“No,” Grandpa said. “I’m trying to get paid for work you already agreed was done correctly.”
Melissa crossed her arms.
“You’re doing all of this over $6,200?”
Grandpa looked at her.
“No,” he said. “You did all this over $6,200.”
Yesterday, $6,200 had apparently been small enough for them to take from an old carpenter.
Now that the unpaid bill might interfere with a property worth well over a million dollars, it suddenly mattered.
Grant tried to pull Grandpa aside.
We could all still hear him.
“Come on, Frank. We can work this out.”
Grandpa nodded.
“We could’ve worked it out yesterday.”
“I’ll give you the $6,200.”
“That’s exactly what you already owed me yesterday.”
Grant looked at David.
“What else does he want?”
David answered.
“Nothing unreasonable.”
Grandpa had already incurred legitimate expenses dealing with their refusal to pay.
Attorney time.
Filing preparation.
Administrative expenses.
The contract also allowed certain collection-related costs where legally recoverable.
David had itemized everything.
No invented punishment.
No ridiculous penalty.
Just actual costs.
Grant looked at the new figure.
“Six thousand eight hundred and fourteen?”
David nodded.
“This morning, yes.”
Grant nearly shouted, “That’s over six hundred dollars more!”
Grandpa shrugged.
“Yesterday it cost $6,200.”
