PT.6

My Family, My Choice!

Sitting in his office, Matt was going through his mail, but not really paying attention to what was in it.
He hadn't heard from Kitty and figured she should have been back by now if her note to him was right.
And if she was on her way she usually sent him a wire somewhere along the way.

He headed across the street towards the Long Branch, meeting Doc about half way.

"Hi, Matt, I was just coming to your office."

"Well, I was just headed to the Long Branch. Can I buy you a beer, Doc?"

"You sure can." Swiping his mustache, Doc looked up at Matt. "But I'll tell ya, what you're really looking for won't be there."

'What? What are you talking about?"

"You still haven't heard from Kitty, have you?"

Letting out a huff. "No, no, Doc, I haven't." And he reached in his pocket. "And this note doesn't say much. It's just not like her."

As they entered the bar, Matt and Doc walked over to Sam. "Hi, Sam."

"Marshal, Doc. Beer?"

"Yeah, Sam, and he's buyin'." Doc said laughing.

"Sam, are you sure Kitty didn't say anything else at all about when she'd be back?"

"Sorry, Marshal, she didn't say anything. Just asked me to see that I gave you that note."

"Ok, Sam."

"Marshal, do you think something's wrong?"

"Ahhh, no, Sam. Just thought she'd be back by now, that's all."

Sam looked at Doc and Doc smiled rolling his eyes in a teasing gesture.

Reginald pulled the carriage up to the entrance to LaRogue Manor. "What a beautiful home, Ma'am. If I may be so bold as to say so?"

"Yes, it is. Thank you, Reginald. It's been quite some time." Driving up the long path lined with willow trees, magnolia's in full bloom, and straight ahead a large white plantation style house with tall pillars. Kitty sat back taking in the view. Memories of her childhood came flooding back. Times running and playing on the grounds, even just the smells of the gardens took her back.

Then a voice pulled her out of her own thoughts. "Well, Missy Kathleen! Oh, my, Missy Kathleen! You come home. Miz LaRogue gonna be so happy to see ya!"

"CeCe! Oh, CeCe!"

Reginald helped her down and she quickly hugged CeCe. "It is so good to see you too."

"Come on, Missy. Let's git you in here." CeCe, was a rather stocky black woman, who had worked for the family for many years.

As they walked inside the house, "Ahhh, CeCe, what's that wonderful smell, I smell?"

CeCe smiled at Kitty. "That there is CeCe's gumbo!"

"I just knew it. I knew it."

"Let's just git you settled and then you gonna eat."

"Sounds good to me." Kitty answered. "How's Calvin?"

"He good. He down in the stables tendin' the horses." Behind them a teenage boy came in. "And this be Junior."

"No! This isn't little Calvin?"

"Yes. This be my son."

"Why he was just a baby."

"He growed up."

Kitty just smiled.

"Junior, you take Missy Kathleen's things up to her room, ya hear? Quick like."

"I'll come with you, Junior." Kitty told him. "CeCe, I'll be down in a little while."

Kitty was settling into her old room. She looked around. It hadn't changed much since she left it, years before. The house at that time belonged to her grandfather, Jacque LaRogue, Constance was his sister. She inherited the house after his death. Constance never approved of her brother's disowning Kitty's mother for marrying Wayne Russell.

Constance was Annalise LaRogue Russell's godmother as well as her aunt. But being a female in the family didn't give her much say in the matter.

Kitty freshened up and then she was thinking about what LaTrese had said to her. Then she was looking around the room. She noticed a chair against an adjoining door. She remembered, when she was little, it connected to her mother's room. When she moved the chair and tried the door, it was locked. So then she went out to the hall and tried from there and again it was locked. But she didn't persist. She headed down the large staircase.

Coming into the kitchen, CeCe was at the stove. "Oh my, does it smell so good in here." Kitty remarked.

"Missy, you take yourself into the dining room. I'll bring this in fur you. Got hot bread right out the oven too. Jest whipped sum butter and jam."

"CeCe. You're gonna spoil me."

"That my job, Missy Kathleen. You go on now."

As Kitty headed for the dining room, she heard heavy footsteps behind her.

"Well, so it's true. You did show up here."

As she turned, standing there was the husband of her cousin, Paul Worthington III. He married her cousin, Patrice. He was the son and grandson of Louisiana investment bankers and he was expected to follow in their footsteps.

"Well, hello to you too, Paul. It so nice to see how well you have made yourself so comfortable within the family and the family home." Kitty was now smirking. She knew he was a big part of what was going on with LaTrese and wanting to know what was in Constance's will. "So, where is my lovely cousin Patrice today?"

"My wife isn't feeling very well today. She's been under the weather. Headaches, poor dear. We haven't figured out why she can't seem to get rid of them."

"Is that a fact?"

"What's that you say?"

"Oh, nothing. Just poor dear. Maybe she'll feel better later."

Patrice was the daughter of Jacques LaRogue II. He died during the war. His wife had died during childbirth when Patrice was born. So since there wasn't a LaRogue son the manor then went to the eldest female LaRogue which was Constance. Now from there she could, in her will, leave it to whomever she chose. Constance never had children.

After sitting and eating, Kitty took a walk out into the garden. She had forgotten just how beautiful it was. She had wished she waited and brought Matt along. She would have loved for him to see what LaRogue Manor was like, the place where she grew up, even if it was only for a little while.

Then she heard a delicate soft voice. "My dear, sweet Kathleen. Come let me look at you."

When she turned her eyes lit up and sparkled and she had the brightest smile. "OH! Auntie Constance. I have missed you."

Standing before her was a tiny woman, but very elegant, exquisitely dressed with silver-white hair coiffed into a un-sweep twist. "Kathleen, it's been so long, my dear."

"Oh, I know. But I'm here now."

"Come, sit with me. Let's talk." Constance placed her hand on top of Kitty's. "I'm an old woman, Kathleen. But I'm not so old that I don't know when something's wrong." And she smiled ever so gently.

"Wrong? Auntie…"

"Now, Kathleen." She said gripping her hand tighter.

"Auntie, are things here alright?"

"Child, why would you think otherwise?"

"Now, Auntie, please. You could tell me if you need anything. You know that don't you?" Kitty now furrowing her brow.

"Kathleen, I have all things in order, my dear."

Kitty leaned in closer. "Auntie Constance, has anyone, and I mean anyone, questioned you about your will?"

Starting to giggle, "Oh, Dear, my will is safe. It's in the hands of my lawyer."

Then Kitty asked, "Mr. LaTrese?"

"Oh, no dear. The family lawyers. They've been with us for decades."

"Auntie Constance, I need you to promise me something."

"What, Dear?"

"Promise me you won't sign anything until I tell you. I'll explain later. I need to have a talk with my dear cousins and their lawyer. Please promise me?"

"Ok, Dear."

TBC