Life after the Lottery Ch. 80

"Sam."

"Because of her age?"

"Yes. I know she is eighteen going on thirty..."

"Sexually..."

"But, she may feel a need to...mature quickly."

"That is your area, honey."

"Gee...thanks," I replied.

After we finished with the sandwiches, we walked down to the helicopter and checked it out and then checked out the hangar because we were still getting it set up.

"When will all the new tools be delivered?" Dawn asked.

"Probably next week. I thought of something. We are going to share tools with Linda...but her helicopter won't fit in our hangar without folding the blades back. Amy suggested leaving the tools at hers."

"Might be better, but they will have to be here for a few months."

"How was the night flight?"

"Interesting. Took some getting used to. I was nervous because I couldn't see any other aircraft. Jeanine was teaching us that the locator would pick up a lot, but we had to learn to watch for the lights. Fortunately, most of the small aircraft that fly at night are IFR rated and have transponders. You need to do some night flights."

"I will when I get caught up."

"And take your IFR test."

"In a few weeks. It is still a weird feeling when you or Samantha fly off by yourself."

"Are you worried about us?"

"Probably a little...but you two are good at it."

"You are too."

We worked and moved a few things around and decided where to put some of the cabinets that were to be delivered.

By the time we were walking back to the house, it was nearly 4:30.

"I'm still worried about the two of them being on campus so late," Dawn said when we got in the house.

"As hard as you have been training them...I hope no one messes with them."

"I still worry."

We went out and got in the pool for a few hours, then went in and made some dinner and put food in the oven for the girls when they came in.

When they did get back a little after 9:30, I couldn't believe the three of them talking about all the gross things they had done while they ate. I finally got them into bed around 11:30.

*****

Tuesday morning, the girls had slept in a little late, but once they were up, they were studying. Dawn had been right. They had a lot of studying to do since they were cramming a one-semester class into two weeks.

Amy and Samantha came down about 9:00 for breakfast.

"I thought I would go and look at one of the new bigger Escalades," I said as I ate with them.

"No, you won't," Dawn said.

"Why not?"

"You told Amy and Sam to find one."

"Forgot about that. Are you?"

"We'll see," Amy said with a big smile and looked over at her sister.

"We may need a bus. There will be seven of us if we all want to go somewhere."

"We'll take care of it. Don't worry."

"I am sure the next year's models are out, and I think they have an eight-seater."

"Oh. Let's wait," Dawn said. "We can look next month or by November."

Amy rolled her eyes.

Once Amy and Samantha finished eating, they went to the den with their book.

"Don't get any ideas about buying a new Escalade," Dawn said to me.

"Why not?"

"You told them to take care of it."

"Okay. They can go pick one out. Just get an eight-seater."

"We'll see."

"Have them order a new one with everything on it..."

"We'll see."

"What's up?" I asked.

"They have a surprise for you...or us."

"Should I ask?"

"If you want a new Escalade, get one. Just don't get an eight-seater. Get a nice one...for all of us."

"It will need to seat seven."

"James!"

"Are they getting another option for us?"

"Just don't fuck it up. Go and get a new nice one...and shut up."

"Okay!"

I went to the den and sat. They both had a book they were looking at.

"Oh. Mom asked if you would do something for her," Samantha said.

"Sure. What?"

"She wanted to know if you would take some pictures of David."

"The cat...I hope?"

"Yes. She has started drawing again and wants some nice photos to compare with."

"Sure. Tell her to bring him over. I'll do some portraits downstairs."

"Okay."

Amy and Samantha kept their heads in a book until they ate some sandwiches and then headed out about 1:00.

"Okay, what have they got planned for transportation?" I asked Dawn.

"You told them to take care of it...now shut up."

"I guess two big vehicles won't hurt."

"No...it won't. Now, shut up. I'm not telling you anything."

Dawn got tired of me probing for information and went down to the gym. I went to my darkroom and finished all the prints. Now I just had to fix all the dust spots. I left all of them drying and went to the gym. I stood in the door and watched Dawn doing pull-downs on the weight machine with her back to me.

"James..."

"Yes?"

"Stop watching me..."

Dawn's naked body still showed all the tightness and muscle tone it always had.

