Life after the Lottery Ch. 83

"Really!"

"And how to cook and freeze fresh veggies!"

"Maybe I'll just set up a roadside stand in front of the house!" I said, laughing.

That made everyone laugh.

"You can stock your bomb shelter with canned vegetables!" My dad exclaimed and laughed.

"You know the tunnel going out to the generator would be a cool dark place to store canned veggies," Dawn said.

"Good idea! We'll eat well while we are in our bomb shelter! You all can starve!"

Ann and I talked about what to grow for canning. Later, she had me convinced it might be something I could do. Sylvia also talked to us about canning and freezing vegetables for making baby food in the Winter. She liked the idea because she had done that in England with her family.

Before we went to bed, they had the blueprints for the house out again. By 10:30, I had all my girls in bed. I couldn't believe they all were horny, but Amy was on top of me.

"I told Rachel and Linda about our ideas to build a timber frame house on the reservation. They thought that would fit in well," Dawn said.

"I think it will."

"She asked me if the tribe had other places to meet, like the planned education center. I told her there were a couple of older buildings. She wanted to know if they had an outside meeting area or a pavilion? The only one they have is the nice one in the tourist area. She wanted to talk about what the reservation could use."

"I hear this going someplace," I said.

"She wants me to find out if they would like a big timber frame pavilion for the residential area to match the house. I said I would ask."

"That would be nice. An outside meeting place."

Amy was slowly working her pussy on my cock. I could feel she was very content and just needed this.

"One more day," Dawn said.

"I'll be glad when we can fuck like crazy again," Samantha said.

"When did you stop?' I asked.

"Hey!"

We watched Amy until she got off.

"Next."

Samantha climbed on top and sat with my cock in her.

"How long do we have to wait?" She asked.

"For what?" Dawn replied.

"Before we can have sex?"

"Is that all you think of?" I asked.

"Yes!!" She teased me.

"Good!!"

"Dr Emma said it just depends on how sore we are and other things," Dawn told her.

"You'll probably have a big old floppy pussy!" I told her.

"You better watch it!"

We all teased Samantha as she got herself off.

"I needed that. Dawn."

"I'm good."

"What!" came from Samantha and Amy at the same time, and then we laughed.

Samantha lay next to me, and Dawn put her head on my chest.

I think everyone was tired because I felt all of them go to sleep quickly.

*****

I woke up in the dark because I felt the bed move. I felt, and Dawn had gotten up. I was sure it was one of her trips to the bathroom.

I woke up again later in the dark, and Dawn was not back in bed. I lay and listened for a few minutes and did not hear her in the bathroom. I managed to get out of bed without waking Samantha or Amy. I went to the hall and knew Dawn was downstairs. I walked to the balcony, and she was in the den with house plans rolled out on the coffee tables. I walked down the stairs quietly.

"I didn't mean to wake you, honey."

"You are down here for some reason."

I sat next to her and wrapped my arms around her. She had the plans for the huge lodge out and was looking over them and the photos. I was quiet for a few minutes.

"What's up?" I asked.

"I need to ask you something."

"Okay."

"This lodge. It is huge. The downstairs has a lot of open space with high ceilings in the middle and timber arches. It is laid out like a lodge. There is a kitchen and dining room on the lower level. I hadn't noticed there was a full kitchen and dining area on the upper level, too."

"I think it is a regular house upstairs and a lower level for entertaining."

"I know. There are five bedrooms upstairs."

"The upper level says 3,700 square feet."

"It looks like it is on a big rectangle with a garage added onto the end, plus a separate garage behind the house with an upstairs game room."

"Okay...what's up, honey?"

"It would be much bigger than we would ever need for a house, and it is a 50 x 95-foot rectangle, but no basement. That would make big training and meeting rooms."

"Why are you thinking about this huge house?"

"I wasn't..."

I knew what that meant.

"Who was?" Dawn chuckled.

"There is no really nice place on the reservation for residents to meet. No clubhouse or anything like that. There are a couple of buildings, but they are pretty old."

"There will be the new training rooms."

"I know, but....no place like a lodge to just sit around and talk and meet and eat."

