Chapter 12

At Hannah's house, Elle looked out the window as the others put the empty food sacks in a trash bag to take out. "I guess it's safe now," she said. "I'll go out and pull the car farther back by the side of the house where it can't be seen from the street and we'll load up."

As the rest of them followed, Hannah nervously thanked Flora for the food and helping get the trash out. When they finished loading, she eyed Elle as she got in the car. Hannah still had some misgivings about their transportation.

In a matter of seconds, everyone was seated comfortably in Elle's old car. Elle sat behind the wheel as if posing for a glamour shot, without a care in the world, judging by the look on her pretty face. Hannah smiled and silently scolded herself for her lack of faith. No one else looked worried and they had gotten here all right from Fort Craig.

The car was just as elegant as it was big. Hannah felt like she was in a limo. It even smelled expensive. Or maybe it was just the leather seats. Even if it was a real antique and seemed to be in excellent shape, it was still old, old, old, and they were going a long way. Hannah tilted her head, sending Gina a concerned look.

Gina smiled at Hannah and grinned, knowing what she was feeling.

"We're going in style, depend on it," Gina told her complacently. "Besides, Elle's a much better parker than I am." She reached over and gave Elle's shoulder a pat.

Elle started the car and Gina quickly whispered to Hannah, "Close your eyes."

"Close my eyes?" Hannah quickly glanced nervously around at the shrubbery and what she could see of the street in the mirror as if she'd never see all that again, then obediently closed her eyes.

Too late, Hannah wondered if everyone else had closed their eyes too. The sound of the motor broke into her worrying. It sounded big and as expensive as it looked. It purred flawlessly like it didn't know how old it was. Then in a few seconds everything got very still except for a quiet hiss of air. Wondering what was going on, Hannah kept her eyes closed but opened her mouth to say something.

"Okay, you can look now," Gina announced before Hannah could speak.

At that point, Hannah realized they were moving, she could feel it.

In the instant she felt the motion of the car, Hannah heard street noises, too. She looked out the window by her and saw that they were in a narrow street going past another street which was evidently closed to traffic.

Ahead, on the left side of the street they were on she saw a sign advertising po-boy sandwiches and her heart lurched.

"We're in New Orleans!" Hannah screeched.

"Right." Gina patted her hand, looking pleased.

The old car slowed to a crawl.

"Now. Just wait till you see Elle park!" Gina held tight to Hannah's hand, looking excited.

Hannah held her breath again as the car slowed to a stop parallel to an opening on the street. The narrow street was already full all the way to the corner except for that one space. The vacant space was only a few inches over a car length between the two cars already at the curb.

There were tow-away warnings here and there too. Hannah nervously eyed them. She imagined the big old car being ignominiously dragged away, or worse, damaging one of the other cars. No one spoke.

They sat still as Elle glanced at the space beside them and pointed to it.

Without even a noticeable jolt, the big car moved sideways and was immediately parked between the front and rear cars at the curb.

Eyes and mouth open wide, Hannah was speechless.

All of them piled out of the car, looking around like new millionaires at a diamond sale. Elle locked the car door and gave it a pat, whispering something.

Finding her tongue, Hannah stared at the car in the parking place, looked at Elle and managed to gasp: "How? How?"

Gina giggled at Hannah's surprise. "By the way, Hannah, Elle's a witch! Isn't that, uh, what's the word?"

"Gina," Elle interrupted. "If you're going to say convenient it's the understatement of the year!" Elle warned her. She paused, squinting at Hannah and giving her a worried look. Hannah stood staring with her mouth open.

"Hannah?" Gina reached out to touch her but didn't, peering at her and looking scared. "You haven't said anything but how? You aren't mad at me for not warning you are you? Do you hate witches?"

"NO! Oh, no, Elle. Certainly not." Hannah couldn't bear to see Elle looking uncomfortable. "You're beautiful and your name, Elle is French. It's elegant and it just fits you. Oh, yeah," Hannah laughed nervously. "And thanks for the ride!" Hannah laughed at her own babbling confusion. Gina gave her a brief hug.

"I just didn't know what was going on. Besides," Hannah rolled her eyes, "I've been mistaken for a witch myself."

"See?" Gina grinned at Elle. "I told you! No problem."

Elle accepted Hannah's hug when she held out her arms. "Well, come on then. Let's look around and find our lodgings and enjoy ourselves."

"Sure. Let's go," Gina took Hannah's hand and Flora led the way towards an open air coffee shop. Elle stepped back to the car.

Glancing back it looked to Hannah as if Elle was talking to the car and she gave the door another pat before she hurried to catch up with them.

They got to the coffee shop and could see there were other shops up the street beyond it with everything in the way of souvenirs from clothes to chocolate and pralines.

Hannah was the only one who had never been to New Orleans, even though it might have been years ago for all of them but Flora.

Gina, Flora, and Elle enjoyed Hannah's reactions to all the sights, scenes, and smells around them as much as experiencing them for themselves. The sidewalks and the streets where there were no cars or were one-way were crowded with people who seemed determined to enjoy Mardi Gras week regardless of the aftermath of the recent tragic storms. There was friendly camaraderie all around them.

Party-hearty attitudes were side by side with people who were teary-eyed with memories. Memories that sometimes showed in the eyes that reflected the lights and colors of Mardi Gras. Green, purple, and gold.

Some of the places never closed their doors and the friends covered a lot of good shopping territory before taking time out to cruise on the river in a small boat which was getting ready to leave. They hurried on, laughing as they just made it aboard.

Continuing their exploring and shopping, at times tired feet took them into a bar. Or perhaps it was the blaring music, or someone standing out in front of a place, inviting people in. To Gina's delight, the cover charges in some places were as much a shock to Hannah as was some of the entertainers. Hannah laughed at a tourist and his wife who were sitting at a tiny table with two drinks apiece in front of them, obviously just resting.

"Hey, save a seat for my souvenirs," Gina reminded them when they sat down at their own tiny table.

On one of their rest breaks Hannah touched Flora's hand under the table and whispered. "I think Gina's had enough to drink. People might get the wrong impression." She looked around. "I saw a man I think was following her until he realized we are all together."

"I think she's all right, just having a good time," Flora reassured her, glancing at Gina. "The drink I had wasn't very strong." She and Hannah looked around at the other crowded tables and people coming in and didn't see anyone paying attention to them at the moment.

"If it looked like there was a man following us, or Gina, he probably was. It's sort of a time for that, Hannah." Flora assured her.

"People come here from everywhere. He was probably just looking for someone to be with and party with in this crowd. You sure you don't see him anywhere now?"

Hannah looked around again. "No, I guess you're right. What's Elle saying?"

"Our hotel is the Royal Sunshine or something like that," Elle rummaged in her oversized bag.

"Close enough for Fat Tuesday," Gina promptly pronounced with a broad smile. "Let's go get into our rooms before they decide we're not coming." Gina got up, picking up her souvenirs and the others followed.

Hannah looked around again as they left and still didn't see the suspected stalker. She smiled at Flora, "Didn't you say there is someone you want to look for here?"

"Yes, but we've got time. Let's go with Gina while she's pointed in the right direction."

Hannah nodded. She didn't see the man beside a lamp post whose dark eyes followed them.