On my graduation from the university I left with my advanced degree in Civil Engineering and Architectural Design. Having joined the company as an entry level Engineer I worked hard diligently and rose from an entry level position to a Supervisor position as I gained experience.

After a few more years and I gained additional experience; I was promoted to the position of the Director of Engineering for my company. I was working hard toward achieving the Vice President’s job eventually.

The Vice President of the company, my boss Mike Ehrlich, told me, “Joel, you are the youngest individual who has ever been promoted to the position of Director.” He added, “Your reputation for the designs you have envisioned and the work of your group has been recognized by many of our clients with very high praise. That has enhanced the reputation of the company for the design of the structures we have been responsible for developing.

The reputation of the Acker Adelman and Abram Company because of our great architectural designs has greatly added to the number of enquiries for our work. Those enquiries have been translated into much more work for the company and that has added significantly to our corporate profits as well.

Top management has and continues to be very happy with the performance of our employees and there will be some very good bonuses awarded to you and your guys at the end of the quarter.”

As a result, our work backlog grew along with our work load so much all of our people were working six and sometimes seven days a week. Of course, I was working a schedule very similar to that of my department people.

The amount of work we had, required me to be there that much, too. And I sure as hell was not going to give my department the image that they were the only people who had that much work to do on their own schedules.

The Supervisor of my department was responsible for reviewing all the designs and making the changes to the design engineer’s work as he found necessary. Once the Supervisor had reviewed and given the design his approval he passed them on to me for a final review.

There were times when I saw items in the design that I thought should be changed. I would call the Supervisor and the Design Engineer into my office to discuss their reasons for the way the design was presently depicted on the prints.

Most times the Design Engineer and the Supervisor convinced me that the design was the best that could be done from a sound engineering perspective. Other times I made suggestions for changes and they agreed with my suggestions for the change.

After a good discussion they could see the wisdom of my suggestions for changes. With this level of scrutiny of each design we felt like we had the strongest most appealing designs in the industry.

During the time I was in high school at home and even more so at the university, I dated some very attractive and very nice girls. But, I had never found an attractive young lady whom I thought was so special I could feel right about asking her to marry me.

In order to get my advanced degree, I was always so busy with my classes and doing some student teaching. In addition to that I had my thesis to prepare, too. That kept me so busy I really didn’t have the time to date and pursue girls as a possible life mate.

When I go home to visit my parents, my Mom always feels like she has to ask me, “Joel, you know your Dad and I keep wondering when you are going to find a young lady, marry her and start bringing us the Grandbabies you know we really want.

You know your Sister, Cecilia, has already given us three Grandbabies and we get to see them quite often. And we can hold them and play with them and talk to them and love them. They are the cutest and the sweetest little things and your Dad and I just love them to pieces.

Joel, I want to see and hold your babies in my arms and enjoy them before I’m in a nursing home and I don’t know my own name let alone who your babies are.” About that time, Cecilia, my older sister came into the room holding her eight month old baby boy.

She said, “Hi, Mom and hi, Joel.” Mom held out her arms to the baby and said, “Ceci let me hold him please. Come to Grandma, Tony. I have to show you to your Grandpa. He really wants to see you too, Honey.”

Ceci stepped over to me, hugged me and said, “Hi Little Brother. How have you been?

“I’m fine, Ceci. Tony is growing like a weed isn’t he?”

“Yeah, he is, Joel. When are you going to start giving Mom and Dad the Grandbabies they want from you? We expected you would find someone while you were still in college and you have been out of college for how long now, Little Brother?

Don’t’ you think it’s time for you to start giving Mom and Dad Grandbabies? After the holidays you need to come and spend a weekend with us. There is a beautiful lady who lives not far from us I’d like you to meet. I’m sure that you will like her, too, Joel”

“Oh, Ceci. You know we have been through that several times now and even though the ladies you have introduced me to have been very nice and attractive we have never made a match and a real connection.

And besides we have been and still are so busy I really don’t have the time to take off and date an attractive lady no matter how alluring and how pretty she is. I think you know that, Ceci.”

Ceci stepped over closer to me, hugged me and kissed my cheek. Then she said, “I know, Joel, but, kids would bring you so much joy and they would thrill Mom and Dad just as much as they will thrill you.

You saw how quickly she had to take Tony out of my arms. They love you very much, Joel and I love you just as much, too, Little Brother.” as we went into the other room for her to check on her kids and visit with Mom and Dad and keep an eye on her kids.

