Pulling Data from a PHP file into a PHP file [Wordpress] - wordpress

Question

EDIT: I did it. I was able to pull in the data, but not sure if this is the right method, but it is working.
I added this to my template file and it works:
include(locate_template('template-parts/data/lemon/data-lemon.php'));
Saw it from this posting: How can I pass a variable from functions.php to the template file in WordPress?
So I have a client that does not want a page builder or Gutenberg, but wants to be able to change the data when needed. This person is not tech savvy, so giving them access to files is not a good idea.
So I thought about using markdown files or even variables. I could have a template, then pull the variables from another template. This way they can change the data but have no access to the file structure.
Here is what I have:
<!-- Variable for Data -->
<?php locate_template( 'template-parts/data/lemon/data-lemon.php', true ); ?>
<!-- Hero Section -->
<section id="hero" class="flex flex-col md:flex-row gap-4">
<div id="col-left" class="basis-2/5">
<h3>
<?php echo $heroSubtitle; ?>
</h3>
<h1>
<?php echo $heroTitle; ?>
</h1>
<p>
<?php echo $heroDescription; ?>
</p>
<div id="button-wrapper" class="flex flex-row gap-2">
<button class="bg-yellow-500 text-white px-4 h-[40px]">
Buy Lemon
</button>
<button class="bg-white border-solid border-grey-100 border-2 px-2 h-[40px]">
<a href="/">
<svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" viewBox="0 0 24 14" width="24" height="24">
<path fill="none" d="M0 0h24v24H0z"/>
<path d="M16.004 9.414l-8.607 8.607-1.414-1.414L14.589 8H7.004V6h11v11h-2V9.414z"/>
</svg>
</a>
</button>
</div>
</div>
<div id="col-right" class="basis-3/5">
<figure>
<img src="<?php echo get_stylesheet_directory_uri(); ?>\assets\img\progessive-img.png" alt="" title="" />
</figure>
</div>
</section>
Then ... I have the variable or data file like this [This is inside the data-lemon.php file]:
<?php
// Variable for the lemon page
$heroSubtitle = 'Meet Lemon';
$heroTitle = 'Build a better site for your business.';
$heroDescription = '[short description here] blorem blipsum dolor sit bamat minim mollit non deserunt ullamco lorem ipsum.';
?>
As you can see in the example I have tried "locate_template()", but I have also tried "get_template_parts" with no luck.
"get_template_parts" works great for getting oher blocks of data into the template file, but not when it comes to variables.
Any idea of what I am doing wrong or if this is even possible.
Cheers