“The county's emergency management coordinator wants to review the relay and determine whether a properly updated agreement should be established.”
My eyes widened.
“They want to keep it?”
“They want to evaluate it.”
I leaned forward.
“That's good.”
“It could be.”
She smiled.
“But the system has to meet current safety and communications requirements. Your grandfather knew that.”
I nodded.
Then she opened the folder.
“There's also something else we need to discuss.”
My stomach tightened.
“What?”
“The farm's finances.”
I looked down.
For several days, the emergency had pushed every other problem out of my mind.
But the bills hadn't disappeared.
The fish still needed feed.
The equipment still required maintenance.
And Aunt June still had a limited amount of money available to keep everything operating.
She leaned forward.
“The county stopping the removal doesn't automatically make the trout farm profitable.”
I nodded reluctantly.
She continued.
“We need a sustainable plan.”
I looked toward the ponds.
“How?”
“That's what we're going to figure out.”
I stared.
She smiled gently.
“Together, with people who know what they're doing.”
Then she reached across the table.
“But I still need you to be thirteen.”
I almost laughed.
“I don't think I know how.”
She smiled.
“Then we'll work on that too.”
The engineering inspection took nearly three weeks.
A qualified team examined the water system, the pipe supports, the hydro intake, and the relevant structural components.
They reviewed Grandpa's maintenance records.
Checked the available inspection history.
And evaluated the condition of the installation using appropriate procedures.
I wanted to follow them everywhere.
Aunt June allowed me to attend certain parts of the review from safe locations, with the inspectors' permission.
I wasn't allowed near hazardous work areas.
I didn't touch valves or equipment.
But I could ask questions when the engineers had time.
One of them was a woman named Dr. Elena Porter.
She specialized in water infrastructure and had spent years examining older rural systems.
She was patient.
Precise.
And surprisingly interested in Grandpa's records.
On the second day, she found me standing beside the fence near the main pond.
I was holding my notebook.
She approached.
“Are you Owen?”
I nodded.
“Yes, ma'am.”
She smiled.
“I've been reading your grandfather's maintenance logs.”
I looked up.
“Are they okay?”
“They're unusually detailed.”
I felt a small burst of pride.
She continued.
“He documented modifications, inspections, and operating conditions over many years.”
I nodded.
“He liked writing things down.”
She smiled.
“I can tell.”
Then she looked toward the pipe.
“Do you know why we're inspecting this section?”
I considered the question.