Ceci had always called me “Little Brother” even now when I am six inches taller than she is and probably sixty pounds heavier than she is. I stayed with Mom and Dad and visited with them and Ceci and her husband, Derek and their kids.

Mom was right her kids are cute and sweet. I thought, ‘Ceci is right, kids could bring a lot of joy into their parents’ life. But, I don’t see that happening for me in the near future anyway.’

After the holidays I went back to work as usual and Mike called me into his office for a talk. He started off by asking me, “How were your holidays, Joel?”

“They were fine, Mike. My Mom and Sister asked me their usual questions about when I was going to get married and start giving my Parents Grandbabies before they have to go to a nursing home. My Sister, Ceci, has three beautiful kids and Mom and Dad just dote on them all the time. Ceci says that children can bring a lot of joy into your life. I’m sure you know that old routine, Mike. I hope you have enjoyed your holidays, too.”

“Yes, I did, Joel, and I have been through that too. Just for what it’s worth, Joel, your sister is right about children bringing a lot of joy into your life. When my four year old daughter climbs up in my lap puts her arms around my neck, kisses me and says, ‘I love you, Daddy.’ That’s worth all of the gold in Ft. Knox. And to look in her bedroom and seeing the angelic look on her peacefully sleeping face is nearly the same thing.

But, you’ll find out about that when you have kids of your own. Right now I need to tell you why I have asked you to come in here to talk with me. Our President, Mr. Shapiro has asked us to meet with him in his office. So let’s go next door to his office to see what he has on his mind.

He has a special assignment he wants to talk to us about.” Mike and I walked into the President’s office and he was just finishing assigning his personal assistant a task to be completed. He told her if she had any questions to come back and see him.

He looked up and said, “Mike and Joel please come in and have a seat, guys, I have asked you both here because I have a special assignment for you two. One of our best and biggest clients has made a special request of us. His company has spent multimillions of dollars for our work on their commercial projects and we are likely to get many more of their projects from them, too.

His family is worth several hundred million dollars and they have spent quite a bit of money for a tract of land for his daughter and they want to build on it for her.

He has asked us to visit her property and give them an opinion on how they can best develop it for the home they want to build on the property. Do either of you have any questions at this point?”

“What type of building is this going to be, Ethan?”

“Joel, they want to build a combination studio, office and principally a residence.”

“And where is this property located, Ethan?”

“It’s located within the Victors area situated just north of the city. I’m certain that you know where it is and I don’t have to remind you that the Victors area is a very posh region of the metropolitan area. The building has to fit in with the general architecture common to that area.”

I persisted, “But, Ethan, all of our work has been on large commercial office buildings and what they want to build is not in our normal design parameters.”

“Yes, I know that, Joel, but they have asked us to take on their project and they have specifically asked that you head it up. They have been very satisfied with all of the work we have done for them in the past and they know that all of the work has been done by or under your supervision.

They have specifically asked that you take this project on, Joel. They expect a similar performance from you, Joel. And our good performance is very likely to result in much further commercial work for us from their company.

I have told him I would have a talk with you two guys and have you call his daughter in the next day or two. Joel would you call this lady, please. Her name and phone number are here on this note.” Ethan slipped a scrap of paper across his gleaming, mirror finish walnut desk to me.

“Keep me informed of how this project goes, guys, and remember the importance of our good performance. And, Joel, your principle responsibility and first priority is this project until it is successfully completed.

Mike, you need to help with the work Joel can not tend to while he is involved with this project. Make it happen and do a good job guys. A good job here will result in letters of commendation in your personnel file and an extra bonus for you, too, on the satisfactory completion of the project.”

Mike and I went back to his office and I said to him, “Man, did he just drop a huge bombshell on our heads and shoulders this morning, Mike. Talk about pressure.” I went back to my office and thought, ‘This lady is likely to be a late middle age snooty old gadfly socialite that is probably 50 pounds overweight divorced with no kids and homely as a mud fence.’ I decided to take the bull by the horns and call her number.

I punched the number into my office phone and it was answered on the second ring by a very cheerful young sounding female voice. I thought, ‘This has to be her assistant.’ It sure as hell can’t be her. When the voice on the phone answered, I asked for the name on the paper Ethan had handed me, Monica Robinson.

The lady on the phone responded, “This is Monica Robinson. How may I help you?”

“Hello Ms. Robinson, this is Joel Roberts of Acker Adelman and Abram and I was asked to give you a call and discuss a property and the building you would like to have designed for the property. May I come to your office at your convenience to discuss what you have in mind?”

