Chapter 7
The next morning Brad had already had two cups of coffee before Amy came down stairs. She looked like she was still worn out from shopping. She shuffled into the kitchen and grabbed a glass of juice and brought it into the office.
Brad looked at her and laughed, "Can't handle it? I guess I tired you out yesterday."
Amy slumped down into the chair opposite his desk. "That was really nice what you did for Carol yesterday. She told me that she needed clothes but her money was a bit tight. Joseph agreed to pay for her tuition and books but she had to pay all of her other expenses herself. She works when her course load allows, but waitressing doesn't pay much and it's hard making ends meet."
Brad smiled, "Well, I looked in the paper this morning and I found a Honda Accord advertised. It's two years old and it only has twenty-two thousand miles on it. The woman says that it has been well maintained by the dealer and garage kept and it runs and looks like new. It has a sunroof and its automatic. I think that we might go look at it this afternoon. Is that Ok with you?"
Amy stared at him, "I don't think you should do this. We don't even know if the court will allow me to stay here. Besides, you have done way too much already. You have to watch your money. What are you going to do after you spend it all?"
Brad started to laugh, "Amy I don't think I'll have to worry about that for a long time. I have more than enough to last me for the rest of my life. As you can see, I have a very nice home but I don't live in a mansion. I only have one car and I don't gamble and throw money away foolishly. Now, get dressed and we'll go to the bank and get your account set up. I'll have to put the car in my name. If it goes in your name the insurance will be sky-high."
Amy turned away and walked into the living room. She turned on the TV and stared at the screen not really seeing or hearing what was on the TV. She was wary of his intensions. People just didn't do stuff like this. He was like no man she had ever met. Certainly the direct opposite of Myron. Apparently he wasn't going to rape her. He had two chances when they fell asleep in the chair in the sunroom. She just couldn't figure him out.
Her thoughts drifted to the man instead of trying to figure his motives. He was ruggedly handsome and well built. He was kind and generous obviously, always trying to do things for people. He seemed to like doing stuff for people. He treated her like an adult instead of a teenager; he had said that she was wise beyond her years. Every time he walked into the room, she felt a strange tenseness in her chest. He apparently had a lot of friends who would drop anything when he called. She hoped that, one-day, she could find a man like him.
Amy turned her head and saw Brad standing in the doorway watching her. She turned back to the television, not knowing what to say to him or how to express what she was feeling. Brad walked over to the sofa and sat down next to her.
"Amy, What's Wrong?"
"I just can't figure out why you are doing all of this. I can never pay you back. People just don't do things like this unless they want something."
Brad put his arm around Amy's shoulder, "I guess this was just how I was raised. My mother and father were always helping someone. At Thanksgiving dinner we always had thirty-five to forty people and half of them I didn't even know. I've always tried to help my employees whenever I could. I even tried to get Myron into an alcohol treatment program, but he said he didn't have an alcohol problem. I feel that it is everyone's duty to help others when they can. Usually it doesn't cost much to give a little of yourself. My mother always told me that whenever you do a good deed that it comes back to you threefold.
Tears started running down Amy's cheeks, "I guess that nobody ever did anything for me unless they wanted something."
"Amy, I am not asking anything of you. I see a very nice person who has been dealt a bad hand of cards and needs a helping hand. I have no ulterior motives. I am just trying to give you a little help so that you might just be able to lift yourself up and make a foundation to build the rest of your life on.
She stared at the floor, "But you don't know how hard it is to have nothing and to accept one thing after another and know that you can never give anything back."
Brad looked at her for a moment, "Take the help that I can give you in the manner I am offering it. I am making no promises and am attaching no strings to my help. Accept my help with no promises and with no strings. When you're ready to strike out on your own, say thank you, and I'll be paid in full."
Brad got up and took Amy's hand and pulled her off of the sofa. As he walked out of the room he told her to get ready as they had a lot to do that afternoon.
Brad drove to his bank and they sat down with the branch manager. After exchanging a few pleasantries he told him that he wanted to open a checking account for Amy and the he would need a debit card. He agreed to be guarantor for the account and signed all of the necessary papers. The manager went to his computer and activated the account and transferred funds from one of Brad's account to Amy's new account. He told Amy that the debit card would be valid in twenty-four hours. The card was a Visa check card so Amy would be able to charge her gasoline purchases and would be able to use the debit card in most stores.
On the way out of the bank and in the car Amy kept staring at the checkbook and at the debit card. They drove in silence for a long while.
Finally Amy spoke, "I've never had a thousand dollars in my life. I feel like I have all of the money in the world."
"Well after we get home, we'll go over how to keep your checkbook up to date and how to balance your check book. The bank has a web site, with on-line banking, which should be a help in avoiding problems."
