Page 11

“First things first. Let’s set the baby bouncer on the floor and get little Melody nice and comfy.” Balancing the baby in her right arm, Carlita plucked the bouncer from the wagon and placed it near the sofa.

“I can help.” Violet dragged her oversized bag of art supplies across the room and dumped them out in the middle of the living room floor.

“You have a lot of neat stuff,” Mercedes said.

“I’m gonna share everything with you. But first I have to get it all organized.” The young girl began singing a little ditty about flowers and rainbows while placing sketch pads on the coffee table. Up next was her box of scented markers she carefully set between the sketch pads. “Nana can take care of Melody while you and I draw pictures.”

“Are you hungry? Would you like a snack?”

“I brought some fruit yummies.” Violet cast her aunt a sly side glance and Carlita could almost see the wheels spinning. “What do you have?”

“I’m not sure. Let me look.” Mercedes darted into the kitchen and began rummaging around in the cupboards.

Violet, momentarily forgetting about unpacking her supplies, trailed after her.

“I have a can of sardines.”

The young girl’s eyes widened in horror. “Yuck.”

Carlita chuckled. Mercedes caught her mother’s eye and winked. “What about creamed spinach? I can warm it up on the stove or if you’re really hungry, I’ll pop it in the microwave.”

“Ew.” Violet clutched her small tummy. “No wonder you’re so skinny. You should buy better food.”

Her grandmother couldn’t resist. “What do you think is better food?”

“Skittles. Popsicles, stuff like that.”

Melody balled up her fist and began sucking on it. She let out a loud belch, right in Carlita’s face.

“Whew.” She turned away. “Your mom was right. Melody has the burpies.”

“The stinky burpies.” Violet patted the top of the counter. “It’s okay Aunt Mercedes. I’m not hungry.”

“I was kidding. I’m sure I have some snacks you’ll like.” Mercedes took her hand and led her into the kitchen to a basket of fresh fruit sitting on the counter. “How does a banana or an apple sound?”

“An apple.” Violet began singing another song, this one about penguins and porcupines, while her aunt sliced the fruit.

“Here you go.” Mercedes placed the wedges in a bowl and handed it to her.

“Thank you.”

“You’re welcome.”

The two returned to the coffee table. Before they got down to the business of creating their masterpieces, Violet insisted her aunt sniff every single marker.

Meanwhile, Carlita and her new granddaughter moseyed around the living room. The baby settled down a bit, but every so often she burped. A sour milk smell accompanied the burps.

She didn’t seem fussy and stared wide-eyed at everything Carlita showed her. Melody’s small head bobbed as she turned her attention to her grandmother, intently studying her face.

Carlita ran a light finger across her soft, chubby cheek. “You’re such a little sweetie pie,” she cooed. “Like your big sister, Violet.”

She placed the infant in her bouncy seat, tracked down her cell phone, and snapped a picture. Carlita took several photos of Mercedes and Violet before checking her email.

Several of the other area business owners had sent group replies to Steve’s email, all confirming they hadn’t been visited by burglars. They thanked him and promised to be extra vigilant in case the thieves came back for round two.

She finished scrolling before tapping out a quick text to Pete, letting him know she was at Mercedes’ place babysitting. Her stomach grumbled, reminding her she hadn’t eaten all day. “I don’t know about you, but I’m getting kinda hungry.”

“Me too.”

“Me three.” Violet held her sketch pad up. “I finished my picture for you, Nana.”

Carlita took the drawing from her and admired the stick figures. One was a small stick figure with purple hair. The figure stood next to a larger stick figure with clunky oval shoes, short black hair and bright red lips. “Let me guess…this is you and me.”

“Yep.” Violet beamed. “Do you see Rambo?”

Sure enough, Rambo…or at least the stick version of her pup, stood by her side, his eyes huge black orbs and his tail twice the size of his body.

“I love it. I can’t wait to take it home and hang it on the fridge.” Carlita kissed the top of her head. “Why don’t I order food from the restaurant? We can head over to Morrell Park for a picnic lunch.”

“What about Rambo?” Violet asked.

