Hallelujah

Bring It on Home to Me

Chapter playlist: You're So Vain - Carly Simon; Long Tall Sally - Little Richard; Bring It On Home To Me - Sam Cooke

Bring It On Home to Me

Jude was up early. She'd slept well in her refashioned quarters. And she had to admit she was looking forward to seeing the Monsignor at breakfast. She even wore a red dress - just for him. And decided that something special was in order for their menu.

She collected Mary Eunice. "Good morning, little sister."

"It is a good morning." Eunice enthused. She'd made a bouquet for the breakfast table. Jude decided not to mention the Monsignor's visit, just in case he pussied out. Again. "Red is a very nice color on you, Sister."

Jude squeezed Eunice on the way downstairs. "I know," she confided. "We're gonna cook something fun today."

"Ooh, what?"

"Beignets."

"Mayonnaise?"

"No!" Jude laughed aloud. "Beignets. Little fried doughnuts with sugar on them. You'll love 'em, trust me."

"I love sugar."

"Sugar?" Shelley swung into the kitchen right behind them. Smacked Jude's ass. "You gonna give me some sugar, Judy?"

"I'm gonna give ya some soap far that dirty mouth, Shelley."

"No fun."

Eunice snickered behind a hand, and Shelley poked her in the ribs to bring the giggles to the open.

"What's fer breakfast?" Frank asked.

"Beignets." Eunice answered.

"Mayonnaise?!"

"Oh, far Christ's sake." Jude was pulling flour from the pantry. "Beignets! Hasn't anybody evah had a fuckin' beignet?"

"Yeah. French doughnuts." Shelley answered. "They're amazing. Want some help, Judy?"

"That'd be nice, Shelley. And some music." She blinked.

You walked into the party

Like you were walking on a yacht

Your hat strategically dipped below one eye

Your scarf, it was apricot

They had the batter whipped up in no time, rolling the lump on a floured butcher block, all grooving to the relaxing tune while Frank and Eunice squeezed oranges. Such a peaceful morning... And then the Monsignor arrived.

You had one eye on the mirror

And watched yourself gavotte

And all the girls dreamed that they'd be your partner

They'd be your partner, and

You're so vain

He looked incredibly non-Monsignorly. Dark trousers and a grey cotton oxford. Jude met his eyes over Shelley's bent head. Frank's brows rose. Eunice accidentally squeezed an orange into her eyeball. And slowly - like a scene from a film noir in slow motion - Shelley turned.

You probably think this song is about you

You're so vain,

I'll bet you think this song is about you

Don't you?

Don't you?

"Son. Of. A. Bitch."