"Dana…" she nudge her severely hungover friend. 

"Whaaaat?" came the muffled reply

"I’m heading out to my meeting… help yourself to anything you need… I left some aspirin and a bottle of water for you on the nightstand… call me on my cell if you leave before I get back"

Dana waved clumsily and groaned, "K… I’ll call you if I don’t wake up dead… "

Tina laughed and shook her head as she headed out of the hotel and in to her beautiful New Orleans.  With over an hour until her lunch appointment she decided to walk the short distance to her destination, giving her plenty of time to detour to some of her favorite locales. 

The French Quarter is its own entity.  To fall in love with the Vieux Carré is like discovering a woman for the first time.  Initially shy and intimidated by her beauty, you feel vulnerable under her gaze.  But once she embraces you you feel yourself empowered by her caress. You lust to unravel her mystery.  It is within her arms you feel alive. 

Tina made her way along Royal Street, amongst the antique shops and art galleries.  She remembered losing hours upon hours during her youth as she’d sit and sketch numerous musings.  Constantly inspired by the history and fragility that encompassed the oldest street in the city.

She strolled down the familiar route toward the artist square, she relished how wonderful it felt to be home. The serenity she felt at this moment left her to ponder if she could ever truly call Los Angles home.  Yes, the studio that initially commissioned her talents was there, but she was no longer indebted to their investment as her obligation had long ago been fulfilled.  Her name was now clearly established in the world of art, independent to live and work wherever she pleased.

——

Bette was a bundle of nerves as she sat in her office.  How could she have been so foolish to bequeath to Alice so much information.  Obviously the affects of the mesmerizing blond has clouded her judgement.  Unable to sit still she paces back and forth, running her hands through her loose curls. ‘Think, Porter… you can not let Alice anywhere near Tina… she’ll no doubt make a huge embarassing scene… Maybe I can ask Kit to hog-tie her and lock her in a closet… or … I’ll get Shane to slip something in her drink and haul her off before I get there…’ Bette laughs at herself but feels no better about the predicament she is in.  She decided to take a drive to Jackson Square to clear her head and hopefully come up with a better solution to halt Alice’s "mission".

Jackson Square is situated on the riverfront and one block from The Planet.  The famous landmark is surrounded by historical buildings, including St. Louis Cathedral, The Cabildo and Presbytere.  But what consistently draws Bette to the square is the open air artist colony that gathers there displaying their works on the square’s iron fence.  The street their studio, the essence of ‘the city that care forgot’ their motivation.  Bette often finds herself humbled by the unpretentiousness and freedom these artist radiate.

Bette stood admiring a small canvas.  The tiny oil painting displaying details that seem impossible to render on such a small scale.  A horse drawn carriage being driven along by a proud coachman, two lovers on board in one another’s embrace, bathe in the light of a full moon.  Bette leans forward to appreciate the precise brushstrokes.  It is then the air around her shifts, the fine hairs on her arms stand, as calming scent of lavender seizes her senses, then she hears the sweet voice…

"It’s beautiful isn’t it?"

TBC