"Like a lodge..."

"No, nothing like that...that nice..."

"Just tell me what is happening," I said.

"I know it is big, but...with a basic house upstairs, that would leave a nice area to have meetings or just have people come to meet downstairs. It would be part of our house, but that would be okay since the living area is upstairs. The two huge fireplaces and the arched beams and all that glass would be so pretty for people to have to meet to just sit and talk. But it doesn't have a basement."

"Since it is a basic rectangle, it could be built over one," I told Dawn.

"Would that be hard to add?"

"No, it would just need to be structurally sound for something that big. It would need to have some post at that size and a lot of big steel beams."

"If the ceilings could be even higher, it would make a great meeting hall. It could be divided, and two 25 X 25-foot rooms added on one end for the educational rooms. That would leave an open 70 X 50-foot area for a big meeting room."

"Honey...have you been asked if we could provide something like this for the reservation?"

"Yes. Would it be too much? It is big."

I knew approximately what it would cost a square foot and knew what a full concrete basement with steel beams cost a square foot from our house. I was running the numbers in my head.

"Honey?"

"Hold on..."

I kept thinking.

"Based on what it cost to build this house, with 9,000 square feet of living space and over 4,500 square feet of concrete and steel basement...about 5 million."

"Oh. That would be too much."

"No, it wouldn't. I think 6 million would be a good number if we kept the interior as nice as these photos. The timber frame adds some more to the cost. I'll have to ask Wilson. That would be close to what we spent here, but we have a lot of nice things in the interior. It would take a while to build also."

"Would you be okay sharing our house with other people at times?" Dawn asked.

"Are you?"

"I would want our house to be a place anyone could come. With this design, the living area is isolated enough...what do you think?"

"My only concern would be that since we would not be there full-time...what about someone to keep tabs on it?"

"I think there is a solution for that?"

"Can you tell me what it would be?"

"Grandmother."

"Would she move there?"

"She would at this point in her life. There is enough room on the first floor for a private area."

"Have you talked to her about this?"

"Don't need to. It would be well received to have a place like this for people to come. We would have to get some approval, but everyone would help us keep it up. Nice landscaping with tables and seating would be good outside. Maybe there would be room on our land for the pavilion close by. That would be good since this has a big kitchen."

"Will getting approval be a problem?"

"I was told no..." I knew what that meant.

Dawn kept telling me what it could be...or trying to convince me.

"Honey, sleep and meditate on it. If that is what needs to be done, we will do it. I think it's a good idea, and everyone would enjoy it."

"Not too much money?"

"Of course not. And they did let us build the helipad."

Dawn smiled at me and kissed me. I asked if she was ready to go back to bed, but she wanted to go over everything and talk some more. I told her I would get a better idea about the cost. By sunup, we had some good ideas. I convinced her not to tell everyone yet."

****

We had rolled up all the plans and started breakfast right after sunrise. Samantha came down and sat at the bar.

"Good morning, honey," Dawn said.

"Umm...what's up?"

"Nothing."

"Try again."

"Sam!" Dawn exclaimed and laughed. "I woke up in the middle of the night thinking about the house plans. It woke James up when I got out of bed."

"If that is your story...okay. Can I have some coffee?"

I got her a cup of coffee.

"It really is about the house," I told her.

"Okay."

Dawn and I cooked pancakes for the three of us.

Ann and my mom had gone shopping about 8:30 after eating breakfast. None of the guys were about to get into that Christmas Eve craziness.

"We need to go pick up something?" Amy said.

"I don't want you two driving. Where do you need to go?"

"Someplace. You can't drive us."

"See if Charlie or my dad will."

I told them I would clean up the kitchen. Sylvia helped me, and we talked some more. My girls had settled down and decided to sit with their feet up. They needed it because they had done too much the last week. But at 10:00, Amy and Samantha got my dad to drive them into town.

Ann and my mom came back just after 11:00 and disappeared to their bedrooms with packages before coming back out. While they heated up some of the food they had made the day before so we could all eat lunch in the dining room, Amy and Samantha came back and disappeared.

"Where did they go?" I asked my dad.

"You're not getting me in trouble!!" He exclaimed and laughed.

