Go to the table of Duchess Delights and find the one that isn’t like the others.
“What the—” Evie said. She gave Waffles’s leash a tug. “Come on, boy.”
She walked over to the table covered with treats Ashanti had persuaded Fido Foods, the company that bought her doggy treat business for millions, to donate to the gala. There were three designs: a Mardi Gras king cake, the Muses of Comedy and Drama masks that were usually displayed everywhere during carnival season, and a purple, gold, and greenking’s crown. Evie shuffled the treats around, searching for one that was different. She noticed a speck of red peeking through two of the masks. She moved one to the side and saw the heart-shaped cookie.
A curious smile curved up the side of her mouth as she picked up the cookie and turned it over.
You can ride me up and down St. Charles Avenue all day long, but tonight you can find me in the basket of toys.
Evie laughed. She knew exactly what this clue was referring to. She’d bought all the plushies from Southern Paws Pet Boutique. The one resembling the iconic St. Charles Streetcar was her favorite.
She looked around, trying to spot Ashanti and Ridley. Those two had to be the ones behind this. They’d both told her she was stressing too much about the gala and needed to unwind.
As she approached the huge wicker basket brimming with plush toys, another woman swooped in and picked up the streetcar.
“Uh, wait!” Evie called. “I think that’s for me. Can you turn it over and tell me if there’s a note?”
The woman turned it over, and sure enough, there was a yellow note attached.
“Do you mind?” Evie held out her hand. “I promise I’ll find you once I’m done with this”—whatever this was—“and you can have the streetcar.”
“Take it.” She handed Evie the plushy. “I was trying to decide between the streetcar and the Cafe du Monde beignet mix anyway. You just made my choice easier.”
Evie read the note on the back of the streetcar.
There are hundreds just like me all over the city. We’re tall, and stately, and the birds love us. The people do too. Step outside and you’ll find me.
Definitely the oak trees. There were literally hundreds sprinkled throughout New Orleans.
This was perfect timing. She’d been meaning to make the rounds outside to see how things were going. She tugged on Waffles’s leash and started for the exit that would lead to the grounds. There were nearly as many people out here as there were inside. Once this week’s forecast confirmed there would be good weather, they had set up tables and chairs all around the lawn, along with a dance floor. A deejay—yet another one of Ridley’s contacts—handled the outside entertainment.
Evie peered around the various trees, looking for her next clue.
She froze as she caught sight of a figure standing underneath a huge oak tree. He was cast in shadow by the tree’s arching branches, but she would recognize him anywhere.
The adorable papillon at his feet was a dead giveaway.
He wore the same tux he’d worn to her parents’ party, and it looked just as amazing on him right now as it had that night. Evie steeled herself against the onslaught of emotions threatening to overwhelm her. She could do this. Whether she could do it without causing a scene was another matter.
You can.
She walked the final few yards, stopping when she was still three feet away. The moment Waffles was within cuddling distance of Bella, he began to prance around her.
Evie held up the streetcar plushy.
Bryson hunched his shoulders. “You never got to hold your scavenger hunt.”
Evie fought against the wave of tenderness that washed over her. Her heart pounded against the walls of her chest, but just because her body reacted in this frustratingly predictable way didn’t mean her head had to.
She stooped down and gave Bella a scratch behind the ears, giving herself the chance to get her emotions under control. When she stood up again, she had to look away to avoid Bryson’s eyes. The torment she’d glimpsed in them made her feel bad for him, and she wasn’t ready to feel bad for him.
He gestured to the grounds. “This looks amazing, Ev.”
“Thank you,” she said. “It wasn’t just me. I had a lot of help.”
“I talked to Thad in the parking lot. He said you’ve raised no less than a hundred grand tonight.”
“I’m sure it’ll be more than that once we’re all done.” She hesitated for only a second before deciding to tell him about the conversation she’d just had with Evelina Cane. She couldn’t hold it in any longer. “But that’s not the best news of the night. We may have another location for The Sanctuary. I was approached by a woman who wants to donate a building she owns in honor of the dog she just lost.”
