Chapter 12 - THE FATHER WHO GOT HIS COMPANY BACK
Bennett Construction survived.
Not because Gabriel simply handed my father money.
But because the company secured new contracts, restructured its debt, and received compensation through a negotiated settlement involving the disputed transactions.
The settlement was reviewed by independent counsel.
My father accepted it.
One afternoon, he called me.
“Catherine.”
I smiled.
“Hi, Dad.”
His voice trembled.
“We did it.”
I froze.
“What?”
“The bank approved the new terms. The contracts are signed.”
Tears filled my eyes.
“Dad.”
He laughed.
“Forty-three jobs.”
I covered my mouth.
“All forty-three?”
He nodded.
“All forty-three.”
I drove to the company office.
The employees had gathered in the workshop.
Someone brought a cake.
My father stood beside the old pickup truck he'd used when he first started the business.
He hugged me.
“Your grandfather would be proud.”
I began crying.
Gabriel arrived later.
He stood quietly near the doorway.
My father approached him.
“Thank you.”
Gabriel shook his head.
“You built this company.”
My father smiled.
“And you helped us keep it.”
May you like
For the first time, the two men embraced.
And I understood that our families might finally be able to move forward.