“Oh my goodness, I have been expecting your call Mr. Roberts, but, our offices are in such a shamble, may I come to your offices tomorrow morning say at about 9 o’clock if that would be convenient for you? We can discuss the property and the building we would like to have designed for it tomorrow morning.”

I have been to your offices before with my Father and I won’t have any problem getting there.” I thought, ‘Many late middle age women have very cheerful young sounding voices so her cute young sounding voice didn’t cut no ice with me.’

“That will be fine, Ms. Robinson. Just tell the receptionist that I’m expecting you when you arrive in the lobby, please.” After my phone call with her ended I called the receptionist and gave her Ms. Robinson’s name and that I was expecting her at 9 o’clock in the morning.

I told her to call me and I would meet her there in the lobby and escort her to my office. At 9 o’clock the next morning I got a phone call from the receptionist who told me there was a Ms. Robinson in the lobby to see me.

I left my office and went to the lobby to meet Ms. Robinson. When I got there I thought my eyes or my mind was deceiving my brain. The only lady in the lobby was a young lady of maybe her late 20’s or early 30’s.

She might have been about my age and I think I fell in love with her immediately or I wanted to. My preconceived ideas of what she might be like, weren’t even anywhere in the ball park. In fact, they weren’t even on the same planet with the reality of whom I saw waiting for me in the lobby.

I greeted her graciously and said, “Hello Ms. Robinson, I’m Joel Roberts it’s a pleasure meeting you. Would you please come to my office with me.” As we walked to my office I asked her to accompany me to my office so we could discuss her project.

Ms. Robinson returned my pleasant greeting saying, “Nice to meet you too, Mr. Roberts. And it’s Miss Robinson but, please call me Monica. I find that being called Ms. Robinson bears connotations that I would prefer to avoid. And Miss Robinson is rather formal and very stuffy. I feel that using my first name is much more friendly and Mrs. Robinson reminds me of that movie, “The Graduate”.

“Very well, Monica, and please call me Joel. When I hear Mr. Roberts I immediately think that the person is addressing my Dad. And there was a movie by that name too, and, I’m certainly not a movie star either. Far from being a movie star, I’m just a hard working Design Engineer. I hope that we can help you achieve the success you’re looking for with your project.”

Monica looked at me with a very pretty smile and a pleasant expression on her face. “Yes, Joel, my Father has talked about your hard work and how your designs have worked out so well for his company and that is why he has come to Acker Adelman and Abram to take on this project. He said that he was going to ask your President to assign you to personally be responsible for it because he has so much confidence and trust in your work.”

As we stepped into my office I stopped and asked the supervisor to walk down to Mike’s office and ask him to join me and Miss Robinson in my office to discuss her project. Monica and I stepped into my office and I asked her, “Monica, may I offer you a cup of coffee or something else to drink?”

“I would prefer to just have a small bottle of chilled water, Joel, if you have any, please.” I picked up my phone and asked my assistant to bring three bottles of chilled water into my office for my guest, Mike and me since he was going to be joining us shortly.

Just then, Mike walked into my office and I introduced him to Monica. “Mike Ehrlich, this is Miss Monica Robinson. Monica, this is Mike Ehrlich, our Vice President and we both have been assigned to find out more about your project and begin making plans for the design of the building.

With your description we will be better able to provide you with our ideas of what can be done to get it started and then to get it completed in a timely manner. What can you tell us about the property to start with? Would you briefly describe the property to us please?”

“Well, Joel and Mike, my Father was out looking for property on which to situate his next project and he ran across this lot in the Victors but, he said it was way too small for any of his projects.

He then thought, ‘Monica’s birthday is coming up and she has been looking for a place to relocate her business to.’ And he thought it would be the ideal location for my business. It is a double wide lot and we have to buy the whole double wide. The owner will not sell the property as two single lots.”

My father decided to buy the double lot and give it to me as my birthday present. The lot, of course faces a busy street and there is a wooded area behind it and behind that is the golf course.

The deed restrictions require the architecture to fit in with the surrounding homes and it has to principally be for residential habitation. There is no prohibition against having a studio and a small commercial shop so long as it still fits in with the surrounding homes or is concealed within the home.

I told him, Daddy, My business can’t make enough money to even carry the property taxes on that property. He told me, I know that but, your Mother and I want to erect the home for you and you can relocate your business there.

We will retain the title to the property and building until your Mother and I are gone. At that time, it will be yours as stipulated in our will. We will put enough assets into a trust for you to maintain the property and pay the taxes for the rest of your life or until you choose to sell it.

