“Whatever? Where’s the man? Let’s see what he thinks.” Elvira looked around disinterestedly.
“Luigi isn’t here yet.” Carlita glanced over Elvira’s shoulder. “I see him coming now.”
Luigi paused long enough to get rid of his cigarette before stepping inside. He was carrying a gift bag and handed it to Carlita. “Thank you for inviting me, Mrs. G. This is for you.”
“Thank you, Luigi.” A bottle of Dom Perignon was in the bag.
“Hey, Elvira.” Luigi nodded at her and then turned to Dernice. He stared at her for a long time. “Dernice?”
“Yes?” Dernice’s face turned red.
“You look…different.”
“In a good way,” Carlita added.
“Yeah. I like it. The hair, I mean. It’s a nice look, not too harsh anymore,” Luigi stumbled over his words, but Carlita could tell from the look on Dernice’s face she was flattered.
“Thank you.”
“You’re welcome.”
“Well. Uh.” Luigi rubbed his hands together. “I better go check on Ricco. I heard about Roxy’s killer, how he ended up dead. I kinda figured it would go down like that.”
Before Carlita could ask him what he meant, Reese and her co-worker arrived, followed by Annie and her friend.
One by one, the guests passed through the entrance, all bearing gifts for Carlita and a heartfelt thank you for including them.
Cool Bones, his daughter and granddaughter were the last to arrive. “Sorry that we’re late. We had a few last-minute errands to run.” He turned to the woman and young girl beside him. “Carlita, this is my daughter, Jordan, and my granddaughter, Brielle.”
“How do you do.” Carlita shook both their hands.
“Santa is going to find Poppa’s house and bring me a puppy.” The child smiled as she hopped up and down.
“A puppy?” Carlita clasped her hands. “What a lucky girl.”
She solemnly nodded as her mother placed a light hand on her shoulder. “You know we can’t have a puppy in our apartment.”
“Then we’ll have to move.”
“Thank you for inviting us,” Jordan said. “Dad told me you had a sad situation with Lee Strange.”
“Yes. It’s been a troubling week,” Carlita said.
After they wandered off, Pete spoke. “The police stopped by this afternoon before I left to tell me about Strange’s death. I pretended not to know and didn’t mention you filled me in earlier.”
“It was a tragedy all the way around,” Carlita said.
“Yes, it was.”
The couple mingled with their guests for a few minutes before calling everyone to the buffet to load up on the food. Christmas music played in the background, and Carlita noticed the children stopping by the tree to see if there were presents under it with their names on them.
After dinner, they lingered over dessert as the children gathered around while Santa made an appearance and passed out presents, but not before getting a solemn promise from each of them to be good all year long.
All too soon, the evening ended, and the guests started to leave. Carlita stood by the door, wishing them a Merry Christmas and thanking them for coming.
Finally, the last guest departed, and only Pete and the family remained.
They gathered around the tree, and Carlita started first, presenting Pete with her gift by asking Tony to help her carry the new wrought iron gate for his courtyard in.
Pete was thrilled with the gate, monogrammed with the letters, “PT” in the center and a cameo of a pirate off to the side. “I will put this to good use.” Pete kissed her soundly. “It’s the perfect gift. I have one for you.” He reached into his pocket and pulled out a small box.
When Carlita opened the box, she found an antique locket with the letters “P” and “C” entwined together. “I love it.” Pete helped her put it on, and then she proudly showed it off.
Her family came bearing gifts for Pete, as well. There was a book on pirate lore, a fancy pirate hat and a pirate paperweight.
Carlita’s children were thrilled with the framed photos of the entire family. The gifts were passed around for everyone to see. After it ended, she and the others began gathering the torn wrapping paper and empty boxes.
By then, the children were getting cranky, and PJ clung to his mother’s leg. “I think we need to head to bed so Santa can come.”
The children stampeded to the door, impatiently waiting for their parents while Carlita and the rest of the family trailed behind.
“Wait.” Vinnie stopped them. “There’s one final surprise.”
“I forgot all about it,” Tony said. “You’ve been talkin’ about this big surprise since you got here.”
Brittney, who stood behind her husband juggling the baby in one arm and a gift bag in the other, handed the bag to him.
Vinnie reached inside and pulled out a stack of envelopes. “Wait ‘til everyone has their envelope to open them.”
After handing them out, he winked at his wife. “Okay. Go ahead and open your present from Brit and me. We’re takin’ a business trip in the spring and want to take all of you along with us.”
Carlita turned the envelope over. She slid her fingernail under the edge and peeled the paper back. A card with a sketch of a cruise ship decked out in Christmas lights, and a jolly Old Saint Nick sliding down the gangway, dragging a bag of gifts behind him was inside.
She opened the card, which read, “Merry Christmas, Ma.” There was a folded piece of paper. It was a voucher. Her eyes shot up.
Vinnie was grinning from ear to ear.
“Son. What is this?”
“We’re goin’ on a cruise. The Garlucci family cruise.”
The end.
The Series Continues...
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