Chapter 144: Shelly

Thursday, June 17, 1971

The rains of yesterday had departed overnight and the sky was sunny and bright as I did my warm up, preparing to run. Being on the train, I had missed my daily exercise, so my mind was focused on how to refit the forward area of the Dining Car as I tried to remember what exercise equipment was available in 1971, when I felt Kip approaching. He nodded and began to warm up as well.

“I was headed for the reception area. It’s about two miles there and back,” I told him. “You’re welcome to join me if you’d like.”

“Okay,” was his only reply.

When he was ready, we took off. Along the way, I pointed out various landmarks, such as the stables and the main house, and filled him in on the support facilities. I was glad to see that I wasn’t puffing too badly after the layoff.

When we reached the reception building, we turned and headed back without stopping.

“I wish I had thought to wear my jock strap,” he finally said with a chuckle. “But I think I’m finally getting used to the nudity.”

“Yeah. I learned the hard way too,” I replied with a grin.

“Are there any free weights here?” he asked.

When I told him I didn’t think so, I could see his disappointment. I began to tell him of my plans for the Dining Car refit and he became excited. I needed to remember to tell Jessica to be sure to design a workout room in the new house, too.

Because Kip wasn’t wearing his jock strap, I didn’t push the pace as I headed back to the Dining Hall. It was still early, but I already knew Mable was in the kitchen.

We stopped at the steps to the Dining Hall to do our cool down stretches. I saw Amy, Nicky, Jessica, and Izzy coming down the path from the Lodge. So we all went in together. The Ranch seemed pretty busy this week, with lots of guests. There were already several people enjoying their morning coffee as we took a seat. The serving line should open any minute.

“Good morning, Michael,” Jessica said as we picked out a table. “I’m glad you’re up early. Can we spend a few minutes on your new home? I have some questions for you.”

“Certainly. But could I run something by Amy and Nicky first?” I asked.

“I didn’t mean you had to talk to me right now. Just sometime today,” Jessica replied.

“Well, if you’re okay with it, we can discuss it while we eat. Just give me a minute,” I said.

“Sure.”

Nicky kissed me good morning as Amy asked, “You want us? What’s up?”

I quickly filled them in on Shelly, Mable’s daughter, asking them if they had any ideas about how the foundation would handle scholarships.

“It’s one of the things we’ve been working on. Technically, the foundation won’t have money to spend until next year, but Nicky said you might advance the Foundation some cash until then,” Amy said, stating it as a request for verification.

“Certainly. How much were you thinking?” I replied.

“We don’t know. I would guess enough to do anything that can’t be put off until next year. You know, like this girl Shelly. If we were to scholarship her, we’d need the money for her first semester soon,” Amy explained.

“Which brings up another matter. Amy needs to decide where she wants to go to school this fall and start her application process. Do you have any idea where we are going to be?” Nicky asked.

“I plan on being in the new house Jessica’s building us,” I said with a big grin.

“You’re gonna freeze that cute little ass off if you’re going to stay there this winter,” Jessica retorted, “since it won’t be finished until spring.”

“So she can go ahead and look at Maryville College?” Nicky asked.

“Or any other school that she wants. Amy doesn’t HAVE to stay with us,” I explained.

“Are you kidding? I wouldn’t want to be anywhere else,” Amy exclaimed.

“Okay, that’s settled. Now Amy had this idea and I think it’s great so we wanted to run it by you. Tell him Amy,” Nicky said.

“There was this girl at school and she got an academic scholarship from IBM for all four years to the school of her choice. The only catch was that she has to work for IBM for five years after she graduates. She was okay with it because that was one of the companies she wanted to work for. But I was thinking,” Amy said, “Wagner Industries is so big, we could use almost any type of degree. So why couldn’t we add a stipulation that the recipient has to work for Wagner for five years after graduating?”

They both looked at me waiting on my response.

“I like it,” I told them. “We need to check with Izzy about the legal ramifications, and you might want to consider adding a clause about working for Wagner, or as a Wagner appointee to a charitable cause.”

“What do you mean?” Amy asked.

“For instance, if we helped someone become a nurse, we might let them work at a hospital where there is a need for nurses, but no funding. They would still be a Wagner employee, but their services would be at the Foundation’s discretion,” I explained.

“That’s a great idea, Michael!” Izzy exclaimed as she went into legal mode and began discussing everything in detail with Nicky and Amy.

I turned to Jessica. “Let’s go get our breakfast and we’ll talk while we eat,” I suggested.

As we ate, Jessica pulled out her sketchbook to show me her preliminary designs. A regular box house was out. Boring! I also wasn’t interested in the ‘French style Manor House’ design. It was too fancy for rural Blount County. I decided that her ‘Mountain Lodge’ design was still my favorite.

“Before you decide, I’ve got one more to show you,” she said, turning one last page in her sketchpad. “I went a little crazy with it. And I realize it might be more than you want to spend, but if I were going to design a home for myself, it would be this...”

The preliminary designs were built around an enclosed courtyard, and I was attracted to it immediately. The home had a ‘Frank Lloyd Wright’ quality to it and it also had the advantage of being able to be expanded fairly simply. Its main feature seemed to be the tall waterfall in the two-story entrance hall that followed a small stream through the main living area and out to the pool in the courtyard.

“Hmm-m-m,” I murmured as I studied the design. “These seem a little more comprehensive than the others you showed me.”

Jessica blushed slightly. “I’ve been working on these since I was in high school. It’s my dream home, but on a much larger scale,” she confessed. “I could almost draw it in my sleep.”

I looked up from the drawings to gaze into her eyes. “I see that Narvenia was correct. We must be soul mates because I love what you are showing me,” I told her sincerely. Her eyes shone wide as she excitedly began to point out all the features she had designed into the home.

When I asked her about the basement, she hesitated before answering.

“Well, it depends on the site topography. Steve should be here by lunch with the details from his surveys,” Jessica said. “I didn’t tell him it was a clothing optional resort. And I don’t think Daddy did either. But Dad did tell Mom, and now Mom won’t let Daddy come,” Jessica sounded a little disappointed as she explained. “She said there was no way she was going anywhere that she had to run around in her birthday suit. And that she sure wasn’t going to let Daddy go anywhere near some place that I’m running around naked!”

Nicky and I exchanged knowing smiles. You didn’t have to be an empath to figure out the subconscious desires in Jessica’s statement.