"Please..."

"Honey, you still have an incredibly fit body...but I'll go."

"Thank you."

*****

I was in the other room looking through the pile of prints of Tracey to see how much work I had to do.

Dawn was coming out of the gym, ready for a shower.

"Let me ask you something..."

"James! Stop it!"

"Something else. You three are going into your fifth month. Is it time for them to stop Krav classes?"

"Probably. I don't want one of the students to accidentally hit one of them in the stomach. We can keep training them here."

"It would be a good time since they are occupied right now, and school will start soon. I'll let you tell them."

"They will be too busy for anything but the lab for the next two weeks."

I followed her up the stairs as I looked at her sweaty body.

"James..."

"I am not going to stop looking at your perfect body, honey."

Dawn headed up the stairs and I went to my study. As soon I sat down, my cell phone rang. I answered, and it was Rachel.

"I need your professional help?" She said.

"What's up?"

"Linda has been moody the last few days. I finally got her to talk to me last night. She is worrying about all the time she has to spend at work and not having enough time for our babies."

"Hormones."

"I know, but..."

"What did you two talk about?"

"She is...wanting me to not spend all my time with her at work so that I can be with the babies."

"Well, you have Gregg now. How do you feel about that?"

"I told her I was going to be able to take care of them, but then she went down the rabbit hole of putting it all on me."

"What did you tell her?"

"I told her as a parent and her wife, that was part of my job now. But...that didn't make her happy because she knows I like my work."

"You two are in a position where you don't have any other family to help out."

"I know, and that concerns her and me."

"Rachel, both of you need to remember they are my children also. They will have grandparents They will have us too."

"But Dawn works, and the girls are in school, James."

"I'll be available."

"I can see you taking care of five babies!"

"Dawn and I have already been talking to Samantha about this. She got into how much time she will be in school for the next eight or nine years. Dawn and I have talked. I know my mom will want to help. Claire is eager to be here and help. Even with them, I am sure we will be hiring at least one full-time Nanny and some part-time ones."

"I told Linda we would get a Nanny too, but..."

"She is deciding how to be a mom, Rachel. This is new to her and you, and us. You two need to come by, and we will all sit down and talk this through. I have been thinking that we should approach this as a group. We should just form our own daycare."

"Not a bad idea, James."

"Let me know when you two can come by."

"Okay. Thanks."

Dawn came in, running a comb through her wet hair.

"I just talked to Rachel. She said Linda has been really moody about having to work and not being able to be with her babies."

"Hormones."

"I know, but...I told her they needed to come by, and all of us talk about this. I worry about Samantha. Even with my mom and Claire, we will still need at least one full-time Nanny. Rachel said she is trying to talk to Linda about a full-time Nanny. I have an idea."

"What?"

"All these babies are all of ours. Linda and Rachel's kids will have grandparents. I think we should seriously consider our own daycare type of thing."

"You mean all the babies being taken care of together?"

"Why not? We want them all to feel like brothers and sisters. After all, they will be."

"I think that is a good idea if Linda and Rachel are open to it. There could be two nannies. As they grow...I want to teach our children Cherokee while they are young. Maybe Linda and Rachel would be interested in it too. It is much easier to learn starting early."

"Have you thought about them living on the reservation when they are older...like you did?"

"I would love for them to be able to do that. Things have changed since I was that young. Less people are interested in carrying on the old ways. I don't think my great-grandparents will still be around by then or able to do it."

"You'll be there."

"I don't know."

"I want you to spend as much time on the reservation in the summers as you want. You'll just have to tell the school that is part of the deal. I want you to be able to spend two or three months there if that is what you want to do, honey."

"Honey, I couldn't do that. I couldn't leave all of you here without me for that long."

"Why not?"

"I just couldn't."

"Why not?"

"I mean...I don't want to put all of that on you and the girls. I would need to be here."

"Once the children or old enough, I thought you would want them with you on the reservation?"

"I could...but...one or more of them may not be interested. I'm not going to force it on them."

"Then I suggest you make them learn it is very interesting while they are very young. I also suggest you talk to Linda and Rachel about their kids living on the reservation also for some time in the summers."

"Oh...I don't think they would be that interested in it."

