The concierge had directed us to the route along the River Road to have the best viewing site. Because of the crowds, we inched down Poydras Street and took the trolley to the French Market. From there we were able to view the bonfires.
The bonfires were better than any Christmas lights. Many of them towered 30-feet-or-higher in shapes of miniature homes, replicas of steamships, and varying symbols. Louisianans have a reputation for ‘letting the good times roll’ and tonight was no exception. We sipped our mulled wine and witnessed the bonfires. I later browsed the myriad of stalls bearing everything from spices to jewelry. I fingered a few pearl creations that caught my eye.
“Thought I’d find you here,” a familiar voice behind me said.
I twirled around to see none other than Amy and Clara. For two seconds I was in shock and didn’t believe my eyes. Then I laughed and hugged them both.
“What are you two doing here?” I asked.
“We didn’t have plans so we decided on a trip. New Orleans sounded like a great idea. We knew you and Tom would be here,” Clara said.
“Whoa. Just how did you know that?” I asked.
“Everybody knew. It’s all Tom could talk about. He was so excited that he told everyone,” Amy added.
“I might have known. Anyway I don’t care. I’m so happy to see you two. Where are you staying?”
“Howard got us all rooms,” Clara bubbled.
“Howard did what? Who exactly is all?” I asked half afraid of the answer.
Clara practically glowed with the answer.
“Howard has business in New Orleans so he and Hattie mentioned they planned a visit to the Crescent City. Hattie invited Debra but she already had tickets for Manchester. Debra told Amy who asked if she could come. And then of course I’d tag along as her plus one.
Suzy and Tony agreed to join us in a few days. Howard rented a vehicle and a driver, arranged for accommodations. And ta-da! Here we are. Surprise!”
About that time Tom came around the corner from buying gator bites. His eyes dilated when he saw Amy and Clara. Still, he plastered on his professional fake smile and approached.
“Well. Well. The gang’s all here I see,” he managed to say without choking. “We were just at the bonfire and headed back to the hotel for a nightcap. Care to join us?”
I couldn’t have loved him more at that moment. His plans for our alone time flew right out of the window yet he managed to be a gracious southern gentleman.
“Of course,” Clara added. “Just let me call Howard and Hattie. They can meet us at the hotel bar. They were tired after the trip and stayed at the hotel.”
“And which hotel would that be?” I asked.
“The Marriot Riverside,” Amy said as Clara spoke with Howard.
Of all the hotels in all of New Orleans, you had to end up in mine with apologies to Casablanca. I was reading Tom’s mind, but I didn’t care. Now it was really Christmas and I was ready to celebrate.
We caught up with all the news from Athena on the walk back. It didn’t take long since we’d only been gone two days. Derek was boring Clara to tears with research; Amy’s boyfriend had work commitments. While they were visiting Hattie, the idea of a possible trip came up. She mentioned it to Howard and with a little help from Howard’s staff, the possibility became reality.
“Howard is so smitten with Hattie. He’s practically begging her to become his Missus. I don’t know why she is hesitating. He is so in love, he’d do anything for her,” Clara said.
“Hattie has a lot to consider at her age,” I pointed out. “She is looking at things from a lot of different angles now that Debra knows her identity. Not to mention the furor over Felicia. By the way, is she still awaiting sentencing with Murray languishing like a lost puppy?”
“Yes. As a matter of fact, Debra grew so tired of it all that she gave up and booked passage back to England where she intends to use the nest egg from Cyrus to open a pastry shop,” Clara added.
Good for her! Maybe my sister was more like Hattie than I ever realized.
~3~
The Hilton Riverside was ablaze with candles. Like a little island of light next to the river, the Hilton was a beacon to all around. Strands of Christmas lights were tastefully strung in the lobby and in the alcoves surrounding the bar. Wreaths of evergreens festooned with red velvet ribbons hung at every window and behind the reception desk. Cinnamon brooms, peppermint candies, and chocolate aromas mingled with pine to create an atmosphere of the old fashioned Christmases I experienced in my childhood. I was caught up in a memory when someone tapped me on the shoulder.
