Chapter 39
Jean-Pierre caught sight of Bentley and Yuri preparing to leave out of the corner of his eye, and got to his feet himself. He then leaned over to look first into his Paulette's big doe-like brown eyes, then whispered, "I will return soon, cheri," he told her, "There is something I must do."
Paulette looked over to see what Jean-Pierre was looking at, then smiled in understanding. "Oui, of course, cher," she replied, giving him a fond smile. "While you attend to your friends, I shall see if what I can do with our delightful Ms. Petro---as well as her many friends, no?"
"Merci, mon belle cheri," Jean-Pierre responded, giving her a quick kiss on her cheek. Jean-Pierre then headed directly toward Yuri and Bentley, but could not but help remembering the look of dismay on Kitty's pretty face when his Paulette had shown the little vixen what she would be wearing this evening.
Bentley had just finished helping Yuri on with her coat when Jean-Pierre arrived. He smiled at his two friends---one dear, the other new---and observed, "Well, Amis…I trust this evening has been one to remember, no?"
"Oh, oui, it has, dear Jean-Pierre," Yuri replied, gazing thankfully over at her 'uncle'. Yuri then asked the question that had been on her mind. "So, Uncle… just how long has Kitty been asking for a job from you, hmm?" Yuri's now blue eyes were oddly intent.
"Ah, that," Jean Pierre replied with a tiniest hint of a blush. "Well, Yuri, she first proposed the idea but a few weeks ago. She said she'd like to take a part-time job at my establishment, you see. I asked what she had in mind…and she told me she would like to sing, if that would be all right. I was intrigued, I will admit, and I auditioned her. Well, once I heard her sing, I was most impressed…so, I hired her on the spot!" Jean-Pierre then shrugged in a very French manner. "That is all there is to it, ami. Nothing more, nothing less…I assure you."
"So you say," Yuri protested softly, her eyes narrowing suspiciously. "So, if that is the case---as you say---then would you care to explain about her wearing that disguise this evening?"
Jean-Pierre shifted on his feet uncomfortably, not willing---nor able!---to look Yuri in the eye that moment. "Er, well, as to that…your Kitty explained to me that the disguise was necessary in the event that any of her associates from her primary job might end up dining here. One can never be too careful when moonlighting, you know…"
"Ah, but of course," Yuri replied, though the tone in her voice implied she was still far from convinced.
Jean-Pierre waved away her suspicions for the moment. "But enough on that subject, no?" he proposed with a big smile. "I am very pleased that I caught you before you two could leave. For, let us say, I have a small surprise for you both."
Yuri looked to Bentley, who could only look back and shrug. "A surprise?" Yuri questioned, but smiled.
"Oui, cheri…you shall see. Come!" Jean-Pierre proclaimed, then asked them to follow him. He led them to the rear of his establishment, down a dimly lit hallway, until they stopped before an ornate-looking elevator. He grinned cleverly at his friends, then summoned the elevator. It came rather quickly…a bit too quickly in Yuri's point of view. Jean-Pierre waited for the bronze doors to open fully, then grandly beckoned for them to enter. "This way, this way, please," Jean-Pierre urged them, moving inside after them.
"Jean-Pierre," Yuri demanded softly, "what are you up to, Uncle?"
"Patience, please," Jean-Pierre replied cryptically, giving Yuri a wink. "It will be worth the wait…you shall see."
Meanwhile, as Jean-Pierre led his friends up in their gilded elevator, Paulette too had been busy. She clandestinely led the others of the Cooper Gang---Naomi and Murray, Sly and Carmelita, Sean and Svetlana, and Maria and Jack---up the back stairs toward the very same destination her Jean-Pierre was leading the happy couple. Oddly enough though, this entourage did not include Kitty and her Ling. Very interesting…don't you think?
"Hurry, amis," Paulette urged them all, her heels echoing in the confines of the stuffy stairwell. "We must be in position before my Jean-Pierre and his party arrives, no?" Thus, it was a somewhat disheveled group that arrived at their destination, and followed their strict---yet kind---taskmistress to their appointed place of concealment.
"Ah, here we are," Jean-Pierre announced cheerily as the elevator chimed its arrival at its destination. Jean-Pierre then held the 'door close' button on the elevator a moment. "Now…I must ask you both to close your eyes."
