“What are you gonna do?”
“I could wait for her to make the first move or…”
“Or what?”
“I was thinkin’ about driving there to see what’s up. You know, without letting Shelby know I tracked her down.”
“But not confront her,” Carlita said.
“Right.”
She studied her son’s face. There were dark circles under his eyes and a look of resignation. Tony loved his wife. He loved Violet. If Shelby needed help or counseling, she knew her son would move heaven and earth to get her what she needed. But none of that could – or would - happen while Shelby was hiding out. “I’ll ride up there with you.”
“Thanks, Ma. I was thinking maybe tomorrow morning. I won’t have any trouble getting someone to cover the shop for me.”
“I’ll do it,” Mercedes volunteered. “I’ll see if Sam can watch the pawn shop for me while I take Violet to school.”
“Thanks, Mercedes.”
With a plan in place for the following morning, Tony turned to go. “I almost forgot. Shelby’s Uncle Jerry left a message on my cell phone last night, asking me to call him back this morning.”
“I’m betting Shelby contacted them,” Carlita said. “Maybe you should call him back now, before he shows up on your doorstep.”
“I was thinking the same thing.” Tony removed his cell phone from his pocket and tapped the screen.
The two had a brief conversation, and it was apparent to Carlita that Shelby’s uncle was aware she had left.
“I see. She’s in school right now. We’ll be ready for you at five.” Tony ended the call and waved the phone in the air. “Shelby asked Jerry and Ginny to come get Violet.”
Carlita touched his arm, wishing more than anything she could somehow fix things. Tony’s entire life, his wife and stepdaughter, were slipping away from him. “This might work out for the best. Violet misses her mother.”
“She does. Maybe if they’re reunited, Shelby will be more receptive to sitting down and talking.” Tony thanked his mother again and then trudged out of the apartment.
Mercedes waited until the door closed behind him. “Poor Tony.”
“Poor Violet. The child is going to be so confused.”
Carlita thought about canceling her dinner plans with Pete. Knowing Violet was leaving, she didn’t want Tony to be home alone. She ran downstairs to talk to him and found her tenant, Cool Bones, inside.
“Hello, Cool Bones. I haven’t seen you around lately.”
“Me and my band have been busy with our gigs, not to mention a lot of practice sessions. I’m looking to get rid of some equipment. Tony offered to let me sell it here in the shop.” Cool Bones said. “He mentioned Shelby and Violet weren’t around, so I invited him to join me and the guys down at the Thirsty Crow for dinner and drinks tonight before our first set.”
“That was very nice of you.” Carlita pressed her palms together. “I think you should take Cool Bones up on his offer. It will be good for you to get out of the house for a couple hours.”
Maybe you can shake the tambourine and join in.”
Tony cracked a smile. It was one of the few Carlita had seen since Shelby’s departure. “I’ll take you up on the invite, minus the tambourine.”
The men agreed to meet in the alley as soon as Tony closed the pawn shop for the day, and Carlita followed her tenant out.
She stopped him in the stairwell. “Thank you for inviting Tony to hang out with you and your band.”
“Tony’s a good guy. He reminds me of my nephew.” Cool Bones glanced around and lowered his voice. “I ran into Elvira on my way in. She didn’t go into detail but said something about Shelby taking off.”
“She did.”
“I was kinda wondering.” Cool Bones abruptly stopped.
“Wondering?” Carlita asked.
“I ran into Shelby last week. She was with some people.”
“What kind of people?”
“A sketchy bunch. Late nights bring out a whole different crowd.”
“She left Violet here with Tony.”
Cool Bones let out a low whistle.
Carlita told him Shelby’s aunt and uncle were picking Violet up later that afternoon. “He’s taking it hard.”
“That’s rough. I’m glad I extended the invitation.”
“Me too.” Carlita patted his arm. “Thanks again. I don’t know what I did to deserve such an awesome tenant, but I’m glad to have you here and part of the family.”
Carlita watched as Cool Bones headed upstairs to his apartment. She thought about what he had said about bumping into Shelby. Was she running with a rough crowd? Would she be exposing Violet to a potentially unsafe environment?
Her only consolation was Shelby’s aunt and uncle were down-to-earth, kind people who loved their niece and Violet. Perhaps if they met with Shelby, they could form their own opinion on what was happening.
It was the only thing Carlita could hope for, and that Tony wasn’t turning Violet over to someone who might, inadvertently, be placing the little girl in harm’s way.
*****
Mercedes had already left to meet up with Sam by the time Carlita began primping for her dinner date with Pete.
Halfway through, Tony called to let her know Shelby’s aunt and uncle had arrived. She left the apartment and caught up with them in the alley.
Violet’s eyes were filled with tears as she clung to Tony’s leg. “I want Daddy to go with us,” she said.
“I’m sorry, Violet. He can’t right now,” Jerry Crowley said in a soft voice. “Your mother is waiting to see you. Don’t you want to see her?”
Carlita noted the anxious look in the man’s eyes as he turned his attention to Tony. “Ginny and I are here for you. Please don’t view us as the bad guys.”
“I don’t.” Tony placed a light hand on his daughter’s head. “It will be good
