Forbes carried a stack of folders over and set them down before sitting. “Now that you’ve had a couple of weeks to think about my parents’ proposal, I’d be interested in knowing your thoughts.”

Major quickly recapped the conversation he’d had with Meredith two weeks ago. “I’ve been spending a lot of time in prayer. And I believe the Lord is telling me this is an opportunity I can’t pass up—if all the financial stuff works out.”

“I told Mom and Dad that would probably be a concern, since they want you to start off as an investing partner and not just an employee. I believe we’ve come up with a plan that will work for all parties involved.”

From the stack in front of him, Forbes pulled a legal-sized folder with what looked like at least fifty pieces of paper in it. Major swallowed hard. He’d done well in his business law classes in college and culinary school, but that had been so many years ago. This was the part of starting a restaurant that turned him into a blithering idiot.

“According to the start-up plan you gave me to help you with a few months ago”—Forbes pulled it out of the folder—“you proposed to start a restaurant based on an initial investment of $150,000 cash and $600,000 in venture capital. I’ve presented this to my parents, and they like this plan.”

Major’s skin tingled, anticipation rising.

“That will make you a 20 percent co-owner in the restaurant. I believe they discussed with you that you will continue to have responsibilities in the catering division of B-G while the restaurant is in start-up phase?”

Major nodded. “Yes, and that I would continue to draw a salary—for a while, at least. I wasn’t too sure on that part.”

Forbes’s gray-blue eyes dropped back to the paperwork in front of him. When he found the document he sought, he passed it across the table to Major. “Here is the five-year buyout plan.” He grinned. “This was my idea, actually. It’s the plan I came up with for Jenn’s restaurant. She was able to buy me out after three years instead of five.”

Oh, that Major would be able to do the same. His eyes darted across the numbers and words on the page in front of him, unable to focus on anything.

“Once the restaurant begins to turn a profit—which we know may take at least two years—you will have the opportunity to buy out the 80 percent of the business owned by my parents.” Once Forbes started explaining all of the line-items in the spreadsheet, Major could see how it worked—that as he bought the Guidrys out of their investment in the restaurant, his share of the restaurant’s proceeds would increase.

The best part was that, even though he’d be taking everything out of savings and cashing out a few investments to buy into this deal, he wouldn’t be losing the security of a steady salary in the beginning. He would still be able to pay for his mother’s residence at Beausoleil Pointe Center in addition to his own expenses. Of course, he’d be working eighteen to twenty hours a day to get everything done, so he’d never see his mother, but in the end, it would all be worthwhile, wouldn’t it?

He forced himself to focus while Forbes detailed the rest of the legal and financial arrangements. Mairee and Lawson wanted the restaurant to be Major’s—he would be in charge of the menu, the decor, everything. They trusted him to make it a success.

They trusted him. They were taking a pretty big risk on him. He would do his best to deserve it and live up to their expectations.

“I know I’ve hit you with a lot of stuff.” Forbes handed the thickest folder to Major. “Take everything home with you, and spend some time reading through everything. Whenever you see something you have questions about, just holler, and I’ll explain it to you. I believe my parents told you they don’t expect an answer before Easter, right?”

“Right.” Which was a good thing. It would take him longer than the eight weeks between now and then to read through everything.

“Let’s plan to get together again in a couple of weeks. We can go back through everything, go over any questions that come up, and you can pull together your financial paperwork and the other business applications that are detailed in there.” Forbes pointed at the folder.

“Okay.”

“Look, Major. We’ve been friends for a long time. I wouldn’t be sitting here talking to you about this if I didn’t think it’s a solid plan that will be extremely profitable for you in the long run. I also know that you have some concerns about your mom and her health, but I think it’s time that you start looking toward your future, start chasing your dream.”

Major fanned the edge of the paperwork in the folder with his thumb. The man sitting across the corner of the table from him was his best friend in the world. And even he didn’t know the whole truth about Ma—if he did, he’d probably counsel his parents to run, not walk, away from this deal.

