October 9, 2023 – 8:36 AM
The drive to the hotel took less than ten minutes.
Autumn had painted the hillsides in shades of amber, crimson, and gold.
Lin rolled down the truck window.
Cool morning air carried the scent of freshly cut hay.
Halfway there, she passed Adam's farm.
He was already in one of the eastern fields.
His tractor moved slowly across the pasture, pulling a large hay rake behind it.
Round bales dotted the field like oversized coins.
Lin slowed slightly as she passed.
Adam looked up from the tractor.
He lifted one hand from the steering wheel.
A simple wave.
Lin returned it before continuing down the road.
Nothing more.
Nothing less.
She found herself smiling anyway.
She caught herself.
Focus.
Tomorrow.
Not today.
The hotel parking lot was already half full.
Construction crews had arrived early.
Dave Mitchell met her outside carrying a roll of blueprints.
"Morning."
"Morning."
He pointed toward the warehouse.
"Everything's cleaned."
"Forklift arrives after lunch."
"Electricians finish this afternoon."
Lin checked another box on her clipboard.
"Excellent."
Dave looked toward the entrance road.
"Tomorrow's going to be busy."
"Very."
Together they walked through the warehouse one final time.
The new steel shelving stood perfectly aligned.
Each aisle had wide enough clearance for pallet jacks.
Yellow floor markings identified unloading zones.
Lin stopped near the entrance.
She imagined the first truck backing into position.
Pallets rolling through the doors.
Workers asking questions.
Forklifts moving constantly.
Every minute mattered.
She pulled a tape measure from her pocket.
One aisle seemed slightly narrow.
She measured.
Ninety-eight inches.
She looked at Dave.
"Move this row back four inches."
Dave blinked.
"Four?"
"Forklift turning radius."
He looked again.
Then nodded.
"Good catch."
Within minutes, two workers shifted the shelving.
Exactly four inches.
Lin measured again.
One hundred and two inches.
Perfect.
Outside, Megan walked toward her carrying a clipboard.
"Morning inspection?"
Lin nodded.
"Anything unexpected?"
Megan smiled.
"Only Biscuit."
Lin laughed.
"What now?"
"He escaped twice."
"How?"
Megan pointed toward the fence.
The notorious goat had somehow climbed onto a spool of wire and stepped over a temporary gate.
Lin looked at the goat.
The goat looked back.
Then calmly continued eating flowers beside the office.
Lin sighed dramatically.
"He's lucky he's adorable."
Megan grinned.
"That's what I keep telling everyone."
A delivery van pulled through the gate.
Lin checked the logo.
Blue Ridge Forklift Rentals.
Earlier than expected.
The driver climbed out.
"Ms. Zhang?"
"That's me."
He smiled.
"Thought we'd get this to you ahead of tomorrow."
A brand-new propane forklift sat secured to the trailer.
Orange paint.
Still spotless.
The driver lowered the ramps.
"Want a quick refresher?"
Lin smiled.
"I should be alright."
She climbed into the operator's seat.
Adjusted it.
Checked the mirrors.
Fastened the seat belt.
Started the engine.
The machine purred quietly.
She eased it down the ramps.
Smooth.
Controlled.
The driver watched with an approving nod.
"Looks like you've done this before."
Lin parked beside the warehouse.
"A few times."
She didn't mention those "few times" had included unloading humanitarian aid in another lifetime.
She spent the next fifteen minutes driving slowly around the unloading area.
Forward.
Reverse.
Tight turns.
Checking clearances.
Making sure every approach felt natural.
The warehouse doors.
The kitchen entrance.
The maintenance building.
Everything lined up exactly as planned.
She shut off the engine and climbed down.
The driver handed her the paperwork.
"You're all set."
Lin signed.
"Thanks for bringing it early."
He smiled.
"One less thing to worry about tomorrow."
She watched the rental truck disappear down the driveway.
He was right.
One less thing.
She looked across the property.
Workers moved steadily between buildings.
The forklift stood ready.
The warehouse was organized.
The unloading lanes were marked.
For the first time in weeks...
She couldn't think of anything else that needed preparing.
Tomorrow...
The real work would begin.
October 9, 2023 – 10:08 AM
Lin was checking the alignment of the new warehouse shelves when her phone vibrated.
Helen
She answered immediately.
