Chapter 101: Breakfast at Brennan’s

Thursday, June 10, 1971

While Nicky, Vickie, Adriana, Amy, and Penny were all coming with me for breakfast and to meet the architects. Karla wanted to go shopping for some fresh foods and other items to re-stock the pantry and Kip volunteered to stay with the train and Mikeya, who was still asleep.

I gave the cab driver the address in the French Quarter and we all squeezed into the cab. On the way over, I filled the girls in on what I remembered about one of my all-time favorite restaurants.

“They say that you can’t say breakfast in New Orleans without adding ... at Brennan’s” I began. “Owen Brennan opened his French & Creole Restaurant on Bourbon Street in The French Quarter, some twenty-five years ago. According to legend, it was on a dare from his friend and fellow restaurant owner, Count Arnaud. A few years later, they moved to this location, and have been here ever since.”

“So they serve French food? Goody! I love French pastries!” Adriana said.

“Yeah. But it’s more like French with a Creole twist,” I tried to explain. “They have many original items on the menu, with a special wine list for all the breakfast items. Brennan’s, as it came to be known, became famous because of their lavish and substantial breakfast/brunch menu which features poached eggs prepared over two dozen different ways, as well as an old authentic Creole breakfast dish called ‘Grillades and Grits’.”

“What are Grillades and Grits?” Nicky interrupted to ask.

“Grillades are usually pieces of veal simmered for a long time in a spicy sauce with tomatoes and bell peppers. Brennan’s version is a little fancier, using sautéed baby veal, scallops, and this spectacular Creole sauce,” I felt my mouth water as I recalled my last visit to Brennan’s, some thirty years from now.

“But my favorite dish is the Bananas Foster, which Brennan originated here,” I told them. “You have GOT to try it!”

The cab pulled to a stop in front of the Royal Street restaurant. The building Brennan’s occupies was over one hundred and fifty years old and surrounds a lushly planted courtyard.

As we entered, Vickie gave my name to the hostess.

“We have you in one of the private dining rooms upstairs,” she said. “Your guests have already arrived, Mr. Wagner. I took the liberty of seating them.”

“Thank you,” I replied automatically as we followed her through the restaurant to a set of stairs. The dining room was on the second floor and opened onto a balcony overlooking the courtyard. The elegant cloth covered table was already set, and a large antique sideboard was laden with drinks.

I was expecting to see the architects, so I was surprised to find Catherine sitting there waiting. And she had Grace and Beth with her.

There was an awkward silence as the girls came in behind me and their idle chatter abruptly ceased.

Catherine sat there silently, staring at me. She was confused. It was obvious to me that she was trying to read me, but the Old One had shown me how to protect my thoughts better, and I had been actively working on it on the short trip over. So Catherine couldn’t read me and she was at a loss as to how to proceed.

“Grandmother!” Nicky exclaimed as she rushed by me to hug her. “This is a surprise. I didn’t know you were coming down.”

The others all began crowding around Catherine, talking. I said nothing, focusing my scan first on Grace, and then on Beth.

Grace looked at me pensively. “Hi, Michael,” she said. “Are you mad because I came?”

“Good morning, Grace. And no, I’m not mad,” I replied. “Although, I’ll admit I’m surprised.”

“Don’t blame Catherine, she thought it might help,” she explained without really explaining.

“I don’t,” I replied. “Blame anyone, I mean.” I wasn’t meaning to be short with her, I just needed a moment to get my emotions in check.

“Good morning, Beth,” I said turning to her. “Are you feeling better?”

“Yes, thank you. Catherine has told me a lot more about you and who you really are,” she answered. “So I felt like I needed to come and apologize to you personally.”

“You have nothing to apologize for,” I told her. “I’m sure that this whole thing was quite a shock to you, but I don’t feel like you did anything wrong.”

“Still, I need to tell you how sorry I am for my actions. They weren’t very professional,” she said.

“It wasn’t a situation you were ever professionally trained for. There’s no way you could have been, so apology accepted, but not necessary. Okay?” I offered.

“Catherine said you would say that. But I didn’t believe her,” Beth said. “I keep remembering how you were before.”

“Well, I can’t undo what the old Michael did, but he’s no longer here. So, what if we just put the past behind us and start all over again,” I suggested, quickly offering her my hand. “Hi, I’m the new Michael.”

She looked from me to my offered hand, then slowly raised her hand to touch mine. I clasped it gently and raised her hand to my lips as I bent at the waist.

“It is a pleasure to meet you, Miss Dickson,” I said, lightly brushing the back of her hand with my lips.

“Thank you, Prince Michael,” she said demurely. “You are most gracious. Not at all like the old Michael.”

“I have matured a lot since I woke up from the coma,” I replied, hopefully guiding her as to how she should address the issue of my changing so much. At least when we were in public.

I was relieved that Beth seemed to have come to an understanding concerning my past. She was a sweet girl, who found herself in an unusual situation for which she wasn’t prepared. It was way outside her scope of understanding, and she had obviously spent considerable time discussing it with Catherine, and thinking it through on her own. I sensed her relax as she had now completed the first part of her mission.