Family Above All

45

Will let's take a break.   I don't know if I can absorb anymore. Let's go somewhere to have some fun. Where to Samantha? Downtown old Sacramento.  We can eat there and pick up Monday morning. We take our tests on Tuesday afternoon.
Aunties will and I are going to old Sacramento for dinner.  We will be home late.  I cannot absorb anymore.  My brain is fried. Well don't stay out too late. We have the party tomorrow.   Your dad will be here tonight. Okay.

Tabby let's go eat dinner at Juanita's and we can talk about updating my condos.  Okay . I will drive us. I know you are too tired to drive.
Kelly I feel like southern food.  I know you are still finding places to eat, since you haven't really unpacked all your stuff yet except except for the main rooms you need.
Okay tell me where.  I will.

We arrive at Halle's restaurant.

Hi Samantha how's the studying going? It's going.  Halle this is my girlfriend Kelly. Are you joining everyone else? No just us. Can you put us away from all we have some things to talk about.  Sure no problem .

I introduced Kelly to the Rizzolis,  Becky,  Barry, and a few others. We finally made it to our table.  We ordered a glass of wine rosé for me and Kelly orders a raspberry ice tea.

Tabby I would like to  connect two condos and renovate them to meet our needs.  I don't know anyone here much as you said. Are you in rush to get it done or would like it to go slow?I would like it to get it done before you graduate.  Okay. Let me make one call.  I will be right back.  An architect the family uses just walked in. Okay.

Tabby gets up and approaches a man and brings him back to our table.

Kelly this is Carlo Loren he is Tommy's cousin and is an architect.   Nice to meet you Kelly. Tabitha tells me your new here and looking to combine two condos into one.  Yes. How many condos are there on this lot.  I purchased it from Jason Quartermaine.  Oh I know which ones you are speaking of. Here is my email address.  Email what you would like.  I will sketch it for you and get back with you. I require  5,000 deposit. I will write you a check. This is non refundable if you use my design or not.  It's not a problem.  I understand.
Kelly writes him a check.

Carlo she would like this all done by the end of this year.  I was thinking of Casey.  I will see if he is available after she sends me the details what she wants. Okay and and agrees to my design. Kelly if to you agree to my design I will find you a qualified contractor. I stay up on the work.  If they cut corners, I have them correct at their expense. You won't have to worry about permits either. I would definitely like to use you . You pay a third each time to me and I take my cut and write a check to the contractor.  Here is your check. I will email you tonight. Okay. I better get to my cousins before my aunts get on me.

Carlo took the check and left.

Tabby I like that he does all that. He made the design changes for Averys place while my aunt Janice owned it. He expanded the garage for my sister after her divorce from Lisa. They are divorce? Yes long story for another time. Amal's home he worked on too. We will go bowling there one night soon. A bowling alley in their home? Yes. She lost her mother and wanted to do something gun at my aunt Janice persistence. We bowl there at least once a month for charities here locally for homeless project for students of California state universities, the Vincent korsak children's Shelter named after Kiki's ex husband. She was married to a man than divorced him. She fell back in love with her college sweetheart Lisa Fox which you met them tonight. Kiki is Tommy's father's sister.  Lisa is a talented artist like Maura Isles is. I met her from work. Isn't she with a woman? Yes her ex wife.  They have been friends for years. Another story for a later time. Alot of stories.  Yes Amal and my auntie have known one another for years. She liked my aunt but never told her when her deceased brother dated her. So Janice is bi? Yes and so is Amal.  You are definitely informative. You will get to know more as time goes on love. Hey Samantha Halle told me you were here. The dinner is on the house. My treat. John this is my girlfriend Kelly. Hello nice meeting you.  You only required to pay for beverages and the tip. Okay thank you. It was nice meeting  you. Welcome to the  family. Thank you.

John left.
Tabby he is related to you? No but many of the people I have introduced you too we consider family. John was once a homeless student at Sacramento until he got hurt and Halle found out and took him in. He lives with her now stiil  nothing romantic as Halle is a lesbian and is with Mandi one of the chefs at Juanita's. Juanita is Carlo's younger sister. Also the bowling nights raise  funds for meals on wheels and now American River College.  Tabby stop too much information..okay.
We eat and continue to talk. Kelly writes on her notebook on her cell what we would like for our future home and attaches it to the email to Carlo. We leave and go to downtown to the comedy club.
We run into my sister and Will who just finished eating and are at the comedy club too. We get a table together.

Okay let me see this ring.  Oops sorry..I won't say anything. Congrats you two.  Thank you. 

Kelly shows them the ring and my sister is shocked.  She knows it is expensive but knows I was working and saving my money as my father and aunt were paying for my schooling   We had a nice evening of laughter and relaxation.
Sis you both ready for Tuesday ? As far as we can retain, yes. We will study more Monday and take our bar exams on Tuesday afternoon. How did you test go? Great I think. I will find out soon and will be done for the summer. I will be moving here and doing my internship at Mercy hospital .Yeah we get to see you more. We haven't been altogether in the same state for years. Kelly is renovating her condominiums. We will leave out of two as she is leasing the other one out. Don't tell anyone. Everyone else knows my internship will be here.  We better get going we have an early day tomorrow at aunties. Yes and don't be  late Tabitha. We won't.  Love you. It was good seeing you William and good luck on Tuesday. Thanks.
I hug my sister good bye and she tells me she loves me too.