Your Mother and I want our little girl to have a safe and secure future and living there in the Victors area is a very secure area to live in. And it is likely to remain that way for many, many years to come. So, gentlemen, you can see how important this project is to my Father and to my Mother, too. Joel, would you like to drive out there and see the property today?”

“Yes I would, Monica, but, it is getting close to lunch time so why don’t we break early for lunch and then we can drive out there after we have had our lunch? Mike, do you have time to go to lunch with us?”

Mike responded, “Joel, I have a meeting I have to prepare for just after lunch so I’ll let you two go to lunch and I’ll go to lunch with you in the coming days. I can see the property sometime after that. In the meantime I’ll look after your work here.” Mike said good bye to Monica as we prepared to leave and he returned to his office.

Monica and I left my office and we went to lunch together to a posh restaurant she chose. I normally would not eat at that restaurant but, since all these expenses would be charged back to the project I agreed.

Walking out to my car it was easy to see how classy she was in her business suit and in her very refined personal demeanor. With the money her family has she could be on her way to being a snooty older woman. But, it was not difficult to see just how much of a refined and classy lady Monica was presently.

One could see that she had a fabulous figure which was mostly obscured by her business outfit. Sitting across the table from her I could see just how pretty she was. Her eyes, her hair color and her pretty face reminded me so much of my older Sister, Ceci.

Then I began to realize that she just looked a lot like Ceci. Monica had the same sweet easy speaking manner of Ceci as well. The fact that she looked and acted so much like Ceci drew me to her even more.

During our meal, I asked Monica about her business. She sweetly replied to me, “I got my degree in business that my Daddy suggested I do and it has been a huge help to me in my work. I guess I’m a lot like my Daddy in that I wanted to be my own boss.

I have always been applying cosmetics to other girls and women while I was in college. So I opened a Cosmetic Boutique where I apply cosmetics to my clients. I also have a high end line of cosmetics that I sell to my clients, too. My clients come to me from many of the different areas like the Victors.

My business does well and I in turn do well, too. I have two associates that I have trained in my techniques who work for me, also. That’s why my Daddy thought this was the ideal location for me to move my business to, Joel.

Mom and Dad know a lot of people in the Victors and they can promote my business through their friends. Most of them are investors in my Father’s company and they are well aware of the work you and your company have done for my Daddy and his company.

My business is currently located near downtown and I have been living at home with Mom and Dad. They don’t feel that the area my business is located in, is really safe for a young woman so, they are anxious for me to find a new location.

And as you have already seen they are going to do everything they can to make that happen. We also think that women from the Victors will be much more willing to come to my studio there than at its present location because they feel it is much more safe there.

I have been sitting here talking and going on about myself and I don’t really know a thing about you and your background, Joel, other than that you are well respected for your designs there at Acker. Please tell me about yourself, Joel.”

“Monica there is not much to tell you. There are my parents, my Mom and Dad, and my older Sister, Cecilia. You remind me so much of her. We have always been pretty close to each other until she graduated from the university.

She married the guy she met at the university and now she has three of the cutest and smartest kids you have ever seen. Mom and Dad just love those kids to pieces and they along with Ceci are always asking me when I’m going to find a good woman so we can give them Grandbabies.

We are just a middle class family and we pretty much have middle class ideas and ethics. You know the old idea, get a good education, get a good job work forty years and retire on SS and Medicare.

I went to the university and got my under graduate degree and my advanced degree in Engineering and came to work for Acker Adelman and Abram. In the time I have been here I have risen to the position of Director of Engineering.”

“But, Joel you didn’t say anything about your wife and kids.”

I guess she didn’t take note of what I had just said. “I don’t have a wife and kids, Monica. That’s why my Mom and Ceci are always asking me when I’m going to find a good woman and give Mom and Dad Grandbabies.

Ceci tells me kids will bring a lot of joy into my life. I can see that is true when I see and talk to Ceci and her kids.” I saw Monica’s eyes light up when I told her I didn’t have a wife and kids. I didn’t quite know how to take her reaction to what I had just told her.

“Joel, I’d have thought that a handsome highly accomplished guy like you would have been married when you got out of college and have several kids like your Sister has.”

“Well, I dated in high school and in College but, when I was getting my advanced degree I just didn’t have the time to pursue the girls and after I came to work for the company I have been so busy with my work and getting ahead I haven’t found a woman who I thought would make a good wife for me and a good Mother for our Kids.

Let me turn the question around to you, Monica. As accomplished and refined a lady and as pretty as you are I would think that you would be very much like my Sister Ceci with two or three kids of your own.”