“Merry Christmas, you two,” Howard said. He gave me a quick hug and moved aside allowing me to see Hattie. She glowed underneath her fur trimmed hat and cloak. I practically knocked Howard aside to embrace Hattie.
“You look marvelous,” I said with tears streaming down my cheeks.
“I look like little red riding hood,” Hattie whispered. “But what can I do? It was Howard’s Christmas gift to me.
Until that moment, I hadn’t let myself experience my emotions. Words didn’t come but the tears did. Hattie dabbed my cheeks with one of her signature monogramed handkerchiefs. I was half laughing and half crying.
“Sorry,” I blubbered. “I got your velvet cape damp.”
“It’ll dry,” Howard said.
“So our little surprise worked?” Hattie said looking toward Howard for confirmation.
“I’ll say. I was shocked when I turned around to see these two,” I pointed to Clara and Amy. “I hope Suzy and Tony get here soon.”
“I do hope that we aren’t intruding.” Howard beamed when he looked at Hattie. “I had some business in Metairie and Avondale not far from here, so I asked Hattie to accompany me. One thing led to another and here we are.”
“You couldn’t have given Roxy any better gift than all of you joining us,” Tom said.
I nodded. Tom knew me well enough to see the joy seeing my friends brought. He put into words what I couldn’t say without bawling. The joy inside me was about to burst. A person only has a limited number of deep friendships in a lifetime. I felt blessed to have all of mine in one place.
Clara, Amy, Suzy, Hattie, and I had been through so much together including close calls at the monastery, my scare with breast cancer, capturing smugglers on a cruise ship, Clara’s hospital stay, and solving a murder in Las Vegas. I wanted these women in my life forever, but I knew that was impossible.
I was already envisioning a stroll down Bourbon Street with oysters at Hotel Bienville for lunch and if we were extra brave, a visit to the Voodoo Museum. That last one is a little ‘iffy.” It didn’t matter what we did as long as we were together. I was again lost in thought because Howard’s voice startled me.
“Onward to the bar. Dom Perignon for everyone. I have a table ready.” Howard was a born leader and when it came to Hattie the sky was the limit. The champagne flowed like – well like wine – we laughed and talked well into the night.
“Tomorrow I have taken the liberty of making reservations at Brennan’s where the best redfish and Bananas Foster are served. I hope no one minds,” Howard continued.
Mind? We had been trying to get reservations ever since we arrived. Just how important is this guy? Is Hattie safe with him? Right now I personally adored him and would adopt him as my stepdad in-law or whatever position he wanted to play in my family. Bringing Hattie, Clara, and Amy to me for the holidays was what I really wanted for Christmas. I wonder just how surprised Tom was after all. Maybe he put a bug in someone’s ear after I moped around for hours. I didn’t care. For now, I was enjoying the moment and hoping that expensive champagne didn’t produce a hangover.
~5~
The next morning while we drank coffee in our room, Tom and I revisited the events of the night before.
“Truthfully, did you know that Howard was coming and bringing the crew?” I asked Tom. He avoided eye contact, so I knew that he was forming a type of avoidance answer.<
br />
“Yes. And no,” he answered. “Yes. Howard had mentioned he had business in Louisiana but he didn’t say when or where.”
“So you knew there was a possibility?”
“Yes, I thought he might bring Hattie but I didn’t know about the others,” he said. “But when we got here and you seemed to miss them so much. . . I sort of called him and asked.”
“Oh Tom. I’ve never loved you more than right this minute,” I said and gave him a big kiss. “What time are we leaving for Brennans'?”
I didn’t hear the answer but I knew it was brunch so it would be soon. I grabbed a mug of coffee and hurried to get dressed. The spring in my step was obvious. This was going to be a great holiday.
I dressed in jeans and a beige sweater with a black and beige scarf. I figured this would be a casual brunch and I’d save my new dress for The Commander’s Palace or one of the many jazz clubs. I put on my comfy leather walking shoes since I hoped to get to the French Market for a little shopping. I knew that Suzy, Amy, and Clara would be up for it too. Hattie was playing her cards close to the vest. When Howard was around, she was hard to read.
