Chapter 3 - Brent’s Brightest Opportunity
Brent’s newest idea arrived in September.
He called it Hearthstone Living, a company that would purchase historic family homes, renovate them and rent them to wealthy clients seeking “authentic generational luxury.”
Julia read the proposal twice.
It contained photographs, slogans and projected profits, but almost no information about costs, permits or debt.
“How much are you asking for?” she said.
They were sitting in the family kitchen. Brent wore a tailored blue suit, though he had no office to visit. Lauren stood beside him with a tablet.
“We aren’t asking you to give us anything,” Lauren said. “It’s an investment opportunity.”
Brent named the amount.
Julia placed the proposal on the table.
“No.”
His smile faded. “You haven’t heard the full plan.”
“I’ve read the plan. There is no market research, no risk analysis and no evidence that you can acquire the properties at the prices you listed.”
“We have interested investors.”
“Then use their money.”
“They want a primary asset behind the company.”
Julia looked at him. “What asset?”
Brent glanced toward the ceiling.
The house.
Julia leaned back in her chair.
“You want to use this property as collateral?”
“Only temporarily,” he said. “Once the first development sells, we release it.”
“You don’t own this property.”
“That’s why we need your signature.”
Julia stood.
“The answer is no.”
Diane entered before Brent could respond. She carried a tray of coffee as though the meeting were a pleasant family gathering.
“You should think about it,” she told Julia.
“I have.”
“Your brother finally has an idea worthy of his abilities.”
“He has a presentation worthy of a graphic designer.”
Brent’s face hardened.
Richard appeared in the doorway. “There’s no need to insult him.”
“I’m not insulting him. I’m refusing to risk a house I already saved once.”
Richard folded his arms. “You were willing to save it for us.”
“That was different.”
“Because we’re your parents?”
“Because you were about to be homeless.”
Brent pushed the proposal toward her. “This could make all of us wealthy.”
“I am not signing.”
Lauren’s polite expression vanished. “You don’t trust him.”
“No,” Julia said. “I don’t.”
The word settled over the kitchen.
Diane looked wounded. Richard looked offended. Brent looked furious.
They behaved as though Julia’s lack of trust had appeared without cause, rather than growing from years of unpaid debts, abandoned plans and broken promises.
Brent gathered the papers.
“You’ve always wanted me to fail.”
Julia felt something inside her go still.
She had paid his school fees after he changed programs twice. She had covered the deposit on his first apartment. She had invested in his restaurant, his marketing company and his import business. She had paid the final wages owed to his employees when the import business collapsed.
“I have spent years preventing you from failing,” she said. “Maybe that was the problem.”
Diane placed the coffee tray down sharply.
“Julia, that is enough.”
“No, Mom. It isn’t.”
“You have more money than you need.”
“That does not make it Brent’s.”
“You’re alone,” Diane said. “You don’t have children. You don’t have a husband. Who are you building all this for?”
Julia stared at her mother.
Diane immediately softened her voice.
“I only mean that family should benefit from family success.”
Julia picked up her handbag.
“You benefit every month.”
She left the kitchen while they called after her.
Before driving away, she looked back at the tall windows of the house.
May you like
For the first time, it did not appear warm or familiar.
It looked like a vault in which she had stored years of sacrifice while everyone else kept the key.
