Chapter 14 - GREG ASKED ME FOR MONEY THE RIGHT WAY
Ten months after the kitchen confrontation, Greg came over.
He rang the bell.
That was new.
For years he had used his key.
The key no longer worked after Emily changed locks.
I opened the door.
He held a folder.
I almost laughed.
“Not another deed.”
“No.”
He smiled weakly.
“Business proposal.”
That made me suspicious for different reasons.
We sat at the kitchen table.
Same table.
No Dana.
No papers slammed.
Greg explained that Whitaker Restoration had an opportunity to buy a used piece of equipment at auction.
It would reduce subcontracting costs.
The company could finance most.
He needed thirty thousand dollars of additional capital.
I stared at him.
“You're asking me?”
“Yes.”
“Why?”
“Because you asked me to ask.”
That was fair.
He slid the folder over.
Financial statements.
Repayment schedule.
Interest rate.
Collateral from his own equipment.
Samuel's analysis.
Everything I had requested years earlier.
“What happens if I say no?”
Greg looked at me.
“I use a more expensive lender or don't buy it.”
“No employees lose their homes?”
He almost smiled.
“Not because of you.”
Good.
“Does Dana agree?”
“Yes.”
“Did you already tell anybody my money was coming?”
“No.”
“Promise it?”
“No.”
“Forecast it?”
He laughed.
“No.”
I read the documents.
Then I did something Greg did not expect.
I said:
“I'll think about it.”
He nodded.
No pressure.
No:
How long?
No:
But Mom.
He stood.
At the door, I called:
“Greg.”
He turned.
“You handled that well.”
His eyes filled.
“That is an embarrassingly low bar.”
“Yes.”
He laughed.
Two days later, I declined the loan.
Not because I wanted to test him.
Because my financial adviser thought the risk was too high for my retirement plan.
I called Greg.
“I've decided no.”
Silence.
Then:
“Okay.”
One word.
My throat tightened.
“That's all?”
“What else is there?”
I smiled.
“Nothing.”
The company found another solution.
More expensive.
Still workable.
The equipment purchase happened three months later.
Greg never mentioned my refusal again.
That was when I began believing his changes might be real rather than temporary obedience designed to regain access.
Not because he became perfect.
Because he finally survived a no without turning the person saying it into an enemy.
Dana apologized to me in person around Christmas.
No dramatic tears.
She said:
“I used your age because I wanted the money more than I wanted to admit what we were doing.”
I said:
“I believe you.”
She asked:
“Do you forgive me?”
“No.”
She blinked.
Then nodded.
“Fair.”
I appreciated that.
Maybe someday.
Maybe not.
Forgiveness was not another thing relatives could schedule.
Then Greg asked whether he could come for Christmas dinner.
Emily would be there.
I said:
“That's not my decision alone.”
He looked hurt.
Then caught himself.
“Ask her.”
“No.”
His face changed.
Right.
If he wanted to know whether Emily would share a room with him, he had to ask Emily.
Not send me to negotiate.
He wrote her an email.
She replied two days later.
No.
Not this year.
Greg showed me nothing.
I knew only because Emily told me herself.
May you like
“How did he take it?” I asked.
“He said okay.”
