The hotel had called a brief meeting for the restaurant staff, and Lucy was sitting at a table in the back with Paisley, who was being chatted up by a new waiter named Dean.

While they waited for the management to arrive, Lucy thought back to her quick trip home the previous week. Etta hadn't been awake when she had arrived, and she had seemed slightly off the next day, but nothing that worried Lucy overly much. The house had needed a good cleaning and there had been plenty to do, so she had stayed to get it done.

She had also stayed with the hope that Zeb would track her down in order to explain his comments to her, but he never did, and Etta didn't mention his return. It didn't appear as if there had been a plan between the two of them, which was a little disheartening.

What could he have meant by saying he had never agreed to an engagement? It had been posted in the paper, how could that have happened without his agreement?

She remembered how it had felt when he had held her close, keeping her safe from Joel, and she frowned at the thought of Joel, hoping that she wouldn't have another run in with him anytime soon. He seemed to be getting nastier every time she saw him.

"What are you thinking about so hard over there?" Dean asked. He was a tall skinny young man who liked Paisley but was guarded around Lucy.

"Nothing much." She shrugged, looking away from him.

"I hope they get here soon," Paisley said. "I got Lionel to agree to let me come to this meeting, but if it takes much longer he's gonna be livid." She popped a bubble with her chewing gum, giving  Lucy the impression that she didn't particularly care.

Lucy had always thought the temperamental chef had a thing for Paisley because she got away with a lot more than everybody else did.

As if he had heard Paisley's request, the manager of the restaurant, Mr. Bernstein, walked in with a few women, one of which was Zelda Abbott. Lucy sank further down in her chair, hoping she wouldn't be noticed as the manager began to talk about the annual Halloween Ball that was being held in the ballroom of the hotel. The restaurant was catering, which meant that it was a great chance for some of the staff to get overtime.

If Zelda noticed her she didn't give it away as she stood next to two women that Lucy didn't recognize.

It was a short meeting, and they were soon released to return to work or their time off, and the manager moved with the women to a table at the back of the restaurant, implying that they were about to have lunch.

The table was in Lucy's section.

"Hey Paisley, can you take the manager's table? I need to call my grandmother and check on her." Lucy said.

"Sorry, no can do, Lionel will kill me." Paisley looked over at the table and gave a mocking smile. "Besides, this is your chance to get in good with some of the upper crust of New Orleans. Of course, the only one at that table worth talking to is Zelda Abbott."

Lucy followed close on Paisley's heels as she walked towards the kitchen, wanting to ask her what she knew about Zelda.

"You better get over there, the manager looks anxious." Paisley grinned, ducking into the kitchen.

Adjusting her apron over her uniform of a starched white shirt and black slacks, she walked towards the table.

"Hello Mr. Bernstien," she said to the manger as she smiled at the table as a whole. Zelda met her eyes and returned her smile, giving her a little wink, but otherwise not saying a word, and relief washed over her.

There would be no need for introductions or explanations.

They gave her their drink order and said they would all dine off the buffet. It would be an easy table for her.

After she retrieved their drink order she darted back to the kitchen, cornering Paisley.

"What do you know about those women at the table?" Lucy asked, hoping that Paisley ran true to form and would let loose with all of the gossip that she had.

"Not much, my mother used to work for Zelda's father when I was little, and Zelda was always nice to me and would let me play with her things on occasion. I had the biggest crush on her brother. He was in graduate school at the time." Paisley paused with a far away smile on her face. "He was something."

"And?" Lucy prompted after a few moments with nothing more.

"There was some sort of scandal surrounding their mother, she was mixed race I think. Mr. Abbott did all he could to protect her, but in the end she left because of it. I'm not sure of all of the details, but it kind of rocked the rich white people's world at the time, and not in a good way."

Lucy forced herself to keep her mouth closed as she absorbed the news. It wasn't enough, she wanted more, but she didn't want to ask Zeb, she wondered if Zelda would share?

"I used to have such daydreams about Zebadiah Abbott, Zelda's brother, I wonder if he's as good looking as I remember? He would definitely be one of those rich men I would let carry me off into the sunset." She sighed.

Realizing that she had to go and check on her table, Lucy exited into the restaurant and was stopped by Zelda as she rounded the buffet.

