“Except the neighbors.”
“Shelby is at work.”
“What about Cool Bones and our new neighbor, Sam Ivey?”
“Oh.” Mercedes frowned. “Cool Bones.”
“He was out on his balcony, wondering what the racket was.”
“Sorry.” Mercedes let out a puff of air, blowing her bangs out of her eyes. “I forgot about Cool Bones.”
“Because you were too focused on irritating our new tenant,” Carlita guessed.
“He started it.”
“Started what?”
“He was playing some annoying classical music. It was giving me a headache.”
“And yours didn’t?” Carlita rolled her eyes. “This nonsense has got to stop. I’m sorry you and our new tenant got off on the wrong foot, but he’s here for a year, unless he does something to break the terms of his lease, so you two might as well make peace.”
Mercedes crossed her arms and met her mother’s hard stare.
“You’re stubborn as a mule.” Carlita lifted both hands and stared skyward. “I give up.”
Mercedes followed her mother into the living room. “I’ll run next door and apologize to Cool Bones.”
“And Mr. Ivey,” her mother added. “Cool Bones asked me to stop by his place. Hopefully, he doesn’t want to move out because you’re making all of us miserable.”
Mother and daughter exited the apartment and made their way to the apartment directly behind theirs. Carlita tapped lightly and the door opened.
Cool Bones opened it wider, motioning the women to come in. “Carlita, Mercedes. How was the disco party?” he teased.
“It’s over and I’m sorry,” Mercedes apologized.
“It’s okay. I figured you was paying me back for all of the times I practice my sax in the apartment.”
“Our new tenant, Mr. Ivey, and she have gotten off on the wrong foot and she was paying him back for some imaginary offense.”
“It wasn’t imaginary.” Mercedes stomped her foot in frustration.
“He seems like a nice man,” Cool Bones replied. “I met him this morning. We exchanged business cards. He’s going to recommend the Thirsty Crow to his customers, and I’m going to recommend his walking tours to our patrons.”
He patted Mercedes’ arm. “Maybe you did get off on the wrong foot. It happens to the best of us.”
“How is business?” Carlita asked.
“We got some great gigs lined up, which reminds me. I wanted to talk to you about something.”
Chapter 5
“Sure,” Carlita said. “What’s up?”
“I was thinking about me and the Jazz Boys hosting a little get-together a week from this Friday. I would like to invite the owners of the Thirsty Crow and a dozen or so of the locals who support our business.”
“Here at the apartment? It sounds like fun. You know how I love parties.” Carlita had already hosted several events since moving to Savannah, one of them a block-party to get to know her Walton Square neighbors. “Do you need help?”
“No, but I was wondering if we could use the courtyard since my apartment is on the small side.”
“Absolutely. What time?”
While Carlita and Cool Bones discussed the upcoming party, Mercedes wandered to the window and gazed out.
“It’s a shame Ravello won’t be up and running before the party.” Carlita snapped her fingers. “I could whip up a few of the appetizers I plan to put on the menu, if you want.”
Cool Bones patted his stomach. “Carlita, you know that’s an offer I can’t refuse. You are hands down one of the best Italian cooks in the entire south.”
“Flattery will get you everywhere,” Carlita joked. “I’ll start working on a small sampler menu. In the meantime, I’ll let the other tenants know the courtyard will be unavailable not this Friday, but next.”
She rattled on as the trio made their way into the hall. “I also have several boxes of twinkle lights from the last courtyard party if you would like to borrow them.”
The door to Sam Ivey’s apartment opened and the handsome young tenant stepped into the hall. He smiled at Carlita and Cool Bones. When his eyes met Mercedes’ eyes, the smile vanished. “Hello, Mrs. Garlucci, Cool Bones.” He pointedly ignored Mercedes and focused his attention on Carlita.
“I’m done moving everything into the apartment and finished filling out the apartment checklist you gave me.” He handed Carlita a sheet of paper.
Carlita glanced at it. “Thank you. I hope you found everything in working order.”
“It is. I’m enjoying the courtyard view. It’s been fairly quiet, except for a short time ago when there was some loud music, but it didn’t bother me.”
“Too bad,” Mercedes muttered under her breath, and her mother pinched the back of her arm.
“Ouch!” Mercedes scowled at her mother.
Cool Bones chuckled and winked at Mercedes before turning his attention to his new neighbor. “I was telling Carlita my band, the Jazz Boys, and I would like to host a party down in the courtyard a week from Friday. You’re welcome to join us.”
“I’ll have to check my appointment calendar. If possible, you can count me in. It will give me a chance to meet some of the other neighbors.”
“You’ll love living in Walton Square.” Carlita grasped her daughter’s elbow and propelled her forward. “We’re glad you’re here, Mr. Ivey.”
“Sam,” the man interrupted. “You can call me Sam.”
“Yes. Sam.” Carlita cleared her throat. “I’m not one to beat around the bush. I’m going to just speak my mind.”
The smile returned to Sam’s face. “I appreciate that.”
“It appears you and my daughter, Mercedes, may have gotten off on the wrong foot the other day. She seems to think you don’t like her.”
“I never said that,” Mercedes gritted out.
“I don’t know where she got that impression,” Sam drawled, his eyes slowly shifting to Mercedes. “We did have a slight exchange over her Segway when I was moving
