Chapter 20
Cooper and the others, well…after finishing off their ice cream, and paying the bill, made their farewells to Jean-Pierre and the staff of Le Bistro Bourgeot, awaiting the arrival of their cars.
"Say, Naomi," Kitty ventured hopefully, gently hooking the cheetah's elbow.
"Oui, Kitty?" Naomi replied, eyeing the vixen quizzically.
"Do you think I could have you…well, drop me off at home?" Kitty finished. She really did need a ride home…but, if she could do so in that sexy Lamborghini…that'd be even better!
Naomi grinned, pleased that Kitty was so enthralled with her car. "We shall see, Kitty," she replied a moment later, then turned to Sly and Carmelita, who were engrossed in a private conversation of their own. "Pardon," she began, after catching their eyes. "Kitty has asked me to take her home. If you do not mind, of course, do you think you might ride home with my Murray?"
Sly looked to Carmelita, his expression questioning. Carmelita briefly thought it over, then grinned, nodding her dark-haired head. "Sure, Naomi…go ahead," she answered. "We'll be fine."
"Hey, Murray!" called Sly, getting his friend's attention. "You got room for two more, buddy?"
Murray broke out in a happy grin of his own. "Yeah, sure!" he replied, happy to have some company. "That'd be just great." He opened the side door, and helped first Carmelita, then Sly inside. Then, with a wave to his Naomi, he jumped into his beloved panel van and made their way back to Le Hotel Champlain via a circumlocutious route. After all, it didn't pay to draw undue attention to their hideaway now, did it?
Kitty smiled, her pulse jumping as Naomi and she raced---though no faster than the set speed limit---through the streets of the suburban Paris. She loved the sound of the big V-12's engine, the way she felt her body push back into the lush seats when Naomi accelerated, heck…she even liked the color of the car's interior! That's it, she told herself, making a vow…one day I'm gonna own a car like this one! Oh, yeah…bet on it!
"I am sorry, cheri," Naomi said softly as she pulled up to the curb of Kitty's home. "But, alas, we are here."
Kitty smiled ruefully, but laid her hand over Naomi's on the car's shifter thankfully. "Thanks again," she said truthfully. "That was so awesome." She then stepped out of the bright yellow Lamborghini, and shut the door. She then leaned down to look in the window. "See you around, Naomi," Kitty told her, waving as Naomi drove away.
Kitty sighed, then walked up to her door, took five minutes to undo all the locks, and then entered her home. As she laid her small purse down on a small table, she realized something. It was so quiet here, she thought wistfully, without Carmelita around. Kitty sighed again in melancholy, realizing that Ling was off visiting his sister in Monte Carlo this whole weekend. So, it was just her and her house…all to themselves. "Great," she sighed. Now, had this set of circumstances occurred before Carmelita had moved out, Kitty knew she would of been ecstatic. However, now…eh. She sighed again…feeling very lonely for some odd reason. She stood pondering her fate in the hall for a minute or two before she had herself an idea. "Hey, I know," Kitty said aloud, "maybe I can hang out with Carmen and Carlos."
She grinned, fishing in her purse for her cell phone, which she then flipped open, aand dialed the number.
"Buenos noches, la Familia Fox," Carlos answered on the second ring.
Kitty grinned. "Hey there, Carlos," Kitty said happily. "How are you both?"
"Eh. Good, Kitty. Well, all and all, we are," Carlos cautiously admitted.
Kitty frowned, holding her phone between her cheek and shoulder. "Huh? All and all?" Kitty asked.
Carlos chuckled softly. "Si. You see, dear heart, my Carmen…she has started having---er, what do you call them?---ah, yes, mood swings."
"I HEARD THAT!" came Carmen's indignant bellow.
Carlos cringed a moment, then smiled ruefully. "You see what I mean, Kitty? My sweet Carmen can go from being giddy and girlish to my worst nightmare in the beat of my heart," he explained, then sighed. "But, I shall endure it. What can I say, eh? I love her…no matter what."
Kitty grinned as she heard Carmen then say, much closer this time, in a voice that trembled with emotion. "I heard that too, my love," she told him. "Oh, Carlos…"
"I think I should go, Kitty," Carlos remarked, holding a suddenly very affectionate Carmen in his arms. "Oh…was there something you needed, Kitty?" he added, politely.
"Well, not really," Kitty admitted herself. "I guess I´m just a bit bored…what with being here alone…"
"Poor thing," Carlos sympathized. "Perhaps you should call Ling, yes?"
