“Thanks, Ma.”
They circled the block and found Bubba’s truck, the moving van, and the other jacked-up vehicles lining the alley from end to end. A slew of men, all dressed in flannel shirts, jeans, and boots, were in the process of carrying several large pieces of furniture into the back of the building.
Mother and daughter lingered off to the side, waiting until the path cleared.
Moving quickly, they climbed the stairs and had almost made it inside Mercedes’ apartment when Bubba appeared.
“Hello, Mercedes, Carlita.”
“Hello, Bubba.” Carlita offered him a smile. “How’s it going?”
“Great. We’re almost done and will be out of the alley soon.”
“No problem.”
A trio of men, the ones they’d noticed carrying the heavy furniture, appeared.
Bubba motioned them into the hall. “I got a good crew of friends to help.”
A man, on the thin side, tall and with a brown beard and bright blue eyes, eased past Bubba. “Hello.”
“Where are my manners?” Bubba introduced his friends to Carlita, and she didn’t miss the flicker of admiration when they shook hands with her daughter, a striking woman who got more than her share of wolf whistles and catcalls.
“My pleasure,” the tall man, Chip, drawled.
They made small talk until Carlita insisted they didn’t want to hold them up. They stepped inside her daughter’s apartment and closed the door.
Bouncing on the tips of her toes, Carlita peeked through the peephole.
“What are you doing?” Mercedes hissed.
“Just as I suspected.” She chuckled. “You have some new admirers. Bubba’s buddies were elbowing him, slapping him and congratulating him on snagging an apartment in a building with a pretty neighbor.”
“They did not.”
“I’ll bet you.” Carlita held out her hand. “Fifty bucks says Bubba asks you out before he makes his next rent payment.”
“He probably already has a girlfriend.”
“If I recall correctly, his ex is the reason he moved. Something about her taking a job out of the country and he couldn’t afford the rent on his previous apartment on his own.”
“Well, again, as I’ve mentioned several times, I’m not the least bit interested.”
“But you’re not willing to bet me,” her mother teased.
Mercedes pointedly changed the subject and asked if Carlita had given any more thought to plans for Thanksgiving, which was right around the corner.
Vinnie had invited the family to come to New Jersey. Despite the busyness of the holiday, Carlita was seriously considering it.
“Maybe it’s time to take Vinnie up on his offer and head north for Thanksgiving,” Mercedes said. “A trip to check out big bro’s swanky penthouse is long overdue.”
“I wouldn’t mind going. Arnie can handle the restaurant. Tony has enough employees to cover the pawn shop.”
“Do you think Pete can find someone to manage The Flying Gunner and his restaurant?”
“I’ll have to check, but before I do, we should find out if Vinnie and Brittney still want us.”
“I can call them right now.” Mercedes, never without her cell phone more than an arm’s length away, tapped the screen.
