| October 3, 2023 – 8:30 PM | On the Road Back to Maep's
The truck rumbled down the highway, the back packed with crates, cages, and supplies.
Rex and the Doberman puppy—who Lin had mentally started calling Juno—were curled up together in the passenger seat, while the snakes rested in secure containers behind them.
Helen, arms crossed, gave Lin a long, knowing look."Alright, let's hear it."
Lin, keeping her eyes on the road, smirked."Hear what?"
Helen sighed."The damage. How much did you spend today?"
Lin tilted her head, pretending to calculate."Well, the goats were a good price, the rabbits were practically a steal, the pigs were a last-minute decision…"
Helen gave her a look."Lin."
Lin grinned."Fine. Total came out to about twenty grand."
Helen sputtered."Twenty—Lin, that's—" She paused, exhaled, and rubbed her temple."You know what, I don't even know why I'm surprised."
Lin chuckled."Mom, it's an investment."
Helen groaned."And what exactly is your return on investment?"
Lin thought for a second, then smirked."Joy."
Helen shook her head."You're impossible."
Lin glanced at her, amused."And yet, you're the one who got in the truck with me."
Helen sighed dramatically."That was my first mistake."
Lin just grinned, reaching over to scratch behind Rex's ears.
Twenty grand was a lot, sure.
But when civilization collapsed?
Every single thing she bought today would be worth its weight in gold.
| October 3, 2023 – 9:15 PM | Highway Pizza – Just Outside Maep's
The smell of baking dough, melted cheese, and garlic filled the air as Lin pulled into the parking lot of Highway Pizza, the only decent pizza joint before hitting Maep's.
Rex lifted his head from the passenger seat, sniffing the air with interest. Juno, the Doberman pup, just yawned and flopped back down.
Helen stretched, cracking her neck."Good call stopping here. I'm not cooking after the day we've had."
Lin chuckled."Figured. Plus, the guys at home are still running on caffeine and stubbornness. Might as well bring back food before they start eating drywall."
She stepped inside, the bell over the door jingling.
And that's when she saw him.
Deputy Eric Porter.
Seated in a corner booth.
With a different woman.
Lin stopped mid-step, arching an eyebrow.
Eric, as if sensing her, glanced up. Their eyes met.
For a split second, his expression was neutral—calm, collected.
Then, that slow, knowing smirk tugged at his lips.
Lin smirked right back.
Helen, completely oblivious, turned to her."What are you looking at?"
Lin, voice smooth as ever, gestured toward the counter."Nothing, Mom. Let's order."
She casually strolled forward, but she didn't miss the way Eric's date—tall, brunette, clearly charmed by him—leaned in closer, laughing at something he said.
Interesting.
Very interesting.
Lin didn't look back again, but she could feel his gaze on her as she placed her order.
Another piece of small-town entertainment, it seemed.
| October 3, 2023 – 9:20 PM | Highway Pizza
Lin leaned against the counter, scanning the menu even though she already knew what she was ordering.
Behind her, Helen had effortlessly slipped into conversation with the waitress—a middle-aged woman named Carol, who had been working at Highway Pizza for at least a decade.
"You're new in town, aren't you?" Carol asked, wiping her hands on her apron.
Helen smiled politely."Sort of. My daughter bought the old farm, and I came along for the ride."
Carol's eyes lit up with recognition."Oh! You're with Lin."
Lin sighed, not even surprised."Word really does travel fast here."
Carol grinned."Sweetheart, in Maep's, you could whisper something in the morning, and by lunchtime, the whole town knows. You might as well get used to it."
Helen chuckled."I grew up in a small town. I know how it is."
Carol nodded approvingly."Well, welcome. And I have to say, it's nice seeing that old property getting some life back in it. People were wondering what would happen to it."
Lin gave a small smirk."Trust me, they won't be wondering for long."
Carol laughed."I bet. Now, what can I get you two?"
Lin turned her focus back to the menu."Large supreme, extra cheese. Large BBQ chicken. And a large veggie, just to pretend we're making healthy choices."
Carol snorted."You want those boxed up to go?"
"Yeah. Also, whatever garlic bread and wings you've got left."
Carol shook her head, amused."Feeding an army?"
Helen sighed."Close enough."
Carol rang up the total while Helen tapped the counter lightly."So, any good recommendations in town? Restaurants, places to visit?"
Carol smirked."Depends. You looking for fun or looking for trouble?"
Helen laughed."At my age? Just fun."
Lin, grabbing her receipt, muttered,"Define 'fun.'"
Carol leaned in slightly, voice conspiratorial."Well, if you want to hear all the best town gossip, you sit yourself down at Porter's Café in the morning. And if you want to see who's who? You come here at night. Half the town's drama plays out in this very booth area."
Lin hummed."Noted."
Helen glanced back at Eric's table and raised a brow."I suppose you weren't joking."
Carol followed her gaze, then smirked."Oh, Deputy Porter? Yeah, he's a popular one. Shame, really—he's a good guy, but he keeps picking the wrong women."
Lin chuckled."That's a common problem."
Carol winked."You'd know, wouldn't you?"
Lin gave her a slow, amused smile but said nothing.
Helen, now fully entertained, just shook her head."This town is going to be interesting."
Carol laughed."Oh, honey, you have no idea."
| October 3, 2023 – 9:45 PM | Highway Pizza
Lin had just finished tapping through her phone, double-checking that Ethan hadn't texted about another construction disaster, when Carol returned with their order—three large pizza boxes balanced effortlessly on one arm, a bag of garlic bread and wings in the other.
"Alright, ladies. Fresh and hot." She set the food down on the counter, but instead of walking away, she leaned in with a knowing grin. "So, tell me—what's got you two looking like you just ran a marathon?"
Helen sighed dramatically, resting an elbow on the counter."Oh, don't get me started."
Lin gave her mother a warning glance."Mom."
Helen ignored her entirely.
"Would you believe my daughter used to work seven days a week? Overtime. No vacations. No weekends." Helen shook her head. "I swear, she was more married to her job than anything else."
Carol raised an eyebrow."That bad, huh?"
Helen snorted."You don't even know the half of it."
Lin sighed, crossing her arms."I was fine."
Helen gave her a look."You got canceled on twice in one month, Lin."
Carol whistled."Oof. That's rough."
Helen leaned in, clearly enjoying this too much."And guess what? Her boyfriend—you know, the one who was 'too busy' for her? Took her best friend on three dates. Three."
Carol's eyebrows shot up."You're kidding."
Lin rolled her eyes."It wasn't three. It was—" She hesitated, calculating. "…Okay, maybe three."
Carol crossed her arms, grinning."Tell me you got back at him."
Lin smirked."Oh, I did."
Carol tilted her head."Legal or illegal?"
Lin chuckled."Smart enough to stay legal. Satisfying enough that he won't recover anytime soon."
Carol laughed, clearly impressed."I like you."
Helen grinned, taking one of the pizza boxes."See? At least someone appreciates my daughter's methods."
Lin grabbed the bag of wings, smirking."I think that's enough motherly oversharing for one night."
Carol winked."Hey, small towns run on good gossip. You're fitting in just fine."
Lin huffed a laugh, shaking her head as she nudged Helen toward the door.
This town really was something else.