Life after the Lottery Ch. 81

"I need to bring you with me to the store every time because you remember where everything is."

"You can't?"

"Just not on my list of things my brain feels is important."

I put the bags in the Escalade and headed to the liquor store. When we got there, Amy came in with me.

"Hello, Dr. Smith!"

"Hey. Anything left for tomorrow?"

"A little. It has been selling as fast as we can put it out. Do I need to get you a few boxes?"

"Please. Grab me four. Thanks."

I let Amy do some of the picking because she was learning. It took us about 30 minutes to fill up four boxes.

"Is that all?" The owner asked.

"That should do it. Since the girls can't drink, I don't have to stock up every week."

"Hey!" Amy exclaimed.

"When are you delivering, Amy?"

"All of us on Christmas Day."

"Oh, Dr. Smith. You are going to be a busy man!"

"I am afraid of that!" We had a good laugh while he finished ringing everything up.

"Is that all?"

"I hope so."

I paid, and he helped me carry the boxes out.

"Can you think of anything else we need to do before we go back?" I asked.

"I don't think we need anything else."

When we pulled up to the house, we saw Ann and Charlie's car.

"Oh, good. They are here," Amy said.

"Make sure Dawn doesn't overwork herself. She always wants to do all the cooking."

"I bet her mom stops that," Amy said.

"I'll get everything. You don't need to be carrying anything."

I grabbed a couple of bags, and we went into the house.

"Hi, James!" Charlie yelled. He and Ann were still standing in the den with Amelia and the girls. "Need some help?"

"Sure."

Charlie followed me outside.

"Are they driving you nuts?" He asked.

"No...that was last week. This week, they are driving me crazy!" We laughed.

We talked while we carried everything inside. Ann came to me and kissed me once we finished.

"James? When will your mom and dad be here?" Ann asked.

"Probably by 1:00."

"I'm going to finish typing," Amy said and went upstairs.

"How is she doing in school now?" Ann asked.

"She and Samantha are doing fine. Sam is about a semester ahead on hours, so next semester, she is only going to take two classes that are the second semester of two full-year courses."

"That will be a good idea."

"Is she doing okay now that she is premed?" Amelia asked.

"Yes. She is incredibly smart and has a photographic memory. So does Amy."

"Wow."

"The nanny is going to go ahead and move in next week so she can save on rent. We'll be able to get her settled."

"That will be good."

"Make sure your daughter doesn't work too hard today and tomorrow, Ann."

"I will."

Charlie and I sat and talked while the ladies worked in the kitchen. My parents came in just before 1:00. I asked everyone if they wanted me to go get something for lunch. They said yes. I got a list and decided to make a trip to Subway to get some deli trays and sandwiches.

"You two want to come. We can take Dawn's new car," I asked Charlie and my dad.

"Sure. I want to check out her big sedan," my dad said.

We went out and got in Dawn's new Benz. It was a long-wheelbase 62 S Maybach. We pulled out onto the road.

"You ready?" I asked them. Then I floored it.

"Damn!" Came from Charlie.

"Turbo V-12," I told them.

They were impressed by her choice of cars. We drove up the interstate one exit to the Subway. It looked like everyone had the same idea we had, so we had to wait a few minutes after I gave them our order.

"That will keep them busy for a few minutes," I said.

We went outside to talk while we waited.

"How are things going?" My dad asked.

"Okay. The girls are getting ready. I'm not sure about me."

"Oh, you'll adjust," Charlie said.

"I did get my tractor and all its implements ordered. They are bringing it all next week."

"Are you going to be a farmer now!"

"I just want to be able to clean things up more and do some myself now that I plan on staying home more. They want to put in a garden, and that is up to about two acres."

"Who is going to take care of it?" Charlie asked.

"They say they are going to help. We'll see. Dawn wants to make her own organic baby food."

"She'll be happy she can do that."

"I am going to check with Linda and Rachel and see if they want to add more for them. I think Rachel wants to help in the garden."

"How is their house coming?"

"I think they are going to be able to move into one wing soon while they finish the trim work. They will be here tomorrow. They will be finished by Christmas."

"Good. I'm sure she is looking forward to moving in."

"She and Rachel are ready to start a life away from that mansion downtown."

"Good for them."

