Chapter 19
"Very well, cheris," Yuri began, taking the floor, as it were. "Now, since some of us know one another, know others only a little, and some hardly at all…why, I thought we could all take turns telling the others about ourselves. Perhaps, that way, we can get to understand one another." Yuri stopped, then gazed out curiously at those seated before her. She saw quizzical expressions on most of their faces, smiles and frowns interspersed. "Now, because it was my idea, then I shall begin, no?"
"Right you are, Yuri luv," Jack encouraged softly, frowning when he saw his pal Sean, sigh and roll his eyes.
"Merci, Jack," Yuri answered with a smile. "I am Yuri Sing. Now, most of you know me as the face of C'est Sing, my fashion line. Some say I am known all around the world…but, I have my doubts on that, mon amis." She smiled the gentle warm smile that she reserved for only her friends. "Now, I am not the only Sing, heavens no! Jacques Sing, who is the head of Banque d'Paris in Versailles, is my older brother, and a truly remarkable man. My parents, who call Paris home, proudly uphold the aristocratic line of Sing. They would tell you---oh my, yes!---that there have been Sings spanning back to the early 1500s, here in France. They would then go on to tell you all that the Sings have been of pure aristocratic blood since the first Sing was knighted by a French King in the Middle Ages." Yuri lifted her chin, drew her slender shoulders back, regal as any queen could ever hope to be. But, that only lasted a moment, and her warm smile returned. "Well, be that as it may, my friends, that lineage…the supposedly unsullied bloodlines of the Sings…is tragically, though quite happily for me, about to expand, shall we say. My brother Jacques and his Celeste---she being his darling wife---are the ones responsible for propagating the proud bloodlines of the Sings." Yuri paused, then grinned positively impishly! "As for myself…I will very soon give birth to my children. Children born from the union of myself and my Bentley…mon belle cher. This, I should tell you, shall absolutely horrify my poor parents…who had---shall we say?---such high aspirations for me. Do I care? Of course, they are my parents, and despite their single-minded stubbornness regarding my future, I do still love them. But, do I care enough to forgo following what I know is right for me? Non! I do not! Let them disapprove of me and my Bentley. It shall be their loss, for I intend to raise my children as Sings, but also give them the benefit of knowing---and loving---their father, the love of my life. Ah, well…c'est la vie, no?"
There was a short awkward silence, but that was shattered by the sound of soft applause…coming from Sean Mallory. Jack grinned, and added his thunderous applause to his mate's. The others joined in, and before they knew it, they were laughing and applauding poor Yuri until she blushed furiously, blinking her big green-gold eyes, smiling in her most pleased embarrassment.
"Please, you are too kind to a poor old woman," Yuri told them all meekly.
"Faith! A poor old lass she says she is," Sean remarked, his voice amused. "God in Heaven…if she's that beautiful now---bein' an old lass---can yeh fair wonder what a looker she must have been back when?"
Kitty laughed first, but everyone joined in soon enough, even Yuri…who moved over to kiss Sean on the cheek for saying something so sweet. "Merci, Sean," Yuri told him, grinning at his own blush.
"Mary and Joseph," Sean husked, blinking. "That woman's a force o' nature, so she is…"
Yuri laughed again, then glanced over to Svetlana. "He is such a nice boy, eh Svetlana?" she mused aloud, grinning.
Svetlana blushed, but nodded her head before looking away.
Yuri saved poor Svetlana any further embarrassment by turning to her Naomi. "Ah, Naomi cheri. Why do you not go next, hmm?" Yuri suggested, nodding encouragingly.
"Of course, Madame," Naomi replied with a smile. "I am Naomi Rousseau. Executive Director of C'est Sing." Naomi declared her title with obvious pride, gazing over very fondly at Yuri, who smiled back warmly at her. "Where to begin, no?" She paused a moment, thinking. "Ah, well…my family is aristocratic as well…though our blood is nowhere as blue as Madame's is."
Jack chuckled appreciatively, causing Naomi to grin back at him. Kitty looked over to Carmelita, who grinned, then shrugged back.
"The Rousseaus, in the mid-1700s I think, were granted a baronetcy by the ruling French King. A minor one…but a baronetcy all the same. You may wonder why I make mention of this, no? Well, it is because it is that privilege that allowed me to move in some of the same circles as Madame. That is why Madame's father and my own became college acquaintances…then, casual friends, you understand."
There were several nods of comprehension, and Naomi nodded herself, then continued on.
"I first met Madame during one of my father's college reunions. As I recall it was a most boring affair for a seven year old girl such as myself. I was an only child you see, and well…with mostly adults around, there was not much for me to do but to stand there and behave. That changed soon enough when Monsieur Sing arrived and began reminiscing with my father. Monsieur Sing had brought along his own daughter…and, you guessed it well enough, it was our Yuri. Now, Madame was older than me…hmm, I think you were twelve, were you not, Madame?" Naomi looked to Yuri for confirmation.
"Non," Yuri corrected. "I had just turned thirteen then, cheri."
"Ah, there you have it," Naomi replied, smiling. "Well, she was---as Monsieur Mallory said a moment ago---absolutely beautiful. I felt the ugly duckling in her presense…but, thankfully, she was thrilled to have another girl to talk with. She and I discussed many things that day---which was long, I remember. By the end of the evening, Yuri and I had become friends…and we promised to write to one another often as we both could."
"Which only just recently stopped," Yuri explained. "Now that Naomi lives with me in my chateau, you see."
"Merci, Madame," Naomi said warmly, still stunned to this very day how she could have been so fortunate to of befriended Madame. "Well, I did tell you that I was an only child, did I not?"
Her audience nodded, interested.
"Ah, I see I did," Naomi observed. "I was thrilled to meet Yuri's brother, Jacques later that same evening. I remember having the biggest crush on him, he was so handsome! But, my father discouraged that, straight off…I was not good enough for the Sings, he told me, and I was sad. Well, I suppose some of that comes from the fact that my mother---rest her soul---died giving birth to me, leaving my poor Papa to raise me all on his own. He did his best to raise me, to teach me what was expected of a young woman, all that. I am sure he did the very best he could…and I love him for that! Yuri and I still corresponded with one another…and please allow me to say that I am so thankful to Yuri for all her help in my most trying times. She was my older sister, confidant, and part mother all the years of my short life. Ooh, merci again---a thousand times!---Madame. I love you so much!" Naomi was not too proud to allow them to see the grateful tears she shed, her warm amber-hued eyes shining with her devotion to Yuri.
"Please, cheri," Yuri protested…though, very softly. "I know."
Naomi regained her composure quickly. "After I had graduated university, with my MBA, Madame immediately invited me to join her business…which I accepted oh so gladly! You see, Madame had just opened her business, C'est Sing, and I was one of her very first employees. I have learned so much from her, and it is only because of her that I am where I am today. I got to learn how to run a business…in both good times and bad, watching Madame's sterling example. She was even kind enough to listen and encourage me to participate in the day-to-day running of her line. Yuri helped to mature, she helped me to become a well-respected businesswoman, why…why she even helped me to become a woman…for it is with her help---er, and others---that I met my beau, the love of my life, my Murray…so thank again to my Yuri, oh…and of course, my sweet friend, Carmelita, oh and---and, here I will willingly swallow my pride a moment---thank you, Kitty…for helping me to realize how much I really loved him."
