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“I’d like to see the numbers.”
“On both ideas?” Blake asked.
I stacked the papers on my desk and set them in the corner. “Yeah. I think both ideas are good, but I do wonder if they will have longevity around here.”
“Do you want us to start doing some hands-on research? I can get a group out there to do field research. See what the townspeople are wanting and what they think.”
I quirked my lips and stared out the window. I knew Adams. If a bunch of strangers came into town and started asking questions, the gossip would spread like warm butter. “I’ll take care of the research myself. I don’t want to cause a commotion in town until I know for a fact we are going to move forward.”
“Are you still wanting me there?”
I tapped my fingers on the desk and sighed. “The end of the month.” That would give me enough time to know if I was going to need to pull the plug or not. “The barn should be ready for you then, anyway.” The red barn out back was halfway finished. I still needed to pick out flooring and paint colors for the walls. When I bought the house, I hadn’t known what I was going to do with the additional building, but after my talk with Shelby, I knew what I wanted to do with it and in Adams.
Blake had worked for me in the city, and I knew I wanted him with me in my future plans.
When I asked Blake to move to Adams and help me, he hadn’t hesitated. He had been my right-hand man for a reason, and if all of this went off accordingly, we would both be set for the rest of our lives.
“I just want to tell you again; Adams is not anything like Chicago.”
“I know,” Blake laughed. “You have told me ten times already, Wilder. Besides, I googled the town and civilization isn’t that far away.”
I chuckled and shook my head. “I just don’t think you get it.”
“You’re there,” Blake pointed out.
“But I grew up here. You haven’t spent a night outside of the city, Blake. I just don’t want you coming here and then realizing I wasn’t overexaggerating.” Coming from Chicago to Adams was going to be a complete culture shock for Blake. I just hoped he would be able to adjust to the small-town vibe.
“Are you trying to talk me out of moving there?”
I was, but I also wasn’t. “I just want you to fully understand that you will not be in Chicago anymore. Think of Mayberry, but in the two thousands. Early two thousands.”
Blake chuckled. “You guys still wearing Jnco jeans and believe Prince is still alive?”
“Almost,” I drawled. I loved Adams, but I was fully aware that the town was a little behind in the times.
“I’ll be fine there, Wilder. I can always head to the city on the weekends if I need to smell exhaust and ride the subway.” Blake sighed. “I’ll be there around the twenty-ninth. My lease on my apartment is up at the end of the month, so the timing works out perfectly.”
“Okay,” I conceded. “Get your life packed up and get ready to experience Adams.”
“I’m kind of excited,” Blake laughed. “I think your ideas are great, and maybe I need to get out of the city. There is a whole world outside of Chicago, and I want to see it.”
I had said the same thing nine years ago, but the cities were reversed. I wanted to see what was outside of Adams, the place Blake now wanted to get out of.
“We’ll talk soon.” I ended the call and leaned back. I had spent the last week watching and learning the ins and outs of Adams.
The town had everything it needed, but I saw some of the wants the town had.
There wasn’t anywhere for people to do other than eat or shop.
For nine years I have helped make and design amusement parks around the US, and I saw that Adams could use a little amusement.
Axe throwing and put-put were at the top of my list of things I could bring to Adams. Things people left Adams for to go and do somewhere else. If we had those things in Adams, that would me more money would stay in the town.
Would the town be open to someone building those things? I wasn’t sure.
Macon had mentioned the investor who had moved in and built the new gas station, and he hadn’t seemed so happy about it.
Expansion and growth were sometimes hard things for people to accept.
I was hoping since I was a homegrown boy from Adams, they would be more open to my ideas.
And I also had another plan up my sleeve.
Macon had told me the same investor was thinking of opening a Chicken King in town. I had done some digging and found out that was completely true.
I didn’t want that.
Chicken Biscuit was an institution in Adams, and I would do everything in my power to make sure it stayed that way.
That was my next meeting for the day.
I was making moves in Adams to insure the town got into the present but also kept its small-town charm.
I just hoped everyone in town would be on board.
*
