“I need to see the contract. Can you still get out of it? Why did the bank even approve?”
“Wasn’t too much paperwork with Harry, plus we shook on it. He will pay it back, or whoever takes over the firm will. I trust him.” Dad sat up and watched me pace. “Things will work out.”
Great. No contract . . .
“As for the bank, Norm knows I'm good for it. Plus, he owes me for helping his son-in-law a few years back. He’ll work with me and he gave me a great interest rate. Your mother and I agree that as long as we have each other, we can make it through anything.”
My idea of “making it” once again differed from my parents. “Is there any way you could get back the money? Are you sure you want to do this? Mom loves that house.”
“I know,” Dad sank into his seat, “but this is the right thing to do.”
His mind was made up.Great.The dread in my stomach was lead. Solid and immovable.
“I wanted to give Harry a chance to help his wife and spend time with her. Your mother means everything to me, way more than a house. If I needed this, I would hope he would return the favor if he could.” Dad rubbed his calloused hands together. “Good comes back around. It’ll work out.”
That was that.
Dad’s generosity had no bounds. Unfortunately, his bank account did.
I sat back down, pinching my nose, and closing my eyes. “Please tell me you at least looked at the financials? Are they even profitable?”
“Well, that’s where you come in. I looked at the numbers and it won’t be easy, but Scott, you worked miracles with this place.” Dad gestured around the office; his eyes shined bright.
It was hardly the vision of a miracle.
“I'm sure you can do it again.” Dad gave my left knee a little squeeze. “I know that you’ve sacrificed a lot for this place already. You don’t need to do this. If you’re ready to move on to something else, I can figure this out.”
Could I do that? Could I walk away and let my dad solve his own problem?
I steepled my hands in front of my mouth.
“I’m pretty sure I can handle it if necessary.” Dad nodded. “I bet the new guy you hired, Adam, could help me. You more than paid me back for law school with the work you have done.”
I liked Adam and all, but there was no way I trusted him this much. My parents could lose their house and the firm.I had no choice. I needed to save them again, but this would have to be the last time.
My stomach dropped. The email.
I just sent that email to Raymond & Johnson Law. What if they came back and offered me a position? Could I turn it down . . . again?
I took a slow breath and pictured my mom and dad out on their front porch swing. She loved everything about that house. She fought the city and turned the whole area into a historical district. That was the story of how my parents met, Dad a young lawyer, and Mom a stubborn conservationist.
“No, I’ll figure this out.” I couldn’t trust anyone else to do it right. Saving a law firm would be faster the second time around, right? Then, I could move on to a more prestigious career. “Where is it, and when do we start?”
“Hillsdale.”
“Where?” I searched my mind for any recollection of the city.
“It’s a small farming town a little over an hour south, and I was hoping you could start on Monday? See what needs to be done? Harry is itching to leave.” Dad stood from the couch and walked over to me and gave my shoulder a squeeze. “Who knows, maybe it’ll end up being an excellent investment, and then both of us could go in on it together.” I heard the hopefulness in his voice. I was not having the family business conversation again.
“Dad, look, I know you love what you do. You love the smaller firms and deep connections with the people you help. And I'm proud of you and the difference you make.” I looked around the cramped office with no windows pushing down on me on all sides. “But it’s not for me. I want something with bigger margins, I want a big corner office with a view, and to win a big case with high publicity . . . I want more. I’m trying to secure a position at Raymond & Johnson Law.” I felt myself shrink. I didn’t mean to hurt him. My dad was great. We wanted different things.
Dad’s lips pulled down in a momentary frown. “Raymond & Johnson’s, huh?” He looked like he was about to bring up something more, then shook his head. “That's great, son. Understandable, the tight margins aren’t for everyone.”
I felt sick as Dad stared at the floor in thought.
“This isn’t what I planned for my life, you know.”
Dad smiled. “It’ll all work out.” He said it softer than before, as if trying to reassure himself. “Life has a funny way sometimes of making better plans for us than we make for ourselves. You go ahead and start that big career. I’ve got this.” Dad nodded and reached to give me a hug. “Thanks, son. For everything. Don’t let me hold you back any longer?—”
