29. Beth
Beth
I’d been home only a couple weeks, but after talking with my mom, I knew what I needed to do.
I’d done what I did best—diving into everything there was to know about buying a business, selling a business, starting over, all of it.
If I was going to make one of the biggest decisions I’d ever made, I needed to be prepared.
I even reached out to Professor Mackey. Of course, he was all about it.
And as awkward as it was, I reached out to Michael.
Luckily, he was supportive, if not disappointed with my decision.
It felt good to make my own plans for once in my life, my own decisions.
This afternoon was the time I’d set aside to meet with my parents about the business and what it meant for our family.
I hadn’t brought anything up since talking with my mom and I hadn’t wanted to worry her while I’d figured out what I needed to do. It was time though.
I wanted to feel as comfortable and in control as possible as I brought this up to my parents, so instead of our usual chat around their dinner table, I invited them to come to the office.
We rarely used the office anymore, except for interviews and meetings with vendors and customers, but in this case, I wanted to feel on equal footing as my parents.
I didn’t want to seem like their daughter.
I needed to feel like their business partner.
I arrived a few minutes before the set meeting, and I sat at my office desk, flipping through my proposal and the ideas that I planned to present to them.
My stomach did flips, and part of me felt like I was going to get sick. I knew this was the right thing to do, but I was still scared. I loved getting approval from my parents, and now, I’d be stepping out on my own.
Photos of past company picnics lined the walls.
Awards shown from when we won at previous festivals or received “Top Vendor” from different events we’d joined.
And on my desk, a photo of my parents and me.
It was only a few months after my dad’s episode all those years ago.
It was taken the first day he was back in the office, and we all had wide smiles on our faces, glowing for the camera.
I’d miss it. Of course I would. And even after finishing all my research, talking with my professor, and of course, Mary, it was a no-brainer. I needed to do this—for myself.
There were parts that I felt comfortable with since I was used to running the overarching business at home, but I felt that zing of excitement to do something new—something that was just for me.
And as much as I went back and forth figuring out if it was the right thing for my family, I knew that my parents were getting older.
They’d be retiring soon—with or without me here.
I needed to live my own life.
For years, I’d lived in their shadow, being the dutiful daughter I knew they needed and, at the time, wanted to be.
Things changed though. People got older, and I knew in my gut that this was the right thing to do.
“Beth? You here?” my mom called out, pulling me out of my trance.
“Back here! I’ll be up in a moment.”
I stood up, took one glance at the family photo sitting on my desk, grabbed my paperwork, and headed for the conference room.
I hugged my mom and dad, and we all took a seat at the table. The conference room hadn’t changed at all since I’d been around. It still had a very 1990s feel with burgundy-striped wallpaper, dark wood, and old office chairs sitting around a six-person table.
“What’s all this about?” Dad crossed his ankle over his leg, and as he leaned back, the old chair squeaked.
“It’s been a while since we’ve talked about the business and what the plan is, especially since I’ve been back, so I thought we all needed to be on the same page.” My skin prickled with nerves, but I kept my voice steady as I looked my dad in the eye.
“Makes sense,” he gruffed.
“I actually have an idea for you.” I gave them the packets I’d put together, continuing, “I think if anything, this summer has opened our eyes to what the business needs and everyone’s involvement in it.”
My dad stayed quiet, and my mom hummed to herself.
“I know this place has been your pride and joy for decades, but I’m not sure if this is sustainable for the long run with how we’re running things.” I paused, taking a deep breath. “And frankly, I don’t think I want to continue, especially once you both retire.”
“Okay, but—” My dad started talking, but I cut him off.
“And I know what you’re going to say. That you’re not ready yet, that you don’t want to take a back seat, at least not yet, and I completely respect that. It’s why I have an idea that I think will work for everyone.”
“What are you suggesting?” my mom asked with a glint in her eye. She had to know where I was going. Whether or not she had mentioned anything to my dad was another story.
