Page 38 of Doctor Neighbor

9:14 pm

It's late, and I'm finally starting to relax after a long day at the cafe. Maddie's asleep, and I’m curled up on the couch with a book when my phone rings. I see Nelson’s name flash on the screen. My heart sinks—calls from Nelson after hours are never good.

I answer, trying to keep the anxiety out of my voice. “Hey, Nelson. What’s up?”

“Cole, we have a problem,” Nelson says, his tone urgent. “I just got off the phone with John Early, the inspector.”

My stomach tightens. “What did he say?”

“He’s claiming we didn’t properly address the issues from the last inspection. Specifically, he’s saying that our refrigeration logs are still incomplete and that there’s evidence of food stored at incorrect temperatures again.”

“That’s impossible!” I exclaim, sitting up straight. “I’ve been meticulous about those logs, and we’ve been monitoring the temperatures constantly.”

“I know, but he’s adamant. He said he found expired food in the back storage area, and there’s supposedly a report of another pest sighting. He’s threatening to shut us down if we don’t fix this immediately.”

Panic surges through me. “But Aric said we were on the right track. He’s been guiding us through everything.”

“I know,” Nelson says, frustration evident in his voice. “But Early isn’t backing down. He’s giving us 48 hours to sort this out or face closure.”

My mind races. We can’t afford to be shut down, not even temporarily. The financial hit would be devastating, and our reputation could take a serious blow. I hang up with Nelson, my heart pounding, and immediately start dialing Aric’s number, hoping he can help us navigate this new crisis.

I stare at my phone, my mind reeling from Nelson's call. The cafe, my livelihood, is at risk. I'm about to call Aric when my phone buzzes with a text from Buster.

Hey, I'm on my way home. Would love to stop by and say hi if you're up for company. No worries if it's too late.

I hesitate for a moment, then type back.

Come on over. I could use the company.

Selfishly, I want to talk to someone about this mess, and Buster's connection to Aric might be helpful. Plus, his presence might calm my nerves a bit.

A few minutes later, there's a soft knock at my door. I open it to find Buster standing there, looking tired but smiling.

"Hey," he says, stepping inside. "You okay? You look stressed."

I let out a long sigh. "I just got some bad news about the cafe. The health inspector is threatening to shut us down."

Buster's brow furrows with concern. "What? I thought Aric was helping you sort that out."

"He was... is," I say, running a hand through my hair. "But apparently, there are new issues. I'm not sure what to do. Is it too late to call Aric, do you think?"

Buster glances at his watch. "It's pretty late, but given the circumstances, he’d want to know. Want me to give him a call?"

I nod gratefully. "Please. I'm just... I'm a bit overwhelmed right now."

As Buster pulls out his phone to call Aric, I sink onto the couch, my mind racing with worst-case scenarios. The cafe is everything to me. The thought of losing it is almost too much to bear.

I watch Buster intently as he talks to Aric on the phone. My heart races, and I strain to hear what Aric is saying on the other end, but I can only make out Buster's side of the conversation.

"Hey, Aric. Sorry to call so late," Buster says, his voice calm and steady. "I'm here with Cole Johnson. Remember I mentioned her cafe?"

He pauses, listening. I fidget with the hem of my shirt, anxiety gnawing at my insides.

"Yeah, there's been a development," Buster continues. "Her manager got a call from John Early tonight. Something about a closure threat."

My stomach drops at the word 'closure.' I watch Buster's face for any sign of hope or concern.

"We don't have details on the specific violations," he explains. "That's why we're calling. Is there any way you could look into it? I know you and Cole spoke, but if you could take a second look, I’d really appreciate it.”

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