After breakfast was finished, all took their turn getting ready for the hour-long drive to Malibu. Before they departed in the rented limousine that Lucinda called for, Noah pulled Abby aside to make final preparations for Lu's birthday at six o'clock that evening.
They arrived at the house just as the realtors pulled in. The house was right on the ocean. It was noted that the house needed a lot of work but it looked to be mostly cosmetic, as the bones seemed to be good shape. The views were spectacular. The ocean was a vibrant blue and the water looked clean. They took a tour of the house's nine bedroom, ten bathrooms, large living room, kitchen, dining room, study, twenty-person movie theater slash media room, upstairs offices and the fifteen-car garage, plus several other smaller rooms of the house. Everyone seemed to be impressed with what they saw and could see the potential. Lucinda called a pow-wow in the outdated kitchen and they all decided to buy the house. For the size and location, it was a good deal. The new ecstatic and hopeful owners returned to the realtors waiting in the living room.
Lucinda broke the good news. "We will take it, after we get it inspected, of course."
"How will you finance this property?" Bill inquired.
Lucinda gave him a strange look. Did the idiot not know whom he was talking to? "Finance?" she laughed, "once the owner has agreed to our price and contract, I will have my real estate attorney transfer the funds in full." Lucinda handed him her real estate attorney's business card.
George and Bill were standing there with their eyes wide open. Nobody paid cash in this economy but Lucinda did not see the need in a mortgage. It would just end up costing them more in the end to finance the property than paying cash.
On the way back to Luke and Noah's, everyone shared their ideas about how they wanted the house to look like and agreed that a designer should be hired to coordinate everyone's views but they thought the ocean should be focal point of the house.
-P-
Several months later, Luke and Noah were sitting in the kitchen sipping on a cup of coffee and enjoying the quiet while Lu was still sleeping.
"So what's on the agenda today?" asked Noah as he sipped his morning coffee.
"I'm headed down to Malibu to check on the house. I'm taking Lu and Abby with me and we will be spending the day at the beach," Luke replied with a huge grin.
"Poor, Luke. Just make sure you don't pick up any construction guys," Noah teased.
"There is no need when I already have a sexy muscle man," Luke kissed Noah.
"That's true," giggled Noah. Luke playfully hit him on the arm. "I know Lu is going to love spending the day at the beach . . . Abby too." Noah laughed knowing Abby's love of the beach. "She probably woke up at five o'clock, just to get ready."
Luke had to laugh. He knew Noah was right. "You're just jealous."
"Damn right. I have scenes to shoot today. I'm not a man of leisure like you are," Noah teased.
Luke could not suppress his laugh. "Hey Mr. Smartass, it's not my fault your job isn't flexible like mine." Luke did work with the foundation and on his book while Lu was in school or with Abby, so he was not a man of much leisure.
Noah rolled his eyes. "Well, if you are nice to me, I'll let you take my car."
A smile broke out on Luke's face. "Which one?"
Noah had a red hybrid Camaro SS convertible and a Chevrolet Volt, which he used the most to commute to work but since Luke was in town, he switched to his Camaro for commuting, while Luke drove the Volt because driving Lu around was much nicer with a four-door vehicle.
Noah smiled. He knew which vehicle Luke wanted to take. "I'll let you take the Camaro."
"Yes!" Luke absolutely loved the car. There was just something so Californian about driving to the beach in a convertible. Luke jumped into Noah's lap, wrapped his arms around Noah, and pulled him in for a big kiss. "How about I be nice to you tonight when I get back . . . you know, after we put Lu to bed?" Luke ran his hand up and down Noah's chest.
"I think that would be a great idea as long as you don't get sunburned like last time," Noah laughed as he kissed Luke. "I better get Lu up so I can see him before I have to leave. I can't believe I'm going to work and you are going to the beach." Noah groaned. Luke just smiled as he stood up.
They walked out of the kitchen arm in arm to wake up Lu.
-P-
Luke had been working daily with a designer to come up with plans to have the house a livable elegance. It was to be their showpiece, a place to bring friends and family but also Hollywood elites, business clients and foundation contributors. He contacted David after watching him on HGTV and wanted him to design the house. When HGTV heard of the project, they wanted to tape the renovations at the house for a show. Luke and Noah agreed after talking with the family. It would be free advertising for the farm, foundation, World Wide, Luke and Noah's careers.
They restored the house to the original Spanish inspired architecture, while adding in modern conveniences. Decorating was not as difficult as they originally thought. They went for an elegant beach theme for the house. There was not much color in the house and there was not much decoration because it seemed to clash with the view out of the many large windows in the house.
They also decided to eco-friendly with the house. Turbines were installed in the rocky area on each side of the property and solar panels on the roof to create their own electricity to store and use if there were a black out but also to sell back to the power company when the batteries were full. They also added several solar hot water heaters for the showers and kitchen along with several cisterns around the property to collect rainwater from the gutters and the areas where water gathered on the property to use for watering the lawn and plants. The one object that was not very green was the generator that was added but when the weather was hot for extended periods of time, the west coast could have rolling blackouts. It was decided that it was a necessity to have a few things like a few bathrooms, the appliances in the kitchen, air conditioning, and basic lighting on the generator.
