Copyright ©2020 by Creole Gaudet. All rights reserved.
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Freddie, Paco’s favorite server, peeked from his station. “Paco!”
“What’s up wit’ it, Freddie?”
“Everything is already.”
“Right?”
“I see you’re with a couple ladies tonight. How about a booth?”
“That’s what’s up.”
“Anyone you want, I’ll be right with you. Let me grab some utensils and some ice water.”
“Thanks. I appreciate you.”
“Paco removed his ringing phone from his front pocket as he slid across the thickly padded bench next to the window. “Hey… You have everything…? See you in an hour.” Paco ended the call.
Freddie approached, filling the glasses and laying out the silverware. “Are you ordering now or do you need a few minutes?” He placed three menus. Two by Paco and one across.
“I don’t even know what they want…”
“No rush… By the way, you just missed your ex.”
“Really?”
“Yeah.”
“She’s working again?”
“I’m more than sure. She sat for about an hour; didn’t order anything, and didn’t even speak to me.”
“Why is she acting that way with you? I thought you two were cool.”
“She was in here about two weeks ago, and I asked if she wanted anything to drink or if she needed a menu. She said no and that she was waiting for someone.
“I know the game, Paco. I don’t care that the girls come in and catch a rest, you know? But they have to respect my hustle, too. I had a whole family in here, and I needed to put some tables together.”
“She didn’t want to move?”
“Then started with the profanity in front of the children, so I had to leave it alone and take care of my customers, you know?
“In my younger days… Huh!” Freddie grinned widely. “Paco, I was a pretty motherfucker back then. My brown skin is still beautiful.”
“You’re still pretty, Freddie.”
“Tall, thin, and sharp. I had the diamonds, clothes, and always drove a new Cadillac. Every year… I still might get back out there, Paco. Get my perm back and grow out my hair. I’m receding a bit, but I’m not balding. Dye it jet black… It’s a young man’s game, but I think I still got it.”
“You still got it, Freddie.”
He looked out, staring dreamily with a semi-grin. Freddie nodded and pointed. “There’s her car right there. Red BMW.”
“London’s?” Paco turned. “I didn’t even notice it.”
“She left with a white guy in a new Mercedes… S Class, four door… Silver. He looked like he was close to my age… Mid-fifties, you know? They took off together.”
Blake led the way. “Window seat! Paco, you sit next to me.” Tawny nodded her approval. “What are we eating? Can we have breakfast?
“What about you, Tawny? You want breakfast too?”
“Sounds good.”
Paco looked to Freddie. “Bring us some of everything. Just…pile it up.”
“You got it.” Freddie pulled the menus and hurried away.
Blake turned to Paco, her elbow propped on the table top, resting her chin in her palm. She carefully studied his features. “Do you have a girlfriend, Paco?”
“I’m sure I wouldn’t be sitting here if I did.”
“You’re really cute. You have nice hair, teeth, you’re tall and brown. What are you?”
Tawny cut in. “He’s black and Spanish.”
“I’m black too, Paco. My mother is from New Orleans. She was pregnant with me when my daddy met her. He was down there for Mardi Gras, and they fell in love.
“He took her back to Tyler, and seven months later, here I was with a white daddy and a white-looking mama.”
“Did you ever meet your real father? Do you know who he is?”
“I know who he is, but I’ve never met him. He’s in prison…for life. He murdered a man, but he says it was in self-defense. I don’t know… I have a couple pictures he sent me.”
“What about his parents? Did you ever meet them?”
“When I was younger, I used to call them… They never had time to talk. It was always something. Then they stopped answering.
“My grandpa and grandma on my mother’s side… My mother used to bring me to New Orleans in the summers. I always had so much fun.
“They would send me Christmas and birthday gifts every year. They didn’t have a lot of money like my white grandparents, but they would mail me socks, gloves, shoes…and a pretty winter coat. It was so warm.
“When I told them I got my ears pierced, they sent me a beautiful pair of diamond earrings. But they came up missing from my room. I know my mom and dad sold them for dope.”
“Do you still talk to them?”
“I miss them so much. They were trapped in the house when the levees broke after Hurricane Katrina.” Blake’s eyes filled. “I called and called… That’s when I knew.
“My mother took me to the funeral… They never forgot about me. They loved me, but now they’re gone. Tawny is all I have in this world.
“So, why don’t you have a girlfriend?”
Paco quick-glanced the BMW. “Let’s just say that my last relationship didn’t go so well, and I don’t want to just settle. For me, it’s all or nothing. I want the perfect girl.”
“Do you think that you may have found her tonight?”
He looked to Tawny. “I may have, Blake. What do you think?”
“I already know.”
“I think that you’re right.”
“Tawny, do you choose Paco?”
“Yes.”
“Choose me?” Paco grinned.
“Do you accept?”
“I accept.”
“Then that’s it. It’s done.”
Creole Gaudet
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