“My story is somewhat similar to yours, Joel. I was in love with a guy in college and I thought he was in love with me. But, about six months before we were to be married he skipped out on me without saying a word and I haven’t heard from him since.

I was so disgusted with the results of what had happened I got really intimately involved in my cosmetic business and I deal exclusively with women. So my chances of meeting eligible men are virtually zero. However, Mom and Dad are very happy that I’m still living at home with them.

But, they know I can’t and won’t give them Grandbabies until I have found the man I want so, they have a dilemma that they really don’t know how to deal with. I love them both very much and I know they love me too, Joel.

It’s kind of interesting to see the predicament they have found themselves in and I can’t do anything but, watch. I wouldn’t be surprised when Mom starts asking me when I’m going to find a man and give them the Grandbabies they want similar to what your Mom and Sister have done.”

“Monica, I have really enjoyed chatting with you over lunch but, we have been sitting here and visiting for a long time and I think we need to drive out to your property and look at it. Otherwise Mike is going to send a hunting party out after us.” I called for the check, paid it and we left to go visit and survey her property.

I had driven through the Victors area before but, I couldn’t really look at the residential properties along the street as I drove through it. The homes on either side of the street looked like they were two or three million dollar homes or more.

Those homes were far, far above my pay grade and even if I wanted to, I really didn’t want to have a home like any of these. I probably couldn’t pay the taxes on it. I guess it was my middle class roots talking to me.

We pulled up into the seldom used driveway to get off of the busy street and walked up the gentle rise to a flat level area where a structure had previously been located. The original structure was probably a huge home like those on either side of it and it had been removed for some reason unknown to me. The reason for its removal was irrelevant with regard to this project.

The entire lot had recently been mowed and was well kept. The original home site sat several feet above the street and was in no danger of incurring water damage from flooding as a few homes had recently suffered in that area.

I had to agree with her Father the property would make a great place for her to re-locate her business to. There was ample room to erect the structure and provide ample parking for her, her associates and her clients in the back, too.

The only problem was the cost of the structure but, her Father appeared to have had accounted for that according to what Monica had already told me about the project. Of course, how they handled that was far out of my scope of activity on this project.

After visiting the property, I said, “My goodness, Monica, I think your Father is right, this property is well suited for what you two have in mind for it. Have you any idea of the size and the layout of the building you want to erect. And have you arrived at the budget for the development of the property, Monica?”

“We haven’t developed that information yet, Joel, but, my Father has his team looking at structure plans and replacement costs for those structures from the public records. When his team finishes their work he will call a meeting and provide you with the information that you need in order to provide us a preliminary proposal for the property. In the meantime I want you to know that my parents are planning a back yard B-B-Que this weekend.

Mom and Dad have invited you to come to our home for our B-B-Que, Joel. Since Daddy knows all about you and your work, he wants to meet you in person. We both want you to meet my Mom, too.

Daddy says he has told many of his friends about our project and they know about your work, as well. He wants to introduce you to some of his friends as well. Please say you will be there, Joel.” She looked at me with pleading in those pretty eyes of hers and I just couldn’t say no.

“Sure, Monica, I can attend your B-B-Que. I generally have work to do on the weekend but, I can miss an afternoon at work to spend that time with you and your Parents. I just need to have your address and your personal phone number and the time you want me to be there.”

I reasoned that I just had to accept her invitation since it would be good etiquette for the project that we were working on for Monica and her Father. If I didn’t, her Father would quickly let my boss know that I had refused their invitation.

Monica had an expression of relief and delight on her face at my acceptance. She stepped closer to me took my hand, pulled us closer together and she kissed my cheek. “Thank you, Joel. I know you’ll have a good time because Daddy will treat you with all the respect he has for you and that is a lot based on what he already knows about you.

I know that Momma will just fall all over herself to welcome you and see that you are comfortable during your visit with us.” As I drove us back to the office Monica pulled a note pad out of her purse and wrote the information on it. She tore off the top page and handed it to me when we returned to the office.

The next morning I asked Jerry Campbell our best designer to come to my office. I asked him, “Jerry have you ever designed a residential home anytime in the past?”

“Joel, I have before I got my degree but, I haven’t done anything since then in a professional capacity. What prompts your interest in residential design, Joel? I thought we were only doing commercial building designs?”

“You’re right, Jerry but, we have been asked to come up with a residential design for, now brace yourself, the Victors area. So if you kept your residential design text books get them out and brush up on what you were taught.