Chapter 5 - Derek
My son-in-law Derek Mercer was thirty-seven.
He worked in commercial construction management.
For years, I liked him.
Not warmly at first.
I am aware I can be difficult.
Elaine told me so with enthusiasm.
Derek was competent.
Worked hard.
Loved Emily.
At least, from where I stood.
He and Emily had been married eleven years.
Two children.
Sophie, eight.
Max, five.
Derek changed over the previous two years.
Not personality first.
Money.
He left a stable regional construction firm and started Mercer BuildWorks with a partner named Shane Bell.
Residential renovations.
Small commercial projects.
Then luxury lake homes.
I warned him.
“Custom residential destroys schedules.”
He smiled.
“Which is why clients pay good managers.”
Fair.
Year one went well.
Year two brought problems.
One subcontractor failure.
Two clients withheld payment over disputed change orders.
Equipment lease.
Payroll.
Derek asked me for a loan.
$75,000.
I said:
“Show me business financials.”
He became offended.
“Tom, I’m not asking a bank.”
“Exactly.”
He showed me eventually.
I loaned $40,000.
Promissory note.
Reasonable interest.
Three-year repayment.
Derek hated the paperwork.
Elaine would have made him sign it too.
He made eleven payments.
Then stopped.
When I asked:
“Cash is tight.”
I did not sue.
Maybe I should have enforced sooner.
Maybe not.
Family lending teaches strange lessons.
I meant:
I trust you enough to help.
Derek heard:
Tom has money he does not need.
May you like
Not necessarily.
But events made me wonder.
