Pork Tacos

As part of my 101 List, I set a goal to try new receipes and review half of them here. This one is a keeper. Here’s the recipe.

Pork Tacos

• 1 can chipotles in adobo sauce
• minced garlic
• 1/2 medium onion, chopped
• 3 tbs olive oil
• 2 tbs honey
• 1 tbs cider vinegar
• kosher salt
• 2 tsp dried oregano
• 3 1/4 c chicken broth
• 4 lbs boneless pork shoulder, cut into chunks
• fresh ground pepper
• 2 bay leaves
• 1 cinnamon stick

*In a blender, mix the garlic, chipotles in adobo sauce, onion, olive oil, honey, cider vinegar, salt and oregano.

*Pour the mixture into a dutch oven or deep saucepot and add chicken broth. Simmer till blended well.

*Add the pork, bay leaves and cinnamon stick. Cook covered in a 350 degree over an hour and 45 minutes. Uncover and cook another 30 minutes.

*Remove the bay leaves and cinnamon stick. Shred the pork with two forks and season as needed with salt and pepper.

*Serve with warm tortillas and toppings.

Optional Toppings

• radishes
• scallions
• salsa
• queso fresco (crumbled)
• fresh avocado
• lettuce
• red cabbage and jicama
• tomatoes
• mangoes

Notes…

__This is a recipe from the Feb/Mar Food Network magazine. I changed it a little bit. I left out the ancho and pasilla chiles (couldn’t find them at the Publix) and increased the chipotles from 2-3 to the entire can (about six). Not the best choice. Much hotter than the kids could eat. I ended up taking the pork out of the mixture about halfway through the cooking time and replacing the sauce with crushed tomatoes to cool it down some. Worked like a charm.

__You can also do this in the Crock-Pot. Just put it all in the CP instead of in the oven. Cook on high for five hours.

__The magazine suggests ‘upgrading’ your toppings. The odd sounding toppings are from them. The more traditional, from me.

__I started Weight Watchers recently, and this recipe will give you eight servings at 5 points per serving. With the queso fresco, salsa, radishes, and tortillas, the whole thing is 9 points.

Our Thoughts…

__Mike gave it a 4 out of 5, saying it was a different taste (pork, radishes, spinach, salsa and queso fresco) but a good different.

__Griff and Eliza both gave it a 5, which is rare around here and which probably means they won’t eat it at all the next time I make it. But Griff ate his with with radishes & Eliza had her’s with spinach, so it was a good meal all around.

__Me… I enjoyed it. But it was a lot of work. Now, sure, my toe hurts & I mostly just told Mike what to do, but it seemed like he did a lot of work. But it was tasty, and it would be a nice alternative to the typical tacos every now and then.

__And I would have taken a photo, but we gobbled them up way too fast.

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Guns, Tools and Pie

Stuff like this never really happens. Except, of course, to people like me. Stuff like this happens to me routinely.

My name is Dr. Kate McCloud. I’m a professor at a small liberal arts college where I teach in the sciences. I’m a smalltown girl mired, unexpectedly, in a big town mess.

At the moment, I’m sitting in the New Orleans Police Department in a tiny interrogation room with my cheek pressed against the cold, metal table. The cold feels good on my skin. This city is lovely but so humid. I’ve felt damp since I arrived two days ago.

Was it two days? Maybe less. I’m beginning to lose track of time. Good gosh, I’m losing my mind. I was supposed to deliver a paper at the conference. I wonder if I’ve missed the lecture time already.

Maybe I’ll just leave here and get some beignets. Maybe if I opened my eyes, lifted my throbbing head and just slowly eased out of here, no one would notice.

Yeah, that’s it. I’m strong. I’m tough. I’m slinking out of here like the coward I am.

Uh, oh. Someone’s in the room and talking to me. The deep, masculine voice would have been sexy had I been able to understand what he was saying. Those Cajun accents were just too much for my country girl ears.

“Dr. McCloud, we appreciate you staying to help us with our investigation.” Oh, a voice I can understand. Opening my eyes, I could see a woman standing beside the table. Lifting my head was not the most enjoyable part of my day. Though, actually, maybe it was. It hadn’t been the best of days.

“Do I have to stay much longer? Oh, I’m sorry. That sounded so rude. I just mean… ugh, I don’t know what I mean.”

The Cajun accent spoke again. Still, no idea. They must have been able to tell that from my expression because they both laughed and pulled out chairs at my table.

“I’m sorry, Doctor. I forget how thick my accent can be at times,” the man said. “I should introduce myself as you and I haven’t formally met, yet. I’m Detective Robert Hebert. You’ve had quite a welcome to our fair city, haven’t you?”

God love him, dear Detective Hebert – really did he say that like AAA-Bear? – was talking really slowly like I was either an idiot or a four-year-old. Quite possibly, a four-year-old idiot. But at least I could make sense of what he was saying now.

“You still seem a little dazed. We should get you something to help with the pain.”

The woman stood and quietly left the room. I laid my head back on the table and closed my eyes. This didn’t seem to be ending anytime soon.

When Detective Cajun leaves the room, I’m outta here. Instead of slinking away, I think my new plan is to blend into the background. Walk tall and straight like the officers and no one will notice me. Go get a nice, fat shrimp po-boy. Fully dressed. Chase it with a handful of Advil.

I heard the door open and looked up expecting to see the woman – did she ever tell me her name? pretty sure it’s rude to keep calling her ‘the woman’ even if just in my head – only to be face to face with my past.

This really, seriously isn’t happening. That isn’t who I think it is. Breathe, Kate, breathe. Damn, but my chest hurts. Blink. I should blink. Blink hard. Open my eyes and he’s gone.

“Kate?” Oh, no. He’s not gone. It is him. I’d know that voice anywhere. He sat in the chair recently vacated by the woman and put his hand on the side of my face, turning it so he could see the bruises.

“What did you get yourself into this time, sweetheart?”

I blinked again. Big blinks. I’m pretty sure someone behind me has shoved a hand into my chest and is squeezing my lungs. Can’t breathe. Lovely.

“Where’s her bag? She needs her inhaler.” He remembered. That’s so sweet. I’m going to pass out.

After a couple of hits on the albuterol, I can breathe again, not that the physical ability seemed to be helping much. He was only a few feet away from me, closer than we had been in… well, a really long time.

“Kate?” He was talking to me in that soft voice he always used when he was going to tell me something bad. Something must be very wrong here.

“I knew I’d see you again some day, but I really had envisioned it differently. I wasn’t going to be dirty, and my shirt wasn’t going to be torn, and I sure wasn’t going to have this huge shiner. I’ve got a shiner, don’t I? The way my head hurts, something’s gotta be all bruised.”