We talked until they had our order ready. I let Charlie drive the Benz back to the house. He was impressed. We carried the sandwiches and trays in and told the ladies to take a break. We all went to the dining room to eat and talk.

Our parents wanted to talk to Claire, and she seemed comfortable with them. She told a few funny stories about Amy and Samantha.

"Claire, why didn't you bring David?" I asked.

"I didn't want him running all over the house."

Ann looked confused.

"David is her cat. You should have brought him. I'm sure he would have found a place to sit and watch."

"He's fine. He has a window perch now he can lie on and watch the birds on the feeder."

"You have to see her cat. He is huge," Dawn said.

"And still growing!"

"Bring him tomorrow," Amy told her.

"I don't want to do that."

"Oh, bring him, Claire. He'll probably have fun watching everyone," I told her.

We talked for a while, and then the ladies went back to cooking. On and off all afternoon, we talked, and the ladies came and went from the kitchen.

By dinner time, they were finished for the day, and we were all in the den talking until Claire headed home about 7:00. Charlie was talking to Amy and Samantha about school while Amelia was outside with the others talking. I was taking the time to sit with my eyes closed while Charlie talked.

"Bob said he will be here after he finishes at 8:30," Amy said.

"Good. Did you tell him what we need?"

"Yes. He was shocked because he's not ready for this yet."

"That is what we are going to find out."

I lay and dozed off until Amy woke me up.

"Bob is here," she said.

I shook the cobwebs out as Bob came in.

"Hey, Bob. Have a seat," I told him.

He walked over with some paperwork and sat.

"Amy called me and told me to bring what I have for my restaurant plans. What's up?"

"We want to find out how far you have gotten in your plan. I know your plan is to start on it after you graduate this Spring, but if you are going to let Amy invest, we need a tax write-off for her this year. If you have enough down on paper, we can get a venture capital fund set up this year for her to put money into to fund the restaurant eventually. You don't have to have your money ready yet."

"Oh...okay. I brought my business plan. Is Ms. Willaims going to look it over?"

"Yes. I am just moving your schedule up a little for Amy's benefit. And maybe you can get started sooner."

"That would be good. The land I am looking at will just keep going up, or someone else will buy it."

"What do you think the parcel would cost you before the end of the year?"

"Around $400,000. I have a map. I'll show you where it is in that planned shopping center on the other side of the interstate."

Amy and Samantha sat with me and Bob, and we looked over his map. The parcel he wanted looked like a good location. My dad had moved so he could look on also.

"That looks like a good spot," I said.

"I think it will be. I have talked to the developers because one of them is a friend of my dad's. They like my idea."

"That is good. Let's look over what you have for your business plan. The lawyers will need a copy to set up the fund if we move on this."

"Oh? You have already talked to lawyers?"

"This was Amy's idea. She and Samantha own part of the lingerie and bikini store, and they got a profit check this year and need to do something with it. Amy thought of this because I am using a fund that Ms. Williams is setting up for a project to save me $70,000,000 in taxes this year."

"Damn..."

"Show me what you have."

"I have it nearly finished."

We looked it over and discussed it for an hour. Bob impressed me because it was very thorough. I liked what I saw.

"Can I have these copies?" I asked.

"Yes. I brought them for Amy."

"I will get copies to Ms. Willaims' market research people tomorrow and make another copy for the lawyers and drop them off. The lawyers said if things look good, he might be able to get the fund set up by the end of the year so Amy can put money in it."

"I don't have all my money yet. My parents are going to help me out, and I have a lot saved."

"That is okay. I'll look at what your cost proposals are and check them with some people. It looks like you will have over $2,000,000 in it before you are done. And you need to have operating capital for at least the first year."

"That is on this spreadsheet here. That money is what I am working on. Getting money as a loan for the land and building is one thing, but I can't borrow money to have the cash to start the operations for the first year."

"Let me see what can be done about that. Bob, how much money are you going to have to put into all this?"

"With what I have and what my parents will help with, about $1,000,000...mostly from my parents."

"Good. That will be important to the bank and lawyers. You'll have close to two million with Amy's money then. You'll probably hold a lot of that for your operating expenses and borrow what you need for the construction. I'm afraid that getting a commercial loan will be hard for the rest."

"That is what I am afraid of. I have in my proposal raising venture capital for $3,000,000."

"With the economy down and interest rates so low, that will be hard also. Your venture capitalist will want a share of the restaurant or a 5 or 6% return. I don't think you want to share ownership, do you?"