~6~
“Could you believe the spread at Brennans?” Tom whispered to me as we left our table. “Howard ordered ahead and had the room reserved. He’s so considerate of Hattie and whether she will be comfortable. He’s really head over heels for that lady.”
“I know and I am glad. It’s time Hattie had a little luxury and TLC in her life.”
“Next stop. Café du Monde,” Howard announced when he entered the lobby. We got back aboard the white limousine which was ours for the holiday. Howard had thought of everything for his queen. The driver wore a tuxedo complete with top hat. We probably would have a horse drawn carriage if Howard could figure out how to get Hattie aboard.
It was amazing how much happier I was now that we were all back together. I was also relieved that Tom didn’t seem to mind. We took a short ride around town taking in Jackson Square. On another day, we planned a tour of the St. Louis Cathedral and the Cabildo next door where the Louisiana Purchase was signed. Our driver pointed out a lot of French and Italian architecture. I had no idea that before the Civil War, the French Creoles had become a minority and that a large population was Italian or Italian-American. Wow! New Orleans is certainly a fascinating city.
“Tomorrow we are schedule for brunch at Mother’s Restaurant,” Howard added. He had become our self-appointed adventure planner, but no one seemed to mine. “Tony and Suzy will be here for that adventure.”
I told the group. “I was just reading about Mother’s Restaurant in a brochure. It’s famous for po-boys made with bits of roast beef shavings in gravy known by the locals as debris.”
“I’m anxious to try it,” Tom said. “It sounds wonderful.”
“It is my boy,” Howard assured and patted Hattie’s. Hattie had seemed unusually subdued. I wondered what was going on in that beautiful little silver head. As we passed by, Howard pointed out the smallish restaurant with a line around the block.
“Chef Joe, known as the Commissioner of Tailgating, is a friend of mine. He’s sort of an unofficial matre’d. He assured me that he will take care of everything. You’ll love the family atmosphere with servers who might break out in a gospel song at any moment. “
“After lunch, I’d like to go to the French Market and Café du Monde,” Hattie suggested.
“Grand idea,” Howard said. “Do you want to do some shopping my dear?” he asked Hattie. She nodded and said, “Perhaps.”
After a lunch of debris, biscuits, and all the trimmings, we got back into the limo and headed toward the French Market.
Café du Monde seated us in a convenient corner where Hattie’s chair wasn’t an obstacle. Like Mother’s it was covered in tourists sampling the beignets and warding off the pigeons who wanted their share of the dough and sugar delight.
“Now remember,” Clara urged. “You must blow off the confectioner’s sugar on the first beignet to bring you luck.”
“Well, how did you know that?” I asked.
“Research my dear. You don’t think I spent all that time with Derek in the library and learned nothing, do you?”
We had a good laugh. It was a warm feeling to have everyone, or almost everyone, gathered around. The festive decorations, holiday music, and crowds dressed in holiday colors made my Christmas spirit soar.
“Tom, do you have any definite plans for tomorrow?” Howard asked.
“No, not really. Roxy and I were kind of winging it day by day. Why do you ask?”
“I need to go into Metairie and Avondale on business. I thought you might go with me, just for company. While we are gone on business, everyone else might want to attend the New Orleans School of Cooking. It is a popular activity where the chef demonstrates a dish and the participants replicate the recipe. Tony and Suzy can either go with them or rest up from their journey. It will give us some time to get to know one another better. What do you say?”
“Sure. What you do think hon?” Tom looked at me.
“Sounds good. Maybe tomorrow we can do a celebratory dinner at K-Paul’s or the Commander’s Palace. What do you say Howard?”
“It’s on my itinerary. Maybe I’ll propose again,” Howard turned to Hattie. “I average a proposal at least once a week. Maybe the Thursday Club will help me persuade her.”
Hattie pretended to ignore Howard’s remark about a proposal. She suddenly became very interested in the buttons on her caplet.
“What time are you planning on leaving tomorrow?” Tom asked.
