[...continued]

THE REVEAL

The white SUV crept down the street, inching along as Ernie Bianchini, Ambrozewski's cousin and chauffeur for the day, read door numbers. Finally finding the right one, Bianchini, or "Mr. Ernie" to those who know him, drew to a stop, and his effervescent passenger stepped out and into a seamless series of hugs -- with Batt, with Cianfichi, with a reporter and a photographer.

"Do you like my new outfit?" she asked with a twinkle. "Five dollars for the suit at a garage sale. And the blouse was $13."

So how many outfits does she own? "Three, now," she said with a grin.

It's obvious at first glance that Ambrozewski is a mover and a talker. One of those people you instantly draw into your personal space, one who keeps up a snappy stream of kindly and interested chatter.

But one step into the FEMA trailer and she was speechless.

"Oh, my," she finally said. "Oh, my goodness."

Her gaze swept across the toile cushions and the perfect table settings and landed on the photo collages.

"Where did you get them?" she asked, turning toward Batt. "This is incredible. This is a miracle."

"Holy smoke," chimed in Mr. Ernie. "Look at the pictures."

"Ernie, could you ever believe this could be?" Ambrozewski asked. "I've never seen anything so beautiful in my life."

And she instantly understood it all -- from the use of color ("I love the greens; they make me feel alive, like the new grass coming up") to the exquisite daintiness of the bedroom ("I hate to use it, it's so beautiful; makes me feel spoiled").

After a thorough tour and a long chat, during which Ambrozewski frequently dropped the words "awesome" and "awestruck," it was time to go. Slipcovers, shades, linens, photographs, tableware, coffee table books -- everything was packed into the SUV.

When Batt tucked a small silver fleur-de-lis into Ambrozewski's hand.

"This is from my friend Tiffany Adler," he told her. "On the back it says, 'I believe.' "

Ambrozewski smiled. "That was the happiest day of my life, when I met Bryan," she said.

It's obvious this day runs a close second.

THE HAPPY ENDING

When last we saw her, Jennie Ambrozewski and Mr. Ernie were headed into the Mississippi sunset, clutching toile and tulle and newly printed old photos. She has invited us all for gumbo "once I get everything in place."

Stay tuned.

InsideOut editor Renée Peck can be reached at rpeck@timespicayune.com, or (504) 826-3431.

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