"Trust me…he'd be first on my list," Kitty told him, grinning as she heard Carmen kissing Carlos as he tried to talk to her. "But, he's off this weekend, visiting his sister, you see," Kitty said.
Carlos was doing his best to talk with Kitty…but that proved rather trying with his wife trying her level best to seduce him. "Er, what don't you try your friend, Sly Cooper, eh? I´m sure they would enjoy your company." Carlos then struggled with Carmen a moment. "Please, dear…not while I'm on the phone," he softly chided her.
Kitty snorted, holding back her laughter. "Thanks, Carlos," she said. "I think you've got your hands full there, right? So, I'll let you go."
Carlos kissed his wife, then answered. "You do not know the half of it, Kitty. But, thank you…and good-bye!" The line went dead a moment after that.
Shaking her head at Carlos and Carmen's antics, she hung up her phone and put it away. Hey, could I really ask Carmelita if I could visit her…after I just had been driven home? She thought about it, then smiled, nodding her head in the affirmative. "Of course, I can!" she told herself, and did just that. She called Carmelita's cell number.
"Hello?" Carmelita answered, "Carmelita Fox speaking."
"Hey, sport," Kitty said, using her favorite allowable nickname for Carmelita.
"Kitty?" Carmelita asked, surprised. "What's the matter? Is something wrong?"
"No," Kitty assured her quickly, knowing how Carmelita worried about her. "Nothing like that…really!"
"That's good," Carmelita replied, brushing her thick dark hair back so she could comfortably tuck the phone to her ear. "So…what's up?"
"Hey, I was wondering," Kitty began. "Ling's out of town…and it's well…sort of boring being here all by myself."
Carmelita snorted at that admission. "That's rich," she answered with a grin. "I figured you'd be doing cartwheels, kiddo."
Kitty stuck her tongue out at the phone a moment before answering herself. "Very funny," she said drolly. "Look, since you've got Yuri and Naomi sleeping over at your place all this weekend…do you think it'd be okay if I joined in the fun? Please?" Kitty used her best wheedling voice, unknowingly batting her big blue eyes at her friend…even though she couldn't see them.
Carmelita heaved a sigh, covering the transciever of the phone a moment…so she could confer with Sly…as well as Yuri and Naomi. "Sly?" she asked.
Sly looked up from his conversation with the two lovely girls. "Yes, my sweet?" he answered, his eyes twinkling at her affectionately.
Carmelita grinned at that. "It's Kitty," she explained. "Would you mind if she joined us all for the weekend? She's all be herself, and…" She felt bad for her friend...especially because she herself missed Kitty more than a little.
"Hey, that's fine with me," Sly answered. "It's not like we don't have rooms available, you know." He grinned.
"Please, cheri," Yuri asked. "I would enjoy her company. Plus, I would feel horrible…knowing she was all alone this weekend. Don't you agree, Naomi?" She turned her green-gold gaze to her best friend and confidant.
"Oui, Yuri," Naomi answered, then turned her warm amber eyes to Carmelita. "Please…do ask her to stay with us, Carmelita."
Carmelita uncovered the phone. "Okay, kid," she told her. "Pack up your essentials, and…get your butt over here, pronto!" She grinned.
Kitty squealed happily, jumping up and down in delight a moment. "Ooh, thanks, Carmelita…you are The Best!" she replied, grinning ear to ear. She then sobered, thinking. "Um, what do I need to pack?"
Carmelita thought a moment. "Not much, most of what you need will be in your room. But, you probably should pack your toothbrush, a nightgown---or whatever the heck it is you sleep in---as well as clothes for the weekend."
"This is great!" Kitty gushed, so happy. "Thanks so much, Carmelita! You're the best buddy I've ever had!"
"Of course I am," Carmelita answered, then laughed. "Gather up your stuff. I'll swing by to pick you up in a half hour…"
Forty minutes later, Carmelita appeared, grinning, at the entrance to the Gang's living room. "Hey, look what the cat's drug in," she called out cleverly.
"Kitty!" Yuri exclaimed, beaming as she sprang gracefully to her feet. She dashed over to wrap the little blond vixen in her arms a moment. "I am so glad you could stay with us."
"Don't encourage her like that, Yuri," Carmelita teased, rolling her big brown eyes dramatically. "Else, we'll never get her to leave come Monday."
Kitty grinned at her friend's teasing. "Sure," she returned. "That's just her way of saying she's missed me being around." She grinned at Carmelita mischievously.