Kitty grinned a big chow-eating grin. "Hey, no problem there, Naomi. You're welcome," Kitty replied. Then she slapped her hands together softly, grinning. "So…does that mean that---?" Kitty asked.
Naomi gave her such a stern look and a glare, that Kitty's eyes widened a moment, and she blinked. "Um, I think I'll take that as a no, then," she mumbled, turning away.
Yuri smiled indulgently, knowing that Naomi and Kitty would work out their difficulties soon enough…all on their own. She would just give them time. "Carmelita? Would you be so kind and---?" she urged.
Carmelita smiled, then got to her feet, then turned to address those seated before herself. "Look, the Foxes are no aristocrats, okay? Now, that certainly doesn't mean I don't appreciate the history and grandeur of both Yuri and Naomi's family…because I do. Well, it's just that every family has its history, you know? And, based on that, every individual does as well. So…well, my own history, needless to say, is nowhere near as grand as either Naomi's or Yuri's was. My family---myself included---are originally from Spain, from around the Toledo area. However, as my father was an Interpol Inspector, shall I say we moved around a lot? Because we did! Now, when I was about say…sixteen, we all moved here to France. As I said, my Papa, heck, my whole family is in law enforcement…has been for over four generations now. My Papa retired from Interpol as a Captain. Which, oddly enough is the very same rank currently held by my wonderful older sister, Carmen. I love her so much…she is so wonderful, and smart, and the best sister I could of ever hoped for! Er, though you don't need to tell her I said that." Carmelita grinned, but then continued. "Well, Carmen is married to an Interpol man, his name is Carlos, and has just recently had two children, a boy and a girl: little Enrico and Maria. Now, me…well, I too used to work at Interpol, and the highest rank I managed to achieve was Inspector…something I'm quite proud of. For four, nearly five years, I thrived at my post…I drew tough assignments, but hey, someone had to…why not me? That was when I drew the Cooper case. Now, at first, I thrived on the challenge…Cooper was the toughest case I ever got. But, eventually, when I could not seem to bring him to justice, things began to sour between me and Interpol…specifically with me and my Chief. Things came to a head during the beginning of August, this year. Look, he rode me constantly, threatened my job at least once a week, made my life a living hell. So, come August, I had finally had enough, okay? So, having said that, I resigned, took some time to clear my head, and started a new career…and incidentally found the guy I've been in love with for a long time. Hey, here's a neat tie-in, folks…you probably would of never guessed that it was through my guy---and his friends---that I meet both Yuri and Naomi. Neat how things work out sometimes, si? I grew to enjoy those two's company more and more, and…well, we've all been friends ever since." Carmelita bowed her head, indicating she was done, and sat down, smiling at everyone's polite, interested applause.
"Well, me boyo," Sean remarked, looking over at Jack. "By the looks we're getting', mate…I'd say were next on the docket."
"Too right yeh are, Sean," Jack acknowledged. "Now, ladies…" Jack began, warming up to speaking, his blue eyes alight now. "Sean an' me…why, we both started out separate like…but before too long, why…we was a team, y'know? So, havin' said that," Jack explained, then clapped his hands together, indicating he was about to begin. He turned briefly to Sean, "You be sure to chime in, mate…when yeh see fit, eh?" Sean nodded that he would.
"Right then, I'll be startin' our tale, me lovelies," Jack told them, smiling as he began. "I be Jack. Jack Turner, that's me! In case any of yeh lovelies might be wonderin'…I hail from just outside Melbourne, the jewel of Australia. You can give those blokes Sydney, I say…give me Melbourne any time. Me parents, Lord bless 'em, ran an import/export shop right off of the ocean…right off the harbor. Their names are Max an' Abigail. Well, after they set up shop...why, they went an' had us! By that I mean, meself…and me li'l sister, Sydney. Oy, but she's a doll, me Sydney girl is! Here…lemme show yeh all a picture, eh?" Jack fished in his back pocket for his wallet, then retrieved a picture of him and a small dark haired tigress with blue-gold eyes and the most charming smile. "Yep, that'd be me Sydney…ain't she just bonzer?"
"She is a lovely girl, Jack," Yuri opined, and the others nodded their agreement.
"Aye, too right she is!" Jack agreed, grinning. "Anyway…me an' Sydney had the best me parents could afford. We weren't livin' like Kings, mind…but, truth be known, we didn't care. Life beside the ocean was jus' grand, the weather was jus' perfect, and me and me mates were kings of the world, y'know?" Jack then paused, reminiscing himself. "Why, then I graduated high school…an' bein' the adventurous type, I wanted to prove meself, you know? I mean, I knew I was a big lad, and strong too! So…I guess, it was me Uncle Merle what convinced me…but, I shocked me poor Mum when I signed up in the Army." Jack then turned to Sean, and jerked his chin his way, indicating he should say his piece now.
Sean cleared his throat, then got up and perched on the arm of the sofa he had been sitting on. "First off, I'm Sean. Sean Mallory, Irish born and bred," he began, proud of his Irish heritage. "I grew up in the south o' the Emerald Isle, just north of Killarney in County Kerry. I was one o' five children to me Dad and Mum---they bein' Duncan an' Mary. Now, lemme think a moment…let's see…it's Liam, then me…then Quinlan, she bein' me nearest sister, don't you know…then Mary, then, little Isabelle. Aye, that'd be 'em all."
"A big family, da?" Svetlana observed. "Three sisters and a brother?"
"Aye, lass," Sean agreed, smiling. "Me Dad was an electrician, an' he made a good wage, so he did. But, with seven mouths to feed, he kept the books balanced by doin' odd jobs, electric things, you see. Me Dad was good wit' his hands…an' he tried to pass that on to his sons, Liam an' me." Sean then paused, thinking some more.
"Now, Liam…now, he made me Dad proud, so he did," Sean explained. "He went to the university---in Tralee---an' graduated in Electrical Engineerin'. Took his apprenticeship wit' the ol' man, then his journeymen's license…now, he runs Dad's business. Quinlan married a doctor, so she did, an' me Mum is fair to burstin' pride for her. Mary went off to see the world, an' she's now a teacher in Germany, so she is. I always loved Mary the best o' me sisters. She a sweet lass, with eyes as green as emeralds. She's met herself a fella, I think…she won't tell me, but a brother know that sort of thing, you see."
"What about Isabelle?" Kitty asked, good with remembering names.
Sean paled then, and Kitty grimaced…afraid she'd stuck her foot into things again. Sean looked up. "Well, Isabelle…why she went an married an English, so she did! Me Dad won't e'en speak with her, the poor lass. I met the lad, he's a kind man, an' it's easy t'see that he loves our Belle to distraction. Me Mum still keeps in contact wit' her…but it pains poor Belle to not share her glories and her sorrows wit' Dad now."
Yuri frowned. "Why is it that parents, who are supposed to love their children, can be so hurtful to them as well?" she observed.
