Chapter 18
Chapter
Eighteen
Max sat in his cluttered office, reviewing a spreadsheet on his laptop. The festival paperwork seemed endless. His phone buzzed, displaying a new message from Laney. “On my way.” A twist of anxiety gripped him, wondering how she would react once she saw the BioClean system.
Max’s phone rang, the caller ID showing his mother’s name. He hesitated, then answered, bracing himself for her questions. The phone’s tiny speaker crackled, Quinn’s voice coming through clear and direct. Drew’s deeper tone rumbled in the background, the two presumably seated together at home.
“We’ve been talking to Liv, and we know about the filtration system. What’s going on?” Quinn said.
“Your siblings told us it’s costing a fortune,” Drew added.
His chest tightened with guilt. But he knew he couldn’t dodge their questions forever. The brewery belonged to his parents, despite their recent retirement. Major expenses should have involved their input.
“I meant to call you,” Max said, exhaling slowly. He flipped through the contract on his desk, the BioClean logo prominent on the page. “I had to act. Water contamination had ruined too many batches of beer. This filtration system seemed like the best shot.”
Quinn replied, “You should have at least consulted us.”
Anxiety churned in his stomach at the possibility they’d consider him reckless. His parents had entrusted him with their life’s work, and his first major decision involved spending a significant portion of their operating budget.
“With the festival coming, we couldn’t wait. The system promises immediate results.”
“And you’re confident it works?” Drew asked. “Noah told us it was quite expensive.”
Max blurted out an explanation about an environmental scientist from the Bright Institute endorsing the system. He squeezed his eyes shut, recognizing he should have consulted Laney before signing the contract. A bead of sweat formed at his temple, the sudden tension stifling the office air.
“Well, if a scientist from the institute gave the go-ahead, that’s something,” Drew said.
He hated misleading his parents and hoped Laney’s eventual evaluation would back up his claim. “She’s extremely knowledgeable about water quality,” Max added. “She’s been investigating the contamination issues.”
“Is this the environmental scientist who’s also your mate?” Quinn asked.
He never intended to reveal their mate status over the phone. Liv must have already told them. Max’s cheeks burned. “I… yeah. We… it’s complicated.”
“Oh, Max!” Quinn exclaimed. “Why didn’t you tell us immediately?”
“I’ve been busy with the water situation,” Max said. “And the festival preparations.”
“A mate is more important than that,” Quinn insisted. “We’ve been waiting for you kids to find your matches for years!” Joyful laughter emerged on the line. “Finally, we’ll have grandchildren! When do we get to meet her?”
“She’ll… she’ll be at the festival.”
A swirl of embarrassment passed through him. Though awkward, he felt relieved at the changed subject. Max reiterated that everything was under control, then ended the call. He set the phone aside, mind swirling. The BioClean system had to work. He’d gambled everything on Flint Calder’s promises.