Chapter 16

ERIC

By the time Riley and Jonathan came back from their walk, I'd finished reading the business plan. I'd made some notes and highlighted the text I thought needed to be more obvious.

"What do you think?" Jonathan asked.

"It looks great to me," I told him, trying to offer a reassuring smile. "The only question I have is whether you want to buy or lease the store you've found."

Jonathan frowned. "I'd like to buy the building, but I don't know if the bank will lend me the money. That's why there are two different budgets."

I flipped to the pages he was talking about. "I think you should make it really clear that your preference is to buy the building. Why are you asking a loan's officer in Boulder for the money?"

"Because that's one of the biggest banks around here."

"Will they know about property prices in Sunrise Bay?"

A hint of worry crossed Jonathan's face. "I don't know. Do you think I should include some kind of property overview?"

"It wouldn't hurt. A realtor could give you a list of commercial buildings that have sold in the last twelve months. I've made some notes about small things. Apart from the property prices and making it clear that your preferred option is to buy the building, the plan looks okay to me." I handed the folder back to Jonathan. "What will you do if the bank won't give you the money?"

Jonathan sighed. "I'll keep working from the commercial kitchen in my garage. But the store in town is perfect. It used to be a French bakery. Apart from some painting and signage, I won't need to change anything for a long time."

"Where's the building?" I asked, genuinely curious now.

"On Main Street. It's about five buildings away from the general store."

I knew the property he was talking about. The French bakery was still open when I arrived in town. With its wide veranda, arched windows, and red-brick exterior, the building would make a wonderful candy store.

"Have you thought about working with a business partner?" I suggested, hoping to offer another perspective.

Jonathan nodded slowly. "I did, but it didn't seem realistic to expect someone to invest in a candy store. Most of my sales are through word of mouth and at the markets and fairs."

"You described ways your business could grow. Putting those actions into place might appeal to an investor."

Riley touched Jonathan's arm. "Eric's right. I know you want to do this on your own. But if the bank won't lend you the money, having a business partner could be a great option."

"I might not have a choice," Jonathan told her. "Without some sort of loan, I'll still be making candy from my garage. Thanks for taking the time to help me, Eric. I really appreciate your suggestions."

"You're welcome. If you want another opinion, talk to Jenny at the general store. She could review your sales projections to see if the peak business times match what you've identified."

Jonathan picked up his folder and patted Sherlock. "I will. Thanks."

Riley grinned at me. "Don't worry. We didn't corrupt Sherlock too much." He handed me the whistle. "We didn't need this. He stayed beside us the whole time."

My eyebrows rose in surprise. "What did you bribe him with?"

Riley patted Sherlock's head. "We didn't have to bribe him. He enjoyed our company."

Sherlock wasn't the only one enjoying their company. And that realization worried me almost as much as the stalker who'd been haunting my every step.