Chapter 4 — Everything In That Folder

RobertThis house is held by the company.

DavidIt is.

MargaretWhat does that mean?

RobertMargaret, be quiet a moment.

MargaretRobert, what does that mean?

RobertIt means the company owns this house.

MargaretWe own this house. We have owned this house since 1994.

RobertThe company owns it. For tax. It has always been for tax.

Margaret turned and looked down the table at her son.

MargaretDavid. Look at me. You would not.

DavidI haven't done anything.

MargaretThen what is this?

DavidThis is me telling you where things stand. That's all this is tonight.

PrestonThat is not all this is.

DavidPreston, you sold me twelve percent of a company to cover a margin call you haven't told your father about. You don't get to say what tonight is.

RobertIs that true?

Preston...Yes.

Robert closed the folder and put both hands flat on top of it.

RobertWhat do you want, David.

DavidI want to have dinner with my wife.

RobertDon't be cute with me.

DavidI'm not being cute. That's the whole of it. I want to bring Sarah to a house where she gets a chair like everybody else and nobody asks what her father delivered.

MargaretAnd if we don't?

DavidThen I'd rather not come.

MargaretIs that a threat about the house?

DavidNo. It's me telling you I'll stop coming.

MargaretThat is a threat about the house.

DavidMother, if I wanted the house I'd have had a letter delivered. I brought a folder to dinner and I sat next to my wife.