by Gavin Green
***
Present
By the time Brody had finished some sketches onto the limestone and granite blocks, the rain had passed and left a breeze and sunshine in its wake. There was still a nip in the November air, but the vibrant blue sky was a welcome sight. Brody was inspired to take advantage of the beauty that the late morning had offered. He enjoyed rainy weather, but after four days of nearly constant showers and drizzles, enough was enough.
Shirking other self-imposed duties, Brody let the dogs join him for a casual country drive. With Honey in the passenger seat and the growing pups in the back, he drove away from the cottage at a leisurely pace with no destination in mind.
As Brody drove down many of the smaller rural lanes around Ballaghadaere, he came upon a number of houses for sale or simply abandoned. It gave him ideas on how to further help the community and have something of the thrill of personal involvement at the same time. Those ideas led to others; he became increasingly eager to make them happen.
Brody had to stop and jot a few notes before he made his way into the village proper. There were many projects formulating in his mind, but he needed Kate's analysis and intellect to see how they could come to fruition, and to organize them into a semblance of order.
With the windows rolled down a few inches for the dogs, Brody parked near the bank and hurried in. Kate was with a customer, so he went to the teller's counter. Before him sat the white-haired, older co-worker that had been mentioned in past conversations. The older woman smiled pleasantly as Brody came near. He noticed the placard with her name on it to address her formally. "Good day, Mrs. Clarke. How are you?"
"Fine as can be, Mr. Lynch."
"Oh, you don't have to be so formal. I hear I've been a topic around here once or twice, so please just call me Brody."
Mary's grin grew. "That's as may be, but this business deserves professional decorum. I'm sure you understand. Outside of work, I won't be so formal if that suits you, Mr. Lynch."
Brody smiled back at her. "So you'll just call me 'the strapper' out on the street, then?"
Not phased in the slightest, Mary replied, "Oh heavens, no. I'd just follow Kate's example, so I'll just grunt and stare." Her smile was even warmer when she asked how she could assist him.
Brody heard Kate call his name as he received his cash withdrawal. He smirked at Mary as he shook his head and then went over to Kate's desk. She was smiling and sat when he approached. "What a nice surprise. Escaping the house for a bit?"
"Pretty much, but I also have some things to do around here."
"Alright; anything I can help with?"
Brody frowned for a moment. "Actually, yes, but let me tell you a few things first. Do you have a minute or two for me, darlin'?"
Kate's smile grew. "Always, love."
He leaned forward on her desk. "First, I gotta say that I love that dress suit you're wearing."
She glanced down at her attire, then back to him. "Thanks, that's always nice to hear, even though you already said it once this morning."
With a sly grin, Brody continued. "I hope you don't love it, though, because I'm going to rip it off you when you get home." He watched her soft cheeks bloom with color before finishing his thought. "I'd do it right here, right now, and take you on your desk, but I know that Mary would take pictures."
Kate brought a hand to her smiling mouth. "Thank you for embarrassing me yet again. Well done. Did you come here just to torment me?"
Brody's smile faded a bit as serious thoughts came to mind. "Not just - it was a bonus. I have a few other ideas in my head, and I know I'll need your help with them."
Kate placed her hands on the desk. "Don't you have enough on your plate, Brody? Wasn't part of your reasoning in moving here to relax and heal?"
He nodded. "Originally, I guess so. But I think the things I've been doing, and the things I want to try, are helping even more."
Her smile returned. "That's wonderful, love, honestly. But right now I don't have that much time to discuss everything. Can it keep until I get home?"
"That's just the thing, Kate. It's not just that I need your help for the things I want to do; I want to do those things with you by my side. I don't want to be attached at the hip, but I do want us to share more things together - important things. So I'd like you to quit the bank as soon as you can... if you want to."
Kate's cheeks flushed yet again. "I'd love that, but it wouldn't be very proper of me to just walk out. I couldn't do that."
Brody reached across the desk and placed a large hand over hers. "You could give notice for Friday as your last day. Is two and a half days enough notice here? Some of my ideas kinda have a time factor to them. I'm not asking this lightly, darlin' - I know this is a big move. But trust me, there's no gamble involved."
Kate looked into his alluring grey eyes, only taking quick notice of his strong nimbus. She saw love and concern, but he was also swirling with excitement and commitment. "After I finish some of this paperwork, I'll tell Mr. McNally that Friday is my last day."
"But is this what you want? Really want?"
Her brows arched. "I've wanted to move on for a while now. And after what you just said, I'll have no weight on my conscience."
Brody sighed with a slight smile. "Good, I knew that was an issue. There's just one other thing, but it'll be a longer talk. So spare a little time for it sometime tonight, okay?"
