My stomach tightened immediately.
Dad remained completely calm.
Melissa folded her arms.
“So I’d think very carefully about how far you want to take this.”
Now I understood.
She wasn’t disputing the work.
She was threatening my job to pressure my father into walking away from thousands of dollars she had already agreed to pay.
“Dad,” I said, stepping forward. “Let me talk to Richard.”
Dad gently raised one hand.
Then he looked toward the pool.
For several seconds, he studied the perfectly still water.
And smiled.
“Fine.”
Melissa seemed almost disappointed that he hadn’t fought back.
As we headed toward his truck, she called after us,
“I’m glad we understand each other.”
Dad never turned around.
Once we were home, I couldn’t stay quiet.
“Why did you let her do that?”
Dad opened the refrigerator.
“She owes you $7,800.”
“I know.”
“She practically threatened to get me fired.”
“I heard her.”
“Then why didn’t you say anything?”
Dad leaned against the kitchen counter.
“Because tomorrow morning, they’re going to understand why I made both of them sign every page before I started working.”
I stared at him.
