They smiled.
Then Arthur's expression softened.
"That garage gave you a life. It doesn't have to take the rest of it."
Daniel looked toward the road.
He thought about Lucy.
Nora.
The mountains.
The old bridge.
The years ahead, if he was fortunate enough to have them.
Then he nodded.
"Maybe you're right."
Arthur grinned.
"Of course I'm right."
Daniel laughed.
"Some things never change."
Meanwhile, the Bellweather redevelopment proposal entered public review.
The town council announced a series of meetings to examine possible changes to the northern industrial corridor.
Nora's company was only one interested party.
Other developers had submitted preliminary proposals.
The municipality controlled certain rights-of-way.
Private owners held other parcels.
Existing businesses operated under a mixture of leases and property ownership arrangements.
Any major redevelopment would require negotiations, planning approvals, infrastructure studies, and public hearings.
The situation was more complicated than the headlines suggested.
Daniel attended the first meeting with Ethan.
He sat near the back.
Nora was not present.
She had formally removed herself from the project decision process because of her personal connection.
The independent property committee sent representatives instead.
They presented the preliminary concept.
New commercial space.
A logistics facility.
Road improvements.
Potential jobs.
Several residents welcomed the idea.
Others worried about traffic.
A few wanted the abandoned warehouses demolished immediately.
Then Daniel stood.
He did not give a dramatic speech.
He simply explained that Cole Auto Repair employed several local people, served long-term customers, and occupied a parcel whose lease renewal remained unresolved.
He asked whether the planners had examined ways to maintain existing businesses.
The consultant answered that relocation and alternate access routes were being studied.
Daniel nodded.
"Good."
Then he added, "I'd like to see those alternatives before anybody assumes we're expendable."
Several residents applauded.
He sat.
Ethan leaned toward him.
"Nice speech."
Daniel smiled.
"Wasn't a speech."
"Sure sounded like one."
Lucy attended the meeting with Arthur.
She carried her camera and notebook.
Afterward, she approached her father.
"Dad."
He turned.
"What?"
"Did you hear what they said about the old depot?"
He nodded.
"They want to clear some of the empty buildings."
She frowned.
"Some aren't empty."
Daniel looked toward her.
"What do you mean?"
She opened her camera.
Displayed photographs of an old brick workshop near the tracks.
A retired carpenter had been using part of the building to teach apprentices.
Another room stored historical railway equipment belonging to a volunteer society.
The activity was limited, but the building was not completely abandoned.
Daniel studied the pictures.
"Did the planners know about this?"
Lucy shook her head.
"I don't think so."
He looked toward the meeting room.
Then back at his daughter.
"Then perhaps they'd better."
Lucy's face brightened.