Chapter 3 The Past 3
He spent the rest of the class in a daze, his internal monologue a frantic torrent. He needed a plan. He couldn't just blurt out the future. He had to be subtle, influential. He had to guide her, protect her, without making her question his sanity. And he had to do it all while maintaining the facade of his younger self.
The bell for the end of class shrilled, a welcome release. Students immediately began packing their bags, the chatter resuming with renewed vigour.
Rick jumped up, determined to catch Jenny before she left. He saw her at the front of the room, talking to Joana Kane, Jenny's elder sister, who also attended the university, though she was a year or two ahead. Joana was a quieter, more pragmatic version of Jenny, with a warm, steady presence. She was the one who had always been the more grounded of the two, the one with the natural talent for baking… and in the future, the chef and one of the backbones of his empire.
"Jenny! Joana!" Rick called out, making his way through the jostling crowd of students.
They both turned, surprised. "Rick," Jenny said, her smile returning. "Everything alright now?"
"Yeah, much better. Joana, good to see you." Rick nodded at Jenny's sister. "I was just talking to Jenny about your bakery idea. I think it's brilliant, Joana. Really. But I had some… thoughts." He tried to keep his voice calm, persuasive, but his heart was racing.
Joana, a little more reserved than Jenny, raised an eyebrow. "Oh? Thoughts from the 'King of Winging It'?" She glanced at Jenny, a slight smile playing on her lips.
"Don't listen to Arthur," Rick quickly interjected. "I'm turning over a new leaf. Anyway, Joana, I think you have a real talent, and Jenny, you have the business acumen. Together, you could do something truly significant. Beyond just a small bakery." He looked at Jenny, trying to convey the urgency without words. "What if you thought about it more broadly? A culinary establishment, perhaps. One that starts with baking, but has the potential to expand into a full-service restaurant. Or even a chain."
Joana's eyes widened slightly. "A chain? Rick, we're talking about a small storefront on Elm Street. We've barely saved enough for the initial lease deposit."
"I know, I know," Rick said, waving a hand dismissively. "But hear me out. Think about the long game. Imagine if, from the very beginning, you designed the business model with scalability in mind. So, when the time is right, expansion is not a massive overhaul, but a natural progression." He gestured animatedly. "For instance, standardizing recipes, developing a strong brand identity, even thinking about future locations. And crucially, diversifying your investments early on."
Jenny stepped forward, her curiosity piqued. "Diversifying investments? What do you mean?"
"I mean," Rick said, lowering his voice conspiratorially, "don't just pour all your profits back into the business, especially in the early, vulnerable stages. Secure some of it. Invest in stable assets. Real estate, for example. Small plots of land outside the city center, or even dilapidated buildings that are currently cheap. They might seem worthless now, but as Bee City grows, they'll become incredibly valuable. This isn't about quick profits; it's about building a secure foundation. A personal safety net, and a financial buffer for the business when you need it most. For unexpected downturns. Or… unexpected expenses." He emphasized the last words, his gaze locking with Jenny's.
Joana looked skeptical. "Rick, that sounds like a scheme for seasoned investors, not two young women trying to open a bakery. Where would we even get the money for real estate speculation?"
"It wouldn't be speculation if you know it's going to happen," Rick mumbled, then quickly corrected himself. "I mean, if you do your research! It's about being smart. Start small. Perhaps allocate a tiny percentage of early profits, once the bakery is stable, to acquire a small piece of land. Even a single empty lot. Over time, that investment could grow exponentially, providing the capital for your larger restaurant dreams, or simply a cushion for your family." He looked at Jenny, his unspoken plea for her to understand hanging in the air.
Jenny chewed on her lip, a habit she had when she was deep in thought. "A safety net… you've been saying that a lot today, Rick. Is everything okay?"
"Perfectly fine," Rick insisted, forcing a cheerful tone. "Just a sudden burst of… entrepreneurial wisdom. You know, old man thoughts coming early." He laughed, hoping it sounded convincing. "Look, I know it sounds far-fetched, but promise me you'll consider it. Just… keep an open mind about the future. About Bee City's growth, about where the value will truly lie."
