“Noah frowned.
“Lying?”
“Selective broadcasting.”
They settled at forty-six.
The farm now earned money before compost was sold.
A tipping fee.
Not enormous.
But predictable.
At ten tons per week during pilot expansion, that was $460.
Plus material value.
Plus compost sales.
Plus shell sales.
The numbers started becoming real.
Luke did something Noah did not expect.
He scheduled a meeting at First Peninsula Agricultural Bank.
Noah assumed he would go alone.
Instead:
“Get clean clothes.”
“Why?”
“You’re coming.”
Noah froze.
“To the bank?”
“You wrote half the plan.”
“You said I shouldn’t save us.”
“You shouldn’t.”
“Doesn’t mean you can’t explain your work.”
They met loan officer Conrad Bell.
Fifty-six.
Careful.
Polite.
He had handled Cedar Creek’s account eight years.
Conrad looked at Noah.
Then Luke.
“Your son?”
“Yes.”
“I remember him smaller.”
Noah hated that sentence.
Conrad smiled.
“Sorry.”
They reviewed financials.
Farm still vulnerable.
Debt high.
But new waste-recovery revenue diversified income.
Purchase orders existed.
Harbor contract existed.
Pilot permit had compliance history.
No violations.
Luke requested extension on equipment loan and small line for compost screener.
Conrad frowned.
“A screener adds debt.”
Noah spoke.
“It reduces processing labor and improves product consistency.”
Conrad looked at him.
Luke said nothing.
Conrad asked:
“How much labor?”
Noah opened folder.
Conrad almost laughed.
Then stopped himself.
He had seen news stories from Harbor Point.
He knew.
Noah showed hours.
Rental cost.
Contract screening cost.
Payback period.
Conrad studied.
Then asked hard questions.
What if Harbor contract ends?
What if compost demand falls?
What if county refuses full permit?
What if transport cost increases?
Noah did not know all answers.
When he did not, he said:
“I don’t know.”
Conrad seemed to respect that more than fake certainty.
Bank approved a smaller line than requested.
Enough to purchase used screener.
Luke signed.
Outside, Noah said:
“He didn’t give us all of it.”
“No.”
“Are you mad?”
“No.”
“Why?”
“He made us keep margin.”
Noah thought.
“Dean would have said no because I looked wrong.”
Luke looked at him.
“Do not make every adult who says no into Dean.”
Noah flushed.
Luke continued gently.