And James struggled to concentrate. Because, suddenly, everything he’d believed true in his life seemed to be a lie. “Daddy?” Cele bent to him and whispered, “Lloyd just proposed terms for an expansion loan.” James snapped to attention. “Debt is not the answer. This company was built by my great-grandfather on a pay-as-you-go basis. That principle is all that kept us alive in my grandfather’s time, during the depression.” “James, we have to expand or this company is doomed. We cannot compete with cheap, assemble-it-yourself composite wood furniture sold over the Internet,” his accountant protested. “Quality, both in materials and craftsmanship, has always been this company’s byword,” he responded. “People don’t pay for quality anymore. Price is critical—” “Not always,” Cele interrupted. “There is a hunger in this country for things that last. For a sense of heritage that Parker’s Ridge symbolizes.” One of the bankers made a scoffing noise, but James held up his hand to quiet the man.
