“How do I look?” Tiana asked. She knew the answer, but it was always nice to hear it.
“You,” Naveen said seriously, “are the most beautiful princess in the world.” He tilted his head thoughtfully. “In fact,” he added, “I do believe you are the most beautiful princess in all of history.”
“You’re not so bad yourself,” Tiana said, smiling up at him. Naveen always said just the right thing. “But I have to go—”
“—to the kitchen.” Naveen finished for her. “I know. I will see you later.” He kissed her and sent her twirling toward the kitchen door. Tiana watched him bound back up onto the stage. She took a deep breath and walked into the kitchen.
Inside, everything was orderly and neat. Tiana loved her tidy kitchen. It was bright and warm, and everything was in its place.
Tiana pulled the bread rolls out of the oven. She had worked hard to make sure they were perfectly round. Their tops were glazed with egg white. They looked like big, pillowy pearls.
The tapioca was chilling in the icebox. The oysters were glistening on trays of crushed ice. Several pans of pearl onions were staying warm on the stove. Soon it would be time to unveil her masterpiece. Tiana had invented a new dish for the Pearl Gala: Chicken Pot Pearl. It was like chicken pot pie, but the crust was a perfect sphere of puff pastry. Each beautiful little pie looked like a shining, golden pearl.
Tiana smiled happily. Who knew that catching a thief could be so much fun?
Tiana watched as her guests streamed into the restaurant. All of New Orleans high society had come. Everyone was dressed to the nines, of course, and all the women were wearing pearls—pearl earrings, pearl necklaces, pearl bracelets. Some even had pearls sewn to their dresses, like Tiana.
Tiana kept an eye on things from the kitchen. The waiters, dressed in white tailcoats, brought out the oysters first. Then they served the main course. Tiana smiled as she heard gasps rise up from all over the room. The Chicken Pot Pearls were a hit!
Finally, the guests were ready for dessert. It was time for Tiana to make her move. She waited until everyone had been served dessert. Then she began making her rounds as hostess. She walked from table to table, shaking people’s hands and thanking them for coming. She bent near everyone she greeted, looking for a glowing pearl. Tiana visited table after table, but the missing pearl didn’t appear.
Finally, there was only one table left. Tiana’s heart sank. It was Charlotte’s table. Obviously the pearl wouldn’t be there. It looked like the gala was a bust. They’d have to come up with a new plan.
Charlotte and her father were with a scowling, wild-haired older woman. Tiana figured she must be Charlotte’s strange second cousin, Lucinda.
Charlotte raised her eyebrows at Tiana, as if to say, Well? Did you find the pearl? Tiana shook her head subtly. Charlotte’s face fell. Tiana was feeling pretty gloomy herself. But she put on a brave face. She still had to be a good hostess.
“Welcome to Tiana’s Palace,” Tiana said. “I’m so glad you could—”
She stopped suddenly. Charlotte was wearing an elegant string of pearls. And the pearl in the very center of the string was glowing.
Tiana had found Mama Odie’s missing pearl…around Charlotte’s neck!
“Tiana…” Charlotte said. She was staring at Tiana’s necklace.
“Lottie…” Tiana said. She was staring at Charlotte’s necklace.
“Your pearl! It’s glowing!” both of the friends said at once.
Charlotte looked down at her necklace. “I don’t understand,” she said. “Why is my necklace glowing? Why, I only just got these pearls! They were a gift from…”
CRASH! Lucinda overturned her chair. She snatched the pearls from Charlotte’s neck, hiked up her skirt, and ran for the door. Everyone in the restaurant turned around and stared. Even the band stopped playing.
“…Lucinda!” Charlotte finished. “Why, I—Tiana, she’s the thief! And she’s getting away!”
Tiana had planned for this, though. She put two fingers to her mouth and whistled as loudly as she could. At her signal, Willie, Maybelle, and Vincent all dropped their tambourines and leaped off the stage. In a flash, they had Lucinda pinned to the ground.
“Ugh!” Lucinda yelled. “Alligators! I hate them.”
