Kerry continued spooning her gumbo into her mouth as she watched the shadowy form. He appeared to be a black man, of middle height, dressed in pants, rubber boots, a collarless shirt and a ragged denim jacket. She could see the appearance of suspenders under it all, and he stood with a long walking stick propped in the water in front of him that he was leaning against.
There were no features to his face, but his dark skin, and the night illumination could just be obscuring them. Then she recalled what river she was on, and her school reading and smiled faintly. “Could be Jim from Huckleberry Finn, huh?”
“Could be.” Dar agreed. “Probably some guy they pay to dress up like that and give the tourists a thrill.” She remarked. “Coincidence he shows up right when the boat gets there.”
“Cynical.”
“Realistic.” Dar's blue eyes twinkled at her, as she looked up across the table. “C'mon Ker, you heard those guys.”
True. Kerry sat back as she finished her gumbo and watched the bank as it ambled past, the figure on it turning it's head to follow the boat as it went past. So Dar was probably right, and he was probably a bit of window dressing. She lifted her hand and waved at him, and the figure tilted it's head and looked back at her.
There were eyes there, she was sure of it. But they seemed too large, and too luminous. She felt a shiver go down her back and then the trees were between them, and she could no longer see the figure on the back. “Maybe fake, but sorta creepy.” She folded her hands, as the waitress removed the bowls and set down their main courses.
“That could sort of describe Mardi Gras.” Dar investigated her plate. “You still seeing ghosts, Ker?”
Kerry wrinkled up her nose in reaction.
“I think the whole idea of ghosts is pretty sad.” Her partner continued, carefully separating her shrimp from her grits.
“Sad?”
Dar consumed a few bites. “Yeah.” She eventually responded. “The whole idea is, if you subscribe to an existence after death that you go on to some other place. Do something else, whatever. But ghosts, if you agree with the idea, are stuck here.”
Oh. “Yes, like those stories they told us the other night.” Kerry agreed. “They're looking for something, or whatever.” She thought about that as she slowly detached forkfuls of her blackened catfish. “Just left behind.” She paused. “You're right. That is sad.”
“Not something I'd ever want to have happen to me, you know?” Dar said. “I'd rather not have anything happen than that.”
Kerry stopped chewing and merely sat there for a moment, staring slightly past Dar's shoulder. She thought for a moment what it would be like to be separated for eternity from Dar and the food lost all it's taste and appeal.
She put her fork down and sat back. “Boy so would I.” She said, after a long pause. “I think I'm going to go throw up now.”
Dar swallowed hastily, setting down her utensils and reaching across the table to clasp Kerry's' hand. “Sorry, hon.” She said, sincerely. “I didn't mean to get you crazy.”
No, of course Dar hadn't. Kerry sniffled a little and lifted her free hand up to wipe her eyes and rub the bridge of her nose. “I just imagined what it would be like to be without you.”
Dar got up and came around the table, crouching down at Kerry's side and putting her hand on her leg. “Totally dumbass of me, Ker.” She watched her partner give her head a little shake. “Don't worry. There's nothing that's ever going to keep us apart, no matter where we are.”
Kerry peeked down at her.
“I won't let that happen.” Dar gave her a wry smile. “Ghosts or angels or dust, you won't ever be without me.”
At the words, the sounds around them rushed back in, and the music struck up, and Kerry felt her body relax as some part of her understood the truth being spoken that had nothing to do with what had been said. She glanced around, feeling a little foolish as she saw the other diner's eyes quickly go elsewhere. “Thanks, sweetie.” She managed a grin, patting Dar's hand. “Go finish your grits before they solidify into plaster.”
Dar waited for a moment. “You okay?” She asked, head cocked slightly to one side.
“Yes.” Kerry offered her a bit of catfish on her fork, which Dar accepted. “You knew just what to say.”
“For once.” Dar got up and went back to her chair, settling into it and returning her napkin to her lap. She looked up and past Kerry to find the people at the next table staring at her. “Is there a problem?”
“Only that people like you should keep their unnatural behavior behind doors.” The man answered straightforwardly. “Not ruin other people's dinners with it.”
Kerry took a breath to turn and answer, but Dar lazily lifted one finger and wagged it slightly at her and she subsided.
“Buddy. “ Dar said, in a tolerantly amused voice. “If you thought that was unnatural, you've got a lot to learn about life. Better get started on that before you try breeding.”' She shook her head and went back to her shrimp and grits, ignoring the continued stare.
The waitress came back. “How is everything ladies?” She asked, standing with apparent randomness between their table and the next. “Can I get you a glass of bubbly to wash that down?”
“Sure.” Dar agreed. “Got any Cristal?”
The waitresses smile went from indulgent to dazzling in a flicker of an eye. “We do. A flute each?”
“Bring a bottle.” Dar countered. “And two nice big glasses.”
Kerry chuckled under her breath.
“Yes, ma'am.” The waitress left with a cheerful wave, moving past the other table without a glance.
They were passing a brightly lit area and finally that drew the other people's attention and they were left in peace in their corner. Dar quickly consumed her grits, which had in fact started to stiffen in the cool night air. She'd already dismissed the jerk at the next table, but she could tell by the furrow in Kerry's brow that her partner hadn't.
Jerks were jerks. Dar didn't waste her time on them. “Chew, hon.” She advised. “It's too good to waste.”
Kerry paused, then smiled and went back to her plate. After a minute, though, she picked up her gizmo and tapped on it briefly, reviewed the results, then texted Dar a message.
Dar fished her device out and regarded it, then looked at Kerry, her brows hiking. She watched her partner shrug, and reviewed the note again, before answering it. What are the odds we'd end up sitting next to one of the heads of Aryan Nation?
Kerry put her fork down and typed back. About the same as him ended up sitting next to Roger Stuart's kid and a descendant of the American revolutionaries.
Dar laughed. Could be worse, could have been Pat Robertson.
And that was also true. Kerry put her phone down and finished off her catfish, just in time to smile at the waitress who had returned with a gently off gassing bottle and glasses. “Can we get a couple of pieces of the strawberry shortcake too?”
“Absolutely.” The waitress finished pouring their bubbly, and then tucked the bottle into an ice filled holder against the wall of the ship. “Be right back. “
Dar lifted her glass, and they touched rims. “Happy Valentine's day, sweetheart.” She said, slightly louder than needed for Kerry to hear her.
“Same to you, my love.” Kerry responded with a wry grin, before taking a sip. “But boy, am I ever going to have to bust my ass to beat this the next time.”
They toasted each other again, then settled back to wait for their cake, and watch as the boat slowed to give them a good view of the waterfront road and a big, boofy parade that was making it's way along it.
**
“Good morning, Kerry.” Mayte looked up from her desk as Kerry entered. “Did you have a good time in New Orleans?” She put down what she was working on and focused on her boss.