"Bon soir, Kitty," Naomi said by way of greeting, getting to her feet. "Perhaps we shall---you and I---take my poor Roadster for a spin, no? She gets so moody if she's not driven often, you know…"
Kitty released her hug on Yuri, and grinned over. "Oh, you bet, Naomi!" she replied. "Any time, girl!"
Sly then made his well-timed appearance, with his two friends in tow. "Now that everyone's here," he announced cleverly. "Who's up for a little friendly game of Monopoly?" He held up the game in his hands.
They all sat themselves around a beautiful card table made of rich stained cherry wood. Sly and Carmelita quickly set up the board in the center of the table, and arranged the game's play money. "Now, Kitty…" Sly intoned, grinning. "Since you've so emphatically wanted to run the bank, you sit here." Kitty quickly got up and took her seat before the carefully arranged money. Everyone selected themselves the token of their choice to play. Kitty snatched the green car to be her token. They decided that Sly should take the first turn, and he took up the die and rolled, and the game began…
Along the way, Kitty…well, acted like Kitty. This caused Carmelita to glower her way. After her turn, Kitty frowned to her left, where Carmelita sat. "What?" Kitty asked.
Carmelita shook her head, her anger simmering. "Kitty? What's with you lately?" she demanded.
Kitty frowned, not following. "Huh? What's that supposed to mean?"
"It means," Carmelita told her, leaning over her way, "that you were very lucky I didn't say anything to you at Le Bistro Bourgeot this evening…about your behavior."
Kitty rolled her eyes, sighing. "C'mon, Carmelita," Kitty replied. "I didn't do anything wrong. Hey, I was on my best behavior, sport…"
Carmelita snorted. "Were you now?" she threw back at her. "Kitty, I swear… you're like dealing with a small child sometimes."
Kitty blinked at hearing that. "Huh? Say what?" she demanded, putting down her cards.
Carmelita tossed her long thick hair back over her shoulders…a sure sign that she was irritated. "Oh, right! C'mon…what's with all this matchmaking of yours? With perfect strangers, no less!"
"Oh, I get it," Kitty replied, grinning. "Jean-Pierre, right?"
"Si," Carmelita said simply, narrowing her eyes. "You knew that man all of what? Ten minutes, maybe? And, yet…the next thing I know, you've opened Kitty's Singles Bar! Hmph! At this rate, if you had your way, all of Paris would be sorted into couples in a month's time."
"So?" Kitty challenged. "What's wrong with that?"
Carmelita sighed heavily, closing her eyes briefly. "Kitty, you are twenty years old. Is it too much to ask you to behave your age every once in a while?" she demanded. She then looked away. "Bentley, it's your turn," she instructed with a wave of her hand.
Kitty crossed her arms before her chest, and smiled thinly at Carmelita. She then grinned, and looked over to both Yuri and Naomi. "How's about we ask these two about my matchmaking? Do you two think I should stop?"
"Oh, please," Carmelita huffed, staring at Kitty. "I would think that even you, kiddo, would agree that those two are just a bit biased, don't you think?"
Kitty frowned, a bit chagrined. "All right, maybe," she allowed.
Carmelita then composed herself. "Look, I'm not saying that there isn't times when your skills might be handy, girl," she explained. She then canted her head, her wavy ebony tresses shifting. "But, you've got to rein back on this spontaneous matchmaking stuff. I mean, I'm glad that Jean-Pierre's getting his chance to go out with his high school sweetheart and all. I am…really! But, c'mon…enough is enough. Okay?"
Kitty frowned more, thinking.
Naomi leaned forward, getting Carmelita's attention. "I do not wish to interfere…but…" she ventured tentatively.
Carmelita felt the urge to tell Naomi to butt out, but felt that might be more than a little rude. "Go on," she said, waving her hand. "Might as well have everyone say their piece." She sighed in resignation.
Naomi noticed this straight off. "Carmelita…I do not wish to cause you further distress," she said kindly. "But…why should Kitty give up something she is so talented at, no?"
"Because, Naomi," Carmelita returned, her voice controlled and polite. "She's interfering in other's lives, that's why. I wouldn't mind---okay, not very much, I wouldn't---if someone came to her and asked. But, that's not what happens…most of the time. She puts her nose into other people's business…whether they want her to or not. I don't think that's right…or very polite, either."
Yuri leaned over, resting her elbow on the table. "Carmelita," she said in a soft, kindly voice, "You must admit that she has helped we three in realizing our dreams, yes?" Yuri stated. "Naomi and I would of never listened to our hearts without her urgings." Yuri then swept her long lustrous blond hair back behind her ear, before adding. "You yourself would of never admitted your feelings for your Sly without her help. Is this not so?"