"Jean-Pierre?" Yuri responded, eyeing him warily.
"Peace, Yuri," Jean-Pierre pleaded softly. "It will all be worth it…I promise."
"Very well," Yuri conceded, then grinned. "I shall be patient then…for you, my friend."
"Merci," Jean-Pierre thanked her, then reiterated his request. "Now, eyes closed the both of you…now."
Yuri looked once at Bentley, who could do nothing more than grin and shrug his shoulders. They both closed their eyes, taking each other's hand.
Jean-Pierre sighed fondly at the sight of the two…who were so much in love this magical evening in Paris. He then took Yuri's free hand in his own, and pushed the 'door open' button. The polished bronze doors slid almost noiselessly open.
Yuri's nostrils twitched as she caught the smell of fresh air, and water, and---alas! ---the smell of exhaust fumes and other less-than-pleasant things as well. She smiled as she felt the caress of the wind on her face, then her sensitive ears began to pick up the sounds of hustle and bustle, as well as the pleasing music of the street performers too, if she was not mistaken. "Jean-Pierre…where have you brought us, hmm?" she asked.
Jean-Pierre led his favorite 'niece' and her fiancé to within a half-meter of the observation fence, then halted them. He smiled, then leaned over to gently kiss Yuri's cheek in near adoration. "Open your eyes, Cheri…and look!" he told her softly.
Yuri opened her lovely eyes, and promptly gasped, her hand flying up to cover her open mouth. She could see that they all now stood upon the observation deck that rose two stories above the roof of the restaurant. She blinked as she gazed out before her and could see the Seine, and the bright lights and glamour that was Paris at night. She could easily see many of the sights of Paris from their vantage point…the Eiffel Tower, the Arc d'Triomphe, even the Louvre. "Oh, Jean-Pierre…" she whispered, almost speechless from what was before her.
"She is magnificent, is she not?" Jean-Pierre asked, though it was more of a statement than a question.
"As lovely a lady as she always is, mon ami," Yuri replied, her eyes shining with happiness. Yuri blinked, then turned toward Jean-Pierre, only to see him winked cleverly over at Bentley, who grinned back, and nodded his thanks. Ah, Yuri told to herself, the plot finally unwinds, it seems…
"Well, as beautiful as all this truly is, I do have patrons to see to, alas," Jean-Pierre told her with regret. "So…you two, adieu…and, enjoy." He then took his leave, and left them to themselves.
"Oh, cher…isn't this beautiful?" Yuri said in hushed tones.
"Yeah, it really is," Bentley told Yuri, squeezing her hand gently. "But, pretty as it is…it pales in comparison to you, sweetheart."
Yuri felt her heart speed up, and a nervous sort of excitement swept through her just then. However, that didn't keep her from looking over at Bentley, giving him knowing look, then a smile. "I saw that wink Jean-Pierre gave you, Bentley…you planned this whole thing, didn't you?" she accused him with a loving smile.
"Yes, as a matter of fact, I did," Bentley responded. "So, babe… do you like it?"
"Oui! It is tres manufique, mon cher amour," Yuri replied, letting go of Bentley's hand so she could wrap her arm around his shoulders and pull him close to herself.
Bentley shivered…and not from the cold, either! "Good, I'm glad," he confessed. "But, hey look, this is only the beginning, babe." Bentley then took a deep breath---figuratively, as well as literally---and thought to himself: it's now or never, pal. He put his arm around her hips and hugged her softly to himself. "Yuri. Look, honey…we've known each other for how long now...almost a year, right?"
Yuri thought a moment, then nodded her head. "Oui, something along those lines, cher. Why do you ask?" she inquired, smiling down at him.
Bentley looked up into her sweet face. "Well, in that time, I'd say we've both grown to know that we love each other more than anything. Right?" Bentley answered, then asked.
Yuri smiled, then stroked Bentley's cheek. "Oui, that is true, cher. But, do go on, s'il vous plait," Yuri told him, wondering exactly where all of this was going.
Meanwhile, three meters away---hidden behind the large air-conditioning unit---all of the extended Cooper Gang---well, sans Kitty and Ling---stood clandestinely watching the show with wonder and awe.
Bentley---unaware he had company!---continued. "We've had quite a time, haven't we, babe?" He laughed softly a moment, then said, "Remember the day you told me you were pregnant, Yuri?"