“I’m suggesting we see if Michael—or, really, it could be anyone—would be willing to buy out my share of the business with an option to buy your share once you’re ready.
This way, it provides an exit for you for when you actually want to retire and a good transition for the business.
I think it makes the most sense for Michael to step up, and it sounds like he’s interested as long as you’re both on board. ”
I flipped to about halfway through the packet to share some numbers.
“I put together some rough figures for the entire business, broken down by both of our shares.” I pointed to the page in front of my dad. “My professor helped me put this together.”
His eyes widened. “How do you know we’d get this much?”
“I don’t.” I shrugged. “But I’ve been doing some research these last few weeks, and I think it’s a pretty good guess.”
His lip quirked up, and he looked at my mom. They locked eyes for a moment, and he turned back to me. “So, you want out of the business?”
“I’ve been wanting to do my own thing for quite a while now.
It’s just that I didn’t have a firm grasp on what I would do and where I would go.
It’s why I was so excited about expanding things here when I went for those classes.
” I leaned back as the chair creaked. “Obviously, I love what we’ve built here, but it’s time.
” I nodded, looking at the table. “It’s time I take care of me. ”
“Honey, I wish you would have told us you were unhappy here,” my mom said, tilting her head.
I waved my hands. “It’s not that at all.
I’m so glad to have made the choice I did years ago.
The time that we’ve spent together, what we’ve been able to do.
” I paused, looking around. “That’s invaluable.
It’s just that now I’ve found a new place that feels right.
It feels like the next best step for me.
I know this is a big decision, and I know I’m springing this on you both to some degree.
But I just hope that you see this for what it could be—an opportunity for you both to actually enjoy retirement, to do what you want to do while you still can.
And an opportunity for me to build my own life how I need to. ”
My dad bit his lip, looking at the figures in front of him. “This is a lot of money. What do you plan to do?”
“Remember that rental place I worked at over the summer?” I paused. “I want to buy it. Mary put the other buyer on hold until I could talk with you and figure this out. I plan to move back to Port St. Clair.”
Everything in the conference room stood still for what felt like hours but was really only minutes.
My dad was thinking, and I didn’t want to interrupt him.
As much as I hated to admit it, he was still very old-school and wanted to make his own decisions—not have his daughter tell him what to do or how to feel.
But even without his approval, I felt a sense of calm flow through my body. This was the right decision—I knew it was. It was just giving him the time to come to that conclusion.
“Beth.” He paused, looking down at the table, then at me.
“We want you to be happy. I hope you know that. And I know I can be difficult to work with. Hell, your mother has put up with my grumpy ass for almost four decades.” He shook his head.
“This isn’t what I thought this meeting would be about.
” He looked over at my mom. “And I have a feeling that Evelyn knew this was coming? Either way, I’m sorry. ”
“Sorry?” I pulled back.
“I’m sorry that you had to put your life on hold when everything…
happened. I don’t think I ever really thanked you for stepping up, stepping in—taking care of your mom.
” He put his hand over hers. “I appreciate it more than you know, even though I know I’m terrible at sharing feelings. So, thank you.
“As much as I hate to admit it, I think you’re right about looking at how many years we have left.
” He shook his head, and I saw the tears behind his eyes.
“I think we all deserve to give this some serious consideration, and, at the very least, I think you deserve to buy that business or whatever else you want to do. I don’t want to hold you back, and you owe it to yourself to give it a go.
We love you, Beth. Go do what you need to do. ”
I blinked, and my eyes grew misty. I knew this was as close as it would come to my dad agreeing with my plan—at least right now.
He needed more time to wrap his head around retirement, but he had given his blessing for me to step back, to do what I wanted.
And really, that’s all I could ask of him at this point.
My dad stood up, and after tossing the proposal down on the table with a slap, he wrapped his large arms around me, pulling me close. I could smell his musky scent, and it threw me back to when I was a girl.
“Thank you, Dad.” I rubbed my hand up and down his back. “I love you too.”