The board gave us until Monday morning to make a final case for the bank extension. Northline's offer expired at noon.
We had four days to put together a plan that was honest enough to survive the bank's review and strong enough to compete with a guaranteed sale.
I did not know if that was possible. I knew the board would not believe it unless the staff believed it first.
On Saturday, I called a meeting in the old reading room. Everyone who wanted to hear the plan could come. A few people sat on the window seats, arms folded. Others stood by the door. Dale leaned against the fireplace with his hands in his apron pockets. Maya took a chair beside the window.
I put the revised forecast on a letter-size sheet and handed out copies.
"This is the version we sent to the bank," I said. "It s
