[Jade MacCarthy]

Stepping out of the House of Broel she looked up at the sky. It was just past 6 pm and she just might make the last streetcar taking her to the French Quarter. She hurried across the other side of St. Charles street and down to the sidewalk to wait, pulling our her cell phone she dialed Jakes number. He was supposed to working at the head office. After three rings with no answer she hung up, the streetcar had arrived. She climbed the steps and dropped the coins and took her seat.

Sitting back she watched as the buildings passed by, a mix of old and new, she still hadn’t found a dress and it was bothering her, but her previous stop had been to look at a historical reception site. She wasn’t’ sure Jake would go for it but it was lovely. Perhaps he would surprise and ask to see it the place.

She got off on Canel Street and headed toward the office. It had started to mist so she hurried to reach of office. Pulling the door open she stepped inside, the receptionist had left for the day so Jade made her way back to towards the back room. She spotted a dark figure in the distance and smiled. He was still there. Making her way she called out, “Jake? Surprise!!”

[Timothy Havoc]

Timothy gave a startled little shake of his shoulders as a voice cut through the stillness in the offices. The other staff had gone home, both mundane and specialty staff, and he had thought himself alone in the building. He'd thought that Louise would have had the common sense to lock the front door after closing up the reception area, but it seems that was not the case.

"He's not here," he replied in an even voice, "You're too late, but don't let that make you feel bad." The words were out of his mouth even before he'd recognized the voice of the speaker. It wasn't the first time that some unidentified young woman had come to the office looking for Jake. It wasn't even the first time that it had to be Timothy to be the one to turn them away again.

Jake had disappeared about two hours ago, mentioning something to Hazel and him about going to see a girl about a flower. As cryptic as it seemed to be, both Hazel and Timothy had looked at each other with a silent knowing expression. No more needed to be said.

It wasn't until Timothy turned around to look back down the hallway towards the entrance that he saw the seeker wasn't just some unknown woman. It was Jake's fiancée. "Oh Jade, hi." His words seemed to fall flat somehow, and he juggled the reams of paper files he was holding into his other hand just for something to break the awkward moment he was feeling. "I didn't realise you were coming here today... did Jake know?"

[Jade MacCarthy]

“Timothy?” she continued to move down the hall towards his voice. “He knew I was going to be in New Orleans but we hadn’t made plans to meet. I thought I would surprise him.” A small pout appeared on her face for a brief moment. She stopped in the doorway and looked at him giving a friendly smile. “You look good, what’s go you working so late?” Leaning against the door frame, “No hot date tonight?”

[Timothy Havoc]

He shook his head in the negative, not really wanting to explain to Jade, of all people, that things had stalled in his life in the relationship department. He finally managed to arrange the pile of folders in his arms into some semblance of order and get them under control with one hand.

"Nothing much else to do," he said to her as he gestured for her to follow him through into his office. Nudging open the door with the toe of his shoe, he indicated for her to take a seat by the desk. His office wasn't much bigger than a standard cubicle, the grey pre-fabricated walls made the small space seem even smaller and slightly claustrophobic. He'd done his best to off-set the feeling by putting photographs on the walls, mostly of himself and some old-friends in various places around the world. One cheap wood frame held a picture of Timothy and a nameless young woman standing on the Kobry Abass bridge, across the river Nile in Cairo, an Egyptian taxi in the foreground. Another was a picture taken of Timothy and a male friend of his outside the Colosseum in Rome, taken from besides the Arco di Costantino. Such was the reoccuring theme for the photographs, places where he'd been and people he'd been there with.

Timothy moved around to the other side of the desk and slid onto the wheeled chair there, the hinges on the leather back support creaking loudly in the otherwise silence of the office-complex. He dropped the folders onto the desk in front of him and looked across at Jade.

"I'm sure it would have been a surprise to him." He said finally, as if having to compose a suitable sentence that would sound acceptable. "But instead, it's only me here. It's easier to get some work done when it's quiet, so I decided to stay after everyone else went."

Although it wasn't a total lie, it was only half the truth. He'd been avoiding being alone with Hazel for a number of days now. So when Kevin, Scott and Brian had said they were going, Timothy had retreated to the file-storage room until after Hazel had gone too.

"What have you been getting upto in Orleans?" He said it with a false southern accent, dropping the 's' from the word, so it sounded like Orleanne.

[Jade MacCarthy]

She followed him to his office watching him walk. She took a deep breath and let it slowly, he looked great from behind and flashes of what it would be like to be him went through her mind. Shaking her head she sank down in the chair he offered to her. Her eyes drifted over the pictures lighting on the one with the female. They looked happy, and she wondered who she was and what had happened that they were not together now. Her eyes were pulled to Timothy’s face as he spoke.

