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

There were lighted floats and baton twirlers, along with a large procession of Girl Scouts from the nearby Girl Scout headquarters.

Similar to the boat parade, there was an array of balloon floats, even a hippopotamus. Carlita quickly pulled her cell phone from her pocket and snapped a picture of the side of the float, although it was no longer necessary to try to dig up information on the boaters who had found Roxy.

Roxy’s killer was almost a given. The reminder made Carlita sad. She pushed the thoughts aside. There was nothing she could do about it.

Floats from several businesses passed by, including one for the local bar, the Thirsty Crow. Cool Bones and the Jazz Boys were on the deck, belting out a jazzy tune.

Carlita yelled, but the music was too loud, and they didn’t hear her. She snapped a picture of them, which reminded her she still needed to catch up with Cool Bones to give him his framed picture.

During a brief intermission, several area pizza places wheeled shopping carts filled with boxes of pizza and cans of soda along the parade route.

Several more were filled with boxes of popcorn and movie theater candy. Paulie stopped one of the vendors and bought popcorn and sodas for the kids.

After the parade ended, the family waited for the crowd to clear, and then gathered at Carlita’s place where they went over the plans for Christmas Eve the following day. She pulled Vinnie aside to ask if he’d heard from Luigi.

“Not a peep, Ma.” He glanced around and lowered his voice. “There’s no sign of Jersey Joe, either. I wonder what’s up.”

After everyone left, Carlita took Rambo out for a break. She could see the lights on at Elvira’s place and lightly rapped on her back door.

Dernice answered. “Hey, Carlita.”

“Hey, Dernice. I’m sorry to bother you at this hour. I’m wondering if you’ve seen Luigi lately.”

“Nope. He did his afternoon gig. I saw him when he stopped back by here to drop the van off. He told me he had some errands to take care of and that he would see me later.”

“Did he act weird?”

Dernice shook her head. “Elvira asked me the same thing. I don’t believe Luigi stabbed Roxy and threw her off the ship.”

“I have my doubts too. Unfortunately, the evidence against him is starting to pile up.”

“He didn’t like Roxy. I had no idea the two had even dated.”

“Me either. He doesn’t seem like Roxy’s type.” Although Carlita wasn’t sure what either of their types was. “If you happen to see him, can you please tell him Vinnie and I are looking for him?”

“I will.” Dernice started to close the door and then stopped. Her expression was sad.

“Are you okay?”

“Sure. Yeah.”

“You care for Luigi.”

“He’s a good guy.”

“No, I mean in a different way,” Carlita said. “I recognize the look. In fact, I noticed it the other night at the party. You like Luigi.”

“He’s kinda cute. I…I’m sure he’s not interested in a dumpy middle-aged woman like me.” Dernice absentmindedly ran a hand through her hair. “Macho men like him, they like strong, fit women like Roxy, the ones who flirt with danger and get their adrenaline pumping.”

“You can get a man’s adrenaline pumping.”

“Yeah, if I’m chasing him.”

“You need to cut yourself some slack. Besides, I think I recognized a look in his eyes too.”

Dernice perked up. “Like an interested look?”

“Maybe.” Not wanting to get the woman’s hopes up, since it was possible Carlita had misread the look between the two, although she didn’t think so. There was a flicker between them, she was sure of it.

She suspected Elvira might have noticed too, which was why she wanted to get rid of Luigi.

“Mercedes has an author friend who also runs a beauty shop not far from here. Would you like me to see if she can hook you up with a new ‘do?’”

“The last time I let a beautician touch my head, I ended up with rainbow-colored locks, and not in a good way.”

Carlita’s eyes grew wide. “A beautician from around here?”

“No, in the slammer. It was a gal who was practicing on us so she could get her beautician’s license as soon as she was released.”

Carlita patted Dernice’s arm. “I’m sure Mercedes’ friend is legit. Let me see what I can do.”

“And if I see Luigi, I’ll send him your way.”

Carlita stared at the door for a long time after Dernice closed it. If Luigi was responsible for Roxy’s death and stabbing, the woman would, once again, have lost a man to the prison system.

On her way home, she stopped by to check on Mercedes, who was still staying with Autumn. In a couple days, her sons and their families would be gone, and her daughter would get her bedroom back.

Tomorrow was Christmas Eve and something she was looking forward to – making more memories. It would be hard watching Paulie, Gina and the triplets, along with Vinnie, Brittney and the baby pack their bags and say their good-byes.

While she chatted with her daughter, Carlita remembered her conversation with Dernice. “That gal friend of yours who does hair, do you think she could squeeze Dernice in for an appointment, maybe a cut, dye-job and style tomorrow?”

“I’ll check.” Mercedes whipped out her cell phone and sent her friend a message. Seconds later, her phone beeped.

Carlita shook her head in amazement. “You kids are so quick on your phones.”

“Because they’re always with us.”

“All that radiation can’t be good.”

“Thea said she has an opening at eleven tomorrow morning. She closes at noon.”

Carlita pulled her cell phone from her pocket. “Let me check and see if that works.”

Tink. “Dernice is pretty speedy too. She can do eleven. Send me