“We can even swing by the house and get Rambo.” Carlita eyed the baby, who was still watching her intently. “Unfortunately, we’ll need a stroller for Melody. I don’t want to disturb your mom in case she’s taking a nap.”

“Daddy has a buggy at work. We take Melody for walks when she gets fussy.”

“You’re right. I remember seeing it the other day.” Carlita placed a to-go order for them and then she and Mercedes began packing a separate bag of items they thought they might need for their impromptu outing.

The baby clenched her fists and kicked her feet. Mercedes promptly picked her up. She stopped fussing; her gaze laser-focused on her aunt while she talked. “There’s my little merry Melody,” Mercedes sang. “You and Violet are such cutie pies.”

Belch. Melody burped loudly, blowing it right in Mercedes’ face.

She gasped. “What on earth was that?”

Violet, noticing the look of shock on her aunt’s face, started giggling. “You got one of Melody’s icky burpies.”

“No kidding.” Mercedes frantically waved her hand in front of her face, noticing the baby was trying to smile. “I think she thinks it’s funny.”

“Her tummy is probably feeling better, getting all the bad gasses out,” Carlita cooed, lightly rubbing the top of her head. “At least it’s not coming out the other end.”

“Not yet,” Mercedes grimaced.

“She has some bad rooty toots,” Violet said.

“Rooty toots?”

“Stinky toots. Daddy calls them blowouts.” The young girl plugged her nose. “They’re ickier than the burpies.”

“Such a small thing to have such a powerful smell.” Mercedes started to hand the baby to her mother, which must’ve triggered another burping episode. She let loose a delicate burp. Although small in sound, it was big on smell.

Poor Mercedes was at the right angle and breathed in the odor. She made a gagging sound and started to heave.

Carlita quickly took the baby from her daughter.

Mercedes doubled over, clutching her gut and dry heaving. “That…was the worst smell I’ve ever breathed.”

“I never realized you had such sensitive gag reflexes,” her mother said. “If you think her burps are bad, the rooty toots I’m sure are much worse.”

“Lots worse,” Violet confirmed.

“I need air.” Mercedes flung the front door open and stepped into the hall.

Violet ran after her.

Carlita and the baby trailed behind. “You’ll need to go back for the baby bag.”

“Do we have to have it?”

Her mother rolled her eyes. “Good heavens. Hold your breath.”

“Good idea.” Mercedes ran inside and returned in a flash, travel bag in hand. “I can still smell it. I think the smell is trapped in my nostrils.”

“You’re so dramatic sometimes.” Reaching the main floor landing, they stopped by the pawn shop. Carlita found the stroller in the back, tucked in between the desk and the coat rack.

Tony stood off to the side talking to an employee. He gave a quick wave and made his way over. “Now this is a good-looking bunch of ladies.” He ruffled Violet’s hair. “I heard you were hanging out with Nana and Aunt Mercedes while Mommy takes a nap.”

“We’re going to have a picnic at the park,” Violet announced.

“A picnic? No fair.”

“Do you want to come with us?”

“I have to work.” Tony gave her a quick hug. “Maybe next time.”

“We’re here to borrow the stroller.” Mercedes grabbed the handle and steered it toward the door. “Your child has some pretty powerful burps, bro.”

Tony grinned. “I’m guessing you got the full Melody gas blast. Shelby has already talked to the doctor about her excessive burping. He doesn’t seem concerned. She’s gaining weight and digesting her formula well.”

“Maybe she has a super digester,” Mercedes said. “Thank goodness we haven’t experienced what Violet calls the rooty toots.”

“If you do, you’re in for a real treat.” Tony motioned to a customer who approached the counter. “I better get back to work. Have fun.”

“I’m sure we will.”

Cutting through the pawn shop, Mercedes, Melody and Violet waited on the sidewalk while Carlita ran to the other end of the block to grab their food from Ravello’s.

It was a nearly picture-perfect day with comfortable temperatures and only a few fluffy clouds floating by in the sky. Because the summer season had recently ended, both vehicle traffic and pedestrian traffic were light.

Reaching the busy Bay Street intersection, they waited for the light to change before crossing to the other side. The Parrot House Restaurant’s parking lot was only half full, similar to what Carlita had noticed when she picked up their food from Ravello’s.