"Only with Amy if she is going to help."

"Okay. It will be hard to raise the money with the history restaurants have."

"I have done my research. What I want to build at first is designed so a larger dining room can be added on later. Let me show you the blueprints."

We looked over blueprints he already had. They looked good. He told us about his plans and a guy he was going to get to help as a manager that knew the business. He wanted to open an Italian place mostly because his grandmother was Italian and his mother. They had taught him to cook when he was young.

"Tell me more about your plans to deliver."

Bob had some good plans about delivery. He was thinking that more and more restaurants would home deliver in the future. I liked his ideas and his vision and planning. With the growth on this end of town, I felt like he had a great idea.

"Bob, I think you have a great plan here."

"It will work, but I wouldn't have the money this year to buy the land?"

"Do you feel that parcel is the best place?" My dad asked.

"Yes. They are starting the roads. My friend has shown me the plans for the large strip stores, and they have other companies planning to build on the out parcels. I am afraid I'll lose this one."

"Do you think the stores they have committed will help feed your business?"

"Oh yes."

"Then you better find a way to move fast," Dad said.

"I know."

"Bob, what is the planned cost to build and furnish the initial design," I asked.

"$1,200,000," is the estimate I have.

"What would the cost be to go ahead and build with the dining room expansion?"

"I asked, and they said building that at the same time would only be another $150,000."

"So, if you could build it all and furnish it all at one time...your total would be nearly $1,350,000?"

"Fully firnished, yes."

"With your $1,000,000 and Amy's $1,000,000, you plan on raising another $2,000,000?"

"That is the plan."

"With the extra being needed for operating the first year or so?"

"Yes, but I feel like we will hit the ground running."

"How much will Amy own, Bob?"

"With the way it will be divided up...25%."

"Are you comfortable with that?" Amy asked him.

"I think that will be fair...is that okay with you?"

"Yes."

"Bob, do you have any future plans to expand to more restaurants?" I asked.

"Let me get this one going first!"

"Sounds good! I think the first thing we need to do is secure that parcel before it gets sold."

"I don't have the money right now."

"Let me and Amy figure that out."

"Okay."

We talked until 10:30 before Bob left. Before he left, I made sure I had the contact information for the land.

"Do you think he has a good idea?" My dad asked.

"I think he does. We'll see what Linda's people say. Amy? What do you think?"

"It all sounds good to me."

"With the total cost to buy land and build, that will be around $2,000,000. After that, he needs operating capital for at least the first year. That may as well be another million, so $4,000,000. It is going to be very hard for him to raise capital for a restaurant, and he has no business history, so the bank won't loan him the money."

"Would that be enough?"

"That is what we are going to find out from people that know."

"Can I use some from my trust?"

"Yes. You'll be able to help him out."

Just after 11:00, everyone headed to bed. It had been a long day.

*****

Thursday morning, the ladies were up early. Ann was fussing at Dawn to go and sit. Charlie and my dad were coming in from looking at the hangar and the helicopter.

"That hangar is huge," my dad said.

"It will serve as a hangar and a barn."

We were walking to the den when the doorbell rang.

"That will be Claire. She won't come in. You two come and watch this."

We walked to the door, and I opened it.

"Good morning, Claire." David was standing next to her, looking up at me. "Hello, David."

"Meow!"

"Are you sure it is okay if he comes in?"

"Of course. He's family, too."

"Meow!"

"Come on, David. You be good and find a place to sit," Claire told him.

Charlie and my dad watched as David followed her into the house.

"Does the cat do what she tells him to do?"

"Pretty much. Dawn said that animals know what some people are thinking."

"Some people like Dawn?"

"Yes, and since Claire is of that bloodline...probably her too."

"Hi, mom!" Samantha exclaimed.

"Good morning, honey. David, find a place to sit."

David jumped up in the loveseat, climbed on top of the back, and settled so he could watch.

"I am amazed. That is a big cat," Dad said.

"He is not even a year old."

David seemed happy to sit and watch.

With no room in the kitchen, I sat with Charlie and my dad in the den.

"Hey, David. Come here," I said.

He hopped down and came and jumped up in my lap.

"Having a good day so far?" I asked him.

"Meow!"

He sat in my lap while we all talked.