"Don't underestimate them, honey. What a child can learn from your ways would be very good for them."

"I don't think they would want to be away from them that much."

"Uh...we do own two helicopters between us?"

"I guess."

"Are there enough people on the reservations that would be willing and interested in teaching them?"

"Oh, yes. That won't be a problem..."

"Then I would suggest a couple of things. Start finding the ones that will want to help and get them lined up. And if you are going to be living on the reservation with five children, you need to think about housing for all of you."

"You're right. If I am going to try and do this...there are things to consider and plan for. I wouldn't build a traditional house on the reservation, though."

"Well, your great-grandparents' cabin is far too small."

"It is..."

Dawn sat and thought for a minute.

"You know, some of the elders have concerns that the younger people have no idea how to build a traditional cabin. Many have no interest. The next time I am there, I'll talk to them about making an opportunity for them to see if they could get enough interest up to build us a house. We can fund it and the classes. How about that?"

"I love it. Sounds like a great idea."

Dawn smiled at me.

"Would this cabin need to be big enough for all of us to live there at one time?" Dawn asked.

"I think that would be a good plan. Amy and Samantha may not have the time or desire to live there for an extended period of time, but I would want to do it."

"Would they be okay here by themselves?"

"They are adults...and..."

"I know...we have access to a couple of helicopters!"

"Talk to great-grandfather about all this."

"Why? I am sure he already knows about it!"

"Probably!"

We laughed.

"This could be a great opportunity to start a school for all the young people on Cherokee traditions. I think I'll like this," Dawn said.

"If they want to do that, we'll make sure they have the money they need."

We worked around the house and talked, and the girls came in after 9:00. We sat with them and ate, but they wanted to talk shop. I headed upstairs to shower and go to bed.

*****

A few hours after the girls left for their lab Wednesday, the gate buzzed. I looked, and it was Claire. I went to the door and waited on the porch as she pulled up.

"Hi, James," she said as she got out of the car.

"Hi, Claire."

"Thanks for doing this," she said as she walked around to the passenger door and opened it.

The cat was sitting on the seat.

"Come on, David," she said.

The big gray tabby cat jumped out of the car, and she closed the door, and he followed her.

"I don't think I have ever seen a cat follow orders," I said.

"He is pretty smart," she said, walking into the house.

"He is getting big."

"And he is still growing!"

I looked Claire over as she walked into the den with the cat following her. She had on some respectable shorts and a silk top.

"Hi, Claire," Dawn said from the den.

"Hi, Dawn."

"Dang, he is getting big. Does he just follow you?" Dawn asked.

"He will. Is it okay if he is loose in the house?"

"Of course."

"Have a seat," I said.

She sat on the sofa, and David jumped up in her lap.

"He is a lap full," Dawn said.

"He is going to be a big boy. I am feeding him well while he grows."

"Sam said you had started drawing again."

"I have. It is something I used to enjoy...but didn't get to do. I am going to draw David and see how it comes out. If it is good, I may see about doing them for other people."

"That would be fun," Dawn said.

"When I had him at the vet, they had a lot of photos. I didn't see any pen and ink drawings, so it gave me the idea."

"That would be something I think you would enjoy doing," I told her.

"I would. Can you make me a few photos of him so I have something to compare my drawing to?"

"Sure. Let's go downstairs."

I was amazed that the cat followed her through the house and downstairs.

I had the black backdrop down and over the table and had my lights set up. David was sitting on the table watching me work. I finally got everything set up and had my camera on the tripod, and was focusing on the cat as he looked at me.

"I'm ready," I said.

"David, look over here," Claire said as she stood next to me.

He looked up, and I took a few photos. He would blink his eyes and squint after the strobes went off each time, and I would have to wait. I took a bunch of photos, then changed the backdrop.

This cat was smart. He watched me as I moved things now that he was sitting on the white backdrop.

I took some shots of him sitting, and Claire had him stand, and I took some more.

"That cat is a showoff!" Dawn said. "Let's get some of you holding him."

Dawn got Claire to sit and hold the cat, and I took a few photos.

"I didn't come dressed for pictures!"

"Then I have an idea. Take your clothes off, Claire," I said.

She looked at me.

"What?"

"I have an idea. Take all your clothes off."

