Sandra's pen flew across her notepad. "Has he provided any written notice about the appliance or heat issue?"
"Nothing in writing. He just keeps saying he'll 'get to it when he gets to it.'" Jenny's voice cracked.
"Virginia law requires landlords to maintain heating systems regardless of lease type," Sandra explained, her voice firm with conviction. "We're going to send him a formal demand letter citing the specific statutes he's violating. And since your lease clearly states that the appliances are included, the letter will reference that as well.”
Jenny's eyes filled with tears of relief. "I was so scared he'd kick us out if I complained too much. I can't afford to move right now, not with Julie starting kindergarten next month."
"He cannot retaliate against you for demanding habitable living conditions," Sandra said, reaching across the desk to squeeze Jenny's hand. "That's illegal, and we'll make sure he knows it."
Julie looked up from her coloring, her crayon paused mid-stroke. "Are you going to help my mommy?"
Sandra's heart melted at the child's innocent question. "Yes, sweetheart. I'm going to help your mommy make sure you have a warm house with a stove and a washing machine that work."
The smile that spread across Julie's face was worth more than any corporate salary Sandra had ever been offered.
Later that day, Manuel Garcia's calloused hands smoothed the contract pages against Sandra's desk while his wife, Carmen, sat rigidly beside him, her purse clutched in her lap like a shield. Manuel's work shirt bore the Garcia Electrical logo, something she could see he wore with pride.
"I've been doing electrical work for over twenty years," Manuel said, his accent thick with emotion. "Never had problems with contracts before, but this one..." He shook his head, frustration evident in his dark eyes. "Something feels different about it."
Sandra accepted the thick document, noting the professional letterhead for Blackwood's Luxury Custom Homes.
"What specifically concerns you about this contract?" she asked, flipping through the pages.
Manuel shifted uncomfortably. "The payment structure, for one. Usually, I get paid in stages as the work progresses. This contract has me waiting until the entire project is finished before I see most of my money. It’s the first time BLCH has subcontracted me."
"That's unusual for trade work," Sandra agreed, scanning the payment terms. The contract was oddly complex forstandard electrical work, with several addendums that seemed unnecessarily complicated.
Carmen leaned forward, her voice quiet but urgent. "We can't afford to work for months without payment. We have bills, and Jose needs..." She glanced at her husband, then fell silent.
Manuel's jaw tightened. "Our son got into some trouble last weekend. There was a party that he was delivering pizzas to, and the police showed up. Nothing serious, but we might need a lawyer if charges are filed."
Sandra looked up from the contract. "I should mention that I'm not a criminal defense attorney. If Jose is actually arrested, I can recommend someone who specializes in juvenile cases."
"He's a good boy," Carmen said quickly, her eyes defensive. "He said he recognized a girl at the party and stayed to be with her. He said she seemed afraid with so much drinking going on around them, but had ridden with someone else from over the bay and had no way to get home.”
Manuel reached over and squeezed his wife's hand. "We've talked to him about it. He understands now that he should have let us know where he was."
"It sounds as though he was acting honorably," Sandra said gently. "The important thing is that he learned from it."
"He did." Manuel nodded firmly. "He's been helping me with small jobs, learning the trade as well as working for the pizza place outside of Easton. I want him to understand the value of honest work."
Sandra returned her attention to the contract, noting several clauses that seemed unnecessarily restrictive. "This nondisclosure agreement section is quite extensive. Have you worked with projects requiring this level of confidentiality before?"
Manuel frowned. "No, but Mr. Blackwood explained that his clients value their privacy. Rich people, I guess? They don't want their business spread around town."
"That makes sense," Sandra said, though something nagged at her about the contract's complexity. "The payment terms are definitely unusual, but everything appears to be legal. My recommendation would be to negotiate for at least partial payments during the project phases."
"Do you think I should take the job?" Manuel asked, his voice uncertain.
Sandra studied his weathered face, seeing the weight of financial responsibility in his eyes. "That's ultimately your decision. The contract is legitimate, though the terms favor the company more than the contractor. If you need the work..."
"We do," Carmen said quietly. "I work daytimes at my sister’s restaurant, and we’re trying to get ahead, not just barely scrape by."
Manuel nodded slowly. "I'll talk to Mr. Blackwood about the payment schedule. If he won't budge, I'll probably still take it. Work's been slow lately, and Blackwood's Luxury Custom Homes would be a boost to my business."
Sandra made copies of the contract for their records. "Feel free to call me if you have any questions once you start the project. Sometimes issues arise that aren't apparent during the initial review."
As the Garcia family gathered their papers, Manuel paused at the door. "Thank you for taking the time to look at this. Most lawyers wouldn't bother with a simple contract review."