"David, get back up here," Claire said as she came to the den.

He hopped down and climbed back on top of the loveseat to watch as Clarie sat in it.

"He is fine," I said.

Everyone came and went past lunchtime. David just watched. We sat in the den with Dawn's parents, Amelia and Claire.

"I know your Grandmother wishes she could be here Christmas," Ann said.

"She will be. James will go pick her up and fly her back," Dawn replied.

"Oh, honey, I don't know if she should be flying at her age."

"She is all excited about it. She wants to see the house and be here for the births. It's tradition, mom!"

"I hope she will be okay then."

"I am planning on picking her up the weekend before Christmas," I said.

"Mom. You better be here by Christmas Eve," Dawn told her.

"We'll be here, honey. Just tell us when."

"How about Tuesday?"

"If that is when you want us here."

"I hope you make it to Christmas!" Amelia said. "All three of you look ready to pop!"

"I'm still taking bets," Dawn added.

"Oh, no! No more of my money," my dad replied.

"Do you two want to come Christmas Eve?" Dawn asked my parents.

"I guess we can," my mom replied.

"They will be here before you know it," Ann said. "Are you all ready to have...three babies here?"

"I think we have planned as well as we can," Amy replied.

"That is all we have done," Samantha added. "Plan..."

"We have lined up nannies and everything else we could think of. Linda and Rachel will be here soon. Ask them if they can think of anything else," I said.

"How are they doing?" My dad asked.

"Okay. Rachel doesn't think she will make it to Christmas."

"She will," Dawn replied. "Linda, too. I keep telling them that."

"I talked to Linda the other day..." came from Samantha. "The two of them are thinking about delivering Christmas Eve...if you can arrange it?"

"I'll have to ask their babies," Dawn replied.

"I think they want to be on a different day...just so it's not so crazy on Christmas Day."

"I'll talk to them."

"To Linda and Rachel?"

"Them too..."

"Dawn? You mean talking to their babies?" Amelia asked, puzzled.

"Yes." Amelia looked more confused.

"I still don't know how you can do that safely, Dawn," my mom remarked.

"Voodoo! I have these dolls I'll stick pins in!" We all laughed.

"It just...concerns me. It is unnatural to induce labor for all of you."

"Really? Sue, do you know what prostaglandins are?" Dawn asked.

"No."

"How about Oxytocin?"

"They use that to induce labor. Right?"

"Right. Oxytocin is a prostaglandin. Without getting into the chemical science behind it all...there are natural sources of them. My people have known about them for centuries and what they do. Inducing labor is just one use for them. I just don't require a prescription!"

"Oh? What else do you need us to check on in the kitchen?" Mom asked.

"It's 5:00...the turkeys will be ready to come out at 6:00. Just check everything else, please. Oh, did you get the salad made?"

"Honey, we got all that done earlier. I think everything else is ready. We'll put the bread in the ovens when we take the turkeys out."

"I need to check on the dressing..." Dawn said and started to get up.

"Sit! It's ready to put in the oven. I'll do it when it is time," I told her. "Deb, Pete, Brian, and Angie should be here soon. Linda and Rachel are coming with Stan and Jeanine."

Everyone had decided a sexually active Thanksgiving was not in the plans this year. Angie was about six months pregnant now, and my brother didn't want to let her out of his sight. All of them were only coming for dinner.

I went to the kitchen to check on the dressing and a few other things.

"Anyone want more wine?" I asked. Everyone was good.

The gate buzzed, and I looked at my phone.

"That's Linda and Rachel," I said as I went to the door.

I opened the door and waited as they pulled up in a black Tahoe. Stan got out of the driver's side. We had asked him and Jeanine to join us, so they drove Linda and Rachel. Their house was finished, and they were having things moved from storage.

"Welcome!"

Linda was closing her door. She was big like my girls, or more like Dawn was. Rachel walked around, and they all came to the door.

"We are happy you and Stan came," I told Jeanine.

"Thanks for asking us. We haven't unpacked enough to make a big Thanksgiving dinner."

"You are family, too."

"And we are all packed up!" Rachel said.

"Are you ready to start moving in next month?" I asked Linda.

"Just moving some things to the garage right now. We are having the movers start taking boxes to the garage. Moving while pregnant has been a lot of fun!" She said and rolled her eyes.

"You two let the movers take care of everything, or call me if you need help."