I’m babbling. I know it. I do that when I’m nervous. Or excited. I’m not really sure which I am right now.

“You look beautiful, as always,” he said. This time his hand was on my arm. Warm, strong. This is an awful, horrible, wonderful dream. If I close my eyes and open them again, I’ll wake up in my hotel room.

Close eyes. Count to three. One. Two. Three. Open eyes. Still here. He’s looking at me all concerned. He’s leaning in to me. Oh, wow. He still has the greenest eyes I’ve ever seen.

“What happened, Kate?”

I took a deep breath. And it all came tumbling out.

“I’m here for a conference. Delivering a paper. It’s a really good paper, I think. My students helped with the research, and I even had a couple co-author the paper. It’s really good for their grad school apps.

And anyway, there was a cocktail party at the convention hotel, and I went by for a few minutes to do the necessary mingling, but then I left to meet some colleagues at a restaurant for dinner. We were meeting at Mike Anderson’s. Is it good? I didn’t make dinner, so I don’t know. I heard it was good.

Anyway, it was a nice night, and so I decided to walk. Everything was well-lit, and I wasn’t going far, so I didn’t feel unsafe. And you know I’m a big weenie, so it must have been safe for me to feel safe.

I was close enough to the French Quarter that I could see the lights, and I was thinking how pretty it was, how if it wasn’t for the humidity, this might be a nice place to live. And then I heard someone yelling.”

I took a deep breath, considered sucking on my inhaler for a bit and kept going.

“I turned to see what was going on. You know, it’s New Orleans. For all I knew, this was some cool thing they do down here. But it wasn’t. There were these men yelling and running down one of the little alleys. And then I heard several loud noises… I guess they were shots, though that didn’t occur to me then.

And I saw this boy. Ty, he couldn’t have been 18 or 19. He was the same age as my students. I saw him fall, and this big man rushed to his body. It was horrible. There was blood all over him.”

I couldn’t seem to stop the sobs. I hadn’t even realized I had begun crying and now his arms were around me while I sobbed. After what seemed like forever, I pulled away.

“Why is there blood all over your top, Kate?”

“Is there?” I instinctively looked down at my shirt. Sure enough, my cute white shirt was stained all down the front. Figures. “Damn. This shirt always looked really good on me.”

“Still does, Kate. Focus. How did you get all bloody?”

“Weren’t you listening? The boy was bleeding.” Sheesh, he always was a little thick.

“You held him, didn’t you?”

“Why do you sound surprised? I told you the boy was bleeding. Of course, I held him. I tried to stop the bleeding, but I just couldn’t.”

“Were you wearing a name badge, Dr. McCloud?” Detective Cajun found his voice again. Wait. Were?

“Aw, crap. Seriously? I lost another nametag? That’s the third one this semester. They’re gonna start charging me. I swear.”

“Not really the point here, Kate. Do you remember it falling at the scene?”

“No. If I had noticed it falling, I’d have picked it up. They’re going to charge me, remember?”

“Of course. Sorry.” He was raising that one eyebrow like he always did when he was annoyed with something I said but couldn’t really dispute it. I hated that one eyebrow.

“I’m just saying. No, I don’t remember losing the nametag. I suppose I was too busy with the bleeding boy and the men with guns.” That sounded impolite even in my head. Good.

“Detective Schafer, we didn’t find a nametag at the scene.” Detective Cajun again. God bless him, his mama raised him right. He was still speaking very slowly so I could understand him, even if he wasn’t addressing me. It seemed odd for him to call Ty by his last name.

“Then someone has it and knows who she is. We’ll have to put her in protective custody until we have the suspects in custody.”

“Yes, sir. I expected that, so we’re already working on a safehouse location.”

“That won’t be necessary. You’re going to take the lead on the investigation, Hebert. I’m going to be responsible for the safety detail. We won’t bother with the safehouse. Kate will be staying with me.”

“What?! No, I won’t. I have a perfectly fine hotel room. I’m not staying with you. So some guy has my name tag. Big deal. That doesn’t mean he’ll know where I’m staying or anything else about me.”

“Kate, even criminals know how to use Google. It’s not going to be difficult for someone to take your nametag with your school name and find that you’re presenting at this conference. Not much of a jump from that information to the name of the hotel where you’re staying.”

Shoot. That makes sense. Oh, no!

“What about my kids?! They’re staying there, too, and they’re under the school’s name. Oh, I’ve got to go get to them.” I was out of my chair and halfway to the doorway when he grabbed me by the waist and pulled me back.

“Kate, we’ve already taken care of that. All of your kids were taken to the airport this morning with several of our officers and are now safely at home in their dorms. Or as safe as college kids ever get in dorms,” he laughed. Geez, he always had the best laugh. Wait…

“What did your officers tell them? You didn’t frighten them, did you? Oh, what about the presentation? Poor kids. They worked so hard for that.”

“I don’t know about the presentation. Frankly, it’s not high on my priority list. Your kids are safe. You are safe. We’ll keep you safe so we can catch a killer. That’s kinda what we do here.”

He was still talking, but his voice seemed to be fading. Suddenly, I felt so tired. Everything seemed to throb, and my head felt like it was going to explode. Wasn’t the woman supposed to bring me something for my head? Maybe if I just lay my head down for a minute. Ty and Detective Cajun seemed to have this under control. They don’t need me.

“Kate!”

What? What happened? Oh, I’m still here. He’s still talking. Was he always this way?

“Kate. We’ve leaving. I’m going to get you something to eat, some fresh clothes and some rest. We’ll come back later today for you to give the sketch artist a description of the men you can recall.”

The woman walked into the room. Now, she shows up with the meds.

“Detective Robiceaux, we’re leaving now. Hebert will catch you up on the details of the investigation from here.”

“Um, she’s leaving with you, sir? I don’t understand. We usually handle the security details.”

“Lacey, I’m handling security on this one personally because…” And then, he hesitated. He sat down and looked at me. “… Because it wouldn’t feel right leaving my wife in someone else’s care while I went home alone.”

And with that, he stood and took my hand and together, we walked out of the squadroom together. I’m pretty sure it was the first time we had walked anywhere together in years.

***

I was asleep in Ty’s jeep before we were out of the parking garage. I woke up as he was unbuckling my seatbelt.

“Ty?”

“Yes, sweetheart?” I let him help me out of the Jeep. His arms felt warm and strong when I lost my balance.

“Still graceful, huh, my Katie?” His smile was warm, tender, like I remembered.

“You wanted to ask me something?”

“No, I don’t think so. Sorry. Thank you for …”

“You’re welcome. Let’s get you inside.”

I pulled his sportcoat tight around me as we walked through the lobby of his apartment complex. People are staring. I guess the good detective doesn’t usually bring bruised and bloody women home. That’s good, I guess.

