Chapter 16 - The Friday Decision.The bank meeting began at nine.
Cole attended from the office.
He had dropped Ben at preschool himself.
The sticky note in Ben's pocket said:
DAD PICKS BEN UP AT 3.
Cole had also written it on the whiteboard.
And entered it into his phone.
And told Leah.
And told the bank representative before the meeting began.
“I leave at two thirty.”
The banker looked surprised.
“We may not be finished.”
“Then we finish later.”
Six months earlier, Cole would have considered that sentence unprofessional.
Now it felt necessary.
The financial situation was bad.
But not hopeless.
Four point two million dollars had been frozen before Evan could move it.
Insurance might cover part of the remaining loss.
Two clients agreed to accelerate payments.
Employees volunteered temporary changes to bonuses.
Leah presented a restructuring plan.
Cole listened.
Actually listened.
At eleven, the banker asked.
“Mr. Mercer, what are you personally willing to contribute?”
Cole knew the answer.
“My ownership distribution for this year.”
Leah turned toward him.
“And?”
“My lake property.”
Cole had inherited it from his father.
He rarely used it.
“Anything else?”
Cole looked at the banker.
“I will not put my primary residence at risk.”
The banker frowned.
“That would significantly strengthen the package.”
“No.”
“Why?”
Cole thought of Ben.
“Because I used to believe providing meant risking everything.”
“It doesn't.”
The banker studied him.
The meeting continued.
At two twenty-five, they still had no decision.
Cole closed his folder.
“I need to leave.”
The banker looked irritated.
“We are discussing the future of your company.”
Cole stood.
“I know.”
“You could lose it.”
“I know.”
“And you're leaving?”
Cole smiled faintly.
“I've heard that question a lot lately.”
Leah tried not to smile.
The banker stared.
Cole continued.
“I'll be available after three thirty.”
He left.
At three exactly, Ben came through the preschool door.
Cole was there.
Again.
Ben did not look surprised this time.
That hurt and healed Cole simultaneously.
A promise kept often enough became an expectation.
That was the point.
Ben climbed into the truck.
“Did work break?”
“A little.”
“Did you fix it?”
“We're working on it.”
“Did Miguel help?”
“Yes.”
“Is Miguel your best friend?”
Cole laughed.
“No.”
“Who is?”
Cole almost answered Evan out of habit.
The realization stopped him.
For twelve years, Evan had probably been the closest thing Cole had to a best friend.
Now that relationship was gone.
Cole looked at Ben through the mirror.
“I don't know.”
Ben thought.
“Maggie?”
Cole smiled.
“Maybe.”
Ben grinned.
“She's funny.”
“Yes.”
“Her mustache was bad.”
“Very bad.”
They drove home.
At four ten, the bank called.
Cole answered in the kitchen.
The credit line would remain.
Reduced.
Restricted.
But active.
Mercer Response Group would survive.
Cole sat down.
Maggie watched his face.
“Well?”
“We're alive.”
She smiled.
Ben looked up from his crayons.
“Work didn't die?”
Cole laughed.
“No.”
“Work didn't die.”
Ben returned to drawing.
For him, that was enough.
Cole called Leah.
“Tell everybody.”
She exhaled in relief.
“Already writing the email.”
“No.”
Cole smiled.
“Get everyone in the warehouse Monday morning.”
“I'll tell them myself.”
Leah paused.
“I like this version of you.”
“You people are getting too comfortable.”
That evening Ruth and Thomas came for dinner.
Thomas rarely spoke about Natalie.
But after Ben went upstairs, he handed Cole a small wooden box.
“I found this in our attic.”
Cole opened it.
Inside were home videos.
Old memory cards.
Photographs.
And one USB drive labeled BEN - FOR LATER.
Cole looked at Thomas.
“What is this?”
“Natalie recorded things.”
Cole's chest tightened.
“For Ben?”
Thomas nodded.
“I couldn't watch them.”
Ruth began crying.
Cole held the drive.
Maggie stared.
“Did she know?”
Thomas swallowed.
“She knew she might not get enough time.”
Cole looked toward the stairs.
“When should he see these?”
Thomas shook his head.
“I don't know.”
Cole took the drive into his office.
He inserted it into the computer.
There were twelve videos.
Birthday 5.
Birthday 10.
First heartbreak.
Graduation.
Wedding.
When you're angry at Dad.
Cole stopped.
He clicked the file.
Natalie appeared on screen.
Thin.
Tired.
Smiling.
Cole's breath disappeared.
She looked directly into the camera.
“Hi, Ben.”
“If you're watching this because you're angry at your father, I have a secret.”
Cole leaned closer.
Natalie smiled.
“Your dad loves harder than anyone I have ever known.”
“He just doesn't always know how to stand still long enough for people to feel it.”
Cole covered his mouth.
The video continued.
“And Cole, if you're watching too...”
She laughed softly.
“I knew you would.”
Cole closed his eyes.
Natalie's next words changed everything.
“Please don't spend the rest of your life trying to make up for losing me.”
“You didn't fail me.”
“But you can still choose not to miss him.”
May you like
Cole wept openly.
For once, he did not hide it.