A bell rang again, signaling the next class was about to begin. Students started rushing past them.
"We have to go, Jenny," Joana said, pulling her sister gently. "Professor Thorne will lock us out if we're late."
"Alright, alright!" Jenny chuckled. She gave Rick a curious look. "I'll think about it, Rick. I always appreciate your… unique perspectives." She smiled, a warm, genuine smile that made Rick's chest ache with a bittersweet longing. "Maybe we can talk more about your 'old man thoughts' over coffee later? After my last class, around four?"
"Yes! Absolutely!" Rick seized the opportunity. "The campus café? I'll be there. Don't be late."
"Wouldn't dream of it," Jenny replied, and then she and Joana were swept away in the stream of students, disappearing down the hallway.
Rick watched them go, a profound sense of purpose settling over him. He had two decades. He had to make the most of every moment in this dream. This was his chance to save her.
Arthur, who had been patiently waiting, clapped him on the shoulder. "What was all that about, Rick? You sounded like a seasoned financier."
"Just… helping them out, you know?" Rick said, trying to appear nonchalant. "Joana's bakery idea has potential, but it needs a little… strategic planning. Long-term thinking."
"Right," Arthur said, clearly not convinced but amused. "Well, I'm off to the library. See you later, unless you're planning on spontaneously building a real estate empire before lunch."
Rick managed a wry smile. "You never know." Arthur shook his head, still chuckling, and headed off.
Rick remained in the now emptying classroom, the silence amplifying the frantic hum of his thoughts. He needed to prepare for his meeting with Jenny. He needed to be convincing. He needed to delve deeper into his memories of their early married life, to recall specific events, specific struggles, specific opportunities they had missed or mishandled. He had to be strategic about this. Every minute counted.
He walked out of the classroom, the familiar hallways of his old university campus stretching before him. He passed young faces, some familiar, some not. He saw the budding dreams, the carefree laughter, the youthful energy that he had long since lost. It was a surreal experience, like stepping into a perfectly preserved museum of his own past.
He made his way to the university library, a place he hadn't frequented much in his actual student days, preferring to rely on his innate cleverness. Now, however, he needed information. He needed to ground himself in this temporal reality. He picked up a local newspaper from a stand near the entrance. The headline blared about a local civic project, a new bridge planned over the Koru River. He remembered that bridge. It had opened just a few years later, significantly boosting trade and development on the city's western side. The very side where the old textile mill was located, the area he had just mentioned to Jenny.
He settled into a quiet corner, flipping through the newspaper, absorbing the details of 1997 Bee City. The job market was still tight. Housing was relatively cheap. Land outside the immediate city center was practically worthless. This was his window.
He closed his eyes for a moment, picturing the layout of the city as it would be in the future, overlaying it with this present map. The future, for him, was a detailed blueprint, a cheat sheet to success. But it wasn't just about making money; it was about protecting Jenny. Money was just a tool to that end.
He spent the next few hours in the library, not studying his old textbooks, but devouring economics journals, city planning documents, and old business almanacs. He wanted to understand the prevailing mindset of 1997, to anticipate the arguments and resistance he would face when pushing his "futuristic" ideas. He even looked up traffic statistics, although he knew they wouldn't exist in the detail he needed to prevent Jenny's accident. The car. He had to get her out of that old car. He had to ensure she had a safe, modern vehicle. Or, even better, that she didn't need to drive home tired at all.
He considered his approach. He couldn't just give her millions of dollars or explicitly tell her about the future. She wouldn't believe him, and it might scare her off. He had to present his foresight as astute business sense, as a deep understanding of market trends, as a "hunch" that just happened to be incredibly accurate. He also had to emphasize the importance of financial stability and security, framing it as a way to protect their future family, their dreams.
At 3:50 PM, Rick practically ran to the campus café. He arrived early, taking a table in a quiet corner, trying to calm his racing heart. The café was bustling, filled with the aroma of freshly brewed coffee and baked goods. He ordered a coffee, his hands trembling slightly as he held the warm mug.