I order limo to pick us up at the airport, I offer Mike and Michelle arrived back to their hotel. They have a car provided by Forbes, so we scheduled a time in the afternoon the next day for them to come by and complete the interview.
Mom is excited, and can’t wait to tell Alyssa about the home that will have. She invites Alyssa and family over for breakfast tomorrow morning.
It gives me time to print out the pictures I have taken. I began to design the house that I want. Now it’s a matter of time to go into the computer and drawn out, then handed over to architect for refinement. I have decided that it should be fully off grid, solar and wind power with battery storage for its power. Communications provided by satellite TV and Internet with voice over IP for the phone. Other than the road no one will ever know it’s there, and I plan on a gate with remote activation.
I’ll talk to mom about the house tomorrow afternoon once everything settles down.
A good night sleep would be definitely helpful it’s been a long day. Mom comes in my room wearing a new nightgown I can almost see through it and hugs her curves nicely. Mom giggles as she sees the effect it has on me. “JJ I’ve really got to remember that you’re at that age when your hormones are beginning to kick in.”
Kissing mom and wishing her a good night sleep my voice cracks. I’m not sure why it does that it’s only been doing it off and on for a week or so. Mom giggles again and says. “You definitely are at that age, were going to have to set down and have a long talk about what your body is going to do.”
Needless to say it took me a good half hour to fall asleep well to finish and then to fall asleep. I awoke early and took a shower, when mom come by nearly an hour later I was fully dressed and working on my house plans.
Mom looking over my shoulder got an idea what I was doing. I first made a list of all the items in features I wanted in our home, ten bedrooms each with a bath and walk-in closet, three master suites with seating areas in master baths, with two smaller bedrooms off of each. I design for myself a separate master on the top floor with seating area and office walk-in closet in master bath. The basement would have a pool, Jacuzzi a billiards room, game room and home theater. Also I wanted a safe room in the basement area, one capable of withstanding a F4 or F5 tornado. I wanted each master to anchor one wing of the house plus a separate wing for the living room kitchen and dining area.
Mom liked it but she said it was too big for the two of us. And I pointed out that one of the master bedrooms would be for Alyssa and Edward with the two smaller bedrooms for Joan and Johnny when they came to visit. Then she asked what with the third one before. I joked saying we may find another friend who needs three bedrooms too.
Mom got this playful look on her face then she says. “More likely it’s up for you and Joan when you have your kids and Johnny moves into your room upstairs.”
I joke with her. “No Mom you’re moving upstairs. I’ll use one of the downstairs master bedrooms and a smaller bedroom as my office.”
Mom quickly returns. “Why don’t you just incorporate the features for that top bedroom to all three master bedrooms than each will have the same space in them?”
I look at her and wonder why I didn’t think of that. “That is a great idea, but I still want to bedroom on the top floor because the view from it would be something special. And if you would like that room that would be good with me. I really want to do something special for you with this house.”
Mom leans over kisses me on the forehead. “It already has something special son.”
I quickly redesign the house and make the changes to three master bedrooms and then at an elevator going to the top bedroom. I quickly e-mailed them off to an architect, who was highly recommended, request a quote. Telling him this will be my retirement home for my family. By noon I received an e-mail back with a rough drawing and some changes that look very good, Alyssa and Edward were at the poolside with mom as Joan and Johnny splashed in the shallow end.
Bringing the print out from the architect to show mom, mom looked them over and approve them. Edward asked what we were doing. I brought over the floor plans for him to have a look. He took one look and gave a long whistle remarking on how expensive house like that would cost. Going through the e-mail I found a rough draft of expenses showing him the bottom line he chuckled and said. “You’ll never be able get that much money out of this house to build that one.”
I guess it’s time to give him the rest of the story. “Edward we’re not planning on selling here, but we will need someone to look after the place. I want someone we can trust someone just like you.”
Edward chuckles and asks “JJ are you offering to let us live here?”
Mom interjects. “Yes we are. If you take the job, I know how tough taking care of this place can be.”
Edward stops chuckling and looks mom straight in the eyes. He sees that she’s not joking then his expression goes to one of shock as he realizes we are deadly serious. He begins to stammer. “I’ll… I’ll… I’ll do it.” I think seeing Alyssa’s face grinning from ear to ear made his mind up for him.
I say. “Good now all you have to do is talk salary.”
He chuckled again lightheartedly says. “All I have to do is make sure the place is kept up.”
Mom says. “No, I expect you to live here it would be easier than you having to commute here every day or two. Besides if you’re here all the time there’s less chance the house be burglarized.”
Alyssa wide-eyed looking at mom asks. “You want us to live here, and you’re still going to pay Edward a salary for the upkeep?”
Mom and I say simultaneously. “Yes.”
Edward still stunned asks. “How much were you thinking of for the salary?”
Look at mom back to Edward I say to Edward. “We should replace your current income since you’ll be moving out of your old neighborhood.” Edward doesn’t know that I ordered a credit report on him and I know how much Alyssa and he makes. “Will $60,000 a year cover it?”
Edward continues to stammer. “But… But…”
“Okay Edward, I see I am going to have to increase the offer. How about $75,000 the year?” I know this is more them there three jobs combined makes. Especially when you think he can sell his house. He still hesitates. “Mom your car is not suited for were going, could we offer the use of it to sweeten the deal.” Mom shakes her head yes. “Okay the use of mom’s car, plus a gas card to cover the all the fuel, and we continue the insurance on it.”
