#donna morelli

[wannabecatwriter]

“Oh, this is juicy,” Janis whispered to Donna.

“Indeed. Better than a soap opera,” Donna agreed.

“Amanda sure picked herself a winner. I wonder if she knows just how many others he’s done the horizontal tango with.”

“I don’t think Kimberly will say anything. She’s kind of embarrassed by that thing they had going on,” Donna shook her head.

“Who’s talking about Kimberly? Want to bet Maria knows this upstanding young man quite closely as well? Just look at her.”

“Ooh! You are so right. He better be careful, that one’s quite venomous,” Donna noticed.

“Indeed. But how do the young folks say it these days? ‘Fuck around and find out’? Well, looks like that young man has reached the second part.”

“It’ll be messy.”

“You know it.”

[wannabecatwriter]

“You want to make sure your gains are well offset in a way that profits you. Have you considered purchasing a plane?” Janis asked.

“A plane? It could be useful, but most of my shipping is done over a boat or on truck, if it’s in the country,” Eddie considered the idea.

“True. But you ship construction supplies all over the place. You could use a private plane. Then, take the maximum depreciation on it, offset your overall income.”

“You’ve got a point,” Eddie nodded.

“Hmm. And with a plane, once it’s a business asset, you can rent it to your friends at a reasonable price. Income plus expenses. You follow?”

“Indeed!” Eddie laughed. “Any more advice?”

“Oh, honey,” Janis laughed. “Ask me when we’re more in private.”

She glanced over to the others at the bar.

“But I will say this - a good trust attorney can save and make you millions,” she winked.

“Speaking of good attorneys, can you point me towards one? And towards a good CPA?” Chandra asked. “I’m ok if they charge biting prices.”

“Dear, I’ve just the people in mind for you,” Janis smiled. “I will give you all the details. But say, isn’t your sonny going to join us for your day, Eddie?”

“He should be in soon.”

[wannabecatwriter]

“Won’t lie, things were certainly easier when I didn’t have to get chewed out by my doc over a little extra sugar,” Eddie agreed. “Or by my attorneys, for not following some obscure regulation that shouldn’t even affect my business.”

“Oof, what is it this time?” Janis asked.

“They’re saying I didn’t pay my license fee for doing business in in Louisiana,” Eddie harrumphed. “I don’t even have business there!”

“Wait, Eddie, but didn’t you have that big shipping contract with a Louisiana company?” Donna recalled.

“Oh, come on, it was a one time transaction.”

“For over a million, Uncle Eddie,” Chandra chuckled. “You know they won’t let it slide.”

“See? I’m telling you, things were easier in the past.”

Yes, Chandra agreed. In the past, one could grease the right pockets and the government would never have looked twice at Eddie’s business.

Times have changed, indeed.

“You just have to be smarter over this sort of thing,” Janis shook her head.

“Care to elaborate?” Chandra perked up.

[wannabecatwriter]

The elders and Chandra took up the space in the little nook of the club to get some privacy and discuss matters of interest without interruption from others.

“I really hope this place is to your liking, Uncle, Eddie,” Chandra told him. Honestly, this club was not her first choice, but the reservation for her original option fell through the same way as the original caterer and bartender.

“Oh, don’t fret, darling,” Eddie reassured her. “It is very cozy here. I love the ambience.”

“That’s great,” Chandra breathed a sigh of relief.

“It is nice. But I do wish the bartenders would pay more attention to how much some of the guests are consuming,” Janis tsked. “It wouldn’t do for the guests to get alcohol poisoning.”

“Oh, Janis, I’m sure we drank much more than that when we were their age,“ Eddie chuckled. “I know I sure did.”

“Yeah, and you’re lucky you’re still here with us,” Janis shook her head.

“They haven’t reached the point where they have to think about those things yet,” Donna smiled. “I admit I’m a bit envious - things were so much easy back when we were younger.”

[wannabecatwriter]

“How’s Tammie doing these days? I’m so sorry about that engagement falling through at the last moment,” Maria feigned sweetness.

“She’s quite well, thank you for asking. It’s been over two years,” Donna wondered why Maria would chose to bring up that unfortunate happenstance. But then again, this was Maria. She was just like that.

“I’m glad to hear it,” Maria smiled sweetly, remembering the fun evening she spent with Tammie’s ex just before he came to the conclusion he wasn’t quite cut out for marriage yet. “By the way, a friend of mine had tried out this amazing exercise plan a couple of months ago and she lost so much weight. If Tammie would like it, I can give her all the details.”

“Hmm, I’ll be sure to ask her,” Donna tried not to roll her eyes too hard. “Oh, there’s Janis and she’s calling me over. You take care, dear.”

Walking away, she reminded herself to cease further interactions with Miss Villegas. They were bad for one’s blood pressure.

[wannabecatwriter]

At the same time, the birthday boy finally arrived to his birthday celebration.

“Eddie! Goodness, there you are!” Janis have him a hug, appreciating how, despite his years, Eddie Gritton never gained too much weight. If only she had been blessed with such a metabolism. “We almost thought you’ve decided on a more interesting company for the evening.”

“Janis, my dear, I would never. Unfortunately, business kept me busy. Yes, yes, even today,” the man laughed.

“Well, you should take it easy, once in a while, you know. I know you like to push yourself, but these days, we have to mind our limits,” Janis cautioned him.

“I know, but it’s hard to remember that sometimes,” Eddie brushed off her concern.

“Uncle Eddie! There you are!” Chandra spotted him across the room and made a beeline for the man.

Eddie was not actually related to her, but as he has known her family longer than she had been alive, it seemed fitting to call him “Uncle”.

“Chandra, my my, you are getting more beautiful each time I see you. Life’s been treating you well, I take it?”

“Very well, indeed. Did you find this place well? I know I should have driven you here myself,” Chandra fussed.

“Hey, now, I’m still quite able to get around,” he winked. “Now, I hear drinks are available?”

“Of course! What would you prefer?”

So this was the guy her aunt was going crazy about, thought Josie. What a dinosaur. And all these women were so crazy about him?

Well, the next time her aunt talked about her taste in men, Josie would bring this up.

[wannabecatwriter]

“It’s a great venue, isn’t it?” Amanda checked in with her husband. “Their live entertainer is quite something.”

“She’s good, no doubt,” Antoine agreed. “Thanks for bringing me here.”

“Of course, I thought it would be nice for us to have a night out. Maybe we should come here some time without everyone else, too.”

“I’d love that,” Antoine agreed.

As the couple kissed, two of the present women were very interested in their romantic mood: Kimberly, who herself was previously involved with Antoine and who knew just how fake that young man could be, and Maria, who also had a dalliance with him, alas one that went much more on her terms than the man knew.

[wannabecatwriter]

“Did Miss Villegas wear you out already?” Janis Langford, asked her knowingly.

“That girl makes my blood boil,” Donna told her quietly, glad for the loud piano. “I can’t prove it, but I just know she had something to do with what happened between Tammie and Keith.”

“Wouldn’t surprise me,” Janis nodded. “For the life of me, I’ll never understand how people as sweet and positive as Roberto and Lupe managed to raise that little monster.”

“Sometimes, the apple does fall from the tree.” At least, thought Donna, her niece was as different from this young woman as anyone could be. She probably couldn’t take all the credit for her upbringing, but she was proud of her.