While Mercedes and the kids waited outside, Carlita ran upstairs to the apartment to grab Rambo. “Violet is here. Let’s go for a walk.”

The pup, who had been snoozing in his doggie bed, promptly scrambled to his feet when he heard Violet’s name. He bolted past her, ran down the steps, and flew out of the building.

Carlita caught up with Rambo, who was already at Violet’s side, his tail wagging fast and furious. “You should’ve seen him. As soon as he heard Violet’s name, he took off like a rocket.”

“And he ran right to her,” Mercedes said. “Before we know it, Melody will be tottering around, chasing after him.”

“I can’t wait.” Carlita could feel a tug of emotion as she watched the pup and her granddaughter reunite. An inkling of sadness was mingled in…sad about the fact she was so far away from Noel, Paulie, Gracie, and little Vinny, her other grandchildren. “One of these days, we need to get the rest of the family down here.”

“Tony’s got some extra room now, thanks to you.”

“Nana gave us another house.”

Carlita smiled. “I gave you some extra space and your own bedroom.”

“Because you’re the best Nana in the whole wide world.” Violet grabbed hold of her hand and leaned in. “I love you,” she whispered.

Carlita knelt next to her. “And I love you.” Feeling emotional, she blinked back the tears and sucked in a breath. “Shall we stop by to say hello to the Waving Girl?”

“The Waving Girl. The Waving Girl,” Violet chanted. “Let’s go, Rambo!”

Because the restaurant and Pete and Carlita’s apartment were only a quick jaunt away from the popular park, they reached the Savannah River in no time.

“Help Nana find the perfect picnic spot,” Carlita said.

“I will.” Violet tromped down the small incline. She walked in circles and returned to where they stood waiting. “Over here.”

Mercedes and Carlita, with Melody content in her stroller, followed the young girl to a grassy knoll away from other park visitors, yet only steps from the river.

“I brought a blanket.” Mercedes removed a plaid blanket from the bag and spread it out on the grass. “What’s for lunch?”

“I’m not sure. I told Arnie we were going on a picnic with Violet and he asked if he could surprise us.”

“As long as it’s not spinach and sardines.” Violet wrinkled her nose.

“I’m sure he didn’t pack either of those.”

Baby Melody started to fuss. “I think it might be time for a bottle.”

Carlita removed it from the travel bag, popped the top, and began feeding her. The baby hungrily sucked down the formula, barely stopping long enough to take a breath. “No wonder she has a lot of gas. She eats very fast.”

“Don’t take it away,” Violet warned.

It was too late. Thinking she was gulping it down too quickly, Carlita pulled it out of her mouth, breaking the suction.

Melody started wailing loudly, her tiny fists and feet flailing as she demanded her bottle back.

“She has a healthy set of lungs,” Mercedes said.

A couple walked by, slowing when the baby’s screams grew even louder.

“She’s hungry.” Carlita shrugged.

The woman nodded. They kept walking, but she glanced over her shoulder when Melody ramped up her displeasure at not being fed.

“You better give it back,” Violet sighed. “She won’t stop until you do.”

Carlita promptly placed the bottle back in her mouth and she grew quiet. “We might as well wait until she finishes eating.”

“She’s fast, Nana.”

“I bet she is.”

Melody polished off the bottle. Carlita promptly removed her from the stroller and began patting her back. They walked in circles with the baby burping once, twice, three times in a row.

She started to doze off. Carlita carefully placed her inside the stroller and tucked the blankets around her. “The little sweetheart was hungry and now it’s naptime.”

Mercedes clapped her hands. “We should eat before round two of the ‘burpfest’ begins,” she joked.

“You’re probably right.” Carlita removed the bags of food and placed them on the edge of the blanket. She plucked her purse from the storage area and set it by her side. Her cell phone slid out and Carlita noticed she’d missed several texts and calls. “Someone has been trying to get ahold of me.”

She tapped the screen. Elvira’s number popped up. “It’s Elvira. I’ll call her after we eat.” Carlita started to turn it off when another text popped up from her former neighbor. Hey, Carlita. It’s me. Please call me right away.