“Oh, well wedding plans. There was a place I was told to check out as a possible reception site.” She watched his face knowing he wasn’t overly thrilled about the idea of Jake marrying her, reaching up to brush a few strands of hair from her eyes her diamond sparkled in the light. “Then I had the bright idea to take Jake out for dinner. I hope this doesn’t sound bad, but since he’s not here would you like to join me?”

[Timothy Havoc]

Timothy had to fight to keep his expression neutral as she mentioned the upcoming wedding. If he was being honest with himself he was still in a state of shock that Jake had proposed. And even worse, that Jade had said yes. She must know what kind of a man he was; yet she was willing to marry him regardless. Just the fact that he wasn't here now, being off someone else with someone else, was enough proof to Timothy that the marriage was a fools errand.

Perhaps she planned to make an honest man out of him, tie him down with a ring and a set of vows. But somehow timothy didn't think it'd work. A year from now, two years maybe, she'd be abandoned and left in the cold while he moved onto a younger, perter, more pliable girl. Timothy had to admit to himself that he had no evidence to corroborate his impressions of Jake, but he judged himself a good enough assessor of characters to know where Jake's heart lay... and it wasn't with Jade MacCarthy.

"Well I've got alot of work to do here," he told her honestly when she offered him dinner, and he struggled to keep his elation in check. "But I guess I shouldn't work -all- night." He gave her an undecided look, as if he hadn't made up his mind the moment she suggested it. "Sure, let's get something to eat. Do you know anywhere good around here? I normally just grab a sandwich from the deli down the street for lunch, so I've not rally explored the neighbourhood."

[Jade MacCarthy]

“Good” she said with a smile, “I know the perfect place it has classic Creole, I hope you like spicy. Oh, you’ll need a jacket.” She stood and watched him grab the sports jacket and waited for him to join her. “It’s not to far from her and it’s actually quite nice out tonight.” They moved to the front door, he held it open for her as she stepped outside. They walked the few blocks to Arnauds mostly talking about how cool the weather was and how the humidity was so low.

The lights sparkled through the tall leaded glass windows as they entered the restaurant. “Oh Miss Jade, it’s so good to see you again.” the maitre'de exclaimed upon seeing her. “Would you like your usual room?” She smiled at him and nodded “Only if it’s available.” The Maitre’de grabbed the menus and ushered them across the original Italian mosaic tile floor, the crystal chandeliers overhead casting brightly colored lights around the room to the Bourbon Suites North & South.

There was a small fire in the fire place and tables were set with cream linens with cream china rimed in gold with little blue flowers in the band. The walls were papered in a steel blue and white stripe and chandeliers with frosted bowls light the room. The seat was pulled out for Jade near a window over looking Bourbon Street. Timothy took the seat across from her. “Claire will be here shortly to take your drink order.” He smiled and left them with the menus.

Jade picked up the menu and started looking it over. “I do hope you will like this. My favorite is the Pork Tenderoin Robichaux, it’s sautéed in hickory-smoke served with truffled mashed potatoes and Pepper Jelly Mustard Sauce.”

[Timothy Havoc]

Timothy was silently amused that the maitre'de knew Jade by name, and even her preference of dining room. As they took their seats and he perused the jazz menu for something that he recognized. Although he'd lived in the area for over a year, he still hadn't gotten compeltely used to the local food. Crabmeat cheesecake? Oysters Brochette? He settled on the chicken pontalba as the safest choice.

It was funny to think that for a person who took such chances in his lifestyle, he tried to keep his eating habits as safe as possible. Give him a burger and a bottle of beer, and he'd ask you to marry him. Speaking of which..

"So how are the wedding plans coming along? I take it you've not picked a place for the reception yet, if you were looking at somewhere today." Don't do it, some deep dark part of his mind screamed at her. Stop planning for it, don't go ahead with it, don't marry him. Have me. Wasn't there a song with those lyrics?

He glanced along the wine list, which even to Timothy's inexperienced eye was extensive. He briefly considered suggesting they order some cocktails, to make the evening smoother. Nothing says high-class sophistication like a handful of empty glasses of alcohol.

"Have you guys set a date yet?" He found himself unable to meet her eyes, even to look her in the face while the conversation was on the wedding. Instead he turned and looked out the window, at the building opposite with two floors of wrought-iron balconies in a dark blue or black color.

[Jade MacCarthy]

Jade noticed that Timothy wasn’t looking at her and it bothered her. “No we’ve not set a formal date. Some time next year, a lot is depending on the reception site. I’m hoping we can do the wedding and reception in one place.” Picking up a water glass she took a sip then continued.

“I’d like something towards the end of spring beginning of summer. The flowers will be in full bloom then. Jakes says all I have to do is set the date and he will be there.”

Reaching out she lightly touched his hand. “I hope you will be there to share and celebrate our day.” She gave him a smile as her emerald green eyes met his, she knew he wasn’t thrilled about the idea.