We ended up in the dining room enjoying a nice lunch.

"I got a flyer for a medical conference for Advanced Nurses and NPs and PAs in Charlotte the last weekend of March. I need to go to represent the school. They will be set up in the exhibit hall. Do you two want to go?" Dawn asked Samantha and Amy.

"Sure," Amy said.

"Make sure you have that Friday afternoon free. We'll probably take off at noon and refuel in Ashville. There is a reception that evening. Amy, you can represent the program. You two can help us pass out some brochures in the hall for a while. Looks like a lot of good training."

"I'm not sure I will fit in my nice clothes by then."

"You should," Dawn said. "You'll need to get back in shape soon. If you don't...it will be harder."

"What about me?" Samantha asked.

"I'm sure you can find something to attend. I'll set up a rental car and a room. Honey, we'll leave you here with Sylvia to babysit!"

"Thanks."

We were all finishing lunch. My girls were not eating much, and Enolia was getting on to them. As we were wrapping up, I heard the gate buzz but not the intercom, so it was someone with a code.

"Who is that?" Dawn asked.

"Probably Linda."

A few minutes later, the doorbell rang.

"It's not Linda."

"I'll get it," Charlie said and went to the door.

We watched as the Chief of Police and the Sheriff came in wearing their dress uniforms, with six other officers and deputies in their dress uniforms.

"Hey, Chief!" I yelled at him and walked to the den as they gathered.

"The Sheriff and I wanted to come by and thank all of you for your generous donations this year. You told us to make sure all the underserved kids had gifts this year, so we did and took them all shopping," the Chief said.

"Yes, we did, Dr. Smith. Thank you all so much. We knew you all couldn't come to a ceremony, so we came by with this Proclamation signed by the Mayor and the Governor," the Sheriff added.

He had a big, framed proclamation.

"Thank you. We had a good year, so we made sure others did, too. The economy has been bad," Dawn said.

"We were able to serve all the children this year."

I introduced our parents and Grandmother.

"You all have a very special family that gives back to the community," the Chief said and handed me the proclamation as I stood with him, and one of the officers took some photos.

"We can now, and we will keep supporting this program," Dawn told them. "Children deserve a nice Christmas."

"You always have supported us, and more so now. However, the generous donation you gave us to overhaul the youth center, add another basketball court, and resurface the old one was special. That is far above being generous."

All the officers and deputies clapped with their white-gloved hands.

"By Spring, the youth will have a nearly new building and new basketball courts. We just wanted to thank you," the Sheriff said.

"After talking to a few of the deputies and officers that drive for our limo business, we discussed it and thought it should be done," I said.

"The community will thank you for years to come."

"It is our pleasure to help. And you know if there are other needs to let us know," Dawn said. "Did you find out what else that family needs that house burned last week?"

"Yes, we did. They were very happy. Thank you. We told the Fire Chief always to let us know when something like that happens," the Chief said.

Samantha came out of my study with a camera to take pictures.

"Just plan on us taking care of a thousand kids each year," Dawn added.

"Oh, my! We will do that!" The Sheriff said.

"The Sheriff and I have one more thing for you, James. Since you are already POST certified and trained member of the Attorney General's Law Enforcement staff, we have something for you," The Chief said.

The Chief held up a presentation box and opened it. There were two gold badges in it.

"You are now a fully privileged Deputy for the Sheriff and a Lieutenant on the Police force."

They all applauded as I took the box.

"Thank you. This really means a lot to me."

"You do so much for us when needed, we thought this would be perfect. And for your wives, we have honorary officer credentials as soon as they can have photos made," the Chief said.

"We'll that get me out of speeding tickets!" Samantha asked.

"You better not get another one!" I said to her, and everyone laughed.

"No! But it will entitle you to shooting classes on the training course and range, so you'll be ready for your carry permit," the Chief said.

"Cool! Can I do the fun house!"

"Sure!"

"Good. It will save me the trouble!" I said and laughed.

"I have one more year before I can get my permit," Samantha groaned.

"You can't be twenty?" One of the deputies asked.

"Just turned twenty."