"Oh, I think it hurts me Dad as well, Yuri," Sean admitted, then shrugged. "But, me Dad was raised to be a 'man'…not show yer feelins' an all that. Oh, I see the hurt in his eyes…but he's stubborn as the very hills themselves. I've tried…lord knows I have…but he won't budge. Not an inch." Sean then grinned. "Isabelle jus' had herself two adorable wee daughters, do you know? Wanna see 'em?"
"Oh, yes, please!" Svetlana asked, with the eager Kitty right on her footsteps.
"Gimme a minute now," Sean laughed, reaching into his trouser pocket for his wallet. He fished around a moment then extracted a picture, that of two adorable little fuzzy furred lynx girls, their eyes barely open, swaddled in the pinkest blankets Kitty had ever seen. "There they are…cute wee things, aren't they? The one on the left is Meghan, the one on the right is Rianna."
"Aw," Kitty and Svetlana cooed at the picture. "How old are they?"
"Six months, so I'm told," Sean reported, the proud uncle.
"Well, enough about me family, eh? On to meself, it is," Sean continued, his accent a bit more pronounced now. "I had no, all right, a little, but not much, electrical aptitude like me brother, Liam…so, I tried other things. I was good with me hands too…but, just couldn't quite find me niche, as it were. So…once I was eighteen, I decided to see the world! So, I joined the Army, so I did. I seemed to of found me callin' in the service…why I was sergeant by the time I was twenty. They sent me to Officer Trainin' School, and I came back a Lieutenant, will wonders never cease! I then applied for Commando School…an' I got accepted! Only two chaps in a hundred even get screened, you know."
Jack took back control now. "Thanks, mate," he told Sean, more to wrest control back than anything. "We was both soldier boys now. I excelled at me post, an' wanted more…so I applied and got accepted to the Parachute Regiment. Well, lemme tell you, ladies, I had to talk quick and convincing to get me Colonel to take me in…cuz, I'm nearly five inches over regulation height for a Para, so I am. But accept me they did." Jack paused, part to increase the suspense of his story, and part to make sure he could get his facts straight.
"I was in the Paras for three years, when we got the opportunity to have ourselves a joint exercise wit' a bunch of Brits! An' commandos to boot! Oy, but there's a challenge, we thought. We'd show those proud bastards what an Aussie could do, so we would," Jack explained, grinning. "No slight intended, mate…" He nodded at Sean.
"Boys," Kitty grumped, shaking her head. "No matter what their age, they act the same way…like children."
"Oy, that's cruel, Kitty luv," Jack complained with a hurt look, then a grin. "We soldiers are a competitive lot, y'see. I mean, it ain't fer the pay now, is it? Nope, so we went off to met our new 'friends' from halfway 'cross the blinkin' world."
Sean then took up the story. "We were rarin' to go! We Commandos were ready…why, our motto says it all, don't it? 'He who dares, wins!'" Sean declared, grinning over at Jack, who laughed. "We got ourselves a lift from merry ol' England aboard a Yank transport, one of their C-130s. Noisy, not all that comfy, but it got us where we wanted to go. From some air base in America---Barksdale, I think it was---we jumped aboard a proper English plane, one of those new C-17 jet jobs…and we were whisked Down Under."
Jack nodded to Sean, and took over again. "Our Colonel, a bloke named Joshua L. Tarrent, had us form up on the tarmac at the nearest flyboy base, can't remember fer the life of me what it was bloomin' called. Anyway, it werern't too long ere we saw that giant gray monstrosity hoverin' in to land. Gawd, but that bloody plane was big! Bigger'n me, if yeh can believe that!" Everyone chuckled appreciatively, making Jack grin. "Well, the Colonel, he bawls out 'Attention!', and we snap to…mustn't disappoint our English allies now, hmm?" Jack teased.
"Bloody Mary and Joseph, I was tired, bone tired," Sean told them, remembering. "We'd been on a plane for nearly twenty hours straight, mind you. An' let me tell you, those box lunchs they serve you, they leave much to be desired, so they do. There fillin'…but not much else. Anyway, we---my mates and me---stumbled off the plane after our Colonel, Colonel Starkwether, blinkin' in the sun and bakin' in the hot humid Aussie weather."
"'Welcome to Australia!' we was told to scream…and did we!" Jack laughed. "I think we might of even startled some of those commando boys roight out of their sleep! But, they was a game bunch, and before we knew it, they'd formed up and marched right up to Colonel Tarrent an' us, bright as a bunch of black-capped daisies!"
"Well, Colonel Starkwether," Sean continued. "He took one look at Jack there, and declared with a straight face, 'No need to wheel out your plane, Tarrent old boy. We've brought our own, you see,' the Colonel said."
Kitty laughed, enjoying the humor. "What?" she said a moment later, grumbling. "It was funny!"
"We all laughed---even Jack did," Sean admitted. "It broke the ice, so it did. We did some drills together, then we were dismissed. Our Colonel encouraged us to seek out the Aussie fellas, chat 'em up, get to know 'em some." Sean paused, then grinned. "My mates were pairin' off with some of the Aussies, undoubtedly headin' into town to see the sights, the bars. I still had to see to squaring away all my team's gear, and getting us some temporary quarters. That's when I met Jack for the first time."
"Too right it was, mate," Jack said, taking up the tale now. "I was in no mood fer takin' a pint that evenin'…so I was jus' fraught wit' curiosity, so I was. I approached our rather quiet chappie here, an' asked if I could help." Jack then turned to Sean. "Must of startled him with me dashin' good looks, because he just stood there starin' at me."
"Oh, aye, Jack," Sean laughed. "That must have been it. But, I somehow got my adoration back under control, and me and our Hercules here made short work of things. In fact, we impressed both of our Colonels…and got the rest of the evening off. That was when Jack introduced me to the wonders of Foster's Lager and Australia proper..."
"Twas me pleasure, pally," Jack replied, bowing, grinning. "Well, that night, Sean an' I got to know one another better, and took a shinin' toward one another. I took pity on him, what with him bein' an obvious foreigner…an' what with his horrible accent and all…"
"Me? An accent?" Sean laughed again. "Maybe in Australia, me boyo…but you lads always did talk a bit funny anyway…must come from bein' upside-down an' all from the rest of us."
"Upside down?" Jack protested. "We Aussies is right side up, mate! It's you bloody Brits what's that backward."
Yuri laughed. "Boys, boys! Please," she pleaded. "I can see how you got to know one another. You have so much in common."
Sean looked over to Jack, frowning. "I think she's on to us, mate," Sean groaned.
"Too right," Jack answered, shrugging. "Bound to happen sooner or later, roight?"
"I suppose, lad. I suppose," Sean pretended to despair, before the two of them grinned and winked over at Yuri, who convulsed with giggles.
"Oh, you two!" Yuri scolded, all the while still battling with her giggles. "What a horrible pair you make! What is a poor girl like me to do, nes pas?"
Jack was about to open his mouth to answer, but Sean---seeing the mischievous glint in Jack's eyes---wisely placed his hand over Jack's mouth. "Say 'Yes, Yuri,' Jack."
"Yes, Yuri luv," Jack said meekly, eyeing Sean a moment with a glare. He grinned a moment later, then nudged Sean. "Thanks, mate," he whispered. "I coulda got meself in a fair might of trouble had you not stopped me."
