October 11, 2023 – 2:18 PM
Claire's smile faded slightly.
"There are a few problems."
Lin nodded.
"I figured there would be."
Claire glanced toward Jake.
He was still occupied with the chicken.
Then she lowered her voice.
"The first one is Lucas."
Lin blinked.
"Lucas?"
"And Jake."
Claire looked uncomfortable.
"I don't want to be too far away from them."
Lin understood immediately.
"Five minutes isn't far."
"I know."
Claire rubbed her fingers together.
"But after everything that's happened, being somewhere completely alone..."
She stopped.
Lin didn't push.
Claire continued quietly.
"I sleep better when I know Lucas is nearby."
Lin looked toward the farmhouse.
That made sense.
Maybe more than she wanted it to.
"All right."
Claire looked at her.
"Really?"
"Five minutes is still five minutes."
"You could get here quickly."
"So could Lucas."
Claire nodded.
"Okay."
Lin held up another finger.
"What's the second problem?"
Claire hesitated.
"Money."
Lin waited.
"I don't really have any."
"How much is 'not really'?"
Claire gave her an embarrassed smile.
"Not enough to rent a house."
Lin nodded.
That was fixable.
The third problem would probably be worse.
She waited.
Claire sighed.
"And I don't know how long I can stay."
Lin studied her.
Then something clicked.
"Can you wait tables?"
Claire stared at her.
"What?"
"Wait tables."
"Like... a waitress?"
"Yes."
Claire looked completely confused.
Lin pointed toward town.
"I'm planning something."
"What kind of something?"
"A general store."
Claire blinked.
"A general store?"
"General goods. Farm supplies. Basic groceries."
Lin started thinking aloud.
"Maybe coffee."
"Sandwiches."
"Simple breakfast."
"A few prepared meals."
Claire's expression slowly changed.
She was beginning to understand.
"You want to open a restaurant?"
"No."
Lin shook her head.
"I want a store that happens to have food."
Claire laughed.
"That's very specific."
"Specific is good."
Lin looked toward the town.
"People need somewhere to buy things without driving twenty minutes."
"Farmers need supplies."
"Locals need groceries."
"Workers need lunch."
She looked back at Claire.
"And someone needs to run the counter."
Claire stared at her.
"You're offering me a job?"
"I'm offering you a room in town in exchange for working there."
Claire's mouth opened slightly.
Lin continued.
"Nothing fancy."
"You'd have a private room upstairs."
"The shop would be downstairs."
"You'd work the counter, serve coffee, handle basic food orders, and help customers."
Claire looked toward Jake.
Then Lucas.
Then back at Lin.
"And I'd be five minutes away?"
"Yes."
"Lucas and Jake would still be nearby?"
"Yes."
"And I wouldn't owe you rent?"
"Not while you're working."
Claire stared at her.
"Why?"
Lin shrugged.
"Because I need someone trustworthy."
Claire looked almost suspicious.
"You trust me?"
Lin thought about it.
"I'm getting there."
That earned a small laugh.
"That's probably the nicest thing you've said to me."
"Don't get used to it."
Claire smiled.
Then her expression became serious.
"I actually have waitress experience."
Lin raised an eyebrow.
"Really?"
"Two years in college."
"Restaurant?"
"Busy diner."
"Coffee?"
"All day."
"Cash register?"
"Yes."
"Kitchen?"
"Basic prep."
Lin's eyes narrowed thoughtfully.
"Inventory?"
Claire nodded.
"I helped close every night."
Lin smiled.
"You're hired."
Claire stared at her.
"Just like that?"
"I was already going to need someone."
Lin glanced toward the town.
"Now I know who."
Claire looked genuinely stunned.
"Lin..."
"Don't make it emotional."
Claire laughed.
"I'm trying."
"Good."
Lin pointed toward the farmhouse.
"You'll still stay here tonight."
"Tomorrow we'll look at the place."
"If you like it, we'll make the arrangement official."
Claire nodded.
Then she looked toward Jake again.
"He's going to be thrilled."
Lin sighed.
"That's exactly what I'm afraid of."
Jake suddenly ran toward them.
"What are you talking about?"
Claire crouched.
"Lin might have found me a job."
Jake's eyes widened.
"Here?"
Lin shook her head.
"In town."
Jake thought about it.
"That's close."
"Very close."
He nodded approvingly.
Then he looked at Claire.
"You can work with Lin?"
Claire smiled.
"Looks like it."
Jake grabbed her hand.
"Good."
Lin watched them.
She had expected to solve one problem.
Instead, she'd somehow hired a waitress, gained a neighbor, and given Jake another reason to refuse to let Claire leave.
She rubbed her forehead.
"This was supposed to be simple."
Claire smiled.
"It still can be."
Lin looked at her.
"You're new here. Don't make promises you can't keep."
Claire laughed.
October 11, 2023 – 2:31 PM
Lin pulled her phone from her pocket.
