Life after the Lottery Ch. 81

I closed the door behind them.

"Hello, you two! Hello Stan and Jeanine!" My mom exclaimed.

"Hi, everyone!" Linda yelled.

My parents got up to greet them and to move to some chairs, so Linda and Rachel could sit on the other sofa. They all sat, and we sat and talked while Ann and my mom took care of the rest of the cooking.

"Damn, that is a big cat," Linda said.

"That's David. Claire's cat," I said.

"He is huge."

"He is still a kitten," Claire said proudly.

"How is the house coming?" My dad asked.

"They are working hard. It is mostly just the punch list and some finish work and trim. There is enough finished we can live there now if they can get enough moved next week. That wing is finished so that they can work around us."

"If you'll stop bitching at them," Rachel said.

"Me!"

"It looks great," Dad said.

"Everyone come over and see it. We sure like it better than the mansion. As soon as we clear out of it, they will start the remodel to turn it into an office building. I already have a company that wants to lease it."

"Did they finish the hangar?" I asked.

"Just about. All the concrete is down, and the lights. They have to finish with the big door. They are starting on that damn fence we are required to have around the helipad."

"I hate that fence in the back," Dawn said.

"I know. They finished burying and hooking up the fuel on Monday. Now, they can run the fence over the lines and the wires. After that, the FAA has to come and inspect."

"Does the FAA have to inspect a place to land if it is at your own house?" Charlie asked.

"Not really, but it helps with the insurance and some other issues. To have a hangar like we have, fuel, and lights, it is best if they are involved," I told him.

"Come here, kitty," Rachel said and held her hand out.

David climbed down and went to her, and got in her lap.

"Dawn, I hope we have time before Spring to finalize the exterior landscaping and the pool," Linda said.

"We have a good start with the landscape architect. The landscaper we used is ready to look at the plans with you and give you some ideas. The pool people have a copy of the plans right now. I think they know what you want. The pool will go in during the Spring. James got the hot tub ordered you wanted from the people we got ours from."

"I hope they know what you want. Thanks for handling that for me."

"These people are good. Once I told them what we wanted here, I only had to tweak things. James updated all our lights last year. Talk to Sam about the lights," Dawn told her.

"I'll talk to Sam. His crew is wrapping up the alarm and AV systems Monday."

"What about your computers?" I asked.

"He is talking to my IT guys to finalize all that. I am going to move a lot to the house."

"Sam can do it."

"They are finalizing the cooling for the room to make sure it is big enough."

"Damn. How many computers are you going to have at the house?"

"A few. They will be more of a backup for my important things, and since I am going to be working from home more, they are bigger. Sam said the other people that need access can do it over the phone."

"Just let Sam do his magic."

"Have you heard about my car...or your car?" Linda asked.

"They are still waiting on the windows from overseas."

"Did you buy her shot-up car?" Dad asked.

"Yes. I got a good deal." Linda smiled at me. "They are waiting on the replacement glass from overseas. It will probably be in January. They called and said they finished the bodywork and sent me some photos. It looks great."

"The guys in Atlanta are good," Linda said. "What are you going to do with your Corvette?"

"It's for me!" Samantha exclaimed.

"I haven't decided yet. Since the Lambo is a convertible, I may sell my Vette."

"Bet you still paid a lot for her Lambo," Dad said.

"It may be my new toy. It was a lot less than Dawn's new Benz!" I said sarcastically.

"Hey! At least I traded in my Jag!"

"Oh yes. That made all the difference in the world."

"I don't want to hear it. You got a new Escalade!"

"It looks like an S Class," her dad asked.

"It's a custom Maybach 62 S."

"What's the difference?"

"About $200,000!" I said and laughed.

"Damn!"

"It's big and safe...and really nice! I had to order it months ago to get the long wheelbase one," Dawn told him.

"It is nice inside," Charlie said.

"It looks like a limo," my mom said. Sam and Amy giggled.

"What are you two giggling about?" I asked.

"Nothing! We like the two-tone paint job. Make sure you check out the roof."

"Sunroof?" Amelia asked.

"Oh no. It is all glass. And, when you flip a switch, it goes dark," I said.

"I like it..." Dawn mumbled.

"I know you do, honey. It is a really nice car and will be safe for hauling babies around. And you still have your Ferrari."

