Christmas Family Style in Savannah: A Garlucci Family Saga Novel (Made in Savannah Mystery Series Bo by Hope Callaghan (summer reading list txt) 📕

“Me too, except minus the drama and death. Is Mercedes around?”

“I think she’s downstairs helping Tony in the pawn shop.”

Carlita thanked her. She also thanked her for letting Mercedes stay with her while the rest of the family was in town before heading to the stairwell. She was halfway down when the back door flew open, and the chatter of excited voices filled the lower hall.

The women arrived, laden with bags and boxes. Shelby brought up the rear, hustling the children inside as Gina and Brittney carried their purchases up the stairs.

“Are you storing your things here too?” Carlita stepped off to the side to make room for them.

Gina shook her head. “These are all Brittney’s buys. Mine are still in the back of the van.”

Carlita blinked rapidly, wondering where in the world her daughter-in-law planned to stash the stuff. Mercedes had already cleared out half her closet to make room for them.

Vinnie must’ve heard the women. He emerged from the pawn shop and headed out to help them finish unloading while Carlita led the children up the stairs and into the apartment.

“We got to ride the carousel,” PJ announced. “We went to a park with swings and slides. I picked this for you.” He pulled a wilted yellow weed from his pocket and presented it to his grandmother.

Carlita knelt next to him to accept her special gift. “It’s beautiful, PJ. Let me go put it in some water.”

“It’s from us, too,” Gracie and Noel chimed in. “We could only find one.”

“Thank you.” Carlita held the weed in one hand as she hugged her grandchildren.

Violet trailed behind, her lower lip trembling.

“What’s wrong, Violet?”

“I couldn’t find a flower for you.”

PJ reached for her hand. “It’s okay. The flower can be from you too.”

“Really?” Violet brightened as PJ solemnly nodded.

“This is the best flower ever. In fact, I’m going to press it in wax paper between the pages of my favorite book,” Carlita promised.

“Can I help?” Noel asked.

“Me too,” Gracie said.

“We’ll do it together,” Carlita promised.

PJ yawned loudly.

“It’s time to go back to Aunt Shelby and Uncle Tony’s for a nap,” Gina said.

“I don’t want to,” Noel whined.

“Then, you can’t help Nonna press her flower.”

The children reluctantly followed their mothers out of the apartment, leaving Brittney, Vinnie and the baby in the bedroom.

Carlita, curious to find out where all of the packages had gone, wandered down the hall to the bedroom. Bags and boxes filled the bed. One whole wall was floor-to-ceiling wrapped gifts.

Baby Vinnie sat in his bouncer, his eyes round as saucers as he watched his mother and father sort through the mountain of purchases.

She said the first thing that popped into her head. “You must have a whole room in your penthouse just for the stuff you buy.”

“As a matter of fact, I do.” Brittney emptied several of the bags and consolidated the items into one larger bag before carefully folding the empty ones and neatly stacking them in a pile. “My downfall has always been designer shoes until the baby came along. Now it’s designer baby clothes. The nearby outlet mall has the most magnificent shops and, lucky me, they were having a huge sale.”

“Poor little Vinnie ain’t got enough hours in the day to wear all of these clothes,” Vinnie grimaced.

“Then we’ll save them for the next baby,” Brittney said. “Speaking of that, did you tell your mom about the big surprise…her Christmas present?”

“Another baby?” Carlita joked.

“No. We’ve decided to wait until Vinnie is a little older to start trying for another one,” Brittney said.

“What kinda big surprise? Good or bad?” Carlita asked.

“It ain’t bad, at least I don’t think it’s bad,” Vinnie said.

“For me?”

“For everyone,” Vinnie made a zipping motion across his lips. “Now, no more questions.”

Brittney began digging around in her purse. “Have you seen my Piaget?”

“Piaget?” Carlita asked.

“It’s my bracelet.”

“A very expensive bracelet,” Vinnie chimed in. “When’s the last time you saw it?”

“Last night.” Brittney’s expression grew anxious as she began emptying her purse on the bed. “It’s not here.”

“Don’t panic. Maybe you left it on the dresser or in the bathroom.” The three of them split up and began searching for the bracelet, but it was nowhere to be found.

“What if I left it on the ship last night?” Brittney said. “Daddy paid over five g’s for it.”

“We’ll find it.” Vinnie stood. “Is there any way we can get back on The Flying Gunner to search for the bracelet?”

“I’ll find out,” Carlita said.

“I have to find it.” Brittney’s eyes filled with tears.

Carlita promised she would check and then headed to the balcony for some privacy. When she was finally able to track Pete down, he sounded distracted.

“I’m sorry to bother you, Pete. I have a favor to ask.” Carlita explained the situation. “The last time she remembers seeing it was last night when we were on The Flying Gunner.”

“The cops left and gave me the all-clear to open back up for business. I was heading that way, so I can meet you there.”

Carlita thanked him and ended the call. She returned to the bedroom and found Brittney perched on the edge of the bed crying, while Vinnie attempted to console her. “Pete said he’s on the way to the ship, and that we can meet him there.”

“Thank you, Carlita.” Brittney swiped at her tears and attempted a smile.

“You’re welcome. I’ll go with you. I want to stop by the pawn shop to let Tony and Mercedes know where we’re going.”

She popped in to the pawn shop to give them a heads up, and caught up with Brittney and Vinnie, who were in the alley putting the baby in his stroller.

The baby