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“I need to leave for my next tour.” Sam hesitated. “Would you…do you want to go with me, Mercedes?”
“Sorry, but I can’t.”
Sam’s shoulders drooped. “Maybe next time.”
Vinnie waited until he left. “You really are giving him the cold shoulder.”
“I feel kinda bad, but I keep thinking about the whole trust issue.”
“Sometimes these things take time,” Carlita said. “It could be the relationship has fizzled. It happens. People change. Better now than later.”
“Mercedes is still young,” Tony said. “My guess is now that Ma moved out and she’s living alone, she’s realizing she likes her freedom.”
Mercedes made a timeout. “Will you all stop analyzing my love life like I’m not here?”
Vinnie hugged her. “That’s what big brothers are for. Sam’s a good guy, but at the end of the day, it’s your life. There’s nothing wrong with slow and steady or even taking a step back.”
“Everything happens for a reason,” Carlita said. “Maybe Natalie showing up was a wake-up call, and you realized you’re no longer in love.”
“All I know is I’m busy with my author group, work, writing, hanging out with friends. Sam is always busy too. Nights, weekends, holidays. I don’t want to sit around twiddling my thumbs.”
“Then maybe taking a step back is the right thing to do,” Tony said. “Either way, you know your family loves you. All we want is for you to be happy.”
“Thanks.” Mercedes planted a kiss on Tony’s cheek and then Vinnie’s. “I have some of the best brothers in the whole wide world. How about dinner at my place tonight?”
“It depends on what you’re making,” Tony teased. “I’m not sure I trust your cooking.”
Mercedes playfully punched him in the arm. “Love and adoration one minute. Jibs and jabs the next.”
“You know I’m messing with you.”
“I figured I would make a batch of Ma’s homemade spaghetti and meatballs.”
“It’s a deal. Wait until Violet finds out. It’s one of her favorite dishes.”
Mercedes tapped Luigi’s arm. “You and Dernice are welcome to join us.”
“We’ll be there. Dernice can fill us in on what she found out,” Luigi said.
“What a great idea. A free meal and a tank full of gas in exchange for helping us,” Carlita said.
“How does seven-thirty sound? It will give me time to swing by Colby’s for some of those fancy Italian ices he stocks.”
“Seven-thirty is perfect.” Carlita opened her purse. “I want to help.”
Mercedes stopped her. “Not a chance. This is my treat.”
Luigi took off. Mercedes, Tony, and Vinnie weren’t far behind, leaving Carlita and Pete alone in the alley.
“I didn’t want to say anything in front of the others, but the local Savannah expert I contacted is eager to come by and check out the tunnel.”
“When?” Carlita asked.
“Now.”
“Are you going to mention what you and I found?”
“I’m not sure. I’ll know more once I meet the man.”