“Axel drives fast,” Dan assured her. “We’ll be there in a few, and the kitchen is open late.”

They could see through to the many vaults as they drove around the cemetery to the restaurant; when Axel gave the car to the valet, they could still see through the Washington Street gates. The cemetery was closed by night, and the streets were quiet. There was still something haunting about the bits of the cemetery that could be seen, elegant yet touched with the decay of the passage of time. Katie could remember the first time she had come to New Orleans as a child, falling in love with the zoo and the aquarium, the entertainers on the square, and the music that seemed to come from everywhere. She thought if they could combine the beauty of the Gulf and the Atlantic with the unique history and flair of New Orleans, it would be a perfect place.

“You’re actually smiling,” Dan told her as they entered the restaurant.

He and Axel were both looking at her, and she shrugged, allowing that smile.

“I was thinking if you could put New Orleans and the Keys into one place, it would be about perfect.”

“There’s the Mississippi River,” Axel noted.

She made a face. “Lousy diving.”

“Ah, well, that just means we all have to travel and get to know more places,” Dan said.

She looked at curiously. “You dive?”

He nodded. “When I can.”

“I read you were an amazing diver,” Axel said, looking at her.

“Once. No more. I don’t go out anymore. I...uh...” She stammered, wanting to change the subject. “I find it interesting, though. Key West and New Orleans have many things in common. They’re both party towns, which means people often miss what’s so wonderful about the heart of them. You have Duval Street in Key West, Bourbon Street in New Orleans. The Key West cemetery is in the center of the island on the highest ground...though, it’s not very high. But storms have caused bodies to rise and wash through the streets of both cities. And Key West doesn’t have NOLA architecture. It has its own style. It also has an amazing array of Victorian houses since once, it was highest on the chart with per-capita income because money was rolling in during the prime days of salvage.”

She opened her mouth and closed it, embarrassed as she realized that the hostess was waiting to seat them.

“Wow, that sounds cool!” the young woman said.

Katie flushed. “Uh, thanks.”