"Morning, Mom."
Helen sounded amused.
"Where are you?"
Lin looked around.
"Warehouse."
"Good."
There was a brief pause.
"You might want to come into town for lunch."
Lin smiled.
"Why?"
"Mrs. Porter has apparently decided you're becoming antisocial."
Lin laughed.
"I've seen her twice this week."
"She says that's not enough."
"Of course she does."
Helen chuckled.
"Besides..."
"...I need to stop by the pharmacy."
Lin looked at her watch.
Almost eleven.
She had finished everything she had planned before lunch.
"Alright."
"Meet you at the café?"
"Twelve?"
"See you then."
Before leaving, Lin walked one final circuit around the property.
Warehouse.
Locked.
Kitchen deliveries.
Marked.
Forklift.
Parked beneath the equipment shelter with the propane tank topped off.
Construction crews continued installing trim around the front entrance.
Dave spotted her walking by.
"Heading out?"
"Lunch."
He nodded.
"We'll keep moving."
Lin smiled.
"Try not to finish the whole hotel while I'm gone."
Dave laughed.
"No promises."
The drive into Maple Creek only took a few minutes.
Main Street looked exactly as it always did.
The barber pole turned slowly outside the barbershop.
The bakery had already sold half its morning bread.
Someone had parked an old red tractor outside the feed store instead of a car.
Lin smiled.
Somehow...
Nobody found that unusual.
She parked beside the café.
The bell above the door jingled as she stepped inside.
The familiar aroma of fresh coffee and homemade soup greeted her.
Sophie looked up from the espresso machine.
Her face brightened.
"There she is!"
Lin laughed.
"Morning, Sophie."
"Barely."
Sophie pointed toward the corner booth.
"Your mother's already here."
Helen lifted a hand.
Mrs. Porter sat across from her.
Naturally.
Lin wasn't even surprised anymore.
She walked over.
"Morning."
Mrs. Porter smiled broadly.
"We were just talking about you."
Lin pulled out a chair.
"I'm almost afraid to ask."
Helen hid a smile behind her coffee mug.
Mrs. Porter leaned forward conspiratorially.
"The whole town knows tomorrow is your big delivery day."
Lin blinked.
"...The whole town?"
Mrs. Porter looked mildly offended.
"Of course."
She began counting on her fingers.
"Tom knows because he sold you shelving."
"Dave mentioned it while buying nails."
"The bank manager saw three freight confirmations."
"The post office noticed all the commercial invoices."
She smiled proudly.
"It's practically public information."
Lin looked at Helen.
"...I'm starting to understand how this town works."
Helen laughed.
"It took you long enough."
Sophie arrived carrying three iced teas.
She placed one in front of Lin.
"On the house."
Lin looked surprised.
"Why?"
Sophie smiled.
"Tomorrow's going to be stressful."
"Figured you'd need it."
"Thanks."
Mrs. Porter nodded approvingly.
"See?"
"People take care of each other here."
Lin looked around the café.
Tom Grayson sat near the front window drinking coffee.
Frank Wilson occupied his usual table with two other ranchers.
The mail carrier was eating pie at the counter.
Everyone greeted each other by name.
Nobody seemed in a hurry.
For the first time...
She realized she knew nearly everyone in the room.
Only a month ago...
Every face here had been a stranger.
Now...
They were becoming neighbors.
The front door opened again.
Mike Carter stepped inside carrying a folded piece of paper.
He noticed Lin's table and gave a polite nod.
"Morning."
"Morning."
He walked to the counter.
Sophie looked up.
"Coffee?"
"Please."
He unfolded the paper.
A handwritten shopping list.
Sophie glanced at it.
"Hardware store's next door."
Mike smiled.
"That's my second stop."
He accepted his coffee before turning toward Lin.
"Wanted to thank your mother again."
"The lasagna disappeared in about ten minutes."
Lin smiled.
"I'll tell her."
Mike chuckled.
"The kids were arguing over the last piece."
Helen laughed.
"That's always a good sign."
Mrs. Porter watched the conversation with unmistakable interest.
Lin noticed immediately.
So did Sophie.
Sophie quietly shook her head toward Mrs. Porter as if silently saying, Don't.
Mrs. Porter sighed dramatically into her tea.
For once...
She actually stayed quiet.
Lin considered that a small victory.