Mom shrugged as if it were obvious.
“You sold six restored chairs to those hotel people after they rejected Derek’s first quote.”
Derek turned toward his wife.
“That is also true.”
Veronica smiled hesitantly.
“So what are we saying?”
Dad surveyed the table. ChooseFurniture
“I think we’re saying your grandfather was irritatingly patient.”
We made no reckless commitments: no resignations or loans, an engineer checked the building, and the county allowed a small woodworking business under conditions. The trust would lease to a separate company at modest rent. Inez insisted on written agreements.
“Families who say they don’t need contracts,” she reminded us, “are the families who eventually pay me to explain why they needed contracts.”
Three months later construction began. Dad defied Mom’s three-day limit until she sent him home on day four. Derek restored furniture, Veronica built client relationships, and I handled finances remotely, visiting twice monthly. We