This really isn’t how I had forseen this trip going. I’m standing in an elevator with my husband. Going to his apartment to spend the night. I know that sounds odd. I haven’t spent an evening alone with him since…

Shake it off, Kate. Don’t think about it. Think about something else… his scent? Geez, I think I’d recognize him blindfolded in any close space. How can he possibly look better now than he did years ago? And here I am with my torn, bloody shirt and my shiner. Perfect, Kate.

I reached my hand up to touch my face. I must look like a freak show.

“You look beautiful, Kate.”

Did he say that out loud? It was such a whisper that I’m not sure I didn’t dream it.

The elevator doors opened, and Ty took my hand and led me to the door to his apartment and opened the door. He paused before ushering me through the doorway.

“Now, I hadn’t expected company tonight. Don’t expect much.”

He looked so concerned that I laughed. “Seriously? My left eye is so swollen that I can barely see and you’re worried about some filth in your place? I’ve lived with you. I’m aware.”

“True. Come on in, then.”

It was pretty much exactly as I had expected from him. Lots of dark woods and deep, leather sofas. A huge television and surround sound system. The Wii guitar lying on the sofa.

There were photos all over the place, in frames, propped against books, tacked to the refrigerator. I smiled as I thought about how Ty was always taking my picture. I always hated that. Maybe not hated.

Pictures of his parents, his sister and her family… photos everywhere.

“Kate.” I jumped so hard that I dropped the photo I’d been holding. Ty grabbed the frame before it hit the ground. “Sorry. I’d forgotten how jumpy you are usually. Everything that happened today has to have made it worse.”

“I ran a hot bath for you. I’m sorry. I don’t have bubbles or anything. While you bathe, I’ll cook you something for breakfast.”

“Breakfast? What time is it now? I was at the station all night?”

“It’s more like brunch. It’s mid-morning. I know you’re tired. The bath and some food will help. After that, you can sleep for a few hours before we have to start work again.”

“Work?”

“We’re going to have you sit with a sketch artist and help us with a sketch of the men you saw at the scene. You’ve got an amazing memory. You’ll do great.”

“Ok. Sure.” I started toward the bathroom but stopped.

“Ty, this is…”

“No, Kate. I know there are things we’re going to need to discuss, and we will discuss those things. Clearly, Fate has thrown us together for a reason, and I’m grateful to Fate, frankly. But right now, we’ve got things to do. Food, sleep, more detective work. Ok?”

I just nodded and walked into the bathroom. Minutes later, I was chin deep in hot, non-bubbly water in Ty’s strictly functional bathroom thinking about what it was we weren’t discussing just yet.

***

Bells. Why are there bells ringing when I’m here in the jungle? And why can’t I get a table at that restaurant? The pies look so good in the case. I love pie. Why is that bell still ringing?

I opened my eyes and realized the bells were only in my dreams. The ringing was the phone in the other room. I closed my eyes again. For the first time in … well, in forever… I was lying in my husband’s bed. Why on Earth did I let him have this bed? This really is a good bed.

Get up, Kate. Don’t think about how good the bed is or what Ty and I did in this bed. With that, I sprung out of the bed with as much spring as a woman with a mild concussion can spring.

Ty had given me one of his tee shirts to wear, and it hung nearly to my knees. I walked into the living room and stopped short when I saw a group of people huddled around the massive coffee table. Detective Cajun looked up and had a shocked, but appreciative, look on his face.

“Um, I’m sorry. I didn’t realize.”

Ty laughed. “It’s ok, Kate. A couple of my officers got your bags from the hotel, but I didn’t want to bring them in and wake you.” His hand felt good on the small of my back as he guided me back into the bedroom while carrying my bags in his other arm.

“Here. Put some casual clothes on, come out and we’ll get started with the sketch artist.”

“Open your eyes, Kate.” His hand was on my face. I’ll lean into his hand, feel the warmth, but I’m not opening my eyes. Nope. “Kate.” Aw, man, that whisper voice. “What,” I whispered back.

“No one cares what you’re wearing or how your bruise looks. Do you know why?” I shook my head but still didn’t open my eyes. “Because you’re beautiful. Because they know you’re my wife, and while that brings up a whole lot of questions, it also answers a fair few as well.”

“Open your eyes, Kate. First things first, ok?” I nodded but still didn’t open my eyes.

***

When I made my next entrance, I was at least better dressed. A pair of jeans and a tee shirt of my own. Not fancy, not trying too hard, but comfortable and form-fitting. If I have to be here with him, I might as well work with what I’ve got.

The woman was in the kitchen when I walked in, and she offered me a bottle of water. “No, thanks. I, um, never mind…”

“There’s a Diet Coke in the fridge, Kate. Help yourself.” Really, Ty stocks DC? I would have thought he’d have been grateful for the extra room in the fridge without my favorite drink. Geez, what a man fridge! Beer, meat, energy drinks. Wait, one DC in the way back. Oh, that’s gonna be good. Maybe some ice.

While I was getting a glass and the ice, someone I hadn’t met yet came into the kitchen and was whispering with the woman. “A Diet Coke? You think he’s been keeping that one in case she ever showed up and wanted one? Weird.”

“Hush, Matt. Later.” The woman knew I could hear them. Ty kept a DC for me? Oh, crap, how old is this thing?

I was looking at the bottom of the can for the expiration date when Ty came in and took the can from me, popped the top and poured it over the ice. “Kate, did you meet Matt? He’s the best sketch artist around. We want you to describe the men you saw so he can get us a good likeness to work from so we can find this guy.”

“I’m sure you’re great, Matt, and it’s nice to meet you, but I don’t think you’ll be needed.” They were all looking at me like I was crazy. Pointing at the muted television which was set to a local news station, I explained why they wouldn’t need his services.

“That’s the guy. The big one.”

“No, Dr. McCloud, you must be mistaken.” I don’t think I like the woman at all. I know what, or in this case, who, I saw.

“That’s him. He was wearing essentially the same outfit, except that he had a black hoodie on with the hood pulled up over his head.”

“Well, boss, you have been saying that you think there’s a leak in the department, someone who was tipping the drug syndicate about what we were planning. I guess if the leak is the top dog, it sure would be easy to get that information in and out.”

Ty was seated on a bar stool at the island in the open kitchen/living area. I knew that worried look on his face.

“That man is your supervisor, isn’t he, Ty?”

“Yeah, Kate, he is. That’s Major Hall. He’s the second in command in all of the NOPD.”

“I’m so sorry. I didn’t mean to do something that would make things harder for you. Maybe I’m wrong.”

“You’ve never been wrong about a face, Kate. That’s why I wanted you to meet with Matt today.”

