October 9, 2023 – 6:07 AM
Lin woke before her alarm.
For a moment, she simply lay in bed listening.
The farmhouse had its own rhythm.
The old water pipes clicked softly inside the walls.
A rooster crowed somewhere beyond the barn.
Wind rustled through the maple trees outside her window.
Peaceful.
She smiled.
A year ago...
She would've woken to car horns.
Air conditioners.
Sirens.
Now...
She measured mornings by birds instead of traffic.
She swung her legs over the side of the bed and made it with practiced precision.
No wrinkles.
No loose blankets.
Old habits.
She pulled on jeans, a dark sweatshirt, and work boots before heading downstairs.
The kitchen light was already on.
Richard stood at the counter grinding coffee beans.
The rich aroma filled the room.
He looked up.
"Morning."
"Morning."
He poured fresh grounds into the coffee maker.
"Beat your mother today."
Lin smiled.
"That's unusual."
Richard laughed.
"Don't get used to it."
A familiar voice drifted down the hallway.
"Too late."
Helen walked into the kitchen tying her hair into a ponytail.
She looked at Richard.
"You only beat me because Rex scratched at the back door."
Richard looked toward the dog.
Rex wagged his tail proudly.
"See?"
Richard scratched behind the dog's ears.
"Good timing."
While the coffee brewed, Lin stepped onto the back porch.
The air carried the cool bite of early autumn.
A thin layer of mist floated above the pasture.
She looked toward the neighboring property.
One trailer already had lights on.
Someone was awake.
A few seconds later...
Mike stepped outside carrying a mug.
He paused on his porch, taking in the sunrise.
From this distance, Lin couldn't make out his expression.
After a minute, he disappeared back inside.
Nothing unusual.
She turned her attention to her own property.
Workers wouldn't arrive for another hour.
The hotel stood quietly against the morning sky.
Tomorrow...
Everything would change.
Truck after truck.
Forklifts.
Deliveries.
Unloading.
Organizing.
Today was the last calm morning before the rush.
Back inside, the coffee had finished brewing.
Jake wandered into the kitchen wearing dinosaur pajamas.
His hair somehow looked even messier than yesterday.
He climbed onto his chair without saying a word.
Helen smiled.
"Still asleep?"
Jake nodded.
"Little bit."
Richard slid a plate of scrambled eggs onto the table.
"Food first."
Jake looked at the plate.
Then at the coffee mugs.
"Coffee smells good."
Helen laughed.
"You'll have to wait a few years."
Jake accepted that without complaint.
Instead, he reached for a piece of toast.
General Fang entered a moment later.
He carried a small notebook.
Lin immediately recognized it.
The security log.
He sat down beside her.
"Morning."
"Morning."
He opened the notebook.
"Quiet night."
Lin looked over.
Every hourly perimeter check had been logged.
Nothing unusual.
No alarms.
No wildlife triggering motion sensors.
No vehicles after ten-thirty.
Exactly what she wanted to see.
General Fang closed the notebook.
"Camera adjustment after breakfast."
Lin nodded.
"I'll help."
Richard looked between them.
"The western fence?"
"Five-degree adjustment."
Richard grinned.
"Only you two would discuss cameras before pancakes."
Helen set another plate on the table.
"It's better than discussing taxes."
Everyone laughed.
Even Jake.
Although he clearly had no idea why.
Breakfast was comfortable.
Easy conversation drifted around the table.
The weather.
The contractors.
Tuesday's deliveries.
Helen looked toward Lin.
"Your first truck is still scheduled for eight tomorrow?"
Lin nodded.
"Assuming traffic behaves."
Richard smiled.
"That's a dangerous assumption."
General Fang calmly added,
"We should be ready by seven."
Lin nodded.
"Forklift arrives this afternoon."
Richard reached for another piece of toast.
"Then today's job is simple."
He counted on his fingers.
"Finish everything."
Lin smiled.
There was something satisfying about hearing it said out loud.
Today wasn't about starting new projects.
Today was about finishing every loose end before the largest delivery the property had ever seen.
She glanced out the kitchen window.
The morning mist was already beginning to disappear.
Another busy day had begun.
October 9, 2023 – 7:07 AM
The breakfast table was louder than usual.
Tomorrow's deliveries had everyone thinking ahead.
Richard buttered another piece of toast while studying a hand-drawn map of the hotel property.
General Fang had already marked unloading zones in neat block letters.
Helen carried a platter of scrambled eggs to the table.
Jake climbed into his chair with his notebook tucked under one arm.
"Morning."
Everyone answered almost in unison.
"Morning."
Jake proudly opened his notebook.
Richard looked over.
"Daily report?"
Jake nodded seriously.
"Very important."
He cleared his throat dramatically.
"Feed chickens."
He checked the first box.
"Done."
"Eat breakfast."
He looked down at his plate.
"...Working on it."
The table laughed.
Lin unfolded tomorrow's delivery schedule.
Every truck had an arrival window.
Every unloading location was color-coded.
Warehouse.
Kitchen.
Maintenance building.
Laundry.
Furniture storage.
She looked around the table.
"Tomorrow's going to move quickly."
Richard nodded.
"Walk us through it."
Lin pointed to the first page.
"Eight o'clock."
"Commercial refrigeration."
She slid her finger lower.
"Eight-thirty."
"Restaurant equipment."
"Nine."
"Furniture."
"Nine-thirty."
"Commercial laundry."
Helen raised an eyebrow.
"Back-to-back?"
"Almost."
Lin flipped the page.
"The remaining trucks are scheduled throughout the afternoon."
General Fang looked over the map.
"Forklift?"
"Arriving today around three."
He nodded.
"Fuel?"
"Already delivered."
Richard smiled.
"Good."
Helen poured herself another cup of coffee.
"How many people are unloading?"
Lin counted.
"Dave and four construction workers."
"Richard."
She looked at him.
"General Fang."
"Me."
Richard nodded.
"Enough."
Lin smiled.
"Assuming nothing arrives early."
Richard laughed.
"Now you've guaranteed it."
A diesel engine echoed faintly from outside.
Richard looked toward the window.
"That's early."
Lin stood and glanced through the kitchen window.
A utility company pickup slowly rolled down the county road.
It continued past the farmhouse.
Then turned into the neighboring property.
She watched two technicians climb out.
One immediately began walking toward the power pole carrying a coil of cable.
The other spoke with Mike near the trailers.
Electric service.
Right on schedule.
She sat back down.
"Looks like the neighbors are getting permanent power today."
Richard nodded.
"Good."
"Generators get old fast."
Jake looked toward the window.
"Can I play with the new kids?"
Helen smiled.
"Not today."
Jake accepted the answer immediately.
"Okay."
He took another bite of eggs.
Richard looked at Lin.
"Once construction slows down might be nice having other kids nearby."
Lin nodded.
"As long as everyone stays on the right side of the fence."
Richard chuckled.
"That's why fences exist."
After breakfast, everyone carried their own dishes to the sink.
Jake climbed onto a small wooden step stool so he could rinse his plate.
He looked very pleased with himself.
Lin loaded the dishwasher while Helen wiped down the table.
Richard rolled up the property maps.
General Fang picked up the security log.
Another busy day.
Another long checklist.
Lin glanced at tomorrow's delivery schedule one last time before slipping it into her folder.
Less than twenty-four hours remained.
Everything had to be ready.