New Orleans 1925
"Tia! Just relax for once, you're getting married to the wealthiest man in New Orleans in three weeks, so get used to shopping!" said Charlotte as they walked out of a chic clothing boutique in the French Quarter.
Both women walked down the sidewalk carrying several bags of designer clothes, shoes, and other frilly things that Charlotte bought for her friend when she wasn't looking. She had to make sure that Tiana had enough lingerie for her honeymoon.
Tiana was thankful that her friend was willing to take her out on a shopping spree, but she wanted to purchase things with her own money. Charlotte wouldn't take no for an answer of course, she had taken Tiana to almost every shop and boutique in the city spoiling her friend with the absolute best she could afford.
"Lottie, as soon as I get home I will pay you back in full-"
"Oh stop it Tia." Charlotte snapped as they got into her chauffeur driven car "You're my sister, I'm supposed to do things like this for you."
Tiana playfully rolled her eyes as the chauffeur closed the door and drove them towards Charlotte's estate. "Well thank you Lottie, I appreciate it."
"Anytime Tia! Lunch will be served in the gazebo later…" the blonde said as she powered her nose "Ugh! This humidity is making my face shiny."
"Lottie you know that I have to work later." Tiana said as she glanced out of the window.
Charlotte shook her head as she zipped her purse closed, "Vincent doesn't want you to work anymore Tia and-"
Tiana shot her friend 'the look'. She loved her friend but disliked when others dug too far into her business, she could handle her own.
"Lottie"
Charlotte sighed, deciding to drop the topic, "Tia I'm just worried about you."
Tiana empathized with her friend for caring so much about her. She gently grabbed Charlotte's hand and squeezed it.
"I know, but I'll manage trust me."
Charlotte smiled, returning the squeeze, "I'll have Henry drive us to your house instead."
"Oh no that isn't necessary, I'll catch the trolley in your neighborhood it's much faster that way." Tiana explained as she smoothed out her canary yellow dress
Charlotte frowned "In that case you could still have lunch while you wait." She was determined to have her friend stay with her longer
"No thank you Lottie I have obligations to meet, but I'll catch you on a day that I'm free…perhaps brunch on Sunday?" Tiana compromised
Charlotte pretended to think for a moment "That'll be swell Tia! And it's a must that you make your grandmother's Creole Crab Quiche! It's delish."
Tiana laughed "Alright I'll see what I can do" she said as Henry helped her out of the car…
Tiana was serving dishes and training Raymond's employees at his Zydeco shack in the bayou. It was the best kept secret in all of New Orleans as only the Cajuns knew about it. Tiana was desperate for a job to get out of the house and be productive. Vincent didn't allow her to work anymore after they were engaged and Tiana just couldn't take it anymore. Endless days locked in a home where all she could do was sit on her butt while he was always on his business trips. Ray's shack was the only place that Vincent didn't know about and Tiana wanted to keep it that way.
The shack was small and was practically a mosquito trap, but Tiana didn't mind. She'd rather be anywhere other than sitting in that dungeon of a home.
Raymond was happy to help his friend out, and even paid her anyway even if she didn't really need the money.
Tiana was also drawing a lot of male attention in a body hugging crème colored dress. Vincent had all of her simple work dresses thrown out and had no choice but to wear nice dresses. Her long shiny ring curls bounced as she moved from table to table chatting up the customers.
"Hey der!" said Xavier one of Ray's regulars "Can I get a bottle of tabasco for my gumbo? And a another glass of rum for my lady?"
"Sure thing Zay I'll be right there!" Tiana said as she left to wipe off a table
Just then, someone tapped her on her shoulder. Tiana quickly turned around terrified that it might be someone she didn't want to see.
"Chere!" exclaimed an average height man with strawberry blonde hair "Do my customers have you in here working too hard nah?"
Tiana laughed in relief now realizing that it was Ray. She placed a platter of boiled crawfish, corn on the cob, and potatoes in front of two fishermen before she replied. "Now Raymond, you know me better than that! I can never work too hard."
Ray cracked a smile "What eva you say chere! I just caught some plump shrimp, fresh from da gulf ready to be dropped in da pot!" he said as he removed his fishing hat "I know ya shift is almost ova, so I went on and called Gertrude from da dock."
"Alright, I'll be out as soon as I finish those po boys and—"
"Chere!" Ray said as playfully slapped his knee "You best be outa here by five thirty, you don't want ya fiancé findin' out bout this lil secret of yours!"
She nodded "You're right, I best be going." Tiana hurridly removed and hung her apron, grabbed her purse and was out of the tiny shack before the dinner crowd arrived.
She walked a five minute trail that led her out of the mossy sassafras trees and towards the boating dock. Tiana had to catch an airboat to get back to mainland New Orleans as did all of Ray's customers. She was grateful that there was one that just docked for the first round of dinner customers.
"Well hello Ms. Tiana" said Ezell as he helped her into the rocky boat.
"Afternoon Ezell." she replied attempting to keep her balance as she searched for a dry spot on the boat.
"Another busy day at da shack?" he asked as he started the boat fan. Tiana nodded her head. "Very busy for a Tuesday."
As the boat sped across the wide bayou, Tiana closed her eyes and inhaled the musk scent of the water. She loved being out here more than the city, it always influenced her to reminisce on all of the good memories she and her father shared...
Bayou Bienvenue 1918
"I almost got it Daddy!" said Tiana as she pulled on the fishing rail with all her might. She wanted to impress her father on how she could reel in a catfish all by herself.
James watched on as his daughter fished. She was so determined to catch a fish without any help, even after he practically begged Tiana to let him help. He could tell that this was a huge fish caught on the hook.
Tiana's back was touching the muddy earth as she continued to pull and wind the fishing rod until…
"Atta girl babycakes!" exclaimed James as a medium sized catfish arose out from the murky waters and onto the land. "You caught a good one."
Tiana was sprawled out on the ground, exhausted from the excessive pulling she had to endure. She smiled when she saw the catfish on the ground gasping for air.
James laughed when he saw Tiana point to the fish joyfully. "I did it! I did it Daddy" she yelled as she jumped into her father's arms hugging him.
"I knew you would!" said James as he gently set his daughter back down and began packing the few equipment that they brought. "I can already smell my catfish po' boys frying…" he said as he gripped a bucket of catfish that he caught earlier that evening
Tiana's eyes widened at the thought, her stomach growled in agreement. "…with my spicy vegetable gumbo as well." She replied as she grabbed her knapsack and fishing pole.
James chuckled "Whoever gets there last has to wash the dishes!" he said as he ran towards the dirt trail that led out of the swamp.
Tiana laughed as she instantly took off following her father, with the bright moon as their only light guiding them back home…
Tiana smiled at the memory as the boat made it to the mainland. Ezell helped her out of the boat as he cleared his throat. She playfully rolled her eyes as she reached into her purse
"Oh Ezell I didn't forget about ya" she laughed as she placed a warm beignet wrapped in a handkerchief into his grimy hands.
The thankful man smiled as he stuffed the pastry in his overall pocket. "You should open up your own restaurant Ms. Tiana, I'll spend my last nickel just to get a basket full of ya delicious beignets!"
She smiled as she began to walk towards the narrow bridge that led to the city.
"One day Ezell!"
"One day soon…" she repeated to herself as she walked across the rugged overpass…
Hey everyone! This is my very first story on here and I'm trying to learn my way around this site...
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