Page 25 of Patio Lanterns

Rick

Guilt was one hell of a motivator.

Rick hadn’t heard from Aidan in the nearly two months since their last blow-up about the cottage. He’d asked his son to come over in the spring to lend him a hand installing patio pavers. The day had started out fine, but within hours, tempers flared over something so insignificant Rick could scarcely remember what set it off. Before he knew it, Aidan had stormed away and cut off communication. Even when Rick had sent his son a text wishing him a happy birthday, it took three days to receive back a terse “Thx”. Aidan couldn’t even be bothered to spell out the entire word.

Their issues stemmed back long before Rick had moved into the cottage, but it was now the main friction point between them. The matter was black and white as far as Rick was concerned. He’d bought the place for himself, and Aidan and his mother Julie got to use it while he lived on the coast. That had always been the deal. Julie knew it to be true and abided by their agreement, but convincing Aidan of it was an entirely different story. He dug in his heels, determined to make Rick out to be the bad guy. And since he’d been back, the hostility between him and his son simmered just below the surface.

But now, Rick knew better than to push. He figured that whenever Aidan was ready to talk, they’d talk. So he was understandably nervous when Aidan texted him out of the blue, asking if they could meet at the Maple Leaf Lodge that afternoon. He’d even called him “Dad” in the strangely amicable, single-sentence message, putting Rick’s suspicions on high alert.

Aidan came bearing gifts, a six-pack of them, chilled and frothy. Sitting directly across from one another on the deck, they each pulled back a tab, staring one another down.

“I’ve been working with a developer who’s building new estates on Mirror Bay, Lake Whippoorwill, and over on Davina Island. He said that in a couple years, this area will be like a summer playground of the stars,” Aidan said excitedly. “If I buy in now, and get in on this thing from the ground up, I can be planning and building custom cottages directly with A-list clients. I’m talking really big-name celebrities.”

Rick listened quietly. No doubt Aidan was a talented carpenter. The renovations he’d started at the Maple Leaf Lodge before Rick had returned were a testament to his impressive work. But getting into business with someone who had literally promised him the stars? Already he was suspicious, seeing more red flags than a Moscow parade.

“But I thought you enjoyed doing cottage renovations,” Rick pointed out.

“Yeah, it’s fine. I thought I wanted to be a contractor, but it turns out, what I’m really good at is seeing the bigger picture. That’s why I want to pivot and become a real estate developer.”

“A developer? You sure about that?” Rick questioned. “They’re the ones who buy land and finance the deals, you know.”

“They build too, or at least they bring in builders for their projects. And where I think I have a real leg up on other guys is that I can cut out the middle man and use my construction experience to do project management,” Aidan explained. “What really turns my crank is being able to take ideas and transform them from paper into properties.”

Funny, because Rick could’ve sworn that it wasn’t all that long ago that Aidan had said what really turned his crank was being able to build something with his own two hands.

“So, what exactly do you need from me?” he asked, waiting for the other shoe to drop.

“I need to come up with a hundred grand to buy-in as a partner,” Aidan admitted, staring down at the table, rolling his beer can between his hands. “I’ve got a little over fifty saved up myself, but could really use the other half.”

Ah, so that was it. He’d come around to make a withdrawal from the Bank of Dad.

“Look,” Aidan said, “I know this is a lot to spring on you, but I have to move fast. I have a meeting lined up with a major client, and I mean major, and want to be able to confidently introduce myself as a company partner.”

“Aidan, I don’t know. Fifty grand is a lot,” Rick tried to reason. “What do you even know about this company or the guy you plan to partner with?”

“I know that he’s a successful businessman like you. And that you both recognize a good opportunity when you see one,” he said. “Trust me, Dad, this is a sure thing.”

That made Rick even more skeptical. “If there’s one thing I’ve learned in the business world, it’s that there’s no such thing as a sure thing.”

Aidan cleared his throat. “Well, what about me, then? Invest in your son. Help me get my name out there and really build my brand.”

“Your brand?”

“My personal brand. When you’re working with this level of clientele, it’s not the biggest companies that get the work, it’s the ones with the best brands,” Aidan said. “You’ve got to have a presence on all the socials that boosts your reputation. That’s how people decide if they want to work with you or not.”

“Along with having the proven skills and expertise, I presume,” Rick said.

“Of course,” Aidan replied. He framed his hands in front of him as if reading off an invisible marquee. “Don’t just stand out, be outstanding,” he said. “Remember? You taught me that.”

Rick heaved a sigh. He couldn’t shake the feeling that Aidan was about to make a deal with the devil. It was clear to him that this shady developer had stroked Aidan’s ego, luring him with the promise of cozying up to celebrities on the way to easy street, amassing untold wealth. Well, sorry to break it to ya kid, but that’s not the way things work in the real world.

At the same time, when your estranged kid appears out of the blue asking his old man for a favour, you do it. Their relationship was precarious, and maybe giving him the money would be a way to start making amends. Besides, if Rick didn’t step up, someone else would, and no one knew better than he did that the business world had more than its share of predators ready to sink their teeth into someone so trusting.

Aidan leaned forward on the table. “This isn’t just about the money, you know.”

“It’s not?”

“Of course not. Don’t you think I want to make you proud of me?”

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