“I’ve got more time today.” I had a few conference calls yesterday, but I would have preferred to be picking fruit. “If I’m in the way, just say.”
“I’m about to get my sister out of bed. She never sleeps in, but I’ve just been to get some haulage lists from her and she’s not in the office.”
“What are the haulage lists?” I ask.
Bray shakes his head. “Don’t worry about it. I’m going to ask Iris.”
If she’s sleeping, it’s because she’s tired. “I don’t mind having a look around and seeing what I can find,” I say. “And if I can’tfind it, and Iris hasn’t appeared, I’ll go and find her. I’m sure you’ve got things to be doing.”
Bray shrugs. “That would work. I need to get out to the far south fields to check on the crops. The lists we’re looking for are the ones for the deliveries that will go out today.”
“I’ll take a look.” I head into the barn where Iris’s office is, to see what I can find. It’s not a big office. There’s a window. And packing boxes seems to have sprouted up in various places, behind the door and under the window, but other than that the place is very neat. Filing cabinets form a wall behind the desk. But there’s nothing on the top of them. There are no piles of papers or knitted strawberries or toy bananas with legs and a smile. I don’t know if I’m slightly disappointed I don’t immediately find something I can tease Iris about.
I round the desk to find her laptop missing. That makes sense. She probably brings it back up to the house every evening. But that’s also probably where the haulage lists are.
I look around and tucked under a separate keyboard are three sheets of paper. I know before I see what they are that they’ll be the haulage lists. I bet she prints them off every evening, just in case anyone needs them in the morning and she’s not at her desk. Even though she’s always at her desk.
Except for today.
I check the date. It’s today’s and it’s divided between customers. Each line underneath each customer has the fruit and the amount to be shipped. This is just what we need.
As I come out of the barn, there’s a truck backing into the loading bay.
Perfect timing.
What surprised me before was how efficient the farm was. They are constantly bringing fruit up from the fields, so it’s packed within minutes of it being picked. And then deliveries are collected throughout the day. No hour is wasted.
“Hey, man,” I greet the truck driver.
He nods at me. “Not seen you before,” he says, tugging on his faded red cap.
“Helping out Bray,” I say with a smile.
He nods suspiciously. “We’re from Maxwell Food Distribution.”
I look down at my list. Maxwell has one of the longest lists beneath their name. “Be right with you,” I say. I head into the packing barn, tucking the haulage lists that don’t concern Maxwell into the back pocket of my jeans. I’m not quite sure who’s responsible for loading trucks, and does the fruit go out in order of priority? I have no clue.
A woman with curly brown hair and a Snoopy t-shirt is checking through the boxes of raspberries as they are stacked on the table by the door. She looks like she’s in charge.
“Hey, I’m Jack. I’m helping out Bray and Iris. I have Maxwell Food Distribution who just arrived.”
“Hey, Jack,” she says, taking the piece of paper I’m holding. “I’m Marnie, and yup, this is for me.” She glances up, spots someone and hollers, “Gabriel? Can you bring Frenchie and come and load up Maxwell?”
The guy she’s yelling at raises his hand and nods, and yells to someone coming through the barn from the other side. They both head over.
“Can I help?” I ask.
Before she can answer, an older man in a black cap charges toward us, his expression like he’s about to kill someone. “Who the hell are you?” he asks as he approaches me.
“I’m Jack,” I say.
“He’s dating Iris,” Marnie says
Word travels fast around here. Seems like Marnie knows exactly who I am.
Then she turns to me. “This is my boss. Iris’s dad.”
“I’m here to help out, Mr. Wilde,” I say offering my hand to shake.
