Chapter 7 - Mark’s Business Failed Quietly
Two years after Susan died, Mark left his commercial electrical job and bought into a marina-maintenance company with a friend.
Bad timing.
The business serviced:
docks,
lifts,
small boats,
shoreline electrical systems.
First summer:
good.
Second:
terrible.
Equipment costs rose.
Partner mismanaged billing.
A large resort delayed payment.
Mark borrowed.
Ron lent:
money.
Then more.
Emily did not tell me the full amount.
Later I learned Ron advanced his son almost:
$126,000.
Some documented.
Some not.
Ron had recently sold his HVAC company and believed he had enough.
He wanted Mark to succeed.
Understandable.
Then he started asking:
“What’s happening with the cabin?”
I thought he meant repairs.
He meant:
title.
One afternoon Ron said:
“You ever going to put it in the kids’ names?”
I answered:
“When I’m dead.”
He laughed.
Then noticed I was serious.
“But Susan wanted Emily to have it.”
“She will inherit whatever I own according to my estate plan.”
“That’s not the same.”
“Correct.”
His face changed.
That was the first time I saw resentment.
“You let Mark put money into that place.”
“I reimbursed most of it.”
“Most.”
“Then send me an invoice.”
Ron scoffed.
“It isn’t about an invoice.”
That was precisely the problem.
May you like
It should have been.
---