"That was why I ordered it. We needed a bigger car."

"Or two!" Dad said. Sam and Amy giggled again. I looked over at them as they whispered.

"How will you transport all of you if you want to go together? That will be seven people?" Mom asked.

"We may need to get a bus..." I moaned.

"Where are you going to park all these cars? You have more than your garage will hold now!" Charlie said.

"Well, that is another project," I said. "We'll add on to the other side of the garage and end up with an eight-car garage."

"We'll that be big enough!" Dad exclaimed.

"If we stop buying cars, it will be."

"I think you should add one more at the end of each side," Dawn said. "Make it so you can drive through it...for your new tractor."

"Tractor goes in the hangar."

"Are you becoming a farmer?" Rachel asked.

"I am going to get a tractor so I can mow and bush hog. We would like to start a small garden too. It will be something I can play with."

"Maybe you can help us with a garden?" Rachel asked.

"What do you know about gardening?" Linda asked her.

"I helped my grandfather with his small farm!"

"Well, that is for Spring. When the builders get through with Linda's house, they will start on the garage. We can add onto the garden we are putting in for you two."

"You know...we need to put a gate in your fence so we can drive a cart over here and not go out on the road," Linda said.

"Good idea!" Samantha added.

"Do we need to keep that old barbed wire fence?" I asked.

"No."

"Then let's just have it taken down. It will make it easier for us to get back and forth. Especially with the tractor."

"Hey, James? We can use it to move the helicopters in and out of the hangars," Stan said.

"I checked, and it has a hitch for the tow bar on the front and back."

"When is the mechanic going to have everything set up?" Jeanine asked.

"The next few weeks. He ordered some more tool cabinets that are due next week. He said the tools would start coming in next week, also. That is going to help. Dawn has been flying enough that the 25-hour checks keep coming up, and we have to drop it off at the airport."

"That will make things much easier. He is going to make sure we have the equipment needed for the 500-hour inspections also," Stan said.

"Helicopters sound expensive," Charlie said.

"Buying a helicopter is not the expensive part. The hourly operating cost for maintenance is high," Linda said.

"What does it cost to operate? I thought it was just fuel?" My dad asked.

"You budget an hourly cost. That covers fuel, inspections, and maintenance," Stan said. "Linda's helicopter cost is over $1,100 an hour. Dawn's is around $600. If you budget it that way, then the inspections and maintenance are not an unplanned hit. The IRS lets you cost it that way, and it is easier. Then, just the depreciation cost for the IRS. Owning and operating a helicopter is not cheap. Much higher than a small plane unless it is a jet."

They talked about helicopters while I got up to let Deb and Pete in. Brian and Angie were pulling up behind them.

"Is everyone here?" Deb asked.

"They are all here. You are looking good, Angie."

"I'm starting to get big."

"You look good."

They came in, and everyone said hello.

"Anyone need more wine?" I asked.

I got a few yeses.

"David, you want some milk?" I asked.

"Meow!"

"Come on."

He hopped down and followed me and Brian to the kitchen.

"Who's cat?"

"Claire's."

I had put out two bowls earlier. I poured milk in one and water in the other.

"Meow! Meow!"

"You're welcome."

I grabbed the bottle of wine, Brian got a beer, and we went back.

Mom was making a fuss over Angie now that she was showing a lot more. I had taken some nudes of her and Brian and needed a new one.

Everyone sat and talked. The ladies were up and down until it was all ready to eat.

We began moving everything to the dining room after we made the pregnant ladies go and sit. Once it was all there, we all sat down to eat. We had a full dining room with everyone. We all talked and ate for a while. Stan and Jeanine were happy to be with us. I could see that Claire was very happy. David had been in the kitchen enjoying his turkey and gravy. And oddly he like cranberry sauce. Now, he was sitting in the doorway, watching all of us.

"Did you get enough, David?" I asked.

"Meeeeooooow!"

We sat and talked and laughed until we were ready to stop. It took a while to clean up, move everything back to the kitchen, and put the leftovers away. When I went to the den, David was in Rachel's lap again as she rubbed him.

"I think David likes you."

"He is sweet. I had a cat when I was young."

"You want a cat?" Linda asked.

