’ He smiled warmly again and I shivered involuntarily, a warm glow washing over me though I knew he was being polite rather than flirtatious. ‘Hav...e you eaten?’ he asked, tilting his head in the direction of the buffet line. I shook my head. ‘Shall we?’ He crooked his elbow gallantly. I hesitated, then slipped my hand into his arm. He led me to the food and made small talk with the servers as we walked along the long table with our plates. I could barely concentrate on holding my plate steady. When he heard that Tammy had taken over the family business his eyes narrowed, and at the end he looked at Jason with a nod."You love my girl," Gerald said. It was a statement, but Jason nodded anyway. "Gimme that paper I need to sign." After he signed it, he looked to the guard who had stood in the room all this time. "Would you please sign as a witness?"The guard had tears in his eyes as he signed it as well."Now that played-out ruby mine ain't much," Gerald said as he pushed the document. Now about me maybe getting pregnant you don’t have to worry. My mom put me on birth control about a week later on my doctors’ recommendation. So there, no babies for me, just yet, but you know they aren’t always reliable. Plus I do forget to take them sometimes.”Tommy breathed a sigh of relief at hearing that she was on birth control but looked at her when she said that she forgets to take them sometimes. “She’s messing with me. I hope.” He thought to himself.After they watched some TV for. "Are you here just for Mardi Gras or for business, too? Often, people use business as an excuse to come to Mardi Gras," he asked her.Because of the noise, Joanna did not hear everything he said."I'm sorry, I couldn't hear you. What did you say?" I was asking why you were here. Look, would you like to go somewhere else that's quieter? I know a little coffee shop not far from here where they make that wonderful New Orleans' style coffee. Would you like to go there?" You mean that stuff you have.