"What are friends for, me lad?" Sean quipped in reply.
"Svetlana? Be a dear, and go next, would you?" Yuri asked from her seat, still trying to get her giggles under control.
Svetlana nodded eagerly, then got to her feet, smoothed the front of her dress then addressed them all. "I am Svetlana. Svetlana Umanova. I was born in the Ukraine, near Kiev. I lived most of my life with my parents. We were not rich now, true, but we were not poor either. My father was a soldier, a Captain in the Red Army. At least, he was until he had served his second tour of duty in Afganistan. He was in charge of helicopter assault troops. During one battle with the Afghan fighters, his helicopter was shot down, and he and his men trapped on a small mountain top. My father was wounded three times, awarded the Hero of the Soviet Union commendation for conspicuous gallantry under fire, and…then retired. He was not happy to be retired…but, with my mother and my help, he learned to adjust. He learned to walk again well---with the help of a cane---and became a lecturer at the Frunze Academy in Moscow. We moved with him, Momma and I, which worked out well…for I was eager to see new places. When I was old enough, I attended university in Moscow. Now, I said we were not poor. That was true, but with only my father's pension and his job at the Academy, we were always just getting by. My father wanted only the best for me, so---without my knowledge---he used his entire savings to keep me in school. He was thrilled the day I graduated with honors. In business and accounting, it was. I tried to find a job…but, sadly, there were very few of those to be had. As I was unemployed, I knew I had to find work to help support our family. I took training as a physical therapist and a trained masseuse. I found I loved that job…where I got to help people, da…but, well, unfortunately that line did not provide me with a job opportunity either. I suppose there were not many opportunities for a masseuse to make it big in Mother Russia. I despaired for my ill fortune…that is, I did until I happened to be eating my lunch one day in the park. A woman, I do not remember her name, asked to sit with me. I was lonely, so of course, I said yes. This went on for a week or so…and eventually, much to my surprise, she offered me a job! I was so elated! Momma and Father were so pleased! Well, I soon started work for a security firm, one run by one of Russia's most...er, well-known figures." Svetlana looked over at Sean hopefully, knowing that he most likely remembered her telling him that she had been a mobster. She smiled a moment later when she saw understanding and compassion in his green eyes. "I worked there a few years, then that was when I meet my Maria." Svetlana turned to Maria, then smiled wanly. Maria nodded encouragingly at her, then Svetlana continued. "I know you may find this hard to believe…what with how close Maria and I are now…but when we first worked together, we, er…we two did not get along at all. Er, I suppose you could say we, um, disliked each other…at that time."
"You are far too kind, my friend. It was more like we hated each other, my Svetlana," Maria corrected, but smiled gently at her friend.
Svetlana blushed, sending a silent apology to her friend, which was returned in Maria's exotic blue eyes. "Well, to make this long story somewhat shorter---thank goodness!---after a few years, our business operation was relocated, this time to Paris, France. This turned out to be very good…and very bad, all at the same time. Very good, you see, because Maria and I resolved our differences, and became good, then fast friends. On the other hand, very bad, because we finally realized that we both hated what we did, and wanted out…in the worst way. However, we knew our superior would not much appreciate our feelings on that matter. Raikon Polarsky's policy was 'Employment for Life'…and he meant precisely that! Luckily for we two…Maria and I managed to be in the right place at the right time, and with some unexpected help from Interpol, we were free once more." Svetlana bowed her head graciously to Kitty, who merely grinned and blushed a little. "With Kitty's most welcome help, we made some contacts, and eventually, we were placed in Madame's care. She is the most wonderful person I know! She took us both in, gave us meaningful jobs, and…and gave us love. Needless to say, we have lived here ever since then."
Maria nodded, waited for Svetlana to reseat herself beside Sean, then got to her feet, and stood before them all. "Is my turn, I am guessing. I am Maria. Maria Foloreva. I was born in Moscow, Russia. My family was not poor, but we were just on the edge of being so. My father, he worked at the tractor factory in Moscow, as did my mother. They managed to save money, and see to our needs…but they still had to take out a loan just to afford to send me to school. I was always very good with numbers, and wished to become an accountant, or financier…you know, so that I could make a living, and repay my parents' generosity. But, as you no doubt have guessed already, da, I ended up just like my Svetlana did…unemployed! I didn't have very much luck finding a job either. Potential employers---even the State himself!---said I either had too little experience, or far too much. How could that be, I asked? No one ever provided me with a good answer, I am afraid." Maria paused, collecting her thoughts. She then continued. "Soon, again just like my Svetlana described to you, I also met a woman, one who befriended me, then offered me a job. A job…finally! I was thrilled at first, but eventually…I learned what a fool I had been. The rest, comrades, you know…for I have figured prominently in Svetlana's tale, you see. Which, is quite all right with me, thank you, my Svetlana." Maria grinned teasingly over at her friend, who giggled.
Kitty then leapt to her feet, smiling brightly. "So…my turn now?" she quipped. Jack laughed and Carmelita groaned. "Call me optimistic…but, I´ll take that as a yes," Kitty declared smilling. "Hi! I'm Kitty! Kitty Petro, to be precise. I'm an only child too---like Naomi---but of Scandanavian heritage, not French. Eh, their loss, that…"
"Scandanavia? But, which country, sport?" Carmelita asked her, smiling painstakingly. Carmelita had been trying to get Kitty to slip and tell her which country she called home again and again, but Kitty didn't much like to talk about it. Sure, her country was very important to her. It just didn't help her poor country's image much when silly American film-makers always seemed to portray her homeland like it was one big block of ice, where there were far more reindeer and polar bears---which her homeland had none of, thank you!---than people. Where her people were shown to eat only fish, and enjoyed their country's three whole hours of daylight each and every day. I mean, really! "C'mon, Carmelita…we've been over this before, huh? Do I really have to tell? Kitty whined.
"Oui, cheri. We would like to know…really," came Naomi's voice, sounding very pleasant, which was surprising.
"I'm Norwegian. From Norway, okay?" Kitty grumbled just loud enough for everyone to hear.
"Really?" Svetlana asked. "I had heard that was such a beautiful country, Kitty. What with the fjords and the sea…and the friendly people. My Papa once visited your country…on a vacation…back before I was born. He spoke very fondly of that trip…"
Kitty smiled thankfully over at the curious tigress that was her friend. She thanked her for her kind words with a soft look, but grumbled, "Can we just get on with this already?"
"Da, Kitty. Hush, Svetlana," Maria replied, then admonished her friend gently.
"Thanks. Hmm, let's see…oh yeah! I moved to Paris…um, about a year ago, I think. I had just finished college, having received my degree in law enforcement, and had spent only six months with the Norwegian Police, when an opening came to us from Interpol. Well, I jumped at that opportunity, let me tell you! I was lucky enough to draw Carmelita here as my first partner. We, er…let's say, didn't exactly hit it off from the get go, okay? Hey, it wasn't just my fault, either, okay? Carmelita brough her own baggage to the team too…something about having a rather bad experience with one of her old partners."
"Ah! That would be this Neyla woman, da?" Svetlana asked suddenly, still remembering some of what had occurred between her and Carmelita, back when Carmelita had not trusted her.