“Really, Ty? She’s never wrong about a face? She’s got to be wrong about this one. I’m not real sure what ya’ll have going on here, but it’s obvious it’s been quite some time since you saw one another. Maybe she’s lost this ability you think she has.”

Yep, I do not like the woman. Not at all.

“Close your eyes, Kate.” This time, I did as told. “How many people around the island?”

“Six.”

“Counter-clockwise around the table. Tell me who and what you know about each.”

Geez, no pressure.

“Guy at the top of the circle I haven’t met yet. Didn’t see him at the station last night. Dark hair, done at a salon, not a barbershop. Kinda buff. Goes to the gym a lot. No wedding ring. Still single, playing. Green eyes, tiny scar next to his nose.”

“Next, Detective Cajun.” The group laughed. “I’m sorry… How did you say it? AAAbert? Wire-rimmed glasses. Different from the ones last night. Hair messed up a bit. Heavier build than the first guy. Married. Wears his cell phone clipped to his belt. Newly-wed. Fiddles with his ring too much for it to feel like second nature yet.”

“Ty.”

“Me.”

“Wait. Shouldn’t she have to describe you?” That woman! She’s quickly moving to the top of my personal ‘don’t like’ list.

“Fine. Ty. Graying at the temples. Dark circles under his eyes. Scrapes on his knuckles. Hit something recently. Not having his hair done at a salon. Smells like pie. Is that right? Is there pie and you didn’t tell me?”

“No pie, Kate. Wishful thinking. Keep going.”

“Ty. Me. The woman. I’m sorry. I don’t remember your name. Bleached blonde. Tight uniform. Nose ring that she doesn’t wear at work, thinking no one will notice the piercing. Acrylic nails. Chews her cuticles. Attracted to Matt.”

The woman gasped. Ha. She won’t underestimate me again.

“And Matt is the last. Shaved head. Diamond earring in one ear. Tribal tatt around his left bicep. This gig is just to pay the rent. He paints. I’d guess massive oil paintings, but that’s just a guess. Single. Went to a club last night. There’s a fading club stamp on the inside of his left wrist.”

“Enough?” There was a round of masculine voices agreeing that I’d proven myself. One female voice was absent.

“That, Lacey, is why I believe that she’s rarely wrong about faces. If she says Hall was the man she saw, then he was. Unfortunately, this complicates the investigation exponentially.”

“Should we call Internal Affairs and get them involved right away?”

“No, Hebert. We’ve got to gather more evidence than just Kate’s witness statement. I believe her, but that doesn’t make it enough. We need to do this quietly. No need alerting him to our suspicions.”

“What are we going to do about, um, about, well…”

“I’m not sure, Body. Oh, wait. Kate, this is Body Thompson. Body’s a PI assigned to the case to help us out. Body, this is my wife, Kate.”

“Hello, ma’am.”

“Hi, Body. What is it that you’re worried about?”

“Well, ma’am. Hall is sure to be doing some quiet investigation of his own to see what we know so far, and he’s sure to have heard at the station that you’re married to Ty here. He’s going to know how to get to you. While I don’t believe he would make an open attempt on your life, I do think that he’d do whatever he needed to do in order to get to you. I’m not sure you’re safe here.”

“Wherever I am, she’s safe, Body. But I agree with your assessment of the risk.”

I knew what they were doing was important, both to bring justice to the boy who lost his life yesterday and to keep me safe, but I just couldn’t act interested any longer. I seriously doubt anyone noticed when I got up and went back into the bedroom to take a nap.

When I woke up, I was lying on my side with Ty’s arm draped over me. Oh, this always was my favorite part of the day. I always woke up earlier than he did, and I would snuggle up beside him and enjoy those last few moments before I had to get out of bed and start my day.

It’s been years but it still feels the same. How odd. I thought that this would feel weird and awkward. But it doesn’t. It feels … oh, wow. It feels wow. I wonder if I snuggle a little closer, would he notice? I shouldn’t do this. Sure, we’re married, but we’re not really. No, I shouldn’t. Oh, screw it.

I’m shimmying up to him. Let the cards fall where the may. So to speak.

It was hours later when I woke up to find Ty beside me, watching me. “Oh, geez, was I drooling?”

I loved it when he laughed. “No, sweetheart. I was wondering why we gave this up.”

“I was wondering the same thing earlier.”

“Promise me something, Kate?” “Sure.” “When we get all of this crime stuff taken care of, you and I will sit down and have a serious discussion about our future.”

I sat up and leaned against the headboard. “I don’t think there’s a future to discuss, Ty. We decided that a long time ago.”

“But the situation isn’t exactly the same now.” I was knotting the sheets in my hand and then unknotting them. When he paused, I looked up to see an unusual pained expression on his face. “Oh, Kate. I’m sorry. I didn’t ask. Are you involved with someone? Oh, that’s it. That’s why you don’t want to discuss this. I’m sorry.”

I reached out and grabbed his arm as he turned to get out of the bed. “Wait. No, I’m not involved with anyone. I’m married to you. Then and now. But that doesn’t change the fact that we’ve been apart for a long time and we’ve got very different lives. I live several states away, remember?”

“I, um, also know that Tulane offered you a job and that you did a walk through the first day you arrived in town.” He had the good sense to at least look bashful about this knowledge.

“That’s true, but I haven’t accepted the job yet, and I’m not sure you and I…” Take deep breaths, Kate. “I think we’d be better off catching a killer before we talk about us.”

“Fair enough, Kate,” he said with a laugh. “But don’t think I’m going to forget to have that talk. I’ve regretted my decision to leave you, and I don’t intend to let this opportunity get away from me.”

***

“You’re sure it’s ok for us to be here? Out like this?” We were standing on the sidewalk of a nice but not anywhere near supernice neighborhood waiting in line to get into Elizabeth’s restaurant for breakfast.

“We’re fine. You’re fine.” I liked the way he emphasized that I was ok. Being marked for death by a man I had already seen kill one person in cold blood wasn’t exactly sitting well with me. We had still been at Ty’s apartment when Detective Cajun called to let us know that an informant had heard that there was talk on the street of a pretty, young professor who needed to learn a lesson.

Again, how did I get myself into this mess? I accept a job in the city my husband lives. How did that happen? Last I’d heard, he was still out West. And then I decide to walk to dinner. I never walk anywhere. I’m pretty much against any overt physical activity, except, well… Geez, Kate. Not now!

And now, I’m standing here waiting in line for what Ty says is the best breakfast ever, hoping some high-ranking police officer doesn’t shoot me before I get my OJ. Just perfect.