“She also hates crying babies, muggy weather, loud music, horses, people who sniffle, overcooked pasta, itchy sweaters, and waiters who are just a little bit too friendly,” Charlotte told Tiana. They walked over toward where Lucinda was lying on the floor. Maybelle was sitting on her.
“Basically, she never stops complaining,” Charlotte said. “I have to say, it doesn’t amaze me to learn she’s the thief.”
“Willie, Vincent, please help Miss Lucinda up,” Tiana said. “Take her into the kitchen. I’d like my guests to enjoy the rest of their night in peace.”
She watched the alligators drag Lucinda toward the back of the restaurant. “And don’t let her escape!” Tiana called after them.
Tiana apologized to her guests, and the band struck up a cheery tune. As everyone returned to their desserts, Tiana went into the kitchen.
Lucinda was sitting at the kitchen table, sulking. She was still clutching the string of pearls. The alligators were grouped around her, showing their big, pointy teeth. Charlotte glared at Lucinda.
“Are you actually my second cousin?” she demanded.
“Yes,” Lucinda said sourly.
“Then why haven’t I ever met you?” Charlotte demanded.
“I hate New Orleans!” Lucinda said. “The food is weird, and it’s crowded, and there’s all of this jazz music everywhere.”
Maybelle gasped, shocked. “Jazz is wonderful!” she said.
“What would you know?” Lucinda said. “You’re an alligator. Everyone knows alligators have tin ears.”
Maybelle growled and bared her teeth.
Tiana decided to step in before things got ugly. “Lucinda,” she said.
Lucinda looked over at her, and Tiana held out her hand, palm up. Charlotte’s cousin sighed and handed over the pearls.
“Curses,” she said, scowling. “Foiled again.”
“Why did you give the magic pearl to Lottie?” Tiana asked.
“To hide it,” Lucinda said. “I was going to take it with me when I left town tomorrow.”
“Well, I never!” Charlotte said. “Were you going to let me keep the other jewelry you ‘gave’ to me?”
“No,” Lucinda said. Charlotte looked disappointed. “Well, maybe those ruby earrings,” Lucinda said. “They’re pretty tacky.”
“I love those earrings!” Charlotte said, excited. “They’re not tacky at all!”
Lucinda just raised an eyebrow.
“Why did you steal Mama Odie’s magic pearl?” Tiana asked.
“To annoy her!” Lucinda said. “The way she annoys me. We’ve been getting on each other’s nerves since before either of you were born. She broke my favorite herb bowl, and I put a polka-dot curse on her. Then she turned my house upside down, so I put her boat in a tree.”
“That’s how it got up there?” Tiana asked. She’d always wondered.
Lucinda looked proud. “That was me! But then she turned all of my socks into newts a few years back. I’ve been planning my revenge ever since. Not bad, eh? I took her fancy magic pearl!”
Lucinda left town the next morning.
“Have a good trip home,” Tiana said.
“I can’t wait to get out of here,” Lucinda replied. “I hate how this town smells.” She stomped down the street.
“And stay out,” Charlotte muttered as Lucinda disappeared around a corner.
“Charlotte,” Tiana said gently. “Don’t be rude. She’s still your cousin. And she gave you those earrings, after all.”
“I suppose,” Charlotte said. “But that doesn’t make her any less awful.”
Tiana brushed her hands on her apron briskly. “Well,” she said. “That’s that. Shall we have breakfast?”
; “Oh, yes!” Charlotte said. She looked excited. “And I know just the place. It’s this lovely restaurant that has the best beignets.”
“Really?” Tiana said. She was a little worried. Charlotte always said her beignets were the best. Was there new competition? Or had her skills been slipping? “What restaurant is it?”
“A little old place called Tiana’s Palace!” Charlotte said with a grin. She put her arm through Tiana’s, and the two friends went to get breakfast.
“When do you want to return the pearls to Mama Odie?” Charlotte asked.