We all mingled and talked for half an hour before they all left.

"That was very special," Ann said.

"Son? May I ask how much you gave them?" Dad asked.

"They allow each child $100 to buy gifts for themselves and their family. We told them to make sure all the children who needed it could participate. I think the bill we got was about $100,000 for that. We gave them $250,000 to redo the old youth center and add another basketball court."

"That is wonderful!" Mom said.

"And a tax write-off!" I exclaimed. "But they know if they run into anyone that needs help, just to call us."

"That was very special of you all," Enolia said. "You take care of others with your good fortune."

"We should," Dawn said. "We are blessed by the Spirits."

The men cleaned up from lunch so my girls could put their feet up again. After that, we joined them in the den. I was had just sat down when my phone buzzed for a text. I looked, and Wilson, our architect, had sent me an answer to one I had sent earlier.

"I'll be right back. I need to make a call."

I went into my study, sat at my desk, and called him.

"James? Are you two serious?" He asked as soon as I said hello.

"About 90%. We want to build a nice big place that can be used as a public meeting area also. Those plans have a full living space upstairs, and we think they will work."

"I just sent that one so you could get some ideas about the arch-work inside."

"That is why you think you sent it. Since it is basically a large rectangle, could it be built over a well-built basement with 12-foot ceilings?"

"Sure, but you know what that type of work costs since your house is that way."

"I'm estimating it is still about $300 a square foot."

"Around that and about the same for the rest of the house. It will require some posts and heavier steel beams. I'll have to get the engineers to figure all that out. It will probably need 14-foot ceilings so all the mechanicals can be run."

"But it can be done?"

"Anything can be done, but that will be a serious support structure."

"Dawn's idea is pretty much what you already built. Nice insides with plans to use the first floor as a public area to meet and just have a place for people to get together. I think the floor plans you already have will be close. But, where that downstairs bedroom is, close that area off for a private area for a resident to live to take care of the place when we are not there."

"It is almost set up that way already."

"Dawn will have some other ideas. Expanding the laundry room downstairs for public use...just think about designing it as if it was a public-use lodge downstairs. We can use it also, but still have enough living area upstairs."

"Do you want to expand the downstairs kitchen to something more commercial?"

"Not a full commercial kitchen, but you are on the right track. It could be used to prepare meals for large meetings."

"I'll add some big freezers and fridges."

"See about some small walk-ons in the basement...and a huge pantry. Keep the patios and walkways you already have outside. Dawn may want them bigger. Add a separate elevator from the basement to the living area."

"I think I get the idea. James, sourcing all those timbers may be a problem if they want to get them from the local forest. All the arch-work and beams are cut and made by an off-site engineering firm once the plans are finalized and shipped."

"I was sure they were. They look great. I think what will end up being done is going with White Oak logs on the outside where practical. The men can source them from the local forest with some help on the engineering. Get with Running Bear. I told him to see what would be needed to do that much locally. They will probably need to lease some heavy equipment."

"We'll figure that out and get you a materials list for the shell logs. Are you thinking about keeping the light color of the oak or oiling it down a little darker."

"That is not my decision. But I think a richer, warmer color may be right inside and out."

"On the aerial photo you sent, there is a big arrow that says casinos. How far away are they?"

"About four miles, but are still visible from that hilltop."

"Looking at the lay of the land from that photo and these designs...the front should be oriented at an angle to that view. Would that work? If not, it would be a lot of land work."

"The mountains could be seen from the front or the back at that angle. That will work."

"I'll add in a private entry area at the basement level for the family then. The private elevator would need to be there."

"You have the idea."

"Some tall steel posts and rock wraps on the front for the three stories will look good with all the log arches. What would be really nice would be wrap-around decks and porches on the first level since there are already ones on the second level on the front. Since you will already be buying steel beams, you may as well build the support in for that. I'll ask the engineers, but we may want to run some steel posts and a couple of crossbeams up from the basement to support the second floor. They would either be built into the walls or covered in wood to look like part of the timber posts and beams. What about the detached garage with the game room over it? You want to keep that?"

"Scale it down to two cars and leave the game room unfinished for now. I think it would be used for storage."