“You’re going to be fine, Kate. There’s no way he’ll try anything with you right beside me. So we’ll keep you right beside me. My team is getting closer and closer to making a case to take to Internal Affairs. We’ve already got evidence proving that he’s been leaking information, and we’re closing in on getting solid evidence about his involvement in the shooting. I promise. You’re going to be fine.”

“I know. It’s just a little overwhelming.”

“I know, sweetie. I’d be worried about you if you weren’t a little overwhelmed. But it’s going to be fine. All of the details you were able to provide about what you saw that night were especially helpful.”

Right about then, someone called a name that must have been Ty’s, though I certainly couldn’t understand it. We walked into the tiny restaurant and took our seats. The place was packed with people. I was close enough to the people at the next table that I could have reached a fork over and tried their selections.

Come to think of it, that pie really looked good. Geez Louise, who has pie at 10 in the morning? Ty, once again, seemed to be reading my thoughts.

“It’s good pie. You’ll want a piece to go, I’ll bet. You always did love pie.” He was laughing again. Dang, I really love to hear him laugh. That was what drew me to Ty initially. He was so funny. I had always spent so much time with the sciences, where everything was cut and dried, where everything was logical, that time with Ty was like being in a magical place. There was always so much laughter. Seems he’s still that way.

“I think it was growing up the way you did,” he was saying. “All of those Thanksgiving meals at your uncle’s. All those extended family members crammed up in that little airplane hanger with Aunt Mamie’s jello salad sitting next to the power tools and that vast array of pies sitting next to the handguns and the rifles. I’m surprised you can eat pie without a hint of gunpowder.”

“Sure, sure. Make fun. But you ate your share of those gunpowder pies.”

“Damn straight, and I’d do it again in a heartbeat.” I was beyond relieved when the waitress arrived to take our orders. I know I’m going to have to decide what I want with Ty, but not just yet.

On Ty’s suggestion, we shared a huge shrimp and cheese omlet. He had the shrimp grits while I savored the praline bacon. Good gosh, this is the most amazing bacon I’ve ever eaten. I may have to take that job and move here and work things out with Ty just to keep coming here and eating this bacon. Forget the pie, can I have some of this to go?

We were finishing up when Ty got a call from Body on his cell phone. The conversation seemed pretty tame. Ty paid our tab, left the tip and walked outside holding my hand. That was amazing bacon if I’m letting him hold my hand. Suddenly, Ty’s grasp on my hand got significantly tighter, and he stepped up our pace. He practically shoved me into the Jeep and was yelling at Body by the time he got into the driver’s seat.

“No. That is not an option. We’re on our way home now. We’ll meet ya’ll there, and we’ll come up with something else. But that idea is not acceptable.”

He was racing through the streets on his way back to his apartment, and I could feel the tension radiating off of him. I knew him well enough not to say anything just yet. He needed to work past the initial anger and settle into the latent anger. The latent anger was so much easier to work with when it came to Ty.

It was in the elevator on the way up to his apartment that I ventured a comment on his mood. “You know, using me as bait isn’t the worst idea ever.” It was a guess, but I couldn’t think of anything else that would get Ty so worked up. I must have guessed correctly because he clenched his jaws a little tighter together and squeezed my hand much harder.

“No.” And that was all for conversation until we were in his apartment. Body must have had a key as he, Detective Cajun, and the woman were already in the apartment. Or maybe he picked the lock. Geez, I wish I knew how to do that. When Ty leaves the room, I’ll ask. I’m always locking myself out of my house.

Body must have told the others about Ty’s reaction because their conversation stopped and the tension level rose when we walked into the room. “For the record, I think it’s a good idea and I’m more than willing to do whatever I can to help end this.” I spit the whole thing out as quickly as possible while also dropping Ty’s hand and moving to the opposite side of the room equally quickly.

“And you don’t get a vote.” Ty’s voice had a hard edge to it, which might have sounded sweet and protective had he used a better word choice. “No vote? Seriously? About my own life and how I live it? No vote? I don’t think so.”

The stream of curses Ty voiced indicated he was aware he’d crossed a line. At least, that’s how I’m choosing to interpret that. Tell me I can’t vote. Not so much. And he was talking about us getting back together. Obviously, he needed to think about that some more. A lot more.

“Ty, we can do this and make it work. We’ll put a wire on her, keep her well in sight. We’ll have them meet at a public place. We don’t need him to make an attempt on her life, just a confession.”

“Oh, wow, Hebert, I’m so glad we don’t need an actual attempted murder.” Hebert clammed up a bit after that. Frankly, everyone looked a little unsure as to how to proceed.

“Seriously? You are all just going to let him make all of the decisions here?” I tried not to sound as stunned as I was feeling. Or as annoyed.

“Ma’am, he’s our boss. It usually assists with promotion opportunities if we don’t piss off the boss.” Ok, I’ll give the woman that much. She knows her chain of command.

“Well, you’re not my boss. You never have been. And I’m sick of this… of being afraid. If I’m going to spend time with you, I’d like it to be on my own terms and not because you’re protecting me from unseen evils. You know I trust you. I also trust that you’ve assembled a team who can handle whatever happens from here.”

Take a deep breath, Kate. I’ve got them now. Wait for it. “Now, I need you all to trust me as well. If you won’t work with me so that I can help end this, I’m done. I’m on the next flight out. And Tulane will have my answer before I step foot on the plane.”

Ty and I stared at each other like we were playing that kiddie game of stare-down. We used to play that in bed. I’m not real sure why now. Seems like an odd time and place. But the memory made me laugh, and I blinked, which made Ty laugh. The look in his eyes told me he was remembering the same games.

“I am significantly opposed to this, but you leaving here before this is finished is more dangerous.” I couldn’t really tell if the ‘this’ he was talking about was the arrest of Major Hall or the discussion of the future of our marriage. I’m not sure I want to know.

“So what do we do now?” I’d won my point, but now I had to deal with my decision. Me and my big mouth.

“From what I’ve heard down at the station, Hall knowns Kate saw what happened and that she’s given Matt a description. We had Matt distribute the sketch, and…”

“Wait. He didn’t do a sketch while he was here.” I kinda just pointed to the tv and called it a day that day.

“He did,” Detective Cajun continued. “He did a sketch of a heavy-set Latin man in his late 20s. I’m pretty sure he gave him a nice scar on one side of his face, just for kicks.”

Everyone but me laughed. I did not see the humor in a sketch that implies I’m an idiot.

“Simmer down, there, killer.” Ty must have seen the annoyed look on my face. “There’s no reason for Hall to know you made him. It was dusk, and he had a hoodie on. It would be easy for a frightened little woman to get things all wrong. He’s out in the sun all the time hunting, so he’s already tanned. The jump to a Latin man isn’t that far. And it’s enough for him to not be so worried about you.”

