Libertine Dreams

Copyright ©2020 by Creole Gaudet. All rights reserved.

No part of this episode may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by an information storage and retrieval system – except by a reviewer who may quote brief passages in a review to be printed in a magazine or newspaper – without permission in writing from the publisher, Creole Gaudet.

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Freddie approached. His serving tray was held high to his shoulder. “Here we are.”

Blake’s gasp slow-morphed into a grin. “Look at all the dishes.”

“Some of everything!”

Tawny chuckled with delight. “Wow… That’s a lot of food.”

Freddie continued. “Be careful, everything is hot, okay?!”

Blake’s tongue moistened her lips. “It looks so good.”

“Eggs… Scrambled, sunny-side up!” Freddie placed the platters at the center of the table. “A heap of bacon, some grits, pancakes, hash browns… Plenty of sausages…and here are your plates… You can serve yourself… If you run out, I can bring more… Here’s the toast, waffles…sliced ham.

“Some jellies, butter, syrup… And some orange juice, iced tea, and milk. If you’d like some coffee or hot chocolate…”

Paco cut in. “I think we’re okay for now, Freddie.”

“Alright, I’ll be back shortly to check on you. Enjoy.”

The girls were face down, dug in. Paco leaned, lowering his pitch. “You two were really hungry.”

Tawny paused briefly. “We haven’t eaten in two days. We don’t have much money yet, Paco. It won’t be long, though. We’ll be ahead real soon.”

“I won’t ever let this happen again… Do you have food at home?”

“No.”

“I’m going to order some to go.”

Blake looked to Tawny. “Can we? Please.”

Paco tossed up his hand.

Freddie came walking with a quickness. “Did I miss something? Is everything okay?”

“No, no…you’re good. I’d like to uh… Could you put together some to-go meals? Some sandwiches and… Like for later on tonight and lunch tomorrow…”

“Lunch and dinner?”

“Yeah… Put everything in there.”

“I understand. I’m on it.”

Blake looked to Paco’s plate. “You’re not going to eat?”

“I wasn’t hungry. But don’t worry about me, okay? You just eat as much as you can.”

Tawny smirked. “She’ll eat all of it. She can go… And she never gains a pound.”

“Again… I can’t see it.”

“You will.” It brought a smile to his face.

“Let me ask you something, Tawny. Where are you two staying?”

“The Studio 6.”

“Which one?”

“By 35.”

“Stemmons Trail?”

“Uh huh.”

“Really? That’s not the safest place…”

“It’s not so bad. There are some fights and arguments sometimes, but it doesn’t happen much. There’s an I-Hop and a Waffle House close. If we need anything else, there’s the Chevron.

“We take a Lyft to Walmart when we go grocery shopping.”

“Hey, I have plenty of room at my place. Come stay with me. I’m right over in Las Colinas. And it’s not far from the club.”

“We don’t want to intrude. We’ll be okay. We’re about to be making some good money now. All we need is a deposit and three months’ rent… They want you to have at least…”

“Nah, fuck that. That’ll take you forever. You’re coming to stay with me. I have two bedrooms.”

Blake grinned excitedly. “I get my own room?”

“That’s if Tawny wants to sleep in my bed…while I take the sofa.”

Tawny turned to Blake. “Hold up… It’s up to Paco where we sleep. We’re not going to inconvenience him.”

Paco reached across, placing his hand atop Tawny’s. “Hey, hey… I was just kidding, okay? Let’s not worry about that right now.”

“I’m appreciative…”

“Come on, don’t cry, Tawny.”

“This means a lot. You… You just fed us, and now you’re opening your home… You’re so kind.”

“It’s okay.”

“I’m sorry.” She giggled. “I’m fucking coming all apart… We’ve been struggling. Not just here, you know? Life.”

“Hey, tell me about it when you’re ready.”

“Paco.”

“Yes, Blake?”

“I bet it’s nice.”

“What?”

“You’re place.”

“Actually, it is. Big screen TVs in every room. There’s a gym and a swimming pool.”

Blake’s mouth widened. “A swimming pool?”

“There’s also a walking trail with a lake about a couple blocks away.”

“That sounds so good.”

Creole Gaudet

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Copyright ©2020 by Creole Gaudet. All rights reserved.

No part of this episode may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by an information storage and retrieval system – except by a reviewer who may quote brief passages in a review to be printed in a magazine or newspaper – without permission in writing from the publisher, Creole Gaudet.

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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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