"Oh...I don't know..."

"We'll get a cat. Why not." Rachel smiled at her.

"Meow!"

"David, would you like a playmate?" I asked.

"Meow!"

"I think that was a yes! You get one from the shelter. Ask if they have another Maine Coon."

We all spent the evening talking until Linda and Rachel headed out with Stan and Jeanine. Claire and David left around 10:30.

*****

After we all had breakfast Friday, I told everyone I needed to run to the lawyers' office. I had made copies of Bob's information for the lawyers and Linda's people. I was going to take them to her office downtown because she was working today.

"Are you coming with me?" I asked Amy.

"Yes. If you need me."

"It is your idea. We need to put some better clothes on."

About 9:30, Amy and I headed out.

"You think this will work out well?" Amy asked as I drove.

"It looks good, but we will get some input from people who know these things."

I stopped at Linda's building first because she told me she would be in the office. We got out and went up to her office.

"Hello, Dr. Smith," her secretary said.

"I hope you can make her go home early today," I said.

"Good luck with that! Go on in."

Amy and I went into her office.

"Why are you here today?" I asked.

"Just another workday," Linda replied.

"Don't work all day."

"I'm not. I have a few things this morning, then I'll send everyone home."

"I have the information that Bob has about his restaurant plan. I know we talked about it a little yesterday. It looks good, and he has done a great job."

We went over what we had with Linda for a while.

"It does look pretty good. I'll give it to my research people."

"I hope they can look it over soon. If we can set up the venture capital fund before the end of the year, Amy can use it to save some on taxes."

"It's slow right now for them. Give them a few days. But I agree. I think he has a good idea."

"Great. Bob's contact information is on there if they need to call or email him."

"Amy? Are you going to become an investor?" Linda asked.

"I hope so."

"I think you have a good project here. Let my people see what they think."

"Okay. Thank you."

"There is a spreadsheet I added that has what I think will be his building costs and what he will need for cash reserves for the first year or so," I said.

"Good. My people can give you some better numbers for the cash reserves. They know the building costs for this also, so that we can confirm that. The land cost is a little high for an undeveloped shopping center that is still in the planning stages, but it is worth the money in the long run. The developer doesn't even have all the infrastructure halfway...the roads and things like that. If he is one of the first to build, they should give him a break on the parcel. I know the developer. He asked me to go in on the project, but I told him my projects at the mall had me tied up. I may be able to use that to get a better deal on the land because he has other plans a few years away. Let me make a call."

Linda looked at the contact information and called.

"Jim Garson, please. Tell him it is Linda Williams. Thanks. Let me see if he is in the office."

Linda waited a minute.

"Hi, Jim!"

"Working too. I wanted to ask you about a parcel in the new center south of town..."

"The lot number is C-317."

She waited a moment.

"It's still available then? Good. I have a friend who wants to build a restaurant out your way, and they have looked at this parcel. What are you asking for it?"

"What is my price for it? You don't even have the infrastructure in yet, Jim. How much longer will that take? Four months? Would they be able to get trucks in by then to start? They want to start as soon as they can, and that will hold them up."

Linda listened for a minute.

"I understand that, Jim, but they would be one of the first places open? You'll need that to draw others in. I know..."

Linda waited.

"How about $325,000? I know 350 is a good price...better. Put my name on it. The lady that will be buying it is named Amy Smith...okay...Monday then. Sure, I'll come by, and we can talk about it. Thanks, Jim."

Linda hung up.

"How about $335,000?" Linda said.

"He may not be ready yet!" Amy exclaimed.

"Buy it anyway. That is a good price. That will take care of that much on your taxes this year. Can you go take care of it on Monday?"

"I can before lunch."

"Call him and tell him what time."

"Thanks, Linda!"

"Let me see what everyone says about the restaurant idea, but I think it will be a go."

"He won't have to worry about someone else buying the parcel," I said. "'I am stopping at the lawyers next so they can get started on the setup of the fund. He said it would be a stretch to get it set up by the end of the year."

"That usually takes about three months or more," Linda said. "Are you going to finance it, Amy?"

"I am putting in a million."

"You'll finance all of it," I told her.

"What!"

"My lawyer said he may be able to get the basic set up so money could be put in it before the end of the year. If they can't, can Amy park some money in the Hawaii fund?"

