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Part 1 – Sweet as Honey

I pulled into New Orleans at sunset. I had a long week at the office and I wanted to get away for a three day weekend and Bourbon Street had my name on it. I checked into my room at the Royal Sonesta Hotel located in the heart of the French Quarter, got dressed and headed out for food, drink and fun. Bourbon Street was just outside the main entrance. The people were flowing in for the same thing I was there for.
The balconies and patios that lined Bourbon Street were draped with beautiful fine women waving at the crowd with drinks in the hands and no bras. I couldn’t wait to come back through for the “Boobs for Beads” show that New Orleans was famous for. What a night. It was starting to get hot already.

I stepped into a bar for a quick cocktail to kick my mood up a notch. With a beer and a shot in my hands I ventured back out onto the streets. Jazz, rock, blues, you name it, it was pouring out from bar to bar up and down the street. The crowds were building up for the weekend some were drunker than others already. I was ready to party and continued on looking for the right bar.

Just ahead of me I could hear this one bar cranking and jammin’ with live music. As I walked up to it I could see a small line developing to get in. I got in line and stepped in with the flow. The crowd inside was having a hell of good time. I knew I found the place I wanted to be. There were women with tight jeans, T-back thongs of all flavors peeping and hanging onto fine hips, tight T-Shirts, and perfume that could put a man in a trance.

I made my way to the bar rockin’ to the beat of the band. What was this place? I looked around for a name. Above the main bar (there are three) was the name “Court of Three Sisters”. I perched myself on the bar and looked for a bartender. Up came this gorgeous blonde. “What can get ya’ hun?” she asked. I pulled out my credit card and said “Double jack on the rocks, splash of coke, hold the lime please.” “Sure. I’ll be right back hun.” She said walking away in tight black jeans and leather vest.

I turned around to see who the band was. On stage was an all girl band kickin’ and rocking the place. Heads were bobbin to the beat as they played “Shut up and Drive” by Rhianna. “Here go hun” said my bartender. “Thanks. Keep it open” I said. I turned back around and faced the dance floor. This beautiful jet black haired girl with a killer smiled came up to me with a beer in her hand. “Let’s dance” she asked smiling with a pointing index finger. I put down my drink down and headed to the dance floor. She pulled my by the hand to the front of the stage and we started dancing. The music was pumpin’ and I was in heaven.

After the song was over we parted and waved to each. “I’ll be back for you” she said. I smiled and said “I’ll be waiting”. I picked up my drink and took a long draw on it. The band stage was black with small amplifier lights peering out. A spot light came on and this tall long legged goddess was standing on stage at the microphone. She has long shoulder length curly drizzled dark brown hair, arched eyebrows, deep engaging eyes and a silky smile. “How ya’ll doin’ out there tonight?” she asked the crowd. The crowd went nuts including me.

“Well let me talk to ya’ll for minute” she started “You see my man quit me last week. Can you image that? That bastard just up and decided he didn’t want me no more!” The crowd booed for the dumb ass that dumped her. I didn’t know what his problem was, but I sure as hell wouldn’t let such a strong, talented and confident goddess like her out of my arms. “But that’s alright though” she continued “Momma told me that some men are like burnt cookies, you just scrap them off the pan and start a new batch baby.”

This really made the crowd yell at the tops of their lungs, especially the women. With that being said she picked up her guitar and her band started playing “I will die for you” by Prince. She was cool and swaying as she started to sing. I sucked down the rest of drink to the ice cubes and turned back to the bar. “Here you go hun” said my bartender placing two drinks in front of me. “Wow... Two?” I said with a puzzled look on my face. “Just one for now, thanks” I said to her. She pushed the other drink back next to mine and said “This is for Honey. She said to keep an eye on it for her”. Still looking puzzled I thought to myself for a quick second who’s Honey? Ohhhh, it was the chick I was dancing with I confirmed to myself. The bartender said “Look up on stage. She’s the lead singer and my sister. Enjoy”.

The band had started playing “Purple Rain”. I smiled, picked up my drink and turn to face the stage. She looked at me as she started to sing the song, smiled, and winked. Our eyes were fixed on each other as we sang the words together “Purple Rain, Purple Rain, I only want to see you under the purple rain.