Carmelita crossed her arms before her chest, narrowing her eyes. "Well…yes. Yes, she did," she allowed, then held up a hand to the two blondes facing her. "Okay, stop. I'm not saying she should stop completely, okay? I'm just saying she should wait for someone to want her help…not just thrust it upon them because she wants them to."
Yuri looked over at the two miffed vixens, shaking her head. "Mon Dieu," she said, a small smile on her lips. "Such faces, you two," she chided them both. "You should see the expressions on your faces, cheris…they would curdle fresh milk, no?"
"Would not," both Kitty and Carmelita answered at once, then sheepishly looked at one another.
Naomi grinned. "Perhaps a compromise, yes?" she suggested.
"Go on, Naomi," Kitty replied, flicking her sapphirine gaze to the clever cheetah woman. "Let's hear it."
"And you, Carmelita?" she then asked. "Are you too willing to listen?"
"Si," Carmelita answered tersely, but nodded. "Proceed."
Naomi looked briefly to Yuri, who nodded encouragingly to the younger woman. "It pains me to see two close friends so at odds," she observed with a grimace. "Even I can tell that you two care for one another very much. However…you also are both very passionate about your causes, no?"
Both vixens nodded their agreement so far.
Naomi nodded, encouraged. "Oui," she added. "As I see it…the trouble is that Kitty wishes to use her gift as she sees fit. While Carmelita feels that she is a bit---shall we say?---cavalier about those she seeks to 'help', no?"
"Yeah, that about sums it up, all right," Carmelita opined, looking over to Kitty.
Kitty frowned, thinking…then reluctantly nodded. "Okay, I'll buy that," she admitted.
Naomi leaned forward toward the two. "I have a proposal for you, my dears," she stated. "How about Carmelita will pledge to let Kitty play the matchmaker, in return for Kitty's own pledge to only work her gift on those who ask. Does that sound like a workable solution, mon amis?" Naomi leveled her amber-hued eyes first to one then the other.
Kitty winced, looking as if she were in pain.
Carmelita looked as if she had swallowed something unpleasant. However, she reluctantly nodded her head, giving her assent. "I'm willing if she is," she allowed.
"Kitty?" Naomi urged, silently pleading with her.
Kitty exhaled explosively, then nodded. She then thrust out her hand to Carmelita. "All right, sport…you gotta deal," she replied.
Carmelita blinked, surprised by Kitty's agreement. She smiled over at her long-time friend fondly, and accepted her hand, shaking on the bargain. "Deal!" she vowed.
"Now," Yuri proclaimed just then, her amazing green-gold eyes full of happiness. "about our Kitty's other behaviors. I myself…why, I find her, well, rather amusing," Yuri admitted. Carmelita sighed at this, and Yuri hurried to explain. "Come, cheri," she asked. "I know she wears on your patience at times, Carmelita. But, even you must admit that she can be quite adorable when she chooses to be, no?"
"Oh, yeah," Carmelita answered, shaking her head. "She can be adorable all right…when she wants to be." She then eyed Yuri speculatively. "But, just you wait, Yuri Sing…she's adorable now. Just wait until you see the other side of her personality…then, then you can come to me and tell me just how 'adorable' she is then."
Yuri blinked at that, then burst into soft chuckles. "I shall, Carmelita cheri," she told the scowling yet grinning vixen. "Now, shall we play?" she suggested.
"All right, people," Kitty stated, all smiles again, rubbing her hands together eagerly. "The bank is now open," she said, arching an eyebrow mischievously. She doled out each player's starting bankrolls, then called out, "I've got dibs on that green car, remember?"
Murray frowned. "Hey! That was what I was going to pick," he complained. "Why should you get first choice?"
Kitty grinned, then patted the money before her. "The Golden Rule, pal," Kitty replied, smirking while brushing a stray strand of blond hair out of her sparkling blue eyes.
"The Golden Rule?" Murray replied, confused. "What's that?"
Carmelita came to Murray's rescue. "She who has the gold makes the rules, Murray," she explained, then laughed, reaching over to hug the crafty Kitty around her waist, then leaned over to kiss her temple.
"Rats," Murray said, taking the silver thimble instead.
"Okay, Sly," Kitty then instructed. "You're turn, pal." She then looked at her property cards, whispering, "Land on Park Place, land on Park Place…"
Carmelita heard her and laughed…even louder as Sly landed directly on Park Place…