Claire was still standing beside her.
"What are you doing?"
"Calling my realtor."
Claire blinked.
"Already?"
"If I'm going to do this, I might as well do it properly."
She found the number and pressed call.
The realtor answered on the fourth ring.
"Lin! I was actually about to call you."
Lin leaned against the porch railing.
"That's never a good opening."
The realtor laughed.
"Nothing bad. I have another inquiry about the hotel."
Lin sighed.
"We'll deal with that later."
"All right. What do you need?"
Lin looked toward the road.
"I need a building in town."
There was a pause.
"For what?"
"A shop."
"What kind?"
"General store. Farm goods. Basic groceries. Coffee. Maybe a small food counter."
The realtor immediately sounded more interested.
"Retail?"
"Yes."
"How big?"
"Not huge."
Lin thought about it.
"Enough room for shelves, a counter, storage, and a small kitchen."
"And I need accommodation."
The realtor paused.
"Accommodation?"
"For staff."
Claire looked at her.
Lin continued.
"Preferably an upstairs apartment or a separate room with a bathroom."
"How many employees?"
"Starting with one."
She glanced at Claire.
"Maybe more later."
The realtor was quiet for a moment.
"You're looking for something turnkey?"
Lin laughed.
"No."
"Cheap."
"Fixer-upper."
"How cheap?"
Lin considered her budget.
"Cheap enough that I'm not going to cry when I see the plumbing."
Claire covered her mouth to hide a laugh.
The realtor laughed too.
"I may have something."
"Tell me."
"There's an old two-story storefront on Main Street."
Lin straightened.
"How old?"
"Old enough that the owner stopped pretending it was worth renovating."
"That's promising."
"First floor is roughly eighteen hundred square feet."
"Second floor has two small bedrooms, a bathroom, and a kitchenette."
Lin's eyes flicked toward Claire.
"How much?"
The realtor gave her a number.
Lin didn't react immediately.
It was low.
Very low.
"Why?"
"Roof needs work."
"Electrical needs updating."
"Plumbing is questionable."
"Interior needs everything."
Lin smiled.
"Perfect."
Claire stared at her.
The realtor laughed.
"I had a feeling you'd say that."
"Can I see it today?"
"Give me forty minutes."
"Send me the address."
"Will do."
Lin paused.
"And one more thing."
"Yes?"
"I need a business loan."
The realtor went quiet.
"For the building?"
"Building and startup costs."
"How much?"
Lin thought through the shelves, refrigerators, freezer, coffee equipment, point-of-sale system, initial inventory, repairs.
"Around fifty thousand."
Claire's eyes widened.
Lin continued.
"Maybe sixty if the building is worse than advertised."
The realtor chuckled.
"I don't do commercial lending."
"I know."
"But I can introduce you to someone."
"A bank?"
"Local credit union first."
"They'll want a business plan."
Lin looked toward the unfinished hotel behind her.
"I'll make one."
"Financial projections."
"I'll make those too."
"Collateral?"
Lin's expression changed slightly.
"We'll discuss that."
The realtor understood.
"All right. I'll send you the property information and a lender contact."
"Thanks."
"Lin?"
"Yeah?"
"You're opening a general store now?"
Lin smiled.
"Apparently."
"You know, most people start with one business."
"Most people aren't me."
The realtor laughed.
"I'll see you in forty minutes."
The call ended.
Claire stared at Lin.
"You just decided to buy a building."
Lin slipped her phone into her pocket.
"I haven't bought anything."
"You're getting a loan."
"I'm looking into a loan."
"And you're opening a store."
Lin shrugged.
"Maybe."
Claire smiled.
"You really don't do anything halfway."
Lin looked at the empty road.
"Halfway gets expensive."
Claire laughed.
Lin glanced at her.
"Besides, if we're going to have a store, I want it useful."
"For the town?"
Lin nodded.
"For the town."
She paused.
Then added,
"And for us."
Claire's smile faded into something more thoughtful.
"Us?"
Lin looked at her.
"People are going to need things."
"Food."
"Tools."
"Animal supplies."
"Clothes."
"Basic medicine."
Claire nodded slowly.
Lin continued.
"And if you're working there, I want you somewhere I can reach quickly."
Claire smiled.
"Five minutes."
"Exactly."
Lin's phone buzzed.
She looked down.
The realtor had already sent the address.
Lin stared at the message.
Then at Claire.
"Forty minutes."
Claire smiled.
"To see our future store?"
Lin raised an eyebrow.
"Don't get sentimental."
Claire laughed.
"Sorry."
Lin started walking toward the farmhouse.
"Come on."
"Where are we going?"
"To tell my parents we're going shopping for a building."
Claire followed.
"And Lucas?"
Lin didn't slow down.
"He'll find out when everyone else does."
Claire smiled.
"That's probably not a good idea."
Lin glanced over her shoulder.
"I know."
She smiled.
"That's why I'm doing it."