"Lucy, can we meet?" she whispered urgently. "I agreed to something I shouldn't have, and I think it may have hurt you and Zebadiah, he's not at all happy with me right now. I'd like to explain."

Lucy nodded. "I get off at seven this evening, would you like to meet here?"

Zelda shook her head. "No, here's my card, can you meet me at this address?" She passed the card over to her quickly.

Lucy nodded, pocketing the card before moving away from her, towards the table, checking to make sure that there was nothing else they needed. After that she had a few other tables arrive and they kept her busy, so she didn't have another chance to talk to Zelda before she left.

There was a lull about half past two, and Lucy took her lunch break with Paisley and Dean. Dean kept looking at her funny.

"Is there something wrong?" Lucy asked, as she took a bite of her sandwich.

"No," he insisted as he kept watching her as they ate.

When Paisley left them to return to the kitchen and Lucy stood, Dean slid his phone over to her. "Is this you?" he asked.

Lucy looked at the photo of her with Zeb at the gala, her face going pale, but she neither confirmed or denied it. However, Dean took her lack of response as an affirmation. "I almost didn't recognize you, if it weren't for the hair I probably wouldn't have." He looked her up and down. "What happened, why the fall from grace?"

Lucy didn't respond as she turned to walk away. When Dean reached out to grab her she side stepped him, she didn't want him touching her, and she wouldn't look at him.

"You're hiding something!" he insisted.

"No, I only went on a date with a rich man." She shrugged.

"I remember that night, I was part of the wait staff, he bought you a very expensive strand of pearls." His eyes were glued to her.

"He may have bought them, but they were not given to me." Lucy turned to walk away.

"You're lying. I wonder what the press would think? I can read the headline now, 'Abbott's mistress slaving away as a waitress as he picks out china patterns with his bride to be'. I'd read that."

Lucy shook her head, walking away from him. If she responded he would think there was more to it then there was, but she couldn't help but be nervous about his threats. She had tried to warn Zeb that he should stay away from her, but he hadn't listened, and now it seemed he was going to pay for it.

Perhaps she could warn Zelda and she could warn Zeb. She looked at the clock on the wall, she had three more hours until she could get away, she wondered if he would try to call in the tip before then, she had fifteen minutes left in her lunch break.

Making a decision, she walked out onto the terrace of the restaurant, which was empty, and pulled out her phone, dialing the number on the card that Zelda had given her.

"Zelda!" she greeted when she heard her voice, "I need to talk to Zeb, it's urgent, do you have a way for me to get in contact with him. I have a new phone and I don't have his number stored in it."

"Sure, he's here with me now, hold on." She heard Zelda's muffled voice and then Zeb's voice was talking in her ear, and she closed her eyes as she let the warm sound roll over her. It was an automatic comfort, he would know what to do.

"Zeb, I think I'm about to cause you trouble," she said softly.

"How so?" he asked, his warm voice sounding amused.

"There's a waiter where I work, and he recognized me as your date from the gala. He's planning to go to the press with a story saying I'm your mistress and your keeping me on the side even though you're engaged," she said it all in a rush and was greeted by his silence.

"How are you Lucy? I miss you," he said.

"Zeb, did you hear what I said!" she hissed.

"Hmmm, yes. You know all I keep thinking about is the night you spent in my arms. I shouldn't have left, or I should have taken you with me."

He was playing some cruel joke.

"Stop it, just stop it!" she choked, as his words spread through her, warming her soul.

"Zelda said she's going to visit with you this evening, you are still coming?" he asked.

"Are you going to be there?" She cleared her throat, praying the answer was no. She didn't think she was strong enough to see him again without throwing herself into his arms.

Damn it, she had to remember she was mad at him.

"Would you like me to? I can be."

"No!" she swallowed hard at the thought.

"I wanted to explain, but Zelda said it would be better if she did. I don't suppose you would be my date for the Halloween Ball?" he asked in an about face, completely throwing her.

"No, I have to work, I need the money," Lucy said without thinking.

"Fine, but I'll find you Lucy." There was a pause and when Lucy didn't say anything he sighed. "I hope you have a good visit with Zelda."

"Goodbye," she said quickly, not knowing what to say. He had twisted her all up inside and she wasn't sure if she was mad or happy. They were the words she wanted to hear, but it still didn't change the fact that he was engaged and he shouldn't be saying them to her.

She hoped whatever it was Zelda had to tell her would help her make sense of it all.