Page 32 of January

“Huh?”

“I asked you if you really wanted me to go with you.”

“Oh, sorry. No, you don’t have to if you’d rather go to the casino.”

“Really? I don’t want to keep ditching you. I just really like these girls. They’re fun and like the same things I do.”

“It’s fine. I’ll have fun on my own,” she replied.

???

“What are you doing?” Melinda asked when she spotted Kyle in the line to pay for the tour.

“Trying to get my ticket. Why?”

“Kyle, I told you…” Melinda pulled her aside. “You’re just with me tonight, okay? No ticket necessary.”

“Won’t you get in trouble for that?”

Melinda chuckled and replied, “No. It’s fine. If you wait outside, I’ll be right there, and we’ll get started.”

“Okay. If you’re sure,” she replied.

“Just go outside.” Melinda gave Kyle’s shoulder a light shove.

Kyle smiled at her in response and followed Melinda’s instructions. Within a few minutes, around fifteen people werewaiting on the street as Melinda began with her introduction. This one was a bit different than the one she’d given on the food tour. She was attempting to make things a little scarier for the group by referencing ghosts, vampires, and witches. The three kids under thirteen seemed to be eating it up. Kyle just stared at Melinda and hung on her every word. At first, she remained at the back of the group as the tour began, feeling guilty that she was getting the experience for free while the others were paying customers, but by the time they entered Lafayette Cemetery No.1, which was the most famous one in New Orleans, Melinda had motioned for Kyle to join her up front as she proceeded to show people the famous mausoleums and explain a bit about the history of the cemetery and New Orleans but also focused on the rumors of hauntings to make it more interesting for the kids. Then, before the tour ended, Melinda gave everyone a few minutes to look around in one area to see if they could spot a ghost.

“So, what did you think?” Melinda asked her when she and Kyle were standing off to the side.

“This was fun. Thank you for letting me tag along,” she replied, watching the kids and their parents attempt to locate ghosts.

“Have you been there yet? I’m guessing no, but thought I’d ask,” Melinda said, pointing across the street to a restaurant.

“No. Is it good?”

“Commander’s Palace?” Melinda laughed a little. “Yes, it’s one of the best restaurants in the country.”

“Oh. Really? Shows how much I know,” Kyle said.

“If you want to go while you’re here, I can get you a table for you and Jolie.”

“You reallydoknow everyone in the city, don’t you?”

“My boss is the owner of the tour company. She’s a New Orleans institution and basically a second mother to me. She knows a lot of people, too, and I’d be asking her to call and get you the table.”

“What about you?”

“What aboutme?”

“Will you join us?”

“I’ve already been.”

“I don’t really want to go if you’re not going with us,” Kyle replied.

Melinda smiled and said, “Want to talk more about it when we get back?”

“Yeah, I’d like that,” Kyle replied. “Hey, what are you doing after this?”