Yuri giggled softly, then touched Bentley's cheek again. "Ah, oui…I do indeed," she assured him with a grin.
Bentley grinned too. "Yeah, then in that case you'll also remember that I was so shocked with your news that I fainted deadaway," he added, laughing softly.
Yuri grinned, then giggled once more. "Oui, I remember that too, mon cher," Yuri agreed, smiling still.
Bentley blushed, but soldiered on. "Yeah, well…" he began, only to be cut off by Yuri.
"I was so touched by that," Yuri confessed to him. "I know I may sound a bit silly…but, I was charmed by your reaction." Yuri then paused, and then grinned. "Oh, and by the way you spoil me so ever after that time, Bentley."
"Spoil you?" Bentley countered, then grinned and shrugged. "Okay, so maybe I do spoil you a bit," he confessed. "But, I mean, no guy could blame me! Yuri, you are too good to be true, babe. You're beautiful, you're talented, and you are probably the kindest, most considerate woman I've met." Bentley then grimaced a moment, then grinned. "Not that I've met all that many woman, mind you."
Yuri felt a warm tingling course through her as she heard Bentley describe her so glowingly. It was still amazing to her that any man could see her as her Bentley did, and could tell her these things with such earnest truthfulness in his eyes when he did so. "You are too hard on yourself, mon cher," Yuri told him. "You are only shy…and, that is not a bad thing, I think."
Bentley grinned again. "Yeah, I'm just glad that Kitty and Carmelita pushed me hard enough so that I could get past that to tell you how I felt about you, babe," he told her. "I mean, left to my own devices…I'd still be following you around like some love-sick school boy."
Yuri giggled at that. "Oh, I don't know about that, cher," she posed. "It was that same shyness that attracted me to you, you know. Well, that and your openness and honesty, of course." She then leaned down to softly buss his lips with her own. "I will say this time and time again, Bentley…you are a puzzle to me. One I can look forward to a lifetime to figure out…if I ever do."
Bentley felt his heart ache then, a sweet sort of ache, though. "What did I ever do to deserve you, Yuri Sing?" he asked in a choked sort of voice, as his emotions threatened to overwhelm him just that moment.
"That is easy to answer, cher," Yuri told him very matter-of-factly. "You gave me yourself, Bentley darling…and what more could a girl ever ask of her man?"
Bentley grinned, then pressed his head against Yuri's side fiercely a long moment. "Okay, I'll buy that, hon," he laughed softly. "Look, I haven't had lots of happiness in my life---okay, until recently---so, this is all sort of new to me, understand?"
"Oui, I do," Yuri told him. "I understand…all too well, cher."
Bentley then looked up at her again, and smiled. "Yeah, that's right. You probably do," he conceded, then gazed up, searching into her exquisite eyes. "Yet another reason why I love you, woman."
"I love you too, amour," Yuri told him in a husky voice, trying hard to let this unassuming fellow know how much she loved him.
"Look, Yuri," Bentley then girded himself to do what a man had to do. "I've never been this happy in all my life. And, that is due mostly to you, babe."
"Oh, cher," Yuri whispered, feeling herself on the verge of happy tears.
"But," Bentley then added, surprising his Yuri to no end.
"What?" Yuri squeaked, her big blue eyes blinking rapidly a moment.
"But, I'm not truly happy just yet," Bentley told her, taking both of her hands in his own a moment.
"Is there something I can do, Bentley?" Yuri asked, feeling a certain tightness in her chest, a terrible feeling of near dread.
"Nope," Bentley told her, and Yuri felt her heart lurch in her chest. "That's got to come from me, babe. Look, Yuri…you've made me the happiest man on Earth, okay? But, for me to be truly, really happy…there's one more question I've got to ask you."
"Anything, cher!" Yuri assured him, her tail softly lashing behind her now, her ears swiveling flat against her head. "Please…ask me."
Bentley grinned at that, which made Yuri blink and pause a moment. "Okay…but, remember you asked me to." Bentley then released his hold on his Yuri, reached into the front pocket of his trousers, and palmed the black box he'd carried with him for these many weeks. He then led Yuri over to one of the ornate metal chairs on the deck, and helped her to sit.
"Bentley?" Yuri asked, sniffling a bit. "Are you---?" She thought he was going to tell her that he was leaving her!