Part 2 – “Hello Honey…”

Her band played two more songs before for taking a break. “We’ll be right back” she yelled into the mic at the crowd. I was nervous as hell knowing that she would be heading towards me shortly after walking off the stage. Sure enough, she was walking towards me given high fives to the crowds that held up their hands.

She finally got to me with two drinks in my hand extend out hers towards her arrival. “Thanks” she said with a smile. “You’re welcome. You got a pretty good band” I said. “Yeah, we’ve been together for along time. The drummer is my sister.” She said. My mind was beginning to put two and one together. “Is this your bar, The Court of Three Sisters” I asked? “Yeah, it’s our fathers bar twice handed down. Now we carry the torch” she laughed taking a long sip on her drink.

She is a stunning, funny, a smart business woman, and a musician. The gods must have been smiling on me this weekend. “So, what’s your name double jack on the rocks?” she asked taking another sip on her drink. “Jonathon La’marion Francis” I said looking into her deep brown eyes. She took another sip of her drink, paused and said “La’marion? That’s a Cajun blend! Which side of your family does this name come from?” she asked with a beaming smile. “My mothers” I said. “She is French Canadian, AKA Creole”. I finished.

She smiled from ear to ear and said “Sugar is always sweeter when it comes unexpected” Mama would always say when she was teaching us how to make pralines. “Soooo, Honey is your first or middle name?” I asked in a puzzled tone. “It’s my nick name that my daddy gave me. I was his favorite of the three us and his favorite thing in the mornin’ with his biscuits was honey. My real name is Laura” she said taking another small sip of her drink.

“So, do I call you Honey or Laura?” I asked. “Well Jonathon, you can call Laura” she said looking dead into my eyes. “Laura… It is my pleasure to meet you and I hope what we are feeling here is not going to end when you walk away from me”. I said. “No Jonathon” she said placing her hand on my mine at the bar putting down her drink. “What I want is for you to be here when I am done for the night. Can you promise me that? Don’t if you can’t”. She said with a serious tone.

I looked into her eyes as if I was holding a kitten and said “Laura, I want to be the one you see when you look out from the stage over at the crowd of people that will be looking at you and know that the reason I am here, looking at you in that moment, is because I want to keep the promise that I make to you now… I promise I will be here when you are done for the night.”

Part 3 – Keep your promise to Laura…

Laura gave me her guitar pick a kiss on the cheek with a smile and said “I’ll see you later if you keep your promise to me”. I kissed her forehead and said “knock ‘em dead, then come back to me”. She smiled and walked away into the crowd then turned around, blew me a kiss and stepped on stage and started playing with her band. Her sister brought me another drink, smiled and said “Don’t screw with my sisters head. She’s picky and she picked you.” I picked up the drink and said “She gave me her guitar pick; it’s a part of her that I won’t dare let go tonight”. Her sister smile and said “Just don’t break her heart hun. Okay?”. “Okay” I said.

I was getting’ the munchies and needed to eat. I finished off my drink and called her sister over. “Keep my tab open okay? I’ll be right back, I got to get something to eat.” I said. “Okay hun. Remember your promise to Laura .” She said. I nodded, looked up at the stage to let Laura know that I was leaving but she was leaning into her mic and singing her heart out. What a girl I thought to myself and went out into the streets.

Laura looked up just as I was half way out the door. She also caught the girl that I was dancing with following out after me trying to get my attention. Laura looked at her sister at the bar and pointed to the doorway. Her sister saw the same thing Laura was seeing, the chick I was dancing with making a bee line after me out the door. “Ahhh hell nah that bitch aint goin’ after my sisters man” she said under her breath. Laura’s sister signaled to one of the other bartenders to watch her section as she tore ass towards the door to head off the girl that was chasing after me.

She caught up with the girl just as she was about to step outside the door and grabbed her by the arm. “Where hell you think you goin’ hun?” she said in a stern voice. “You better lose me bitch!” The girl said pulling her arm away from Laura’s sister. “Keep your hands off him whore or you’ll see me times three!” she said in a spitting voice at the girl. “Fuck you bitch” she said and sped away out the door away from Laura’s sister’s site and into the crowd.

Bourbon Street was full of people and more were gathering as they poured in from everywhere. I was walking and pushing my way trying to find some place to eat that was quick and easy so I could get back to Laura. The ladies I had passed earlier that were hanging over the patios for the “Boobs for Beads” show were pulling up their shirts and flashing the crowds of men that were gathering and looking up with beaded necklaces in their hands trying to toss them up at the wait girls.