“We’ve also been pretty forthcoming about how pissed your wife is to be saddled with you this week, about how she keeps insisting there was a reason she left you in the first place…”

“I didn’t leave him! Crap, Ty, do we have to make me look like a bitchy moron?”

“I was with you having breakfast, remember? I didn’t start those awful rumors.” The smirk on his face clearly said that while he didn’t start them, he didn’t discourage them either. Idiot.

“Anyway, as I was saying, we’ve led everyone to believe that you’re getting fed up with being here and that you’re planning to leave. So we’ve laid the groundwork for you to go ahead and leave.”

Of course! Oh, I get it now. “That’s a perfect plan, Detective Caj… Hebert.”

“Well, thanks, ma’am. And you know, you can call me Robert.”

“Sure, sure.” I was too excited to be bothered with Detective Cajun’s given name. “This makes perfect sense. You throw out the fake sketch, broadcast that I’ve had all of Ty and this stupidness that I can take and that I’m flying home. Hall thinks he’s safe, that he’s not in any danger any longer.”

Oh, I’m on a roll now. This is so perfect that I wish I’d thought of it myself. “Ty goes into the station, talking about how glad he is to have the ball and chain on a fast plane to anywhere but here. We’ll let Hall rest a day or so and get comfortable, and that’s when I call and tell him that I know what happened, that I fed Matt a fake description and that Hall and I need to meet right away to get this matter resolved.”

“I’ll tell him how no one needs to be the wiser about this, that I don’t much care. The boy’s dead now. I tried to help him out of instinct but now the instinct is telling me to help myself. I’ll tell him that we can settle this, make it go away forever, if he’s willing to pay enough to keep me quiet. He’ll be pissed and threaten me, and I’ll be all calm girl and tell him that I’ve seen the news enough to know that he doesn’t want this to go public.”

Oh, yeah, this is good. I know I’m talking way too fast now because they’re all looking at me like I’ve grown a third eye, but I don’t care. “I’ll tell him that I’ve got evidence that links him to the scene, and that I’ll swap him the evidence for the cash. Ooh, it should be a lot of cash, I think. I’ll tell him I need enough to quit my stupid professor position and move somewhere far away. I’ve always wanted to go to Italy.”

“We could set the meeting somewhere public but innocuous… um, the St. Louis Cathedral, yeah, that’ll work. There are always people in and out of there. It’s a hushed atmosphere where we can be alone but still with other people. I went there my first day here. Wow, it’s just beautiful, isn’t it? And it’s right there in Jackson Square, so we could get beignets after!”

“You are all so smart. Goodness, I wish my students thought this fast. That is a wonderful plan, Rob.”

I’m all flush with excitement. I know I am. Why doesn’t anyone else seem pleased? Actually, they seem stunned.

“That is a really good plan.” The woman’s comment was laced with a whole heap of resentment. I thought she liked Detective Cajun okay. Hmm. I wonder if I misread things.

“But that wasn’t anything like our plan at all,” Cajun said. “Our plan was that you, well, that you actually left town. We were going to figure out something after that.”

“But your plan is much better.” No way, that was my plan? I’m couldn’t contain my grin. Until, of course, I saw Ty’s face.

“It is a good plan, but it’s too risky. There’s no way we can let you put yourself in harm’s way like that.”

“But there would be Café du Monde after, Ty. Come on. It’ll be fun.”

“Fun? No, sweetheart, it won’t be fun. It’ll be risky and dangerous and you could get yourself hurt, and I won’t risk that.”

“I will.” I looked at their faces, a mixture of disbelief, fear, and … is that respect I see in the woman’s face? Better be, dammit. “I will risk that because this plan can’t lose. He’ll be convinced that I hate you and he’ll have to meet me to get the evidence. He’s not willing to risk a political career over one stupid little woman, which is, of course, how he’ll see me.”

Ty started to speak, but I cut him off. “Your team’s plan was to send me home. Where he could easily have someone get to me and make it look like an accident. Anyone who’s ever met me wouldn’t question an accidental death. A nice explosion in the lab, maybe? Something went wrong with an experiment, maybe? You wouldn’t be there to protect me.”

“And, um…” For the first time, I hesitated, looking at the others, who had the grace to look away, to pretend to be looking over some paperwork on the counter. “And if you want to discuss this … marriage… I’m going to need to be alive to have that conversation.”

“We can make this work, Ty. We’ll put a wire on her. We’ll have plainclothes cops from Internal Affairs and the drug unit in the church watching her. He won’t be able to get to her fast enough to hurt her. As long as we keep you where he can see you, where he knows you are, he won’t suspect you.”

And we all stood still, silent. For what seemed like way too long. “Ok. On one condition.” He turned to his team. “And I’m going to need a moment with Kate alone to discuss that condition. Call Body, get him on board. Start the process.” With that, he took my hand and let me into the bedroom and closed the door.

***

My involvement in the big plan for the next few days was pretty minimal. Ty took me into the station under the pretense of me looking through mug shots. The team had made sure Major Hall would be there at that time, and Ty and I had the biggest fight we’d ever had… right out in the open for the whole world to see.

I was pretty good, if I do say so myself. I said I regretted marrying him but that what I regretted even more was having not divorced him already. I said that I had turned down the job at Tulane as soon as I’d found out that Ty lived here in New Orleans and that I was taking a different offer far, far away. Oh, the things we said. It was exhilarating even if I felt massive amounts of guilt later.

It had been almost 48 hours since the big fight, and an undercover cop from the Baton Rouge PD who looked enough like me that they were able to get her through security in the New Orleans airport had flown out with my ID and plane ticket. I’d been staying with Body’s great-aunt by marriage twice removed who had the most amazing house and garden in the New Orleans Garden District.

We’d actually had a good time, even if the two of us had been strickly forbidden to leave her home. She’d ordered in one unbelievable meal after another, and I’m sure I put on eight pounds in those two days.

When the time came for me to make the call to Major Hall, Body brought a new, pre-paid cell phone along with muffalettas from Central Grocery. “What do I say?”

“Anything you want, Kate. This was your idea. You’re braver than I would have guessed initially. You’re no typical academic.” I think he meant that as a compliment. “Say whatever flows.”

And so I called and threatened a high-ranking official in the New Orleans Police Department. And he and I agreed to meet a few hours later. I thought it all was very civil except for the cursing and the yelling and the counter-threats issued by the good Major.

“Good job, Kate. You could go into extortion as a sideline if this teaching gig ever gets too slow for you,” Body said with a grin. I noticed he was eating my sandwich as he’d already finished his while I was on the phone. Just as well. My tummy suddenly felt a little less happy than it did an hour or so ago.