She argued with me, but Dawn talked her into it finally. Claire was a little embarrassed as she sat on the table. I had her turn a little toward the camera.

"Can you hold him naked without him scratching you?"

"Sure."

She got the cat in her arms and held him.

"He is so big I want to use him to cover you up mostly."

I had her move David until he covered her big tits, and his big fluffy tail covered her pussy as she held him.

"Oh, I like that," Dawn said.

I went back to the camera, and Dawn helped her move David around. I got some good shots of the two of them looking at the camera. I moved David a little, so I could see some of her big tits and more of her skin. Claire was laughing, and we had a good time for a while.

"Don't tell the girls about this one. We will make it a surprise," I said.

"Okay, but I don't look good enough...naked for photos."

"Claire, stop," Dawn said. "You look good. You look like the girls, and he loves taking pictures of them naked."

She blushed a little.

"Come to me, David," Dawn said.

He jumped down and went to Dawn. I looked at Claire sitting there naked.

"Claire, let me move you around, and I'll take some more."

She protested some, but I moved her around and got some good photos. Claire was looking good. She looked healthier and younger now. I could tell she was the girls' mother because she had their body and tits.

"How is it going with the neighbors?" Dawn asked as she sat on the floor with the cat.

Claire blushed.

"Okay!"

"Great. Anyone else?"

"Oh no."

"They don't have any friends you have been...hanging out with?"

"Not really."

"But?"

"Well...they asked me to a party they are having Friday night..."

"Good. You can meet some new people."

"I think it is a...sex party."

"Even better!" Dawn exclaimed.

"I don't think I will go."

"Why not?"

"Dawn...it would be a bunch of strangers."

"Hey, that is the best kind of sex sometimes!"

"Dawn!" Claire exclaimed, then laughed. "Are you serious? Have you done something like that?"

"A few times."

"Oh my."

"Claire, if you would be uncomfortable going, don't go. But if it is just because it is people you don't know...and maybe you like the idea...go."

"I don't know."

"Go. Meet some of the people. If you are not comfortable, I am sure they will be okay if you leave," I said as I pulled the film out of the camera.

"...maybe..." she said bashfully.

David was standing at my feet, looking up to see what I was doing. I reached down and rubbed his head.

"What are you looking at?" I asked him.

"He is the most curious thing. He will watch what I am doing for hours."

"The girls said David was a pervert," I said.

"What!" Came from Claire.

"They said he likes to watch you with the neighbors."

"He does!" She said and laughed.

"Smart cat. I like to watch," I said.

"You're a pervert, too," Dawn said.

Dawn had talked Claire into keeping her clothes off after we went upstairs. She had taken hers off so Claire would feel more comfortable. I was enjoying looking at them.

"The girls said they had a class every night for two weeks."

"They got into a lab for medical students," Dawn told her.

"What kind of lab?"

"Well, they will be cutting open cadavers," Dawn said.

"What? Dead people?"

"Yep. It is something med students have to do, and Amy and Samantha were invited to come. It is a big deal because it is usually only for advanced students," Dawn said.

"They are smart."

"Claire. I have a question?" I asked.

"What's that?"

"Do you remember everything you see and read?"

"Of course. My memory is okay."

"The girls do too. You know that is not normal?"

"It's not?"

"No! Normal people can't do that. I hate you three!"

Dawn laughed.

"I didn't know that."

"It is called an eidetic memory or a photographic memory. It is rare and special. It is helping the girls a lot in school."

"Unfortunately, there are things I remember I wish I didn't."

"Anything I can help with?"

"No...just bad memories."

"Claire, if you ever need to just talk about it...I am available, and it is just between the two of us. Both of the girls spent a lot of time with me in the beginning."

"Good. Thank you for helping them."

"Anytime you want to talk."

"Do you all really have sex with your friends?"

"Sometimes," Dawn said.

"How did that start?"

"Slowly. Then the girls came along, and they wanted to try."

"They said they had fun."

"Well, Claire. It is time for you to have some fun," Dawn said as they sat on the sofa.

"What about now that you are pregnant?"

"Oh, I have a few more months before I'll stop!"

They laughed.

"You won't stop. You can't get enough," I said.