“I have meetings lined up with the restauranteurs and it’s a little bit of a drive, so we need an early start. I think we should leave around 8:30. The businesses I’m looking at have interesting histories connected to famous crime bosses, gangsters, and drug dealers. Of course all of that is passé’ and the ones who inherited the businesses are completely legit.” Howard glanced at his phone and Tom caught a glint of light on Howard’s finger.
“So I get a lesson in history, a tour of some Louisiana cities, and a glimpse into the crime bosses of New Orleans all in an afternoon,” Tom joked as we rode back to the hotel.
“By the way I noticed your ring, is that onyx?” Tom asked.
“Yes. It is. A gift from Hattie. I once owned an onyx ring and somehow lost it on a trip. She replaced it for my birthday last month. Look it even has my initials.”
Howard turned his attention to Hattie. “Chef Pierre is looking forward to the rest of you joining his cooking class tomorrow. Are you interested Hattie dear?”
“We’ll see,” Hattie said in her most noncommittal voice.
The remark about proposing again had put her on the spot. Hattie never liked being the center of attention unless it was her idea.
Back at the hotel we took the elevator to our respective rooms never suspecting that this time tomorrow we would be filing a missing persons’ report.
~7~
The next morning our troupe met in the hotel’s coffee shop for breakfast. Tony and Suzy joined us. After a hearty buffet, Tom and Howard set off for their business appointments in Metairie and Avondale. Tony opted for a visit to the WWII National Museum whose feature is “The Road to Tokyo.” He kissed Suzy and headed for the trolley.
“Well I thought they’d never leave,” Suzy said as she poured half and half into her coffee.
“Suzy!” Don’t tell me the honeymoon is already over,” Hattie said with concern in her voice.
“No. I don’t regret our getting remarried. I’m just tired of him always being around,” she replied.
“I know what you mean,” I said. “It’s the same with Tom. At home it’s okay, but on vacation he’s always around. When we are in Athena, at least I can GO somewhere alone but not when we’re traveling. That’s why it’s so great that you’re here,” I practically gushed.
“Okay. Be honest. Do you want to go to the New Orleans Cooking School? Because if not I can cancel and arrange
something else. Howard has given me carte blanche to do whatever we want no matter the cost,” Hattie explained.
“Well I’ve heard it’s great so I’m in,” Clara said.
“Me, too,” Amy chimed in.
“I’ll go with the group decision. I’m armed with antacids,” I said as I patted my purse containing heartburn medication.
“Okay. What about you Suzy?”
“Sure I love the smell of cayenne in the morning,” she joked.
“Then let’s load up the chariot,” Hattie twirled her chair around and we followed her out to the vehicle arranged to take us to St. Louis Street where we would learn the fine art of Cajun and Creole cuisine.
Chef Pierre greeted us as the door of the cooking school. We had designated places on teams customized for each dish we would prepare. With a few greetings, we donned our special aprons and began.
Hattie’s team was commissioned to prepare pralines as part of the dessert choices. Amy was on gumbo duty while Clara’s team was to prepare crawfish Étouffée. My mouth was watering and it wasn’t even 11 o’clock. My team had the ingredients for red beans and rice. I was relieved that we got an easy dish, while Suzy was thrilled that she would get to prepare bananas foster.
“Now that we have our aprons, our ingredients, and our recipes. This is what will happen. I will visit each team where we will make introductions. One of my sous chefs will check on you periodically to make sure you understand the instructions. Each team has a station and we will guide you on each step of preparation. But before we begin I want to share a little folklore that we in New Orleans are famous for:
New Orleans like a lot of places participated in the slave trade. The name “Voodoo” evolved from the Fon word Voudon, meaning “spirit” or “deity”. Slaves believed that God left the earth and left a spirit behind in the form of a rainbow, the bridge between heaven and earth. They chose a snake as a means of crossing this bridge because of its long body structure. The great snake spirit became known in New Orleans, by the name “Li Grand Zombi” or “Ouncongo.” Later its name changed to “Papa Labas” or “St. Peter.”
Thursday Club Mysteries: All 7 stories Page 28