"Si, that was Neyla, sweetie," Carmelita affirmed, looking over at Svetlana. "I'm sorry I ever put you in the same mold as that traitorous, conniving---!"
"Carmelita," Yuri warned softly, watching Carmelita get a bit hot under the collar.
"Sorry," Carmelita apologized, then grinned over at Kitty, who grinned back. "You were saying, sport?"
"Anywho," Kitty continued a mile a minute. "Now, after Carmelita quit, and left to go running about with her boyfriend on their crusade, I got a new partner assigned to me. That new partner woud be one Ling Chu, now Inspector at Interpol, as well as my boyfriend. We are currently on the Cooper case, you see…but since Carmelita here has just gotten engaged to Sly…we, of course, don't really want to---"
"Say what?" Sean protested, stammering. "Sly Cooper, did you say?" Sean looked to Jack. "They have a whole chapter o' our security measures devoted to the likes o' that rogue, Cooper!"
"Nice going, sport," Carmelita remarked, putting her hand over her eyes, then sighed dramatically.
"Aiee, Kitty," Yuri groaned, pinching the bridge of her nose. "What a disaster," she added under her breath.
"Whoopsie," Kitty responded, barking a strangled, most embarassed laugh. "Sorry 'bout that, ladies."
"Faith! You mean t'tell me, Kitty darlin', that you know o' Sly Cooper? An' you with Interpol an' all?" Sean asked, standing up now, his eyes goggling, his gaze flicking from Kitty, to Carmelita, to Yuri, and back again.
Yuri composed herself first. "Please. Please, Monsieur…do sit down. Allow us at least the chance to explain, no?" Yuri pleaded softly, in a voice that was hard for the gents to argue against.
"Aye, Yuri, I'll sit," Sean allowed, though he did so most reluctantly. "This I've just got to hear, so I do…"
Yuri led off, explaining how Sly and his gang of thieves stole only from other thieves, and only to benefit society, not to get rich. Carmelita then chimed in, explaining fully this time her involvement with Sly, all their history, and finally, how she had gotten fed up with the politics at Interpol and joined forces with him. She then showed the gents her engagement ring, blushing slightly when she did so. Yuri then went on about how her Bentley and his friends regularly donated funds to the orphanage they had grown up in back in America.
Sean listened carefully---Jack too!---as the ladies before them began to interweave their stories, filling in the holes that had kept their stories from making sense. It took the better part of an hour, but finally, all of the ladies had their say, and fell silent, allowing the two men the time to think things through.
Jack shook his head, disbelieving, looking over at Maria. "So, lemme get thist straight then, luv. You and yer pal, Svetlana there…were once Russian mobsters? Is that right?" Jack asked, obviously stunned by that development. How could that little sweetheart Maria, such a shy, and sweet little sheila, of once been a cold, calculating Russian Mafiosi type? "Sorry, luv…can't believe it."
"I know, Vanya," Maria soothed, not liking the look in Jack's eyes just then. Not that she blamed him really. "But is true, nonetheless, I'm afraid. You see, we did not know when first we began to work there. It only dawned on we two later…and by then, once we knew just whom we worked for, we could do nothing to escape. Not by ourselves, at least, Vanya."
"Ease up on 'er, mate," Sean counseled quietly. "I know what ye're goin' though. But, as difficult as it is for we two…imagine what it's been like fer them, eh?"
Jack shook his head, thinking on that. To think that Maria was once a prisoner of some cruel bloke nearly made his heart break. How would he of liked to have his world turned upside down, eh? He turned to Maria, then smiled. "Me pally's right, luv. What's past is just that, past. Yer still aces in me book, Miss."
Maria gasped, then smiled brilliantly, taking Svetlana's hand and squeezing it in her relief.
"All right. That's enough. Let's get back to Kitty's story, shall we?" Carmelita ordered. "I don't know about you, but I'm feeling starved."
"Okay, first off," Kitty began anew. "I´m really really sorry for letting the proverbial cat out of the bag…you know, about Cooper and all."
"Yer dawdlin', Kitty," Jack remarked with a grin.
Kitty grinned back, liking the Aussie even better now. "Well, maybe…but you know how I like all this special attention," she quipped. "Now…in my spare time---which isn't much nowadays!---I enjoy watching football on TV, or playing video games. I love Naomi's---I mean, Yuri's!--- Lamborghini, and if i find myself too bored, I been known to draw."
"You do? Why, that's wonderful. Oh…do you draw well, Kitty cheri?" Yuri asked.
"You better believe she does, Yuri! She's a sketcher…and a darn good one too," Carmelita told her. "And a quick one, too. Here, let me give you an example: The first day we meet, I took Kitty to my---well, soon to be our---office so I could finish up some paperwork of mine. I remember sitting down and got to work. After about a quarter hour, I decided to go and check on the kid, you know, make sure she wasn't bored out of her mind, or getting into trouble…that sort of thing. Well, she must of gotten bored all right---this is Kitty, right?---and only after the first five minutes…because that was when I noticed she'd been sketching. She had nearly completed this sketch---of me!---bent over at my desk, working. But, that wasn't all…the kid drew in all these details…the crack in the wall, the stupid clock that only tells time accurately twice a day, the bird on the windowsill…well, everything!"
Kitty, rather predictably, blushed. "Hey, c'mon, Carmelita…I'm not that good!" Kitty protested weakly.
"Oh please, who are you fooling?" Carmelita laughed. "I know---for a fact---that you carry around that sketchbook of yours everywhere you go."
"Do not," Kitty argued, paling as she realized that Carmelita was right…it was in her motorcycle's saddlebag.
"Liar!" Carmelita challenged. "Go on…go and get it, Kitty. Your stuff is great. C'mon…show us."
"I don't know," Kitty replied, biting her lower lip with worry.
"Pahoolsta, tovarisch?" Maria pleaded, giving Kitty her own version of the sad puppy dog eyed look she had seen Kitty use oh, a million times before.
"All right, all right, you win," Kitty groused, getting to her feet. Five minutes later, she returned with a somewhat battered 37mm-thick sketchbook in A3 format. "This is it, folks," she told them, handing it over to Yuri.
Everyone---and I do mean, everyone!---made their way over beside or behind Yuri as she thumbed the first page open. The pictures are actually quite good…some of them bordering on the marvelous!
"Madame! That is you!" Svetlana remarked aloud, her hand flying over her mouth, her brown eyes wide. Yuri was also stunned when she saw herself. It was a good likeness of the regal snow leopard woman, showing Yuri smiling her most friendly smile, while her posture, even the way she held her head, and her shoulders fairly screamed aristocrat…as she always had been.
Yuri flipped to the next page and smiled as she saw a picture of her Naomi perched happily upon Murray's lap, blushing slightly as her beau, apparently who had just kissed her cheek.
"Ah, so that's yer beau, is it, Ms. Naomi?" Sean asked. "Why, he's even bigger than Jack, if yeh can believe that!"
"Oui, that is my Murray," Naomi admitted blushing. "And, oui…he is larger than your Jack. You will see…"
Yuri smiled at Naomi's reaction, then turned the page and grinned seeing a most familiar pose: Here Bentley seated upon her lap, the two of them kissing heatedly.