Tiana took a bite of beignet and chewed thoughtfully. They were eating breakfast with Louis and Naveen. Outside, Louis’s friends were playing in the fountain. Tiana could hear them giggling.
Before Tiana could reply, Louis piped up.
“Tonight! This afternoon! Right now!” Louis said. “She’s going to be so happy to see them!”
Tiana shrugged. “Sure,” she said. “Why not? I can close Tiana’s Palace for one day.”
“You do not want me to stay here and run the restaurant this time?” Naveen asked. He looked relieved.
“Well, my prince,” Tiana said, “I have a feeling there’s going to be a party in the bayou tonight.”
“I love parties!” Naveen said.
“Exactly,” Tiana replied. She kissed him on the cheek. “And it wouldn’t be a party without you.”
Tiana hurried back to the fountain in the garden. “Willie, Maybelle, Vincent!” she called.
“Yes, Tiana?” they said in unison. Tiana giggled. They were like an alligator chorus!
“We’re going back to the bayou, y’all!” she called. “Come on!”
Tiana felt like she was leading a little parade through the bayou.
She walked hand-in-hand with Naveen. Behind them, Charlotte chattered to Louis. And behind them, Willie, Maybelle, and Vincent trotted along single file. A cloud of fireflies brought up the rear. Tiana knew the fireflies never missed a good party, so she had made sure to invite them along.
“Well, aren’t you all just adorable!”
Tiana looked up. “Hi, Alphonse!” she said. The flamingo was flying above them, his big wings flapping slowly.
“Mind if I join you?” he asked. “Mama Odie knows you’re comin’. She sent me to make sure y’all don’t get lost.”
When they got to the house, Mama Odie was waiting for them. She leaned against the trunk of the tree.
“I hear you got my pearl back!” she said. Tiana reached into her pocket and pulled out the sister pearls. She’d wrapped them up in a bit of silk. When Mama Odie unwrapped them, they were glowing softly. It was almost as though they were happy to be together, Tiana thought.
Mama Odie sighed happily. She slipped the pearls into her pocket and hugged Tiana. “Thank you, child,” she said. “You’ve done me a great favor.”
Tiana hugged her back. “I was happy to do it,” she said. Then she paused. A wonderful smell was winding its way down from the boat-in-a-tree that Mama Odie called her home.
Tiana’s nose twitched. “I know that smell,” she said. “Grilled catfish!”
“Of course! Is this a party or ain’t it?” Mama Odie asked. She grinned.
“It’s sure a party now,” Louis said. “Boy, I love catfish.”
“So do we!” Willie, Maybelle, and Vincent said.
“Then come on up,” Mama Odie said. “And dig in!”
When they climbed into the boat, Tiana looked around. “You know,” she said to Mama Odie, “it was Lucinda who took your pearls.”
Mama Odie shook her head crossly. “I thought it might have been,” she said. “That woman gets on my nerves!”
“She told me she’s the one who put your houseboat in a tree,” Tiana said.
“That’s true enough,” Mama Odie said. “But the joke’s on her. I like it better up here!”
Tiana laughed. She watched Louis and his friends dig in. There was catfish, grilled okra, potato salad, and dirty rice. “Say, Mama Odie,” Tiana said. “I’d love a glass of sweet tea. Do you have any?”
“Yes, child,” Mama Odie said. “Because you’re makin’ a big batch for all of us. Get to work!”
Tiana grinned and rolled up her sleeves.
In no time, the party was in full swing. The friends ate, sang, and danced, their music echoing through the sweet night air. Tiana looked up at the starry sky as she spun in Naveen’s arms. It was good to be back in the bayou!
The Macintosh clan has come to DunBroch to celebrate the Rites of Summer, and Merida can’t wait for the games to begin! In the spirit of the festival, she challenges Young Macintosh to a race to the top of the Fire Falls. There, they make an incredible discovery—two glowing emeralds. But when they take the jewels, the Fire Falls turn dark. Will they unravel the secret legend of the emeralds before their fates change forever?
The Stolen Jewel Page 3