"Yep!" Bentley told her…then, promptly dropped to his knees before the startled Yuri Sing. "Babe…I love you," he told her passionately. "I can't even imagine a day without you, Yuri Sing. I don't ever want a day without you again. And, there's only one sure way for me to do that, so…"
Yuri blinked again, nervously sweeping her long black hair back over her shoulders. What was going on? She wanted to know, but was truly afraid to ask just then.
"Ahem!" Bentley then opened his right fist and showed Yuri a small black box he held there. He then opened the box, dazzling her with a brilliant plain gold ring with an opulent diamond, flanked by two smaller deep blue sapphires. "Yuri Sing…will you make me the happiest man in the world, and marry me?" There! Bentley told himself, I did it!
"Pardonnez moi?" Yuri squeaked, her large eyes now huge in her surprise. "What did you just say?"
Now, it was Bentley's turn to squirm. "Er, ahem," he stammered, then bucked himself up. A guy had to fight for his woman, even against himself! "I said…Yuri Sing, will you marry me?"
Yuri sat there completely still a moment, as her brain clawed about, trying to figure out what was happening. Then, like some proverbial light-bulb lighting above her head, it dawned on the lovely snow leopard what her beau, her love, her man had just asked her. Yuri looked first to Bentley's waiting face, then to the ring he showed her, then back to his face once more. "Oui! Oh, oui…I should consider myself the luckiest woman alive to have you as my husband, Bentley! So, yes! Yes, I shall marry you!"
"You will?" Bentley gasped, then laughed out loud in glee. "Oh, man! That's terrific! Oh, that's just---"
Yuri cut her Bentley off when she canted her head and pressed her eager lips to his to seal their proposal…in proper Parisian fashion!
"Woo!" Bentley finally managed after Yuri let him go. "I guess I'll take that as a 'yes', huh?" he said woozily.
"Of course I said yes, you silly man," Yuri confirmed with a gentle laugh. "Now, do be a gentleman and put your ring upon my finger, s'il vous plait."
Bentley grinned, then extracted the ring from its place in its box, then gently, lovingly took Yuri's slender hand in his own, and eased the stunning ring upon her left ring finger. "It's kind of pretty, isn't it?" Bentley observed, then grinned, adding, "Although it sort of pales in comparison to the girl that's wearing it, mind you…"
Yuri giggled, then kissed Bentley quickly again, her eyes alight with happiness. "Bentley, have you been taking lessons in flattery from that rascally friend of yours again?" she questioned, then laughed softly. "Because, if that is the case, I wonder if he might be available to teach an advanced course for you…"
Bentley gaped at Yuri, who grinned cleverly, then laughed, hugging her where she sat. "Damn. You had me going there for a moment, babe," Bentley told her, chuckling. He then canted his head and wiggled an eyebrow her way. "Though, I could talk to Sly…if you'd like…"
Yuri giggled again, feeling as if she were almost floating just now. "No, that's not necessary, cher. I happen to like you just the way you are, you know," she confessed. She then paused to look down at the engagement ring upon her finger, which sparkled in the soft light of the observation deck. "Bentley, I am so impressed…this ring is simply gorgeous!"
"Thanks," Bentley replied, then chuckled again. "Though, the credit belongs to Naomi…she's the one who helped me pick it out for you, babe."
"Naomi...?" Yuri mused aloud, then frowned. It was only then that she realized something. "All of them. They all knew you intended to propose to me then…didn't they?" she accused.
"Well, yeah," Bentley admitted, just a bit sheepishly. "I guess I was kind of excited, sweetie…"
"Everyone knew…but me. Is that what you are telling me?" Yuri continued, eyeing him sharply.
"Do not judge him so harshly, Yuri," Naomi chided her friend as she stepped out from behind the air-conditioning unit just then. "What man could not be excited to propose to the beautiful Yuri Sing?"
"Naomi!" Yuri exclaimed, blinking furiously. "H-Have you been there the entire time, ami?"
"We all have been…each and every glorious moment, pretty girl," Sly helpfully added for Yuri's sake. He turned to Bentley, and clapped a congratulatory hand on his smaller friend's shoulder. "Nice bit of work, pal. Congrats, Bentley…you've got yourself quite a lady there."
"Don't I though?" Bentley agreed, grinning over at Yuri, who could only smile back indulgently at her fiance.