The next hour or so flew by me in a whirlwind of activity. The woman showed up first with a bag full of wires and … well, I don’t really know what. But she taped little wires all over my chest, swearing that they would be able to hear anything and everything that happened. She seemed kinder than before, which made me nervous.

“Do you think I’m going to die? You haven’t been my biggest fan. If you’re this nice now, you must suspect this isn’t going to end well.” Blunt. Not my best approach, but I figured I didn’t have time for polite.

“I’m sorry I’ve been that way with you. I think this is going to go just fine, exactly as planned, and I’m very impressed with your willingness to put yourself out there.”

“And? That can’t be all.”

“And Matt asked me out. Said he’d been thinking about it for weeks but wasn’t sure how I felt. Your big announcement that day at Ty’s place clued him in… I guess I owe you for that.”

“Glad to help.” Maybe I didn’t hate her completely. Now, she’s not off my least favorite list, but she’s not in the lead any more.

When the group of officers deemed it was time to go, I slung my groovy Vera Bradley backpack over my shoulder and left Auntie’s house. I hopped on the trolley outside her house and rode it to the end of her neighborhood.  At that point, I caught a cab to Jackson Square. I got out at the church and got in the line for the tour. The little voice in the earpiece kept telling me to breathe slowly. It was going to make me look bad if I had to suck on my inhaler while I was extorting money from a government official.

As the line moved forward, there was a hand on my elbow pressuring me out of line. I stood firm. “Major Hall, how good to see you. I saw the church on my first day in New Orleans, and I’m so glad you and I get to see it together.” I kept walking into the church, hoping my insistence seemed strong and not terrified.

We took a seat on the far side of one of the church pews where we were alone. I didn’t bother looking around to try to find the undercover officers. I hadn’t met any of them, so I wouldn’t recognize anyone anyway. Instead, I looked directly at Major Hall, hoping I looked and sounded a lot more confident than I felt.

“Initially, I thought that justice needed to be done in this situation, Major Hall. My civic duty and all, you know? I mean, geez Louise, you shot that boy in cold blood! But then, well, then I had just way past enough with that moron of a husband of mine. And I realized that justice really wasn’t going to be served for that boy one way or the other, so I might as well get something out of this for myself. The American Way, right?”

“An interesting theory, ma’am. But I still don’t know what you’re talking about. For all I know, you’re wearing a wire on that pretty little chest of your’s, and you’re just trying to entrap me for your husband’s own political gain.”

“Well, I can see how you might wonder that. First, had you ever heard of me before a few days ago? No. You hadn’t. If I cared at all about his career, you’d think you’d have at least heard him mention me.” There was a flicker of acknowledgement on his face, even as his eyes scanned the crowd, no doubt looking for those same officers I knew were there.

“And secondly, trying to entrap you wouldn’t get me anything at all, now would it? No. It wouldn’t. And after these last few days, I can tell you with all certainty that what I want most in this world is to get as far away from here as possible with as much cash as possible. I plan to divorce that jackass post haste and take whatever funds come into my possession and move myself out of the country.”

“Really? Out of the country? That seems a bit hasty.” Fishing, Kate. He’s fishing to see if he can trust me. I finger the collar of my blouse, dragging it down just a bit so he can see some exposed skin that doesn’t have wires all over it. That should help.

“Not really. I had considered the Tulane job because New Orleans was somewhere I’d never been because I’m tired of where I am. But to be honest, I was doing some running even in considering that. There’s a man, you see.” I leaned in to whisper the last part, like we were co-conspirators.

“There’s a man in Italy who has been… well, we’ve been involved. I’m thinking a villa in Tuscany will be just what I need.”

“If I decide to give you this gift, what exactly are you giving me? That’s an awfully big gift you’re requesting from me.”

And so we spent the next ten or fifteen minutes haggling over a piece of evidence – completely invented by Detective Cajun – and the price for said evidence. Once we agreed, I took a small, tissue-wrapped package from my backpack. Major Hall removed a thick envelope from his jacket pocket, and what happened from there was a blur.

Turns out, there were several officers in the rows directly behind us, and as Hall offered the envelope to me for the exchange, they jumped toward him. They were so fast, I don’t know that any tourists in the church would have noticed. An officer was beside me, pulling me out of the pew and down the aisle toward the back of the church before I could see anything else. In a moment’s time, I was standing in the bright sunshine on the street.

And with that, I was finished with my venture into detective work. I’m sure lots of other things happened that day, but I wasn’t involved. Body met me at the steps and took me to Ty who helped me into the Jeep and whisked me away. Now that I got my wish in helping, I suppose it was time for me to meet his one condition.

***

Ty’s one condition was a funny one, an easy one for me to agree to at the time. Thinking about it now, I’m sure that’s why he made that particular condition. All he asked of me was that I give him three or four days of my undivided attention so that he could show me all that he loved about New Orleans. It was perfect wording. He was presuming that I still loved him, that all I needed to fall for was the city.

That first afternoon, we went back to Ty’s apartment where he tenderly peeled the wires and padding from my chest and back. It was an awkward and yet intimate moment. I was exhausted from my foray into undercover work, and after a hot bath, I went to sleep… for about 15 hours.

Ty slept with me, close. It was the most restful sleep that I’ve had in years.

On my request, we went back to Elizabeth’s for breakfast that next morning – maybe I’ll move here just for that praline bacon! – before going on a driving tour of the city. He showed me the Ninth Ward that was still recovering from Katrina, the amazing historic cemeteries, the outlying communities.

We laughed and talked about everything… but the one thing. We never talked about our marriage or if I was staying. We never talked about what went wrong or if we could make it right.

We ate dinner at Emeril’s NOLA restaurant where we had the chef’s special, fresh seafood completely yummy. I’ve always been smart, been successful at whatever I attempted in my career. I’ve never been unhappy with my appearance. But I swear, if I move here, I’ll gain 30 pounds in the first three months.

But it would probably be 30 really happy pounds. We finished that dinner with a piece of the fluffiest peanut butter pie topped with a thin layer of fudge. My gosh, it was amazing. I thought I would just roll home.

Home. It was the second day when I started thinking of Ty’s place as ‘home.’ It was that second night that he whispered, “I love you,” as I fell asleep.

The third day, yesterday, Ty treated me to something special. He called in a favor from the lead scientist – how does a cop end up being able to call in a marker from a scientist? – at the Audubon Nature Institute’s Insectarium. Now, I don’t like bugs in my kitchen, but in a lab, wow, I’m riveted. Ty hung back and just let me enjoy myself.

Last night, after dinner at Delmonico’s, we walked through the Quarter on the way to Café du Monde for a late snack. I was sitting at a sticky table waiting for my beignets and café au lait when I realized that I had walked the whole way with Ty holding my hand, and I hadn’t once thought about what had happened the last time I walked alone in this city after dark. I hadn’t been afraid. I had felt… content.

