Chapter 7 - DANA WASN’T JUST STANDING BEHIND HIM
Dana handled Whitaker Restoration's books.
Not professionally trained.
But for twelve years, she managed payroll reports, supplier invoices, and basic cash forecasting before sending records to the outside accountant.
That meant she knew more about Greg's business crisis than she admitted.
Emily's lawyer received a call from Michael Dawson's counsel.
They wanted repayment of the twenty-five-thousand-dollar option advance.
Greg requested thirty days.
Dawson wanted ten.
Then Whitaker Restoration's accountant, Samuel Brooks, contacted Greg's business attorney.
He was concerned about how the anticipated house-sale money appeared internally.
One forecast listed:
Whitaker Family Property Proceeds — $250,000 net contribution.
Not possible contribution.
Not proposed.
Contribution.
“How long has that been on the books?” I asked.
Samuel answered carefully.
“Forecasts aren't accounting statements. But versions of that assumption appear for approximately fourteen months.”
Fourteen months.
Before I sold the house.
Before Walter had been dead a full year.
Before Greg put my suitcase beside the door.
He had been mentally spending the property for more than a year.
Then Dana's role became clearer.
She created several of the spreadsheets.
At a meeting with the company's attorney, she admitted she knew Margaret had never signed a commitment.
“But Greg said the house was ultimately his.”
I stared at her.
“Did you ask me?”
“No.”
“Why?”
“Because it was family.”
That answer was becoming unbearable.
She continued.
“Walter always intended Greg to have something.”
“Walter gave Greg money to start the business.”
“That was twenty years ago.”
“So?”
Dana looked frustrated.
“You don't understand what it costs now.”
Maybe not.
I had never run a construction company.
That did not make my house a business asset.
Then Samuel showed us a lender presentation.
Whitaker Restoration had obtained a $110,000 working-capital line eleven months earlier.
The bank had not taken my house as collateral.
Important.
But Greg listed the expected future family-property proceeds as one source of planned owner capital.
The bank considered the entire financial picture when approving the line.
The house assumption helped make the business look stronger.
No document said Margaret guarantees this.
The problem was subtler.
Greg had been building business decisions around money he did not control.
Again.
Emily's guaranty.
Walter's house.
My sale proceeds.
Future consent everywhere.
Dana had normalized it.
Then I learned why Friday had become so urgent.
The bank was conducting a quarterly review.
Whitaker Restoration had missed financial targets.
Greg needed to show additional capital or risk a reduction in the line.
If that happened, payroll and supplier payments would tighten further.
The Dawson sale was supposed to close one day before the lender review.
House sold.
Cash enters business.
Problem appears solved.
My nursing-home move.
My signature.
Vacant possession.
Friday closing.
Saturday relief.
Monday business as usual.
It was a neat plan.
Except I had already sold the house.
Greg did not know because he had stopped asking me questions whose answers might disrupt his assumptions.
Then Emily discovered another detail.
The twenty-five-thousand-dollar option payment had not all gone into the company.
Five thousand went to Dana's personal credit card.
She looked embarrassed when confronted.
“We used it for household expenses.”
Greg corrected her.
“Your card.”
Dana snapped:
“Our expenses.”
They started fighting.
I watched them.
Something became obvious.
Their marriage had begun functioning exactly like Greg's relationship with me.
Money moved.
Consent assumed.
Explanations later.
May you like
Dana had supported his entitlement until the same system started turning on her.
That did not make me pity her yet.
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