Page 12 of Starry Skies, Stolen Kisses, and My Best Friend's Brother

“We’ll start with a short one this summer, the weekend after Labor Day.We’ll call it the Influencer Hideaway.Then we’ll spend the fall creating the spa and restaurant and plan on doing four longer ones next summer.Any questions?”

Hands go up all over the room.I do my best to answer most questions until the room quiets down.

Levi has been sitting there with arms crossed and a glare on his face.“Seth, one thing I don’t understand.If we’re limiting the number of guests, we’re limiting the amount of money that can be made.Twenty guests at a few thousand dollars each won’t make that much of a difference.Especially when you consider the investment that needs to be made to upgrade.”

Levi is a humble man, and I don’t think he’ll understand this, but I’ll give it a shot anyway.“They won’t be paying a few thousand.They’ll be paying closer to a hundred thousand.”

Levi’s mouth drops.“Each?”

I nod, and a quiet buzz of chatter flows through the room.

“For a week?”

“Yes.”

“No one will pay that.”He still hasn’t wiped the incredulity off his face.

“I’ve done it personally.More than once actually.It was money well spent.”

“You’re crazy.”He scoffs.

“I know.But the point is other people will pay it as well.And if we give them a good enough experience, they’ll come back year after year, and they’ll tell their friends.Plus, we’ll attend conferences for social media influencers to recruit them, starting with one in August in Las Vegas.”

Change is not always a good thing, and I proposed a lot of it, but desperate times call for desperate measures.Some of the expressions in the room are unreadable, some curious and interested, and others in agreement with Levi about the insanity of my plan.But I look at Dad.He’s the one that matters.

He steps up and claps me on the shoulder.“Son, I was skeptical when you came home.I know you’ve done amazing things for corporations all over the world, but I didn’t see how that could possibly translate to working here on our little farm.But this plan is solid.I like it.”

Murmurs of assent come from around the room, and I let out a sigh of relief.Levi’s still glaring at me, but he’ll get over it.

Mom raises her hand, and the room quiets down.“What about our local guests?Will they still be able to stay in cabins that have been upgraded for guests who are paying hundreds of thousands of dollars?”

This is a problem.We’ll need to keep them nice, and I do worry about that.

“I’m not sure how we’re going to handle that yet, but we’ll figure it out.”

She lets out a sigh but doesn’t argue with me.

“One more thing.I need to hire an assistant to get this done.It should be someone who has a deep understanding of social media marketing.Someone who is also friendly enough in person to deal with the locals so we can keep as much of our money here as possible.I don’t want to hire yoga instructors and masseuses from outside the community.I can use my contacts and hire an assistant from the city, but I’d rather have someone who understands our town.Any suggestions?”

“Mae’s degree is in social media marketing.”Abi gives me a look like I’m dumb.

In theory, Mae would be perfect, and the thought had crossed my mind, but the last thing I need is to be working closely with Mae.I haven’t stopped thinking about her since I got back home, and she’ll be a major distraction.

“Mae is moving to D.C.in the fall.”Keith scowls in my direction.

“But the summer camp will be the weekend right after Labor Day.By then, the hard work will be done,” Abi retorts.I know she thinks she’s helping, but she’s not.

“She’s perfect,” Mom says.“I don’t see how you could find anyone better.And don’t say you want someone with more experience.I know for a fact that she’s worked for fancy companies on the side her entire college career.That’s how she got such a good job in D.C.”

Before I can even answer, Dad rubs his hands together.“Then it’s decided.Mae will be Seth’s assistant.Mark, you’ll be okay without her?”

Mark nods.“I’ve got plenty of lifeguards this summer.”

My mind races through the things I need for a massive social media campaign.“Can I steal Abi as well?She’s great at photography and videography.She and Mae can work together to build a social media presence for us.”I look around for her, but she’s already disappeared.

“I thought you wanted this place to be kept secret,” Mark says.

“Oh, it will be.That’s the whole point.We want people to see it but have no idea where it is.And the only way to come here is to book a hideaway week.In fact, we’re going to leave up the sign for Blackwood Family Farm.Whisper Springs Hideaway isn’t something you see until you’re inside the property.”

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