“I’m not sure how many of my friends will make it for the wedding since a majority of them live in New York. I’d hate for my side to have only family sitting there.”

[Timothy Havoc]

He found himself turning his hand over to take hers in a clasp that was friendly, and somehow he knew that it was symbolic of their relationship. No matter what he did, or what he said, that was going to be the limit of what he had with her. He had a feeling that even if he told Jade about his intuitions about Jake cheating on her with other women, she either wouldn't believe him or wouldn't care. Somehow the phrase love-blind seemed to be the diagnosis.

"What about people from your work? Won't any of them be coming? I can't believe you've lived here for, what, four years? And you don't have a bunch of good friends that'd come to your wedding." Having lightly side-stepped the question of his own attendance at the event, he turned his head at the approach of the sommelier.

"Good evening," Claire said briskly but pleasantly as she came to their table and smiled winningly at them. "Have you had a chance to look at the wine list?"

Timothy murmured his agreement and quickly ordered two glasses of red wine, something that even his inexperienced tastes knew would be suitable for her meat dish. The woman nodded her approval and turned to fetch their drinks. When she returned she took their orders for the meal, and Timothy found himself hoping that Jade wouldn't bring up the subject of the wedding again once the server had departed.

"Jake told me you went for a trip to Paris recently..?" As an opening line it wasn't the best, but at least it was a different subject than the one he was trying to avoid.

[Jade MacCarthy]

Squeezing his hand she smiled up at the waitress. “As for friends here, I don’t have many. I am sure there will be some from work that come but I don’t really socialize with many.” She let her thumb rub over his hand.

With a soft laugh, “Oh Paris, yeah..” a grin appeared, “Well I went there to look at a dress, and it was a disaster. I don’t think I’ll ever find the perfect dress.” She felt him try to pull his hand away but she held on to it looking down at their joined hands. She paused for a few minutes before speaking softly. “I don’t suppose I can ever make you understand what I see in him can I?” He face was blank and it made her heart ache.

“Do you know what I want more than anything?” He shook his head. “I want us to always be friends. I do like you….. very much.”

[Timothy Havoc]

Timothy shook his head and gently squeezed her hand within his grasp. "I know you like me... but not the same as I like you. And that's always going to come between us, the fact that if it weren't for Jake, I think you would pick me."

He released her hand and picked up the wine glass by the stem, taking a fortifying sip before continuing. "Am I right? Tell me? If you'd never met him, would I be the one for you? Or do I not even rank in the top three?"

He was silent for a moment as he considered the impetuousness of his words. The misplaced passion and impulsive emotion was foolish, and he knew it. He shook his head a looked away once more.
"Don't answer that, nevermind. It's not my place to make you score my potential. And, to be honest, I'm not sure I want to know anyway."
Because, he didn't have to say, Jake will always be there to be that little bit better than me.

Their meal arrived shortly after that.

[Jade MacCarthy]

Her hand remained in place after he had released it, she studied his face and a wave of sadness washed over her. Curling her fingers into her palm she pulled her arm back as the meal arrived. She smiled up at the waitress and taking the napkin placed it in her lap. Picking up her knife and fork she began to cut her meat. The awkward silence between them spoke volumes she had to think of something to say. After a few minutes of silence she looked up at him and before taking a bite of the meat, “So how are things going with you and Hazel?” the foke then raised to her lips and she took the bite.

[Timothy Havoc]

How are things going with you and Hazel? The question hit him like a hammer blow to his head. How much did she know about his relationship with Hazel? Had Jake become a part of the gossip network at work, and passed that information back to his fiance? Timothy decided that he didn't want to know how much Jake knew, and therefore how much Jade might suspect. How would she take the news that Hazel was a substitute for herself? A back-up for the woman who had knocked him back, not even picked him to start with? Probably not favourably.

"We're... we're good," he managed at last, his fork held partway to his mouth. The bearnaise sauce was delicious, but the topic of conversation had stopped him in his tracks. "I think we currently have a difference of opinions about where we are, but we're.... we're fine." His eyes searched hers for some sign of jealousy, so hint of envy, something, anything to indicate that she wasn't pleased with his answer.

He lifted the food to his mouth and chewed it silently, continuing to eat as he considered. "You know Hazel quite well, right? What do you think of her?"

[Jade MacCarthy]

Her mouth twitched ever so slightly, smiling sweetly, “I’m glad to hear you are doing –fine-.”

Nodding she took another bite. “So if you don’t mind me asking just where are you? In the relationship that is.”

Watching his face closely, if she could tell Jake that he was in a relationship maybe he would ease up on him.

“Of course you don’t have to answer if you don’t want to.” Meeting his eyes she smiled again as she reached for the glass of wine and took a sip.