Page 122

"Jack!" I cried, rushing to him. He almost didn't get to his feet before I embraced him. I kissed him and held him for a moment.

"Whoa," he said.

"I'm sorry I wasn't here when you arrived," I said, laughing. "But we had the most wonderful news this morning. Pierre came out of his coma. We've been at the hospital since very early this morning."

"That's fantastic." He looked up as Daddy came to the doorway on his crutches. "Bonjour, monsieur," he said.

"Bonjour." Daddy came in as quickly as he could and extended his hand. "I want to formally thank you for all you have done for my daughter and for my wife," he said. "I am in your debt."

"Oh, no, monsieur," Jack said gazing at me. "I am in yours for having such a wonderful daughter."

Daddy raised his eyebrows and turned a small smile at me. Blushing, I turned and saw Mommy in the doorway.

"Bonjour, Madame Andreas. I am glad to hear the good news," Jack said.

"Thank you." She came in to greet him. "If we don't behave like proper hosts, please forgive us. We're so full of mixed emotions. It's exhausting."

"Oh, please, madame. Don't think twice about my being here, and if I am in the way, even slightly, I will be gone before you can blink your eye, hear?" he said with his Cajun intonation.

Mommy seemed to drink in his accent, and I suspected that memories of her Cajun life were rushing over her. "I doubt my daughter will permit you to get away that soon," she said with a twinkle in her eyes.

Now I did blush, and so did Jack.

"Are you hungry, Jack? I'll have something fixed for you," Daddy said.

"No, thank you. I ate just before I arrived, monsieur."

"Well," Daddy said. "I guess I had better see to my business concerns so someone can pay the mortgage around here," he jested.

"I'm going to show Jack around New Orleans," I said.

"Good idea," Daddy said. "Why don't we take him to one of our finer restaurants for dinner tonight, make a reservation."

"Please, monsieur, don't plan anything special for me," Jack said.

"What are you talking about?" Daddy asked. "This is New Orleans. Everything we do for everyone is always special," he said. He turned to me. "Run him by your mother's current exhibit in the French Quarter," he suggested.

"Oh, Beau, there are many more interesting things for her to show him," Mommy said.

"I'd really like to see the exhibit," Jack said.

"Very diplomatic, monsieur," Daddy said. He gazed at me again. "You'll see that Jack is settled in the guest room?"

"Yes, Daddy."

"Bien. Have a good time," he said, and then he and Mommy left us.

After we put Jack's things in the guest room, I took him to my room. He stood by the window and gazed out at the gardens, the pool, and the tennis court, watching the grounds people clear away fallen palm fronds and manicure our hedges and flowers.

"You're right," he said. "This isn't what I think of as city life. You have a beautiful home, Pearl. And your room and your closets . . practically as big as my whole trailer. You've grown up in a magical place, a castle," he said with a sad note in his voice.

I knew what he was thinking and what was happening. He was becoming overwhelmed with our wealth and feeling inadequate. He was sorry he had come.

I went up to his side and threaded my arm through his as he gazed down at the grounds.

"None of this means anything if you can't share it with the right person, Jack. I know a great many sad rich people who would trade most of what they have just to have a sincere, loving relationship."

"You say that now, little princess, but I wonder what you would say after you'd lived without servants and fine foods and cars and clothes."