"So…since everyone's seen the whole thing but us," an irked Kitty Petro observed just then as she and Ling appeared on the observation deck, "then you won't mind if Ling and I keep the only copy of this, right?" She held up a VHS tape smiling.
"Not on your life, girl," Carmelita dissuaded her pointedly. "Each of us gets a copy ASAP. You got that, sport?"
"Yeah, yeah," Kitty pretended to grouse, then grinned. "But it's gonna cost every one of you five euros each. Those VHS tapes aren't free, you know."
"What a skinflint," Carmelita teased, then laughed. She then stepped forward and clamped her strong arm around Kitty's neck and pulled her close. "All right, sport…now that I've got your attention---so to speak---what's up with this singing debute of yours?"
Kitty struggled vainly in Carmelita's grasp. "Hey! I was gonna tell you!" she protested. "I just haven't found the time yet, okay? I mean, sheesh, Bentley and Yuri just agreed to get hitched…and all you can worry about is my singing?" Kitty glared up at her friend. "And, you call yourself a friend! Ha!"
"Just you hush, Kitty Petro," Carmelita said sweetly, increasing the pressure on her hold on the little vixen's neck. "And start explaining…"
"Later!" Kitty squawked, her fingers trying to pry Carmelita's arm from around her neck. "I promise to tell you everything…only, later. Okay?"
"I'm holding you to that, sport," Carmelita vowed, but she did release her hold on Kitty.
"Man, now you've gone and mussed my fur!" Kitty groused, but then grinned.
"Yo, Petro!" Bentley then objected. "Just where did you get this video of Yuri and me anyway?"
"That's easy, buster," Kitty scoffed, grinning. "Look over there…that should answer that question…don't you think?" Kitty pointed over to the security camera that sat atop a nearby light pole.
Everyone laughed with the possible exception of Bentley, who scowled at first, then simply shook his head. "Figures," he groused.
"Well, since that's all settled then," Kitty announced, still smiling. "Anything you or your lovely bride-to-be might like to say? You know, for posterity's sake and all that?" She jerked her head toward the security cam.
"Actually, you rascal, oui…I would indeed," Yuri replied, smiling cleverly herself, which handily wiped some of the chow-eating grin off of Kitty's face. "I feel I must tell you that you performed magnificently tonight, Mademoiselle Katherine Stordahlen." Yuri laughed. "Where ever did you come up with a name such as that? You had us all fooled, ami."
"Thanks," Kitty replied, grinning brightly again. "But, I didn't have all of you fooled." She cast a wondering glance Sly's way. "Raccoon Boy there figured it out after my first song. Don't really know how…" Kitty pouted.
"Sorry, Kitty," Sly replied. "But, much like I've said before, I know women. And, you have a certain unique way of moving, kiddo. Once you started your routine, it didn't take me too long to put two and two together. I mean, your eyes were different, as was your hair…but, look…you can't change the way you walk, kid…"
"Damn," Kitty responded, shaking her head. "Was I that obvious?"
"Nope! In fact, like I said…you had me fooled until after your first number, pretty girl," Sly told her, flirting as was his wont. "Look, I only figured it out because I know you fairly well, okay? You did great, kid!"
Kitty smiled at Sly's praise…as she usually did.
It was then that Yuri suddenly realized something else. "Cheri? Do you remember…at the end of your performance…how you said, 'good luck to you, my friend'? That friend, he would not be---?"
"Your handsome beau over there? He sure would be, lady," Kitty confirmed a moment later, nodding.
Yuri shook her head in mute wonder, but then shuddered with chill as it began to snow upon them all. "Very well, mon amis, the remainder of our most stimulating conversations will only continue once we are back at my chateau. Agreed?" Yuri then shivered again. "Please? I am freezing out here!"
"You heard the lady, folks," Sly prompted, ever the leader. "It's time to beat feet over to Yuri's place. Which, if I know her at all, you can all expect to enjoy one heck of a party, no doubt!"
Yuri grinned, even as her Bentley wrapped his arm about her hips again. "A party?" Yuri posed, pretending to think about it. "But, of course, amis! For…don't we have something to celebrate, hmm?"
"To the happy couple!" Sly crowed, only to be joined a moment later by the entire Gang. "Now…let's move it, people!"
AN: I better get some good rewievs from this chappie. I workied hard to get it how I liked it