the house would take a lot of time, money, and energy.
Sam was right to caution her. Unfortunately, if she didn’t buy the mansion now, she might never get another chance.
The mansion had been vacant for nearly thirty years.
She couldn’t brush off the timing as mere coincidence.
“What about…” She reached for her water and sipped. The pause forced her to double check the logic in her thoughts.
Hannah leaned forward.
Sam held her gaze.
Make this good, or she’s not onboard. Nothing works without Sam Holt. Amy returned her glass to the table and clasped her hands together. “A historical society slash office space for my business slash museum and gallery.”
“Keep talking.” Sam nodded. Her open features and smooth brow were good signs. She was listening.
If Amy’s lifelong dream had been restoring the house, she appreciated Sam’s passion burned just as strong for the old things inside.
She’d grown up around antiques at her parents’ auction business.
Primarily dealing in estate sales and land, the Holts had seen their share of collectibles and knickknacks through the years.
Sam had declared she’d run a museum before thirty.
After a failed internship in Chicago during college, she never mentioned the deadline again.
“Well, why not?" Amy asked. "We could turn the whole house into a local museum.”
Sam nodded, and the corner of her mouth lifted.
Across the table, Hannah leaned back in her chair.
Some of the color drained from Hannah’s face at the practical talk. Long ago, Amy had learned how difficult balancing a three-sided friendship could be. If any of them needed a dream to come true, Hannah did. Giving everything to her daughter, Hannah needed something for herself. Could Amy help?
Amy sat straighter as an idea popped into her brain. “What if we host living history events?”
“Continue.” Hannah sipped her water.
“Last year, I interviewed with a firm hired to restore an entire town. They wanted to become a tourist destination.”
Sam widened her eyes.
Amy waved her hands. “I don’t have such large scale plans in mind. After the restoration, we start small. We could host tea parties and holiday events. Wouldn’t it be fun if we featured our very own Maude MacKinnon?” Amy pointed a finger at Hannah.
Hannah grinned. “This, I like.”
“Great. You two are on board. Now I have to tell my aunt and uncle, buy the property, and get started. Easy peasy.” Amy brushed her palms back and forth.
A look passed between Sam and Hannah.
Amy waited a breath. “What?”
“We want you to succeed.” Sam adjusted in her chair. “But, Amy, take it from us. Life isn’t just about you dream it, it happens, everything works out.”
Amy nodded. “I understand. I’m ready to work.”
“Great, because what you’re proposing will be a major endeavor,” Sam said.
With her arched eyebrow, Amy held eye contact until her friend glanced away. She wasn’t going to give up so close to her goal. Her path forward held a lot of work and planning. She never backed down from a challenge. What wasn't Sam saying?
“Should we order?” Sam glanced at the menu.
“I already put in your usual meals.” Hannah stood. “Let me check if your dinners are ready.”
Amy sipped her water. With the mansion, she was focused on a project bigger than her desires.
She had the opportunity to change all their lives and keep them united in the town they loved.
If she could come up with a solid plan, she owed herself the chance.
In the midst of a revitalization, Harmony wouldn’t have affordable real estate for long.
If she didn’t put down her roots now, permanently, she might be forced out forever.
She would drive by the property on her way home.
What was the worst that could happen from further investigation?
“Hannah? Can I get mine to go?”