"Of course. How much?"

"About seven hundred."

"Sure."

"That would be good," Amy said.

"We'll head out then. Don't work all day."

"Yes, doctor."

Amy and I went down and got in the Escalade.

"James. I don't have $4,000,000."

"$3,000,000. Sure you do."

We went to the lawyer's office and spent a lot of time with him, going over everything. I had asked him to quiz Amy on what she thought and how it would all work, and she answered his questions well. By the time we were heading back home, she was feeling confident and excited.

*****

I was sitting in my study that afternoon, working through some finances while everyone else was talking in the den.

"What are you working on?" My dad asked as he came in with Amy and sat.

"Writing some checks. The lawyers and the accountants sent me a list of what to do to save some on taxes this year. Is your sister downstairs?"

"Yes."

"Go get her, please. I need you two to sign some papers."

"You'll have to put a lot of that money in a capital investment...won't you?"

"Well...that is what we are doing to delay taxes. That huge resort Linda is going to build on the land that Lieke's family owns is going to help."

"How big of a hotel is she going to build?"

"She is not building just a hotel. She is going to build a resort and a small town. Probably over a billion dollars, Dad."

"Oh my god! She has that kind of money?"

"Oh yes, but she is only going to retain about half. She'll bring in one of the large hotel chains for most of the other half and then some large venture capitalists. Part of what she is building will be affordable housing for the locals that will work there."

"That would be something nice to have a piece of, but that is a lot of money."

I handed Dad a check I had just signed, and he looked at it.

"Damn, son! You don't have this kind of money!"

"I would be paying the IRS at least $100,000,000 this year on what we earned in the market. All of Linda's experts have been working with my attorneys and accountants. That $200,000,000 check you are holding is our investment in Linda's project. It should save me nearly $70,000,000 in taxes this year."

"Do you have that much you can tie up for a long time?"

"Not forever. It will be invested before the end of the year in the project, even though it will be a year or more before they start building. That reduces the amount I have to pay taxes on by $200,000,000. We have enough to leave it there for a few years. Linda said once it is off the ground, she'll sell what I don't keep in it to the venture capital people. Then I'll have to pay taxes on that. I am only delaying some of the taxes for a few years."

"Don't they at least need to start something before the end of the year to satisfy the IRS?

"Yes. We are going to have the contract signed for the 99-year lease for Lieke's land before the end of the year. When it is signed, we will advance Lieke several years of lease payments so she can begin to make improvements to the farmland in preparations for supporting the hotel."

"How much are you going to leave invested?"

"At least $100,000,000. That will be in all the trusts to pay out to everyone for many years. All the money we made this year is for the trust investments for long term."

"What kind of profit are they hoping for?"

"Two hundred million or more. But Linda said that whatever I sell to the other investors will get at least a 10% return. That will help offset some of the taxes."

"I guess she knows what she is doing."

"She does, and she pays people who understand all this to know. We made a lot off the real estate market turning to shit. Now we'll make some with it coming back up."

"You got a good deal on the mansion you bought in Hawaii."

"That was a pleasant surprise. It is also a capital investment and will save us some on taxes this year. Now we have a place to stay when we go back!"

"When are you all planning on going back?"

"Maybe next Christmas. You all make plans, too."

Amy came back in with Samantha.

"I need you two to sign some papers."

I pulled out two stacks and sat them on my desk.

"What are they?" Samantha asked.

"The loan for the house in Hawaii. Remember, you two owe me $850,000."

"We were hoping you forgot!"

"Sign them right there."

"I guess we have to pay this back?" Amy asked and giggled.

"Yep. Each of you owes me $425,000. But I'll give you a choice. Your trust can own your share, and it will pay into that, or you pay your trust back from your earnings, and you get the earnings from the house each year."

"Which is best?" Samantha asked.

"Depends. Do you want your trust to grow each year, or do you want the money to invest or do other things with?"

"I'll invest it!" Samantha exclaimed.

"How much will we get each year?" Amy asked.

"At least $60,000 each."

"I'll take the money and do something with it."

"Me too. I may need it for school or something," Samantha said.

"Okay, but $60,000 a year is less than you will be paying me back each year."

"That's okay," Samantha said.