“De France pas de Louisiane.” From France, I say, not Louisiana. He smiles at me and walks away. People slowly start arriving, most of them dressed in their Sunday best, and I stand in the corner the whole time watching him do his thing. He meets with everyone, shaking their hands and smiling while he talks. Everyone smiles when he talks to them, also probably under his spell. He finally finds me a little while later.

“I’m so sorry. I was trying to get over here, and it was always something,” he says to me, his hands in his pockets.

“Don’t worry about me,” I tell him. “I have champagne.” He laughs and now turns when Tracy calls his name. “Would you go and do your thing?” I push him, and he looks down and then up again at me.

His voice goes low, and he looks at me. “Come with me.” He holds out his hand, and I know I should let him go socialize without me, but instead, my hand goes out to his. He introduces me to everyone who he meets, never giving me a title. And when he has to pose with the press, I opt out and use the bathroom as an excuse.

When I come back, I see that he is still taking pictures and now Tracy is the one standing beside him. I look at her, and I wonder if one day he’ll see her in that light. My hand goes to my stomach as the burning comes back again. I really have to eat; I look around to see if any of the waiters have food, and then I hear Tracy’s voice fill the room as she knocks a crystal glass.

“If I can get everyone’s attention,” she says, smiling, and I pretty much hate her face. “On behalf of Walk ’N’ Licks, Mark and I would like to thank you all for coming down for our opening ceremony,” she says. I grab a glass of champagne from a passing waiter, drinking it down in one gulp. She hands the speaking over to Mark, who thanks everyone for coming and hoping to come back many more times, and I wonder if I’ll come with him the next time he comes here. Will he come alone, or will he come with someone else? I exhale suddenly, and then Tracy asks everyone to step outside for the official cutting of the ribbon. I walk out of the shop and grab my phone, standing with everyone else facing them. He stands in the middle of the group with the mayor on one side and Tracy on the other side of him.