"Of course, that'll be fine. Shall I just pick up some dinner on the way home?"
He stood and pushed his chair in. "That'd be great. I'll let you get back to it, darlin'."
Kate pulled some files in front of her and looked up at him. "Off to gather more big ideas?"
"Even better - I'm going to make one of 'em happen."
Brody parked in the nearly-empty church parking lot and saw Father Doyle out front pruning bushes. Letting the dogs out to roam and sniff, he made his way over to the old priest, and they greeted each other casually.
Brody had been giving private contributions to the parish for weeks, especially when Father Doyle would suggest small but worthwhile local charities or fundraisers. In his sermons, the sly old priest would mention how financial quotas were met to fund civic needs, and happily thanked the congregation for their donations. With a smirk, he once privately told Brody that a little guilt for those that didn't tithe a bit extra for the needy kept the public conscience on the right path.
After a bit of idle chat, Brody gave Father Doyle an envelope, saying it was for the farmer's trust to assist anyone who might have a rough winter. He then handed over a check for an impressive amount, and explained that a project would be coming up that would need some labor. Brody asked if the priest could get in touch with any villagers that were looking for work, and make them an offer. It would be honest and simple toil, at good pay, and would last for at least a few weeks. Father Doyle said he'd be glad to pass the word, make some calls, and get things organized.
The old priest then asked if the Kelly brothers were welcome to be invited, as both were still out of work, and Mitch was still on the mend. Brody agreed without hesitation. As an afterthought, he asked the priest to take some of that project money and pay Mitch's hospital bill. In Brody's private thoughts, there was a good chance that the Kelly's surprising behavior over a month ago could be attributed to a certain little fellow with wild orange hair.
Brody then offered that if Mitch wasn't up for labor just yet from his shoulder and facial injuries, then he could be a foreman. Father Doyle thanked him once again as they parted with a handshake. Brody returned the thanks and said that he'd be in touch with the details.
He rounded up the dogs and drove a few short blocks to the estate agent's office. He met with the broker and wanted information on properties; specifically, local detached homes and cottages that had been empty for some time, or instances where owners were simply moving on. He didn't want to buy undervalued homes from folks facing hardship, but he did want a list of those for another purpose. Primar
ily, Brody wanted rural homes or ones in town that were simply sitting vacant. He even made mention of a few that he saw while rambling around earlier that day.
The broker refined his computer search and came up with lists. The first was of currently occupied homes for sale listed well under market value. Then another list was compiled of common sale or vacant houses and farms within five miles of Ballaghadaere, and most had at least one photo on file.
Brody recognized two immediately, looked over their preliminary notes and low prices, and wrote a check for them. He asked the broker to get further inspections on a number of other sites that were at or under the price he was willing to pay. The young agent eagerly complied and said he'd email Brody his findings.
While signing deeds, Brody mentioned that Father Doyle would be in touch with the estate office to arrange for labor at the purchased locations. The broker said he'd be glad to be of assistance as long as Brody requested it, and would email the itinerary of those activities as well.
Brody made a quick call to the priest's private number and left a message explaining the type of labor. The places he'd just bought were most likely in need of simple external repair, but more importantly was lawn care and maintenance. Also mentioned was the suggested use of a church van for labor transportation, as well as getting any needed tools and a trailer for mowers.
Brody left the estate agent's office in great spirits, and decided to stock up on groceries again while in town. While he leisurely shopped the aisles in the big food-mart, he called Fiona. She answered and, with the sound of her kids in the background, initially chatted about various subjects familiar to them both. He thought that the while the lady loved to talk, at least she kept conversations interesting.
Finally getting to the reason for the call, Brody inquired if she and Jack knew of a reliable general contractor through their business dealings. Fiona referred a company, with one of their employee's names and business number. Brody assumed that his new estate purchases might need some interior work, and wanted reliable people for it.
Full of inspiration, Brody took the dogs back home. Once there, he decided that the long list of plans could stand to be one shorter. The outdoor sitting area that was started over a month ago still sat in half-completion, and a vent was needed for his excess energy and exuberance that had built up. Besides, he felt grateful to Kate for so many little things, and finishing her 'spot' would be one of many reciprocations.
Stones were reset in sturdier alignment and the gravel was stamped. The posts were securely planted and then roughed, dented, and stained. Tightening fasteners were applied to the canvas roofing for security, yet still easily removed to enjoy good weather. Satisfied with his work, Brody had time to clean up and relax before Kate returned home.
As soon as she walked in the door, Brody kept his promise, although he tried to do as little damage to Kate's business suit as possible. Likewise, when the pizza box fell from Kate's hand and hit the floor with the top open, the dogs attacked it with equal passion.