It was in the late afternoon of the following day when Hotch began anxiously pacing back and forth in front of the women's dorm.
"Missing your missus, are you?" 433 asked with a knowing grin as he joined Hotch.
"Yes," Hotch admitted. "You know, I am gone from home quite a bit for work, and I guess I am getting a taste of what Lynn has to go through."
"What about young Jack?" the man questioned, looking around. "Is he waiting for her, too?"
"No, Jack went off a little while ago with some of the kids who are currently working in the dining room and kitchen," Hotch replied. "He said something about regretting not having brought his soccer gear with him."
"They are headed for the field the doctors built near the center of the island," 433 explained. "It seems that several of them, as well as some of their students, brought some black and white balls with them. Soccer balls they call them. They have been teaching our youngsters, as well as some youngsters from the other farms, how to play a game they call soccer. I understand it has been getting rather competitive."
"That explains it," Hotch surmised. "Jack's looking forward to an opportunity to show off his soccer playing skills. He plays on a team in Quantico, you know."
"Well, he'll get a workout," 433 observed. "And, if I'm not mistaken, I think I see the carts heading this way."
~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~
"Lynn didn't come back with you?" Hotch questioned in amazement. "She decided to stay at Farm #2 for another day?"
"Yes," the lead driver, who was the bearer of the bad news, replied. "It seems she had more to do over there than she had anticipated. She sent you this note." The unfortunate young man handed Hotch an envelope.
"And she is driving the cart back all by herself?" Hotch demanded. "With Lilly?"
"Um – m – m - Yes?" another of the drivers ventured. "We told her that Commander has said that only those who have been trained to drive the carts are supposed to drive them, but she told us that she would speak with Commander and make sure no one gets into trouble."
"Well now, that sounds just like 586," 433 chuckled. "She always did like to run things. Now, why don't you guys drive the carts over to the kitchen door? I strongly suspect most of those boxes you brought back with you will need to be unloaded there. Get one of the kitchen staff to help you."
"And, 751," he added. "Don't worry. I'm sure she and the baby will be back tomorrow and everything will be just fine."
~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~
"I don't know why I am surprised," Commander commented dryly a short time later after Hotch had tracked him down in Mistress's office to tell him the news. "Five eighty six always did like to have her hand in several pots all at the same time."
"What she says here," Hotch held up the note. "Is that she and Four, the Farm Manager for Farm #2, have some issues to resolve. Also, that she has several new ideas she wants to run by the head of their jam making operation."
"That would be 497," Mistress told him. "The two of them have collaborated in the past with excellent results. I imagine she has some new ideas for packaging. Most likely based on something she's seen on the mainland."
"That does make sense," Hotch said thoughtfully. "She probably saw something when she was out shopping with Dave. I know the two of them have been visiting a number of markets lately. It's kind of a hobby of his."
"So, don't worry," Mistress counseled. "She'll undoubtedly be back tomorrow, ready to tell us all about what she has been doing."
~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~
"So, the Farm Manager for Farm #1 was there, too?" Hotch reiterated; he wanted to make sure he had all the details right. Upon her return in the early afternoon of the next day, Lynn had immediately headed for Mistress's office and Hotch and Commander had joined the two women there.
"That's right," Lynn replied. "He had heard that I was back on the island and wanted to talk with me."
"About anything in particular?" Hotch asked.
"About the same thing you and I discussed the other day," Lynn told Mistress.
"As you know, Aaron," she said, looking at her husband. "Thanks to you, I am part-owner in all four of the co-ops here on the island. And, in that capacity, they both wanted to show me the books for their respective farms. I got Spencer to help me go over them, and we both agree that the farms are doing very well."
"Not as good as you," she smiled at Mistress. "But, nonetheless, very well."
"However, just like here, there are improvements that need to be made and upgrades that need to be implemented if they are going to grow their businesses and remain profitable," she continued. "Both of them have put together business plans for the next several years, which they went over with me, and they both seem to be quite reasonable. So, I agreed to let my share of the profits remain in the farms for the next 12 months, the same as I did here."
"A sound decision," Mistress commented sagely.
"I suspect that means we can expect a visit from the Farm Manager of Farm #4 shortly," Commander observed.
"And, hopefully, he will bring us some seafood," Hotch grinned. "I have a taste for some seafood chowder and biscuits."
~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~
"May I ask exactly how much money is involved in your profits from the farms?" Hotch asked later that night as he and Lynn got ready for bed.
"I have the numbers right here." Lynn pulled several sheets of paper out of a manila envelope she had brought back with her and handed them to her husband.
"OH MY GOSH!" Hotch gasped. "I knew these operations were profitable, but I never imagined – "
"Does that mean I am rich?"