“Why not?” Angelica folded the check. “I was a model tenant.”
“If I was in the market for a tenant who constantly complained, whined, griped.”
“I don’t need your stupid reference anyway.” Angelica marched out of the apartment. Moments later, the back door slammed shut.
“Good riddance.” Carlita turned to Brittney. “How’s it going?”
“Great. I decided to make a fresh batch of angel hair pasta to go along with my unstuffed cabbage dish. I know it’s kinda early but I was bored.”
“You can cook whenever you want.” Carlita offered to stir the pot of pasta while Brittney finished chopping the vegetables. Next, she placed the ground beef in the bottom of a Dutch oven and turned the stove on medium-high before sprinkling in the chopped onion.
While the meat cooked, Brittney told Carlita how she was growing more uncomfortable and nervous that she would go into labor before she could make it home.
“I hope not, Brittney. You have a few more weeks.”
“The baby is due Halloween week.” She pressed a hand on her bulging stomach. “I’m probably stressing out the baby because of all of the turmoil.”
“And having to leave your home unexpectedly. The pasta is almost ready.” Carlita gave the pot a final stir and removed it from the heat.
“The meat is cooked, too.” Brittney added the rest of the ingredients to the pot, stirred it thoroughly and placed a lid on top before reducing the heat. “This needs to simmer for about half an hour and then it’ll be ready.”
“That was easy,” Carlita said. “I can’t wait to try it.”
“It’s low carb and healthy.” Brittney tucked a stray strand of blond hair behind her ear. “I like to eat it without the pasta, but Vinnie insists on having it. He would eat pasta for breakfast, lunch and dinner if he could.”
Carlita chuckled. “Sounds like my son. He’s just like his dad. Vinnie Senior was Italian through and through.”
“Something smells delicious.” Mercedes breezed into the apartment and joined them in the kitchen, sniffing appreciatively. “I smell garlic.”
“Brittney’s making her unstuffed cabbage. It’ll be ready for a taste test shortly.”
“I’m always good for sampling anything Italian.”
“How are you feeling? Dernice said you barely made it out of the apartment before losing it,” Carlita said.
Mercedes wrinkled her nose. “That awful smell. I don’t know how Dernice and Elvira can handle it.”
“It’s pretty bad.” Carlita sighed heavily. “I’m worried about Elvira. She’s a mess.”
The conversation turned to Brittney’s cabbage dish, and she gave Mercedes a brief rundown of the ingredients. “I think it’s close to being ready.” She plucked a piece of cabbage from the pot and nibbled the edge. “The cabbage is cooked, but I think it needs a little more seasoning.” She poured a small amount of salt and pepper into the pot and stirred it again. “That should do it.”
Carlita grabbed three small serving bowls from the cupboard and filled them with cabbage. She handed a bowl to Brittney and her daughter before lifting her own dish, inhaling the rich aroma. It reminded her of home…of Old Italy.
She scooped up a spoonful and took a small bite, savoring the tangy tomatoes and fresh garlic. “There’s a hint of heat.”
“I added a teeny amount of red pepper flakes,” Brittney said. “I love anything with heat. The baby isn’t crazy about spicy dishes, so I have to be careful.”
“It’s delicious.” Carlita scooped up another small spoonful.
“It is,” Mercedes agreed. “I’m not a huge fan of cabbage, but this is good.”
Carlita was curious. “What other foods do you enjoy cooking?”
“I make a mean bruschetta.”
“I love bruschetta,” Mercedes said. “Maybe you could show me your version.”
Brittney brightened. “Really? I would love to. I mean, whenever you have time. I know you’re busy.”
“I’m never too busy to try my hand at a new recipe.”
Carlita smiled, proud that Mercedes was making an attempt with Brittney.
The front bell rang. “I’ll get it.” Mercedes set her empty dish on the counter and ran out of the kitchen. She returned moments later, followed by Shelby and Violet.
“Violet and I are on our way to her daycare. We thought we would stop by to say ‘hi’ to Brittney,” Shelby explained.
“It’s nice to see you again.” Brittney smiled politely.
Violet darted across the room and wrapped her arms around Carlita’s legs. “Nana.”
“Hello, Violet.” Carlita picked her up and hugged her tightly. “You’re off to daycare?”
“School,” Violet corrected. “I’m going to school because I’m a big girl.” She wiggled until Carlita set her on the floor.
“Hello, Violet.” Brittney bent down to her level. “Do you remember me?”
Violet nodded and pointed to Brittney’s baby bump. “You have a big tummy.”
“That’s because I’m having a baby.”
“I want a baby,” Violet said. “A baby sister.”
“You do?” Carlita smiled and eyed Shelby whose face turned a tinge of pink. “We’ve already talked about a baby sister…or brother. Maybe soon, but not right now.”
“When can we see the baby?” Violet asked.
“Not for a little while. He’s still growing,” Brittney explained.
Satisfied with the answer, Violet ran off to track down Rambo and Grayvie.
“Violet can be a little blunt,” Shelby apologized. “It’s hard to predict what will come out of her mouth next.”
“She’s adorable.” Brittney smiled softly. “I can’t wait. It seems to be taking forever.”
“It will go by fast,” Carlita motioned to the pot of pasta and pot of cabbage. “We were tasting Brittney’s delicious stuffed cabbage dish. Would you like to try it?”
“Thanks, but we just ate. We can’t stay long. I need to drop Violet off and head downstairs to help Tony.” Shelby turned to Brittney. “It was nice to see you again.”
“You, too.”
Carlita walked Shelby to the door,