"You voyeur!" Yuri teased, laughing. "Just when do you draw this picture, you little scamp? I do not recall even seeing you about that day, Kitty."
"Well, er," Kitty replied, giving Yuri a most sheepish look. "Um, I don't really like it when people I draw know that I'm drawing them. It sort of makes their expressions…er, well, appear faked or forced, you know? All of these pictures are drawn either when my subject doesn't know I'm there or when I'm at home, by myself. Most of the pictures of people's heads I've done at home."
Yuri smiled in understanding, then innocently turned the next page, looked down, and promptly blushed, putting both hands over the page before her now. "Ahem, Kitty! Um, may I hazard a guess that this particular picture was also drawn while you were at home too, oui?"
"Say what?" Kitty´s expression turned confused. Well, it did until Yuri smiled, beckoned Kitty over, then canted the book so only Kitty could see it…before she uncovered the drawing again. "Oh, man!" Kitty groaned, blushing…as she saw the picture was one of her beau, Ling…lying upon their bed, completely naked! As luck would have it---or as Kitty had planned, perhaps---Ling's thick furry tail thankfully covered his more---er!---manly parts. "Damn! I totally forgot I still had that picture in there," she said.
"Nice lookin' bloke," a man's voice then remarked, making Kitty wish she could crawl under the couch and die! "I take it that lad woud be yer boyfriend, eh?" Jack asked, soflty laughing.
"Yeah, that's Ling," Kitty said quickly, flipping the page for Yuri. "Let's continue, hmm? Thanks!"
"So, Kitty, just how fast can you do a single drawing, tovarisch?" Maria asked, curious.
Kitty shrugged, watching the pages carefully on Yuri's lap, lest another one she would prefer remain unseen should appear. "Eh, it depends on how much detail I want to add, you know?" Kitty said. "I could draw one now, I suppose…but, not really…now with everyone staring at me. I won't be able to focus."
"Of course, cheri. Most understandable," Yuri soothed, giving Kitty her sketchbook back. "Would you be a dear and draw something for us now? You may find yourself a comfortable spot to sit, then draw whatever you like. We will leave you alone, but simply call and we will come back, no?"
"Sure, I can do that," Kitty nodded, and then watched her friends take their leave. "Oh, this was going to be great," she told herself, drawing her pencils out of her bag.
Twenty-two minutes later, she called them back to her. "Okay, I've done two new ones, just to be on the safe side, you see," she declared, smiling. She held out her sketchbook, showing them the first drawing.
Yuri took the sketchbook from Kitty's hands, and gazed down at the first, then the second drawing. She sent a clever, thankful look Kitty's way when she observed the clever little scamp's theme, as well as her motive. "Ah, these are tres manufique, cheri," Yuri declared, smiling. Naomi did not share Madame's opinion, getting a uncertain feeling in the pit of her stomach.
"Well, you see, I figured that since I've got everyone else in my collection, I probably ought to add our latest additions, eh?" Kitty smiled.
Jack was instantly suspicious. "Yeh haven't gotten me starkers in there, have yeh, Kitty luv?" Jack pleaded, remembering the picture of Kitty's Ling.
Kitty laughed. "No, you're good, Jack," she assured him.
"May we see Kitty's work, Yuri?" Svetlana asked eagerly.
"Why, of course, you may, cheri," Yuri answered, then handed the sketchbook over to the little eager tigress. "Here you are, Svetlana."
Svetlana took the book, with Maria hovering over her shoulder, opened to the marked page, and then…well, promptly blushed, the both of them. "Bozhe moi," both girls declared, their eyes---one brown, the other blue---wide.
"Eh, maybe our Kitty darlin' lied, eh bucko? Maybe you are in there in the buff, lad," Sean teased.
"That's not funny, mate," Jack groused, and the two of them moved over to either side of the two speechless girls. "Wotcher got, luvs?" he asked in a shaky voice, though he tried to sound confident.
Sean and Jack looked down as Svetlana flipped the page back, and then looked down. Sean's green eyes went wide. "For the love of---!" he remarked, the mimicked Svetlana's reaction, covering his mouth.
Jack watched as Maria flipped the page, and he too gasped. "Waltzin' Matilda!" he gasped, looking down in disbelief.
Naomi could no longer stand by…doing nothing! "Kitty, what have you done, you rogue?" Naomi demanded, grabbing Kitty's arm to swing her around.
"Hey, not so rough," Kitty complained. "Well, look…in my sketchbook, I've got a picture of Murray kissing you, then one of Yuri and Bentley kissing each other, followed by one of Carmelita kissing Sly, why, heck, I've even got one of Carmen kissing Carlos! I just thought I'd round out my collection, so to speak, you know? I thought it only fair that our two new 'couples' got their picture in my gallery too, don't you."
"What have you done?" Naomi demanded again. She let go of Kitty, her scowl scary looking, and moved over to where the foursome stood silent. "Here, allow me to see!" she ordered, nearly snatching the sketchbook from poor Svetlana's hands. The first picture---the one Kitty had spent most of her time on---showed Svetlana standing in front of Sean, both of them with their arms around one another, while Sean leaned down to kiss Svetlana's cheek. Naomi turned her hard stare on Kitty, her lips thinned.
She then turned the page, and saw the next one. This one depicted Maria seated upon Jack's big lap, the both of them simply staring adoringly into one another's blue eyes. Naomi fumed, politely gave Svetlana the sketchbook back, then strode off toward Kitty. Kitty prudently began to back up away from the outraged cheetah woman.
"Whoa!" Kitty gasped. "Now, Naomi…take it easy, girl…"
"Kitty, you promised not to do any matchmaking, didn't you? Without first asking both Svetlana and Maria for their agreement, isn't that right, sport?" Carmelita reminded her, frowning.
"But I didn't , Carmelita!" Kitty insisted, moving behind Carmeltia as Naomi turned and continued heading in her direction. "Do any matchmaking, I mean! Look…I simply drew two pictures, okay? Ones which Yuri nicely asked me to draw…remember, she did say I could draw whatever I wanted to, right?"
Yuri smiled at the girl's nicely crafted reply. "That girl is as clever as Sly Cooper," she told herself under her breath.
Naomi caught up to Kitty then, then shook her finger under the girl's nose. "We are not finished with this yet, Kitty Petro," Naomi vowed, her eyes narrowed dangerously. "Don't think I do not see your clever ploy to circumvent the rules that were established. You might fool Madame---ha! She encourages this disrespectful behavior!---but you do not in any way fool me. This is not done. Non!" And with that, Naomi strode angrily from the room, her platinum hair all but snapping in her wake.
"Oh, dear. I had not foreseen this," Yuri remarked, seeing Naomi go off in a huff. Yuri then stood up, clearing her throat. "Attention, everyone! It is time for supper, I think. Please, everyone…do come along then…"
Dinner was a nervous affair…well, for half the attendees. For during dinner, there appeared to be three camps: Kitty and Yuri supporting the potential matchmaking; the furious Naomi and disapproving Carmelita vehemently against it; and lastly, the remaining four the whole debate was about, who just ate, talking softly with one another, almost as if ignoring the whole farce entirely.
