The certified reconciliation arrived Wednesday morning. The accountant confirmed that $3,908.40 had been charged to the company in error and that no personal expenses had been included in the owner-facing draw requests. The firm had enough cash to pay the tile crew and cover payroll, but only if both partners postponed their next distributions.
I signed the certification and sent it to Ruth and Calvin.
Then I called a mediator.
Dana had suggested one, a woman named Helen Ward who worked with business partners and couples but kept those cases separate. I told Helen I wanted to discuss the company first. She agreed to meet with Owen and me the next day.
He didn't object. "We should settle the business before we talk about the marriage," he said.
"I agree."
At the studio, the staff gath
