Chapter Eleven
Auburn
More than half my equipment had arrived and was in the process of being installed, but the other half had not only not come yet, but the tracking on the app for the supplier was not showing where it was at all.
Time was closing in. Every day, more tourists and foodies patrolled the streets of Oliver Creek, and, while working on the shop, I often looked up to find potential customers outside looking in.
Their voices carried to me, while they wondered when we’d open or maybe said they were sorry they hadn’t been able to try the ice cream before their trip was over.
I was sorry, too.
These people spurred me on to get things in place in a hurry and also made me tense over the missing equipment. I absolutely could not open without the items that had been in stock when I placed the order then backordered anyway.
I found myself rushing around working, doing anything I could think of to have as much as possible ready when the other items came, not even sleeping much.
Oakley asked me if I was resting or what was making me look so tired, but I brushed it aside, telling him I was just fine.
After all, this would soon be over, and I’d be keeping regular hours.
There was no reason to upset the omega as well. He was such a huge help.
The days continued to pass, and my calls were going nowhere.
The supplier said they had no further information.
Basically, it would come when it came and stop bothering them.
It was too late to order anywhere else. Frantic and disgusted with myself for not fixing this situation sooner, I kept at it.
Cleaning and recleaning the same spaces, telling myself that what I still needed could be installed in a day.
But warm days were passing, tourists were passing, and I’d seen a review of the shop claiming it had problems and would never open.
Finally, as I was polishing the window in the wee small hours, a tap came on the front door.
Who would come this late?
I peered out through the glass to see Oakley looking back at me. Uh-oh. I opened the door and he came in, fixed me with a severe glare.
“How long has this been going on?”
“Um.” I didn’t know precisely. “For a while.”
“I cannot allow you to do this to yourself.” Oakley took the cleaning rag from my hand and set it on the counter. “It’s not fair. I’d like to go punch the lights out of that company that’s doing this to you, but I think I have an alternative solution. Do you trust me?”
I blinked at him through bleary eyes. “Of course I trust you. I’m just so tired, and I don’t know what to do anymore. Maybe this whole thing was a mistake.”
“That’s exhaustion talking.” Oakley took me by the shoulders and walked me to the staircase. “You’re going upstairs and going right to sleep. I will be back in five hours, and we will fix this, okay?”
“How?”
“Trusting me, remember?”
“Right.” Even the suggestion of a solution gave me hope. So I trudged up the stairs, kicked off my shoes, and crawled into bed. The next thing I knew, a horn was honking outside. Staggering to the window, I saw a rental truck outside, Oakley standing next to it.
“Come on down, Auburn! We have to get going.”
I cleaned up quickly, changed into jeans and a T-shirt, and went out to join him. “Where are we going?”
“I’ll tell you when we’re on the road. Hop in and have some breakfast. We need to be at our destination in four hours.”
The sweet omega had brought us buns and coffee from my favorite new breakfast spot, and as he steered the truck onto the highway, I sipped at the steaming brew. “Now, will you tell me?”
“Yes. I didn’t want to take a chance that you wouldn’t agree, so I waited to tell you.
I have been calling around, trying to find the items you needed and I wound up right back where you’ve been having trouble.
But, I went over the heads of the assholes who’ve been giving you the runaround and spoke to corporate. ”
“I never thought of that.”
“No. Because you’re too nice. I worked my way up to the big boss and explained what was going on.
He started the company nearly fifty years ago and has customer service as his most important principle.
When he heard what was happening, he had his assistant pull your order, see what remained, and then check the inventory of every warehouse in the country. ”
“Oakley, you really did? And what happened?”
“They found what you needed at several places, the closest one four hours away. They could have delivered it in a couple of days…or weeks ago. But, I wanted you to be able to rest, so I rented this truck and the order is waiting for you at the warehouse. We get it today.”
“Omega!”
“I know. I’m a genius.” He chuckled. “You may buy me lunch before we come back as a thank-you.”
“I will also pay for your expenses, especially this truck. And did you take a day off work?”
“I swapped schedules with someone, so I’m fine.”
My mood had gone from sad to hopeful, but after everything this company had put me through, I would believe it when we had the parts in our truck. I just hoped after everything Oakley did, they didn’t weren’t lying.
But I did like riding along with him. We took turns driving and talked the whole way about other things. Hopes and dreams, our pasts. It was a great first road trip, even if the end did not happen the way we wanted.
To my shock, when we pulled into the huge warehouse yard, the security at the gate had my name and directed me to a loading bay. He gave us a look I couldn’t decipher and called someone to say we were there.
“Someone” was the older gentleman in khaki pants and a button-down who sat in a folding chair on the loading dock and came down the steps on the side as we parked and got out.
“Which one of you is Oakley?” he asked.
“Me, sir.” Oakley approached him, hand extended. “Are you Mr. Murphy?”
“I am. And I’ve never been so ashamed of the company I founded as I am today.”
Oakley introduced me, and while a team was loading what remained of my order and a few other things I found later that he threw in, he handed me a receipt.
“I have refunded your entire order and hope that you will not tell the whole world how badly we screwed up. I had taken a step back from the business, intending to let my sons take charge, but I happened to be here when Oakley called. My assistant informs me it was not the first call, just the first one that got to me. Thank you for bringing this to my attention, and please send me a bill for your expenses in having to pick up your own order, including your time.”
I didn’t cry.
I was close.
In the end, I shook that fine man’s hand and thanked him. He promised to visit the shop when it was open. I promised to let him know.
Then we all three went to lunch, and I was so glad not just for the fact that I had my parts but that the world sometimes could be a good place. Just look at Oakley.