ten
AIDEN
The triple shot from Buttercup& Bloom Café is barely touching my exhaustion, but I drain the rest of the coffee from my travel mug, anyway. Helping Chloe with her studio Thursday evening put me behind on the farm, even though I’d never admit that to her.
And I’ve been pulling double duty ever since, trying to catch up. The weekend disappeared in a blur of damage control and re-opening chaos.
The farm doesn’t sleep, and my pre–Opening Day list proves it.
Storywood Ridge doesn’t really sleep either, and the town hums with anticipation of the upcoming season. Like the lights and streets and old wooden signs all know Opening Day is coming and want to help celebrate.
I called in a favor with an old friend, Daniel, a local handyman. Chloe couldn’t reach her landlord, and damage control for her space couldn’t wait. He’s got industrial fans still running at the studio. Right on time, a text pings through.
Daniel
The moisture readings upstairs are pretty high, Aiden. Sorry to be the bearer of bad news. I’ll keep you updated as we keep looking.
Not my problem.
I keep repeating it until even I don’t believe it. Because, despite the lies I’m telling myself, I made it my problem the minute I left the bakery and went to her studio.
Now she’s living rent-free in my brain, same as she could be in my house, despite the fact that the farm needs my full attention.
Owen
hey why did they deliver a pallet of empty netting bales
who do I call
me
Do you take personal offense against punctuation or capital letters?
too much work
I can get the point across without them
I’ll send the contact.
cool thanks
how’s chloes studio
With a heavy sigh, I pull up the company's contact, happy to let Owen handle it. My shoulders tense as I stare out the window. It’s not life or death, but netting is pretty important to our business. After we shake the trees out, we feed them througha funnel-shaped machine that compresses the tree and wraps it, so it’s easier for customers to get home.
It’s not a huge problem. Yet.
Me
Not great. Still waiting on a full report from Daniel.
Owen
you want us to start making space
?
Might be good.
