Page 95 of Follow My Heart

Wes handed out a spreadsheet with the numbers for the weekend. “Just look at how much we brought in with the Santa photos. We took pictures with their phones and charged a flat fee of ten dollars per family, and still made a nice sum.”

I whistled through my lips. “This is impressive.” I wouldn’t have thought that Santa photos would be lucrative, especially when we didn’t hire a professional photographer.

Dad held the spreadsheet in the air to emphasize his point. “This is what people want from their Christmas tree farms. An experience.”

“Now you sound like Charlotte,” Teddy said with a disgusted tone.

Dad gave him a droll look. “Charlotte is the expert at this kind of thing.”

Teddy’s jaw tightened. “We could have done this on our own.”

Wes threw up his hands. “You’re against doing any of this. You wouldn’t have planned a festival.”

“And look at how much revenue we brought in on vendor fees and Santa photos. Not to mention the tree side of the business. It’s not even quantifiable because the repercussions of this weekend could be felt for the rest of the season and into next. People will remember their experience here, and want to come back,” Jameson added.

“They might not want the grumpy Santa,” Fiona said lightly.

Teddy shot her a look but didn’t respond.

Dad held up his hands. “We’re past this. I hired Charlotte. She’s living in the cottage.”

“What happened with your house? Did you deal with insurance yet?” Fiona asked Teddy.

“They’re trying to salvage the floors so there’s fans everywhere, and I’m not supposed to walk on them while they’re drying out.”

“If you need a place to stay Jameson’s apartment above the garage is available,” Dad offered.

Teddy shook his head. “I’ll find something.”

I exchanged a look with Fiona. I could just imagine Teddy and Charlotte living so close together on the farm. Sparks would fly, and probably not the good kind.

“It was Charlotte’s suggestion to make the festival more of a weekly thing, and I’d like to keep you in the loop. It would give people a reason to stop by the farm once a week. We won’t have the usual produce and veggies, but we’ll substitute like we did this weekend with baked goods and holiday gifts and decor.”

Fiona leaned forward. “I think it’s a great idea. People are looking for holiday things to do. Just look at the light display at the Monroes’. It brings in a ton of traffic, and it would be nice for us to have something here.”

I held up my hands. “I’m glad you included me, but I’m not sure I should have a say. I might be moving back to Virginia soon.”

“What? Why?” Dad asked.

“Stacy wants to move in with her boyfriend. The house will be empty. Faith wants to live with me. This will solve all our problems.”

Dad frowned. “I thought you liked living closer to family.”

“Faith is my family, Dad. I don’t like being this far from her.” I hated that my words hurt him, but it was my reality.

“I can understand that. I was just hoping that you and her would be closer, even if it was only every other weekend that she could visit,” Dad said.

I spread my hands in the air. “I don’t know what’s going to happen. I’m just considering the options.”

“It’s not like Stacy will let you make a decision anyway. She holds all the cards,” Daphne said.

My jaw tightened. “I make the decisions.”

“Did you agree to the separation, or did she tell you that’s what was happening?” Daphne asked.

That’s why I’d felt so hopeless and out of control. No matter how much I begged, she wouldn’t reconsider or go to marriage counseling. Looking back, I’m certain she’d already moved on with Phil. But the fact remained; it was her decision. “I don’t see why that matters.”

“When are you going to stop letting that woman dictate your life?” Daphne asked before pushing her chair away from the table and walking out.