“They didn’t know.”
Grandpa smiled.
“I taught him everything except modesty.”
Tommy ignored him.
“I recognized the address.”
That explained one piece.
Not the lawyer. I still didn’t know why he was there.
I looked at David.
“And you?”
He held up the folder.
“Paperwork.”
Grandpa had called him almost immediately after leaving the house the previous afternoon.
Not because he wanted to sue right away.
Because Grandpa had already started getting suspicious a week earlier when Grant began making comments about their renovation budget.
So he asked David what his options were if they refused final payment.
David had reviewed the original contract. Grandpa had done everything properly.
Written scope.
Approved change orders.
Invoices.
Payment schedule.
And, where required, the appropriate preliminary notices had already been handled.
Grandpa wasn’t improvising.
He knew exactly where he stood.
“So what happens now?” I asked.
David looked toward the house, considering what would happen next.
“That depends on them.”
Before he could explain, another car turned onto the street.
The white SUV I’d seen earlier suddenly made sense.
A woman got out carrying a tablet and a large tote.
Behind her, another vehicle pulled up.
A man climbed out with a camera bag.
I looked at Grandpa.
“Who are they?”
“That’s why we’re here early,” he said with a smile.
The woman walked toward the front door.
Grant opened it before she reached the steps.
He was dressed in slacks and a polo shirt.
Melissa appeared behind him.
Then both of them saw Grandpa.
Grant stopped.
“What are you doing here?”
Grandpa glanced at the woman with the tablet.
“Morning. Looks like we all got an early start today.”
Her face lit up.
“Oh! You must be Frank.”
Grant looked at her.
“You know him?”
She smiled.
“Of course. I’ve seen the built-ins. They’re gorgeous.”
Grandpa nodded politely.
“Thank you.”
Melissa’s face changed, and I suddenly understood. They were listing the house.
The woman was their real estate agent.
The photographer was there to shoot the property.
Grant stepped off the porch.
“Frank, I thought we were done.”
Grandpa nodded.
“So did I.”
Grant looked at David.
“Who is this?”
“My attorney. I asked him to come with me today.”
That erased the smile from his face.
Melissa came closer.
“Why do you have an attorney?”
David opened the folder.
“Because Mr. Wilson has an unpaid balance for completed work on this property.”
Grant’s jaw tightened.
“We have a dispute.”
Grandpa tilted his head.
“No, we don’t. There’s nothing left to dispute here.”
“Yes, we do.”
“About what?”
“The bill.”
Grandpa looked at me.
Then back at Grant.
“You signed yesterday that the work was completed, accepted, and that you had no complaints regarding the workmanship.”
Grant stared at him.
Melissa’s eyes widened.
“That isn’t what that paper said. You never mentioned any of that.”
David calmly removed a copy.
“It is.”
Melissa grabbed it.
She read.
Her face changed.
Grant snatched it from her.
“You tricked us.”
Grandpa shook his head.
“I didn’t trick you. I asked you to read it.”
“You said it was paperwork.”
“It was.”
Grant looked furious.
Then David explained what would happen next.
Grandpa was taking the necessary steps to secure his unpaid claim against the property.
Depending on the legal process applicable in their jurisdiction, that could include a mechanic’s lien or similar contractor remedy.
David was careful with his wording.
But the part Grant understood immediately was simple.
An unresolved contractor claim could create a serious problem when they tried to sell the house.
His face went white.
“What lien?”
Grandpa looked toward the giant front windows.
Then back at him.
“The one attached to the house you’re trying to sell.”
The real estate agent slowly lowered her tablet.
“Grant?”
He turned.
“This is nothing. Frank’s just trying to scare us.”
David looked at her.
“It’s an unpaid $6,200 balance for completed renovation work.”
She stared at Grant.
“You told me all contractors had been paid.”
“They have.”
Grandpa raised one eyebrow.
Grant snapped, “Except him.”
There was a long silence.
The real estate agent’s expression said more than anything she could have.
“You cannot list a property and just not mention something like this to me.”
Grant rubbed his forehead.
“It’s being handled.”
Grandpa nodded.
“That’s why we’re here.”
Then Grant noticed Tommy.
“And why is he here?”
Tommy pushed away from the van.
“I’m here because you called my office yesterday.”
Grant frowned.
“For the upstairs?”
“Yes.”
“We had a ten o’clock appointment.”
“We did.”
“Then why are you here with him?”
Tommy looked at Grandpa.
“He trained me.”
“What does that have to do with our quote?” Grant asked.
“Everything.”
“You’re refusing the job?”
“Yes.”
Melissa stared at him.
“For what reason?”
Tommy shrugged.
“I like getting paid.”
I had to bite the inside of my cheek.
Grandpa shot him a look, but Tommy only grinned back.
“What?” Tommy said. “It’s true.”
Grant’s voice rose.
“This is ridiculous. You’re all trying to gang up on us.”
“No,” Grandpa said. “I’m trying to get paid for work you already agreed was done correctly.”
Melissa crossed her arms.
“You’re doing all of this over $6,200?”
