out of business once and for all. It’s been sitting empty ever since.
And it looks it, too. Some of the buildings aren’t in the best shape, and the land is completely overgrown. The apple orchard hasn’t been tended to in years, and looks downright wild. It’s kind of a mess.
“This is going to be a huge project,” I tell Cam.
He nods, his expression turning serious. Finally. “I know.”
“So where do I come into this?” I ask warily, smiling up at the server when she appears at our table with my drink and the appetizers.
We all remain quiet as she sets everything on the table. Once she’s gone, Camden starts back up again. “Silent investor, as you always are. You’re a busy guy, I get it. But I was hoping you’d like to invest into the new family business and help us grow.”
“What about the food truck?”
“We’re going to serve barbecue at the barn. Max and Mason will still run the food truck and the takeout shack we’ll eventually open up,” Cam says. “We’ll start out serving food at the barn during the weekends, Friday through Sunday.” Excitement lights up Cam’s eyes and he’s wearing that million-dollar smile once more. The one that convinces everyone his farfetched ideas are the best they’ve ever heard. “We’re planning on having a couple of shops on site. There will be an ice cream store, plus a store featuring merchandise, handmade goods, stuff like that. We’re going to have a pumpkin patch just like the old days, along with some goats and cows. Chickens. It’ll be like a real farm.”
“This sounds like a lot of work. You’re not playing at having a farm. You’re going to be running an actual farm,” I say, reaching across the table to grab a homemade mozzarella stick and dunking it in the marinara sauce before I cram it into my mouth. Holy shit, that’s delicious.
“And you sound skeptical.” Cam is still grinning. “I get it. I’m taking on a huge project, and I don’t know fuck all about farming.” He sends a sympathetic look in Ali’s direction. “Sorry.”
She waves her hand. “Please. You guys curse in front of me all the time.”
Poor Ali. She’s not wrong.
“It’s a huge undertaking, and I don’t know how you’re going to do it all.” I believe in my brother. Cam is smart and determined. Whatever he sets his mind to, he gets it done.
But a farm? With shops and animals and growing fruits and vegetables? He’ll have to hire a large staff. He’ll need someone to run that staff—and the farm. He knows about barbecue thanks to the food truck and growing up watching our father. The rest of it, he doesn’t know shit.
“I’m not going to do it all,” Cam says, grabbing a mozzarella stick for himself. “I’m going to hire plenty of staff.”
“Including someone to manage the farm?”
“There are couples all over this country who live on-site and will help manage a farm, plus there are a ton of teenagers in the area I can hire to work the store and the ice cream shop. Whatever. I’ve been researching this for months, Theo. I know what I’m doing,” Cam says, sounding vaguely offended.
“If you’ve been researching this for months, why didn’t you mention it to me sooner?” I ask.
“Because I knew you’d react like this.” Cam drops his half-eaten mozzarella stick onto his plate. “I have a plan in place. Mason and Max are on board. I told Mom and Dad all about it yesterday, and they support me.”
“I support you,” Ali says, making Cam smile.
“Everyone does.” Cam frowns. “Except for you.”
“I never said I don’t support you,” I tell him. “And what about Sullivan’s Tree Farm? Aren’t they basically doing the same thing? Why would you want to compete with that?”
“They’re seasonal. We’ll have the farm open year round, and we really won’t focus on Christmas as much as they do. Trees are their thing, and I’ll let them have trees. Everything else is fair game.” Cam sits back in his chair and smirks, looking very pleased with himself.
This is just—a lot. A huge endeavor. Are you sure you want to take this on?”
“I’m so sure, I’ve already made the offer and it’s been accepted. I’m doing this,” Cam says firmly. “Want to see my business plan?”
There is nothing I love more than reading someone’s business plan—no fucking joke. “I do.”
“I brought it with me. I’ll give it to you after dinner. You can read it over later tonight and