I had forgotten and breathed in just as I brought the sweet fried doughy goodness to my mouth, and I ended up gagging on the powdered sugar dust, desperately searching for my inhaler in my bag. Soon, we were both laughing and kissing and covered in sugar. Kissing. I hadn’t been kissed in forever.

Today, we started the day with the Audubon Aquarium. We’re sitting now in the Café Desire in the Quarter, finishing up bowls of the best gumbo I’ve ever eaten. I’m nursing the remains of my beer – I don’t usually drink, but Ty insisted I had to have a Turbo Dog, something about it being a local beer.

“What do we do now, Ty?”

“What do you want to do now, Kate? I know what I want.”

“And what is that? You were pretty insistent about what you didn’t want several years ago when you left. What’s different now?”

He signaled the waitress for another round of drinks and asked for a plate of crawfish tails. Clearly, he’s going to eat his way through this.

“I was undercover and unsure how to get out. I was scared for me, scared for you. Instead of doing the right thing and telling my supervising officer that we needed to get me out, I … well, I got out of the wrong thing. I thought I was doing what was best for you, for us, but I was wrong.”

“That was the last undercover job I ever did. I respect the men and women who are good at that and who assist us with so many investigations, but I can’t do it. I enjoy what I do now, and I’m good at it. But unless I work round the clock, I am alone a lot. And all I can think about every night before I go to bed is you.”

He paused and looked directly at me. Wow, those eyes. “I have missed you like you just wouldn’t believe. I took this job here because it was somewhere I’d never been with you. I thought maybe if I had no connections with you where I was, I’d think about you less. It didn’t really work that way.”

“I went to see my sister a couple of months ago and showed the kids a picture of a constellation, and one of them said, ‘Katie would like that.’ I couldn’t believe they would still remember you after all this time. I can’t not be with you, if only in my heart.”

Well, crap. “Um, well, actually, um…” This may be a dealbreaker. Oh, shoot, just say it. “They might still remember me because they spent the weekend with me three months ago so we could all go see the Pink concert.” Wait for it.

“You what?” He sat his beer down, his hand hovering above the plate of steaming crawfish the waitress had just delivered. “You still see my family?”

“Well, not everyone. Well, not everyone all the time.” This isn’t going so well. “You know, when you left me, I missed your family almost as much as I missed you. Your sister and I talked and decided that just because you didn’t want me any longer didn’t mean they felt the same way, and so, we, well, we kept in touch.” I’m babbling. Nervous. Breathe, Kate. Give him a moment to respond.

And then he laughed. A big, hearty, happy laugh. “You took my niece and nephew to the Pink concert?”

“Well, I’d have preferred some Toby Keith action, but I let the kids pick.”

“That’s choice. I can just see the three of you. Did you color your hair? Wear a fake piercing? Show off a temporary tattoo?” He was laughing so hard he could barely spit the words out. I was afraid he’d choke. I could offer him my inhaler.

“Actually, no. None of those. But it wasn’t just the three of us. Your mom and sister came with us.”

“My mom. You still keep in touch with my mom.” He paused, ate a bit. I’m just going to wait him out on this one. “That makes sense. She always loved you. When I told her that I’d left you, oh, man, the chewing she gave me! I kept trying to leave, and she kept following me through her house, yelling as we walked. She called me every day for a week to tell me what an idiot I was and how I was ruining my life. After that, she didn’t talk to me at all for a month.”

It was my turn to laugh. “She sent me a present every day that first week. She must have yelled at you and then immediately jumped online to order me something. I got flowers and balloons and chocolates and fruit and a handbag. By the end of the week, I think she was getting desperate. After that, she called me every day for a month. At that point, I assured her we could still be friends regardless of what you did. I just requested that she not tell me about…”

I’m not sure I can say it, even now.

“… about your love life.” Damn. My voice broke when I said that. I’ve done so well not being all emotional about this.

His hand was on my face, pulling me toward him. He’s going to kiss me, oh … wait. Where’s the kiss? I opened my eyes and saw his deep green ones so close to me. “My love life, then and now, is about one thing, one person. I have never loved anyone but you.” Then he kissed me.

After what seemed like forever, he pulled away from me. “New Orleans is pretty open about things, but we’d probably better take this indoors before I try something you’re not going to let me get away with in public.”

***

It’s hard to believe that’s me in the mirror. The dress is sheer elegance, lace and crystals dripping to the floor in the palest shade of blush. My students would be astounded. The thought made me laugh out loud even though there was no one with me to hear the laughter.

Quit admiring yourself, Kate. Grab your bag and go. It’s not nice to keep a date waiting. And so I grabbed my beautiful little beaded bag and floated out of the house. A trolley and a cab later and I was standing outside the St. Louis Cathedral. It was busy on a Saturday night in Jackson Square. Street vendors were drawing portraits and designing henna tattoos. Jazz filled the air. It was a perfect night for a wedding.

It seems that the boy I held in that alley wasn’t just a kid with a drug problem. He was the son of the mayor’s mama’s friend’s… somebody. I still get confused about that. But anyway. The mayor had been quite pleased to discover that Ty and his team had not only caught the boy’s killer but had also uncovered and arrested the leak in the department.

And it seems that if you do a favor, even an inadvertent one, for the mayor, he can pull a few strings so that you can get married in a famous old church.

“You sure?” Ty’s voice startled me, and I jumped, which made us both laugh. “It’s bad luck to see the bride before the wedding, silly.”

“I’m the one who dropped you at Auntie’s this afternoon to change clothes, silly.” He grinned appreciatively at me. “Nice dress.”

And with that, we walked into the church hand in hand to renew our wedding vows. Later, there will an intimate reception.

There will be pie. I do love pie.

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Tagged with: Guns Tools and Pie • short stories • Tara

cuz you had a bad day…

Did you ever have one of those days? Where your body was just completely exhausted for no good reason (outside of hormonal flux which we won’t discuss)? Where even though you worked really hard, you didn’t get much done? Where you felt like a bad mother and a bad friend? Where you felt like you look like the big blob boy from ‘Monsters v Aliens?’

Yeah, I’m there.

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Was it you? Oh, please help.

I never do this. I keep up with things really well. I’m a little OCD with my organization.

But last month wasn’t quite right around here, and I’ve lost an email. A very important email. I donated a piece of jewelry, and I can’t find the email from the girl who won, and so now I can’t send her the piece that I made.

If it was you, please, please, please leave a comment so I can get in touch with you!!

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Tagged with: Jewelry

Go Enter to Win…

Don’t forget… Mel’s doing a special drawing for a $25 gift certificate to Created By Chel!

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Tagged with: give-away • Jewelry