Edward continues to stammer. “But… But…”
“Okay Edward you drive a very hard bargain. I will add private school for Joan and Johnny but that’s all I can do.” I say that with a large smile.
Edward finally just shakes his head yes. I reach my hand forward to seal the deal with a handshake. Alyssa nearly stops Edward from agreeing to the deal but a look from Mom stops her. Alyssa looks at mom and mom bends over to whisper into her ear. Alyssa’s eyes widen as she hears what mom says. “My JJ is the wealthiest person I know and I know quite a few people who are multimillionaires.”
Alyssa leans back to look at mom again, mom smiles then motions for hurdling back in again. Mom whispers into Alyssa’s ear. Alyssa’s eyes go wider as she explains. “He’s just a kid!”
Mom giggles back. “One with genius IQ and very industrious, one who didn’t know he couldn’t so he did.”
Edward’s expression is a big question mark so I tell him. “Mom just told your wife how much I’m worth, around $812 million.”
Mom looks at me. “Actually JJ I just told her what you sold your Internet Company for.”
Edward and Alyssa are shocked but neither one passes out thankfully. Looking at them I have an idea. “That takes care the exterior of the house and grounds, now for the interior of the house, Alyssa would you mind being responsible for the interior of the house.” I hear mom giggle as she knows how I think. “I’ll make you the same offer as your husband. But that does mean you have to share the use of the car.”
Mom answers for her. “She’ll do it.”
After that I have the lawyer draw up contracts for the two of them. They also have limited power of attorney drawn up as well. We move out and they moved in. We are off to North Carolina and our new home. Joan calls me she likes the private school much better than her old school. She also told me Johnny likes it as well. Alyssa talks to me to think me for what I did. She says. “I bet you didn’t know how near we were to actually losing that house. The bank had just raised the mortgage and taxes have gone up again. It was just a matter of time before we missed a payment, and we would’ve been homeless after the bank foreclosed.”
I smile even though she can’t see it I hope she hears it. “I’m happy that you don’t have a problem anymore, Joan and Johnny like their new school, you and Edward have more time together, so I hope everything is working out really well.”
It’s the middle of June a week before my birthday. We basically took just our clothing. We arranged with a mover, shipping for a few other personal items to be to our new home. The house is much smaller than what we’re accustomed to. It only has one bath and three bedrooms, a small eat in kitchen and living room. We’ll only use it while our new house is under construction.
We left all the old furniture in California in the house there. We buy new furniture in North Carolina along with a SUV. Mom and I stay a few nights in a hotel, waiting for the furniture delivery. With new furniture in place the small house becomes home at least for the next few months.
I spent a week before my birthday helping mom arrange the house, fix a few minor things. I’m cutting the grass around the place takes a long time even on a riding lawnmower. It’s very high and requires me to go very slowly.
The neighbors have a lot of kids some look to be about my age and a little older.
Mom and I spent a lot of time shopping, it seems like there’s one hundred things we forget and have to make another trip back. On one of our trips I talk mom into taking me to one of the big outdoor stores. They have speedboats and bass boats Mom says I can only get one this year. So I pick a bass boat. As a good thing we picked SUV with a trailer hitch already installed.
Also in this series:
- The Ten of Them - Chapter 2: A New Home
- The Ten of Them - Chapter 3: Waiting for Kathryn
- The Ten of Them - Chapter 4: Kathryn and I are learning to be lovers
- The Ten of Them - Chapter 5
- The Ten of Them - Chapter 6: The Judicial Order
- The Ten of Them - Chapter 7
- The Ten of Them - Chapter 8: The Day of Our Second Wedding
- The Ten of Them - Chapter 9: Adding Sam to the family
- The Ten of Them - Chapter 10
- Adult story: The Ten of Them - Chapter 11
- The Ten of Them - Chapter 12
- The Ten of Them - Chapter 13: Dealing with Sam's nightmare
- The Ten of Them - Chapter 14
- The Ten of Them - Chapter 15
- The Ten of Them - Chapter 16
- The Ten of Them - Chapter 17
- The Ten of Them - Chapter 18
- The Ten of Them - Chapter 19
- The Ten of Them - Chapter 20: Sam's first big snow and reunion of lovers
- The Ten of Them - Chapter 21
- The Ten of Them - Chapter 22
- The Ten of Them - Chapter 23
- The Ten of Them - Chapter 24
- The Ten of Them - Chapter 25
- The Ten of Them - Chapter 26
- The Ten of Them - Chapter 27
- The Ten of Them - Chapter 28
- The Ten of Them - Chapter 29
- The Ten of Them - Chapter 30
RANDY says
SO A VERY GOOD STORY HOWEVER GRAMMAR, SPELLING AND REPEATED WORDS MAKE IT HARD TO READ. BEING A PROOF READER/EDITOR FOR MANY YEARS PAINS ME TO SEE SUCH A GOOD STORY SUCH AS THIS ONE, SO HARD TO READ. IT BEING SO LONG, STILL A PERSON SHOULD READ HIS OR HER OWN LITERATURE AT LEAST 2 TIMES AND THEN ASK FOR ANOTHER OPINION FOR IT TO BE GONE OVER AGAIN!
THIS HAS BEEN ON THAT GRABS ME AND HANGS RIGHT ON. CAN’T WAIT TO KEEP READING. I HOPE IT’S NOT TO EARLY TO THANK THE AUTHOR. THANKS HARD93!