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He had an infectious white smile, which I returned as I cliined h the French Quarter, but I was glad for the distractionand the company "Jackson Square," Sebastian told the driver as he sat down beside me

"You hear that, Miss Praline? Jackson Square" The driver flicked the reins over her large ruet there in record tio slow and savor the sights and sounds of the French Quarter Sebastian’s shoulder leaned into ainst him Weird, but I liked it

I needed a break like this, needed to forget all the dark things for a little while, so I listened to the driver point out places of interest and followed Sebastian’s finger whenever he showed ht I’d like

"And this," the driver said as we rode slowly past a three-story house on the corner with double porches and wrought-iron railings, "was said to be the home of Alice Cromley"

The name, the saed a quick glance with Sebastian, and then bent forward to ask the driver, "Who was Alice Croht and eager to tell a story "Who was Alice Cromley? Now ain’t that a question? Alice Croreatest Creole beauty the Vieux Carré had ever seen Why, she had a bevy of suitors, but she knew about theet my meanin’" He chuckled "You see, Alice Cro people what they wanted to know And she was never wrong unless she meant to be One day, she just up and vanished Just like that Couple weeks later, they found two bodies floatin’ in the Mississippi Hard to identify ’cause, well, they’d been there for a while But so Alice’s finest gown" He laughed and clucked to the slow- mule "One of her lovers made her a tomb in a cemetery round here Nobody knohich one It’s said he placed both bodies inside, figuring one of theed "Guess he figured one out of two ain’t bad"

And her bones, according to Jean Solomon, could tell e rolled by St Louis Cathedral and into Jackson Square

I forgot about Alice Cromley for the moment to admire the tall spire of the cathedral as Miss Praline pulled us down the length of the Pontalba Apartments They were the oldest apart, cast-iron balconies, red brick, and ground-floor stores The statue of Andrew Jackson atop his horse stood in the center of the square There was energy here, energy that seeped into ave me a much-needed boost Colorful Vibrant Beautiful There were fortune-tellers, jewelry makers, artisans,

Then it was toward the Riverwalk and Decatur Street, where the carriages parked

After tipping the driver, Sebastian helped e and kept hold of my hand as we headed across the street to Café Du Monde I didn’t pull o, neither was I

The srureen-and-white-striped awning

Sebastian ordered a plate of beignets and two coffees I was too busy people watching and adreen there was

"I bet your

"Why do you say that?"

He shrugged, a s at the corners of his dark lips "If she lived in New Orleans, she would’ve come here It’s kind of a fact of life"

That was probably true I wasn’t even a local, and I knew that everyone went to Café Du Monde "You’re right," I responded softly, looking around at the café "She probably did bring me here" If only I could re here withat one of these tables …

"So, you want to find Alice Cro the subject He tried to hide his amusement, but lost that battle pretty quick

"Yeah No, thank you I think I’d rather take rave and grind up her bones" A sh me as the waiter returned with our order

"Scared?" He poured crearave robbing"

A laugh spurted through ht before they touched the rim of my coffee cup "Whatever you say" The hot liquid was just the thing on a cool January day in the French Quarter After a few sips, I set the cup down and picked up a beignet It steamed as I pulled it apart

"Suit yourself," Sebastian went on "Dub is one of the best robbers around You should see soraves Are you shitting roaned--daood

"A lot of kids do it We all have to make money somehow Crank runs the s of rats and snakes And Dub robs tombs and sells stuff to tourists and antique shops"

"That’s pretty sick"

His eyebrow lifted in agree about sports, hor, either" He made the same half bow I had earlier "Behold, a product of New 2" He laughed The sound was deep and infectious, and there were those incredible diain …