“You own the business.”
“Allison handles most of the financial side.”
“How much do you think?”
He hesitated.
“Maybe two hundred and fifty thousand.”
Patricia closed her eyes.
I asked, “Personally guaranteed?”
“Some.”
“How much?”
“Probably most of it.”
“Probably?”
His face flushed.
“I made mistakes, Dad.”
“Yes.”
“I thought we could turn it around.”
“Why didn’t you tell us?”
“Because I knew what you’d say.”
“What would I say?”
“That I should close it.”
“Would I have been wrong?”
“No.”
His answer came quietly.
That took some of the force out of me.
Geoffrey looked toward Patricia.
“Allison kept saying we needed another six months.”
“Why?”
“She thought we could refinance.”
I felt Patricia’s hand tighten around mine.
“Refinance what?”
“The business.”
“With what collateral?”
Geoffrey froze.
It was small.
Barely noticeable.
But I saw it.
He looked at me.
“What do you mean?”
“Exactly what I asked.”
