The Contingency Plan

I've been determined to stay positive since coming back from our trip. Despite the dramas of my life before we left and our horrid first day back I've called friends, cleaned, worked, smiled, revelled in Hugo and just yesterday felt I could be happy quietly still.

Then a knock came to our front door last night. It wasn't a rare and random 'trick or treater', but friends of Luc, Mikko and Anke, who we hadn't seen for a while. I offered drinks and dinner and sat down to catch up when I was cut short by Anke who said, "let's not pretend this is a social gathering. I think you both know why we're here. We want an explanation of where our money went."

I felt bewildered and looked to Luc who then explained that he and his buddy Mikko had arranged a $35,000 loan using equity in his home. A one-off payment of $5,000 had been paid in the last six months, Mikko had lost his job, couldn't find another one, he and Anke have three children and don't want to loose their home.

Mikko and Anke looked tired and explained they had been fighting for months. Anke initially didn't agree to the loan (I wouldn't either) but Mikko went ahead and did so without a formal agreement or agenda of when payments would be made. He was happy for Luc to pay him back when it suited and Luc had agreed he would after the trip.

But now Anke was in our home, angry and accusing us of manipulating Mikko and trying to milk their family dry. Mikko fumbled his words and didn't make sense. His numbers didn't calculate. There was a flurry or words and confusion, Anke took out a document and we signed over our car. I felt like such a fool but by this point Anke had settled down. She looked at me, smiled and said we would work it out. It wasn't our fault our men still act like children. Mikko promised to send an email outlining what had been paid and what was left owing. He would return the signed document when the money was paid. I was desperate to make things right.

***

I've been awfully depressed today. Luc and I had a long talk last night and things between us have improved. We created a budget that would mean repaying this debt in just over six months, and for once I didn't think of leaving him. Despite not being married and although many of you may think I'm a damn idiot, the vow of staying together for better or worse kept inconveniently ringing through my mind. I'm determined not to leave, feel sorry for myself and get disheartened.

With that said though, Luc knows never to do that to us again. Everyone should know not to borrow money from friends. We're still together but he's currently in the doghouse indefinitely. I imagine Mikko is too.

A big part of me thinks maybe I should sell his much-loved Lexus to act as a double-edged sword that would instantly square off this owing money off and act as Luc's punishment. Ha!

Ooh, that got ugly. Hope you can pay them off real soon and ease the tension.

Yep, definitely ugly. We're trying to sell our car to pay it off quickly and will get a cheaper one in the meantime - it's just a car afterall and our relationships are more important.