Later, after supper had ended somewhat edgily, it was time for Yuri's guests to take their leave. Kitty studiously avoided any chance of being caught alone with Naomi, hovering close to Carmelita.
Svetlana led Sean off to one side of the foyer, wanting to talk to him as he donned his outerwear. "A question, Sean, please?" Svetlana asked softly, so no one else but Sean could hear her.
"Aye, Svetlana," Sean said as he slipped his arm into his coat. "Go ahead, lass."
Svetlana smiled, liking how she felt when he called her 'lass'. "Were you embarrassed by Kitty's drawing of we two?" she asked, her big brown eyes searching.
Sean grinned as he slipped his other arm into his trench coat. "Aye, a bit," he admitted. "Kitty has talent, so she does…but, well, her choice of subject matter does leave a bit to be desired, don't you think, lass?"
"Da, that I understand," Svetlana replied, grinning guiltily. "And, I agree…although only somewhat."
"Somewhat?" Sean questioned as he slipped his beret out from under his left epaulette.
"Well, da," Svetlana began, just a bit warily. "I do agree that Kitty's drawing was a bit embarrassing. But, er…not as much as I had thought it would be. Does that make any sense?" She looked to Sean who had placed his beret upon his head, and was tugging it into place.
Sean finished with his beret, and gazed slightly down at the waiting Svetlana. He thought a moment, then grinned. "Aye," was all he said at first. "Look, Svetlana…" He didn't finish as she cut him off.
"What I mean to say is…is that I feel good around you, Sean Mallory. I enjoy your company very much," Svetlana blurted out, then blushed softly, yet grinned.
"Yer grand company too, lass," Sean told her, grinning. Faith! But did she just tell me that she liked me? Sean was, needless to say, elated! So much so, he said the first thing that sprang into his head. "So, me wee angel, much as I'd love to stay and chat, I suppose I've got to get a-goin', so I do…"
Svetlana smiled warmly at being referred to as an angel again. What man---besides this one---had ever compared her to an angel? she told herself. Her father, perhaps…but no other. She felt a strange feeling of warmth all over…from her head down to her little feet. "Da, I know, it is late," Svetlana admitted, then impulsely reached out to slip her little hand into his bigger one to squeeze it once. "Do you think you could visit me? Often. And, sometime soon, da?"
"Da, I will," Sean assured her, feeling his heart begin to pound at the sight of Svetlana's thankful smile. "Why, with a pretty wee thing like you fer company, how could I say no, eh?"
Svetlana giggled, then blushed, looking away a moment. She nervously brushed her lustrous black hair back over her shoulder, then looked back at Sean again. "Stoy! Stop! You just say this to make me blush," Svetlana accused, grinning.
"Hmm, that too, I suppose," Sean replied, then canted his head, and arched an eyebrow at her mischievously.
Svetlana laughed, feeling like she was ten feet tall just then! "So…you will come then? You and Jack, da? And soon?" Svetlana asked again, her big beautiful brown eyes pleading.
"Aye, Svetlana, I will," Sean promised, feeling the temptation to reach a hand out to touch her exquisite face, but he quashed it. I'm not about to do anythin' to ruin this now, he vowed to himself. "We'll drop by for a spot o' lunch, eh? How's that sound, lass?"
"Ooh, just wonderful!" Svetlana exclaimed, nearly wriggling with delight. "I shall tell my Maria…she will be thrilled!" Svetlana then blinked, realizing what she had just said. "Er…I will be most pleased too, Sean…of course."
Now, it was Sean that laughed. This girl was absolutely the most adorable one he'd ever met! Now, true all that was…she was shy, warm, and very very feminine. But, there was more to her than that too…as I learned today, he told himself, as he gazed at her. Beneath that sometime giggly, girlish exterior was a part made of sterner metal…after all, Svetlana hadn't survived as a mobster all those years without having steel in her, that much was true. But, then again, when he thought about it really, he found he wasn't surprised. She was most capable young lady, so she was! Now, did that fact make him think any less of Svetlana? Heavens no! In fact, it endeared her even more to him, in fact. "Well, me wee angel…me and Jack must be off," he said with soft regret, and a thankful smile. "Ordinarily I'd say that'd be so you could get yer beauty sleep, Svetlana…but, pretty as yeh are, I don't expect you need all that much, lass." Sean's eyes twinkled as he awaited her response.
"Go on," Svetlana laughed. "Go before you make my poor head this big!" she pantomimed her expanding head. "Flatterer!" she added, then grinned at him, her eyes shining with happiness…even as she began playfully shoving the much bigger man toward the door, giggling.
Maria had led Jack off to another corner, where she looked up---way up!---then smiled. "I have enjoyed your visit this evening," Maria told him.
"Too right! That goes for me too, luv," Jack replied, grining his most charming grin down at the snowy white girl. "So…I'll be seein' you 'round, eh?" Jack added, not really sure about just where he stood with the lovely Maria.
"Da! Of course, Vany---er, I mean Jack," Maria assured him, patting his hand.
Jack smiled, then grinned. "Maria, me luv…if you want to call me 'Vanya', far be it from me to stop you! A roight pretty girl like yerself, you can call me anythin' yeh please!" Jack tried at the end to scale back his response, turning it into a joke, as he usually did when his emotions threatened to get the better of him.
Maria could see past this however, and realized he meant it when he called her pretty, and promptly blushed. "Spasiba, Vanya. You are most kind, my friend. I have enjoyed talking with you this evening," Maria replied, smiling shyly up at the giant tiger gentleman. "Very much."
"Well, Maria," Jack observed. "I see my pally Sean's worn out his welcome with yer Svetlana…see 'er pushin' 'im toward the door?" He grinned, knowing that Sean was far too much the gentleman to do anything to offend the lovely Svelana.
"Somehow, Vanya," Maria laughed. "I think my Svetlana will welcome your Mister Mallory again when you visit." She then turned her deep blue eyes to his a moment. "You will visit me, da? And, soon…hmm?"
"Soon as I can, pet," Jack promised, grinning at the fact that Maria wanted him to come visit. Just super! "Tell you what, luv…lemme see if I can convince me pally Sean to agree to have lunch with you two lovely gals, eh?"
"Lunch?" Maria remarked, thinking a moment. She grinned. "I would like that, Vanya. Very much."
"Right then!" Jack said, finishing buttoning his coat up. "I've got to hurry off, Maria…Jack's the one with the car, y'see. See ya, luv!" Jack took a couple steps toward Sean and the door.
"Wait! Vanya!" Maria called out, her resolve crumbling to the floor. She dashed over to throw her arms around his waist, hugging him one time tightly, then moved away, to smile at him.
Jack grinned, wishing he could etch the feeling of her arms around his waist in his mind forever! "Right then, Maria. Keep yer calendar open for noontime tomorrow, eh?" he called, waving shyly her way as Sean opened the door, and the two of them departed from the most memorable evening.
"A night to remember, nyet, my Svetlana?" Maria said as she moved beside her smaller friend, slipping an affectionate arm about Svetlana's waist.
"Da," the little smiling tigress affirmed with a dreamy, wistful sort of smile on her face. She leaned her head over against Maria's shoulder, and hugged her friend back.