Brad drove up to a house in the suburbs. He pulled into the driveway and got out and knocked on the door. Amy sat in the car. An attractive woman about thirty-five years old answered the door and said something to Brad and went back into the house. After a minute the garage door opened and Brad motioned for Amy to get out of the car.
"Well, look over the car and see if it is something you can live with," he said with a smile.
The car was as the woman had said over the phone. It was immaculate and had been detailed perfectly. There was not a spot of dirt on it and it shined like a diamond. Amy sat in it and touched everything. She grinned from ear to ear. She looked at Brad and nodded her head.
"Well I think we'll take it. Whom do I make the check out to?"
The price that the woman quoted over the phone was top dollar, but Brad didn't argue. Cars this well kept were few and far between. Amy kept touching everything and was beaming.
"The car is in my husband's name, so make the check out to John Branson."
Brad looked at the woman for a minute before speaking, "I think that I know your husband. I worked with a John Branson on a project a couple of years ago. Is he home?"
The woman nodded and invited Brad and Amy into the house. Brad remembered that the man was a CAD draftsman for an architectural firm that he had worked with. Brad followed her into the house and he saw a man sitting in a wheelchair with both legs in a cast. He recognized the man right away and walked over to him and shook his hand.
"What happened to you?"
John patted his leg, "I was in a boating accident and broke both legs. The architectural firm that I worked for said that I have a job when I can come back, but I don't have any salary until then. That's why we have to sell the car. Things are really tight. I don't know if we can hang on to the house until I get back to work."
Brad thought for a minute, "Why don't you work from home?"
"Well, I suggested that, but my firm didn't want to try it. They feel that if you can't touch someone you can't keep tabs on them."
"Won't the bank work with you? I'm sure that they don't want the house. Banks will usually work with you if you try."
"When we bought the house the interest rates were 14%. I guess we should have refinanced but we never did. We have tried to figure a way to keep the house, but I think that we may have to put it on the market. I hear that homes sell fast in this market."
"Would you be willing to work from home if I know of a company that is looking for a CAD draftsman?"
John smiled and nodded, " I just want to work. I'm not asking for charity. I know that I could work from home and still be an asset to a company."
Brad stood up, "Can I use your phone? If it's Ok with you I'd like to talk to someone in private."
Evelyn Branson took him into the kitchen and showed him where the phone was and went back into the living room. He dialed the number for The Pittson Construction Company. The receptionist answered and he talked to her for a few minutes and then asked if George Tyler was in. George was CEO of the company now and consulted with Brad often over the phone. It was several minutes before George came to the phone.
"Brad, it's good to hear your voice. I was going to call you this afternoon. I just put a bid in on an office complex and I thought you might have some ideas."
"George are you still looking for a CAD draftsman?"
"Yes, I've interviewed a few but they just don't have what we're looking for. Most of them have industrial experience and I'm looking for someone with architectural experience."
"Well, I think that I may have someone you might want to consider. Do you remember John Branson that worked with us on the Seagrave office complex?"
"Sure, he was a pretty good draftsman. He was as good as most of the architects you work with these days. If he's looking for a job send him into see me."
Brad explained the situation with John and explained that he would have to work from home. He told George that he thought it could work out. If hard copies of anything were needed, they could send them to John by UPS or FedEx and most of the work could be sent back and forth over the Internet or by fax. He reminded George that most architects send blueprints over the Internet and usually had a complete set of blueprints on CDs now.
"Brad, I trust your judgment. I remember John's work and I think we could make it work. The only thing is setting him up. Does he have the proper equipment for CAD work? I don't have any spare equipment here and I don't know about buying what he would need. I'll have to check the budget."
Brad grinned, "Don't worry about setting him up. I'll take care of that. I think that this is the person you need. I have no hesitation recommending him to you. The man is motivated and really needs a job. I think he'll break his neck for you."
George laughed, "Still the same old Brad. Is there anyone in this town that doesn't owe you a favor? Give me his address and tell him I'll stop over tomorrow and we can hammer out the details."
Brad gave him the address and then discussed how the company was doing. After a few minutes of conversation he hung up and went into the living room.
"John, it looks like you're an employee of The Pittson Construction Company. They want you and have agreed to let you work from home until you are ready to work from the office. You do have an Internet hookup don't you?"
Before John could answer Evelyn ran into the kitchen crying.
John's face took on a glow, "This is a God-send. She'll be Ok. This morning we discussed selling the house and had almost made a decision to list it with a broker. She really loves this house. I'll call the bank tomorrow and see if they'll work with us for a little while longer."
"Where do you have your mortgage?"
When John told him, Brad told him that he dealt at the same bank and played golf with the President of the bank. Brad offered to talk to the bank if John would Ok it. John said that he would welcome any help.
Brad wrote a check out for the car and told John that, if it were Ok
with him, that Amy would pick it up in a day or two. John signed the
title and gave it to Brad. John agreed that they could pick up the car
whenever they like and they left the Branson house.