Izzy D.'s grin was what they called a shit eating grin back in another life time as she followed the little girl to the private dining area. She was still in pleasant shock at the touch of remembrance from the woman. In all her lifetimes, there had only been one soul to have known her for generations. That was Malachai, her vampire lover. They were bound for all eternity, soul to soul, by a spell she had cast while burning at the stake. He was gone now, finally at rest, burned to ashes, never to rise again. A brief twinge of regret cross her heart.<br/><br/>The child had raced toward the table and the plate glass windows, stopped, did a pirouette and ran pell- mell back to them.<br/>"Izzy D," the little girl had tugged on her hand." Dis is mommy's fwiend."<br/><br/>Izzy D heard the woman's expelled breath when the child danced back around them. Sweet child. Isolde had never had children. Her life with a vampire lover had not allowed such a luxury.<br/>"The view here is lovely. The lights along the Mississippi are like jewels." She stopped and looked closer at the woman and suddenly the memory of her face came into focus.<br/><br/>"Damn, girl. I remember you now. You owe me a fu.... I mean a freaking blue dress." Izzy D said jovially, eying the child with regard to appropriate language to use. "How in the world have you been?"<br/><br/>Millicent didn't have time to answer before sitting at the table. She did glare at the man who greeted her.  Isolde shook her head. Too damn many fine men in New Orleans, or maybe there had been back in Manhattan but Mal had been there so she hadn't noticed any other.<br/><br/>"Hi, I'm Izzy D. I own the flower shop just across the street. Arie invited me to join her for dinner. I hope you don't mind. If it is an imposition, I can always leave." Izzy D. extended her hand without waiting for a formal introduction. Looking at this man made her head swim. He was familiar but not on a personal level the way the woman or Mal had been. He seemed to be tied up with the woman some how so perhaps he was from the time era of the Black King. There had been many soldiers and warriors then. She flashed a wide white smile at the group and sat down.<br/><br/>The waiter brought a wine list and Izzy D said,<br/>"I'm buying champagne tonight for those at the table who wish to drink it. And perhaps some celebratory sparkling water for the Birthday Girl. I opened my shop today, made sales and had no mishaps. So a celebration is in order."  she refrained from saying that she was really celebrating  cosmic girlfriend. She smiled and wondered what the man would think of the New Age mumbo jumbo.