He flattened his hands atop the folder. “I’ll read through all of this and get back to you.”

“That’s all we’re asking.” Forbes stood and returned to his desk, motioning Major to follow.

The chair across from Forbes’s desk was much more comfortable than the one at the table. “I appreciate everything you’ve done.”

“It’s my pleasure.” Forbes loosened his tie and leaned back in his leather executive’s chair. “I know that right now, there’s no way you’d be able to afford my retainer. Technically, I only represent my parents in this venture. But I want to let you know that if you need anything — anything — I’m here for you, pro bono.”

“I don’t want you having to do that for me. Maybe we can work out some kind of trade agreement—I mean, you’ve got to have some events for the office, right? Stuff you bring in food for? Special client dinners at restaurants?”

“Yeah—sure, of course. And that’ll benefit you, too, because it’ll get the restaurant’s name out to everyone here.”

An unreasonable surge of envy filled Major. How could it be that he and Forbes were the same age—had graduated from high school together twenty years ago—yet here Major was barely starting on his career journey and Forbes was a partner in the largest law firm in town with his own office and his own secretary?

“You’re a brave man, Major.”

Major blinked a few times, startled. “What do you mean?”

“I mean—to take a step like this. To risk it all on what you’ve always wanted to do. Not a lot of people would be willing to do this at our age. It’s almost like you’re getting to start over.”

“Start over?” He had never thought of it that way. “Up until now, I’ve always felt like I was waiting to begin my life. Like everything I was doing was just waiting—building up to this.”

“You may feel that way, but that’s not how it looks on paper. If you were unproven, unknown, do you think my parents would have given you this opportunity? You’re a name, brother, a commodity in this town. Sure, part of that comes from your working at B-G for years, but everyone in the business community knows that Mom and Dad don’t suffer fools—if you lasted that long with them, you’ve got what it takes. Plus, just about every one of them has been to one event or another that you’ve catered.”

Forbes’s words took a few moments to filter through Major’s brain. “Benefits of a city that still has a small-town mentality?”

Forbes laughed. “Something like that. Hey, speaking of small-town mentality, what are you doing for supper?”

“Figured I’d just throw something together at home.”

“Not tonight. You ever been to my sister Jenn’s restaurant down in Comeaux?”

“The Fishin’ Shack? A couple of times. I don’t make it down to Comeaux very often.”

Forbes removed his tie and reached in his top desk drawer, withdrawing keys and his PDA. “Come on, then. I’m meeting some of my siblings and cousins for our standing Thursday night dinner.”

“Okay ... sure, I’d love to. How about I follow you down there?” Major had heard about this Thursday night family dinner tradition through Anne a few years ago. She’d invited him many times in the beginning, but back then he’d spent almost every evening with his mother. Eventually, the invitations stopped coming; then his mother insisted she didn’t want to see him every day.

And if he went, he’d be able to find out if Meredith had foregone bumping up her date with Ward Breaux in favor of her family without having to try to find some way to wheedle it out of her subtly tomorrow.

Chapter 13

“You did all this work yourself?”

Meredith leaned against the pillar in the opening between the living room and front foyer while Ward inspected the refinishing she’d done on the built-in cabinets flanking the fireplace.

“I did.” She held her breath and followed him around the room with her gaze, praying he wouldn’t find fault with any of her work.

He turned and gave her a winsome smile. “Ever considered quitting your job and becoming a subcontractor?”

Only in her dreams. “You can see how much needs to be done if the house is going to be ready for me to move in three months from now.”

The toe of his shoe scraped along the row of carpet tacks still stuck in the hardwood near the wall. “For one person, yes, it would be impossible.” He continued around the room until he leaned his shoulder against the pillar opposite her. “I’d be very interested in submitting a bid to complete your remodel.”

Meredith’s face grew hot under Ward’s intense gaze. “What will you need me to do so that you can do that?”

“I need to come by some time with my apprentice so we can measure all the rooms and so you can tell me exactly what you want done.”