"So, are you excited?" Jasmine asked as she had to shout over the wind rushing into the car. Gus turned and smiled, still unbelieving that now, just four days after humoring his sister he was the owner of one of the largest and oldest plantation manor houses in the country. He had originally had no intention of buying anything that day, just going along to placate Margaret, but it was such a deal and the house was so beautiful he had to act. It all has happened so fast it still seemed like a dream and looking over at Jasmine he could not wait to see her reaction to his new home. He hoped it would be positive since she said she thought he had lost his mind to buy a house for cash and told him so quite strongly.
Standing on Jasmine's lap was Angeline, tail wagging furiously, tongue dangling out of her mouth as the wind whipped her long red fur. She loved taking long rides in Gus's old 1972 red MG convertible, and today being a special day, he thought it best to drive her to her new home in style. Following the moving van, Gus felt butterflies growing in his stomach as he drove into the Garden District as he could see Jasmine's face grow perplexed.
"This is very mysterious Gus" she shouted as the homes grew larger and more grand and the streets grew wider and greener. "Unless you have a shitload more money than I think you do, there is no WAY you bought one of these homes!"
Laughing, he said "Well Babe, I am comfortable but certainly not this kind of rich. I told you it was the deal of a lifetime and I can't wait until you see it." As the van in front flashed on its turn signal and drove onto Chestnut Street Angeline grew more excited. The fresh air and green lawns seemed to excite her more and more and she vigorously sniffed the air for the flood of smells bombarding her senses. Reaching down and petting his dog he added "I know Angeline here is going to love the yard. So much more room to run around outside than down in the quarter."
Seeing the van stop, Gus slowed the car and parked on the street. Jasmine looked around in astonishment as this was the pinnacle of the high rent district, each home on this street worth millions. Most impressive of all was the large White House at the end of the street and as she saw the movers begin to take furniture through the iron gate she gasped.
"HOLY FUCK!" she yelled as she slapped Gus's arm. "How much did you pay for this place? This is amazing!!!"
"Not as much as you would think."
As they got out of the car Jasmine put Angeline on the ground and they began to walk up the sidewalk to the gate. Barking wildly, the small dog sniffed the air desperately and strained at the end of her leash as she pulled in every direction. "I think your dog is going to be a problem in this neighborhood" Jasmine said as the high pitched yelps grew more desperate and shattered the relative silence of the street. Reaching the front gate, Angeline immediately squatted down on a patch of green grass and peed.
"Well, I think she just gave her seal of approval!" Gus said with a snicker as he saw her mark her territory. Reaching out for the gate, both he and Jasmine turned towards a voice coming from the house next door.
"Hello! HELLO!!!"
Turning towards the voice Gus saw an elegant older woman standing on her porch watching the activity. Dripping in pearls, she was the quintessential grand Dame of old New Orleans; hair teased up high and slightly bluish in color, a perfectly tailored teal dress, her appearance and demeanor screaming old money. "Hello there! Pardon me for interrupting, but do you know when Mr. Laveau is coming?" The voice belonged to Maxine Clark whose almost equally enormous house was right next door. Nosey and inquisitive, she had watched the activity next door all week, her curiosity growing exponentially each day. Eighty-five years old, she had lived on Chestnut street for nearly fifty years and had not had a single new neighbor in all that time, homes in the garden district tending to be held in the same family for generations. Mrs. Laveau, having just died at one hundred had been the only person who had lived in that house since she bought the adjacent one and she was very curious about her new neighbor.
"Mr. Laveau?" Jasmine whispered.
"She must think that the old ladies' nephew is moving in." Gus whispered back.
Passing the dog leash back to Jasmine, Gus stepped into her yard and held out his hand. "Sorry, no Mr. Laveau here. My name is Gus Le Blanc and I just bought this house. Pleasure to meet you neighbor."
Peering him up and down Maxine could barely conceal the disappointed look on her face. Gus, dressed down as usual, looked more like a maintenance man than the owner of Magnolia Grove and as she looked down at his flip flops, ratty looking board shorts and open Hawaiian shirt she internally shuddered. "Well, there goes the neighborhood" she thought to herself as she timidly held out her hand to shake his. Forcing a smile on her face she said "Glad to meet you Gus, welcome to Chestnut Street. I am Maxine Clark."
Looking over at Jasmine, dressed in very short shorts and an overly tight "Zekes" t-shirt which clearly showed her nipples, and clearly black, a slight sneer came across her face. Burnout hipsters were one issue, but having coloreds living next door was quite another thing entirely. Growing alarmed and irritated she stopped fretting as a smile flashed on her face. The situation was obvious as she reflected and realizing her error she became relieved.
"I see you brought your maid with you. That is very good Mr. Le Blanc since a fine old house like Magnolia Grove will require quite a bit of service. I was good friends with Mrs. Laveau, the last owner, and she had several people on staff to help her manage. I am more than willing to contact them for..."
"Oh, I am so sorry Mrs. Clark." Gus interrupted, a sneer now fully formed on his face. "This is not my maid, but my wife. Yeah, the little missus and I just fell in love with this place the second we saw it. We can't wait to fill up all eleven of those bedrooms with youngins you know!" he added with a wink. Gripping Jasmine's waist, he pulled her tight to his chest and planted a long lingering kiss on her lips. "It certainly will be fun trying to at least!"
"Oh, uh, well" Maxine stuttered. "I see. Well, if there is anything I can do, please let me know." She abruptly said as she hastily retreated back into her house.
Barely suppressing a laugh, Jasmine whispered into Gus's ear. "You are a bad bad man! Somehow I don't think you are going to be invited over for tea at the Clark's anytime soon."
"You know, it is 2014 now, not 1953! That shit just burns me up!" he snapped as she stroked his neck.
"It's 2014 down in the quarter, I think it is different up here in the district. But anyway, what is all this bullshit about me being your wife! Hell, I am not even your girlfriend!!!" Turning away from him she wiggled her glorious ass in the air. "You got to earn that honor boy!"
"Well Babe, I look forward to trying." He answered as he licked his lips.
Looking down at Angeline, who was squatting and depositing a large smelly editorial comment on Mrs. Clark's lawn they both laughed as they walked back to Magnolia Grove. Angeline, barking excitedly pawed at the gate and burst into the yard as the door swung open.
"Good God Gus!" Jasmine exclaimed as she took in the enormity of the garden. Seeing the overgrown flowering bushes, the circular driveway and the tarnished bronze statue in the fountain she was amazed. "This is not just a house, but an estate." Glancing back at Gus she added "Again, I have to ask, just how rich are you?"
