Chapter 4 - Bennett Custom Interiors
Graham owned a company called Bennett Custom Interiors LLC.
Cabinetry.
High-end built-ins.
Commercial millwork.
About twenty-six employees.
Revenue:
Roughly $4.2 million the previous year.
Profit:
Much less.
Two years earlier, a major hotel client delayed payment.
Then lumber costs rose.
Then a project dispute tied up another $310,000.
The company nearly collapsed.
Judith stepped in.
I knew she helped.
I did not know how much.
Graham told me:
“Mom gave the business a bridge loan.”
I pictured:
Fifty thousand.
Maybe seventy-five.
Actual amount:
$180,000.
Promissory note.
Interest:
5%.
Maturity:
Three years.
Borrower:
Bennett Custom Interiors.
Personal guarantor:
Graham.
Not me.
Security:
Business equipment and receivables.
Not our house.
Good.
Then another:
Judith had advanced us personally:
$38,000.
Mortgage assistance.
Medical bills during Caroline? Wrong story. Here Nora. Maybe my own job disruption? Let's establish Nora had taken 4 months unpaid leave caring for her father? But no need. Could be during business crisis.
Our household needed cash while Graham stopped taking salary.
Judith paid:
Three mortgage payments.
Property tax installment.
One business-related health-insurance premium.
Total:
$38,400.
Was it a gift?
Graham told me yes.
Judith’s records described:
Family advance.
No signed note.
Potential dispute.
Then company debt still owed to Judith:
$132,000.
She had become more controlling after the loan.
“Graham should be home earlier.”
“You spend too much on groceries.”
“Why are you renovating the guest bathroom while he owes me?”
I thought:
Mother-in-law being mother-in-law.
I did not understand creditor and mother had merged.
Then Leah found an old text from me.
I had written:
Judith acts like she owns Graham because she saved the company.
Leah replied at the time:
She thinks she owns both of you.
We had joked.
Now it wasn’t funny.
Then Graham asked to meet.
I said no.
He sent a message:
Mom is threatening to call the business note if I cooperate with police against her.
There.
The financial leverage became explicit.
I forwarded it to my lawyer.
I had hired Dana Ellis, a family-law attorney.
She said:
“Do not negotiate criminal cooperation through marital texts.”
“I wasn’t.”
“Good.”
Then:
“Did you own part of the company?”
Legally, Graham was sole member.
But it was formed during our marriage.
In divorce, its value could be marital property.
Different from membership authority.
Then house.
Value around:
$648,000.
Mortgage:
$326,000.
No HELOC.
Good.
Retirement:
Mine $148,000.
Graham $206,000.
Savings:
$54,000.
Company value unknown.
Judith’s loan would reduce it.
This was not a story where I could call my bank and erase Graham.
Our finances were connected.
May you like
That made leaving slower.
Not impossible.