Kitty finally decided enough was enough with the tiff she had inadvertently caused between herself and Naomi. Time to be a woman about this whole thing, she told herself, and moved away from Caremlita's protective side.
"Going somewhere, sport?" Carmelita asked, curious.
"Yeah," Kitty admitted. "I'm going to finish what I've started. Be back in a few, okay?" She jerked her head over to where Naomi stood, her back stiff, her tail's tip lashing back and forth sinuously as she stood before the window, looking out.
"Be careful, kiddo," Carmelita advised, nodding proudly at her.
"Aren't I always?" Kitty teased, then moved over to the left and slightly behind Naomi. She knew Naomi could now see her reflection in the plate glass window's inner pane. "Are you still angry with me, Naomi?"
"Hmph," was all the surly Naomi replied, crossing her slender arms before her chest…though, she did flick her eyes to Kitty's briefly.
Kitty took that as a promising sign, and plunged along. "C'mon, Naomi…we've been friends for awhile now. I don't want that to end…just because of this."
"It was not I that strained our relationship, Kitty," Naomi pointed out, never turning her head toward where Kitty stood.
Kitty grimaced. Man, Naomi was pissed! Now, she thought furiously to herself, how do I mend this bridge I've apparently blown the middle out of? She thought a little more, then despaired a moment. Oh, what if I've ruined this relationship? she asked herself…what can I do to make amends? Kitty thought some more, then decided that dramatic measures were necessary if she was going to get on Naomi's right side once more. It was going to be hell on herself, she knew…but Naomi's friendship was far more important than some uncomfortableness on her own part, right? "Um, listen Naomi…I know you don't much like what I've done. I accept that. But, c'mon…really, I didn't push those four nearly as much as I had to push you and Murray. And, look how swell that turned out, right?" Kitty stopped, waiting for some response---hell, any response!---from the taciturn Naomi.
Naomi didn't say anything, but her ears did twitch, and her tail calmed it's thrashing. Naomi then begrudgingly nodded her head once.
Kitty nearly exhaled in relief! "Look, I didn't say one matchmaking little thing this whole evening, okay? The only thing I did do was to draw two pictures, sketches really."
"Merde," Naomi rumbled, turning her head, her agate-hard eyes flashing at Kitty.
"What?" Kitty exclaimed, then remembered exactly what that French word translated to, and grimaced. Swell, it's gonna be like that, eh? "Well, I did!" Kitty insisted.
"Merde, I say again," Naomi finally responded. "You did not say anything now, true. However, do not try to convince me that the intention of your 'sketches' was not thinly disguised matchmaking at work!"
Kitty swallowed hard…Naomi was right…whether or not Kitty herself wanted to admit to it, it seemed. Kitty sighed wearily. "All right. All right, I guess it could be misconstrued that way…I suppose," Kitty most reluctantly admitted.
"Misconstrued?" Naomi replied with a snort. "Misconstrued, she says! It was a bald-faced attempt of both you and Madame to circumvent the agreement that you agreed to, Kitty. Did you not agree to this, hmm? And, yet…you renege on your promise to me…and to Carmelita! I am sorry…but, that is not what friends do, Kitty." Naomi turned her head back to the darkened window.
Kitty was surprised to see that tears now stained Naomi's cheeks. Aw, man! Kitty felt like there was some fist around her heart, squeezing. She had a lump in her throat, and had to blink repeatedly. "C'mon, Naomi…please? Please don't cry. I…I can't help myself sometimes is all. You know? I wasn't trying to disappoint you and Carmelita. C'mon, you gotta know that, right?" Kitty pleaded.
"Oui," Naomi replied, wiping at her eyes. "I do. However," and here Naomi swiveled around to look directly at Kitty. "Promises are not to be cleverly avoided. They are solemn pledges, taken between friends. You would do well to remember that."
Kitty felt horrible now…but still determined. She knew that Svetlana and Sean, as well as Maria and Jack, should be together! However, at what price? she asked herself. Was her knowing she was right worth losing Naomi as her friend? Kitty took only a moment to answer that…not bloody likely! "Look, I know I screwed up---for all the right reasons, mind you!---and I'm sorry," Kitty told Naomi. "Isn't there some way to make thing right between us again?" Kitty very tentatively reached out a hand to touch Naomi's shoulder.
Naomi turned to Kitty, looking surprised. She saw the unshed tears in Kitty's blue eyes, and her expression softened. Then, much to Kitty's relief---and suspicion!---Naomi looked over to Kitty and smiled.
"I know of something, cheri," Naomi told her, her eyes relenting.
Kitty shivered at Naomi calling her 'cheri' again. A soft, hopeful smile appeared on the little blonde vixen's face. "Go ahead…I'm listening, buddy." And, in that one statement, Kitty felt the mood shift, and things were again as they should be.
"You did hear tonight how Yuri and I both were raised in the circles of society, as aristocrats, nes pas?" Naomi began, reaching out to take Kitty's cold little hand into her own.
"Yeah," Kitty answered, nodding.
"In those circles, we were taught exactly what was expected of a young woman. What she could…and conversely, could not do. Do you understand? Naomi asked, still mysterious.
"Yeah, I get it," Kitty answered. "But, what does that---?"
"You were serious, no? About seeking my forgiveness, oui?" Naomi demanded, but softly, inquiringly.
"I am," Kitty vowed, determined to do what it took to make things right between her and Naomi.
"Very good," Naomi said, her smile thankful. "Then, here is what you must do then…"
Kitty inhaled, awaiting her means of redemption.
"Every other Saturday, from this time hence," Naomi intoned with all the solemnity of a judge. "You will meet Madame and I here at eight o'clock sharp."
"Agreed," Kitty told her, nodding.
"On those Saturdays, cheri…we shall teach you what it is to be---to act---like a woman in society, a lady. All that Yuri and I have learned, we shall convey to you. And then---and only then!---when you can convince Madame and myself that you are indeed a lady, shall you be forgiven. Do we have an accord, cheri?"
"Man!" Kitty gasped, her breath exploding out of her like a gale. "Does that include wearing dresses, and makeup and all that?"
"Oui, it does," Naomi insisted, eyeing Kitty to gauge her seriousness.
"Aw, man," Kitty complained, her shoulders drooping at the prospect of more girlie stuff…again. But, if that was what it took, then… "All right, Naomi. I'll do it. Your friendship means that much to me."
Naomi gasped, then smiled a happy smile, moving over to hug Kitty gratefully. Kitty couldn't help it and hugged her fiercely back, for at least a minute's time.
"Please realize, that once you are done, you may choose to continue being a lady, or you may decide to return to your old tomboy self, whichever you wish," Naomi informed her.
Yuri arrived just in time to see Naomi and Kitty hugging, and smiled thankfully. "All is right between you then, mon cheris?" she asked, wanting confirmation.
"All is well, Yuri," Naomi confirmed for her, smiling at Yuri. "We have much to talk about, mon ami," she added, giving Kitty a clever leading look. "Much to discuss indeed, Yuri…"
"Oh, man," Kitty opined as she moved over to Carmelita's side again. "I am so screwed…"