I finally found a small eatery that served fast gumbo by the bowl with a mini French loaf. I was about to order when I felt soft arms wrap around my waist that turned me around. “Surprise, it’s your dancer friend Becky from Court of Three Sisters!” she said in giddy voice. “Oh, hello” I said in a surprised voice. I was shocked to see the girl I had danced with earlier standing before me. “You still owe me a dance remember?” she said. “Ahhh. Yeah” I said still surprised. “I am just getting a quick bite to eat, you want something?” I offered. “Aha. I’ll have what you’re having. Gumbo and a bread.” She said. What could I say, I wasn’t expecting her to answer so quickly.

Our food order arrived and we took our little meals over to a small table. She smiled and said “Sooo, are you going to dance with me any more tonight? You’re a good dancer.” I took a spoon full of gumbo, chewed and said “I already have plans tonight with someone else.” She scooted close to me, lean over and said “I don’t see her? I know this great bar just up one block up from here called the “Voodoo Lounge” with a DJ that plays kick ass music.” “Nah, I have plans tonight” I said. She put her right hand on my thigh and said “We can dance for a little while and then go to my townhouse or your place for some drinks. I see you have some beads and I don’t have on a bra (she smiled pointing at her large breast) and my husband’s out of town so tonight is my naughty night out.” There I was with this hot married woman throwing herself at me and Laura who’s going to be waiting for me when her last set is over…

Part 4 – Someone is waiting for me

I pushed her hands away from mine and said “I really appreciate your offer. Really I do. But my heart and my mind are on someone else right now. Someone that is very important to me. Besides, do you really want me with you thinking about another woman?” “She crossed her arms and said “NO! You’re no fun.” She got up from our little table and disappeared into the crowd as easily as she appeared.

I pushed my bowl and bread aside and headed for “The Court of Three Sisters”. I looked at my watch. “Damn!!!” I said to myself. “Her last set is nearly over. She is not going to wait for me if I am a second late. Shit! Shit!” I said to myself as I hurried through the crowd pushing and shoving as I got closer to the club.

At last the club was in sight. The band wasn’t playing in anymore. “Shit! Shit!” I cursed to myself. “That’s it! She’s gone. She’s sure as hell ain’t waitin’ for my ass.” I said to myself again. I reach the doorway and stepped in hurriedly. I stood there looking around for her. The DJ was already playing music. The crowd was dancing and shouting to the DJ “Rock the house!” I looked at the bar, but she wasn’t there. I scanned over to the stage thinking I would see her putting away her guitar, but she wasn’t. The covers were draped over the equipment and the amplifiers were turned off.

I felt as if a bomb had dropped on my world and heavy rain was beginning to fall. I walked over to the bar and looked into the mirror at myself and shook my head asking myself “Why didn’t I just turned around and come back? Why didn’t I just listen to my heart and stayed close by?” I couldn’t hear anything. My world was silent and I didn’t care. People were bumping into to me trying to order drinks. I just shoved them back.

Then I felt a soft hand slide over mine. “Jonathon, you kept your promise to me” the familiar voice whispered. “You came back to me” Laura said. A sigh of big relief came over me as I turned around. “Laura, I didn’t think you were here. I, I thought you were gone and had given on me” I said to her softly. “My sweet, sweet Jonathon, how could I have given up on a good man that didn’t up on me” she said with a smile. I cupped her face in my hands kissed her deeply and gazed into her eyes “Laura, I don’t’ ever want to feel this way again. I don’t want to feel this feeling of loosing someone that came into my world and told me to trust my heart and a heart would be given to me.” I said.

She smiled and said “Mama always said, Baby, good men find you when you least expect it. They sometimes come from far away. They are not always just around the corner sweetie. Some of them will come by way of the cross roads and some will just find you. It is then that you must just ask them for a simple promise for them to come back to you. And the one of the many that does, baby he’s the one for you.”

I put my arms around Laura and her to me. We embraced for what seemed like an eternity. At last my world was complete and without end. My heart has found a home with someone that wanted a home to come to. The little sign on the front of our home in New Orleans now reads “Jonathon and Laura”. O’ I left out the best part of the story… We have a son.

Then end

Jonathon

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