Matt spent a day lurking around St. Charles Avenue, seeing Kitty a handful of times as he snuck around the neighborhood. He hated himself for spying on her, but he'd also snooped on Henri Broussard. He'd spent another day prudently making inquiries about the man, wanting to get a sense of him. He lost count of how many times he'd almost walked up to the house, but he'd lost his nerve.
Doc had been happy to help Kitty by going to check on her small masonry cottage in the French Quarter. After all, it was a lovely day, and he enjoyed walking around the narrow, bustling streets.
He twiddled his finger inside his ear, rubbing his earlobe while shaking his salt-and-pepper head. He didn't believe there was a living thing on earth that could rival Louie Pheeter's drinking habits, but he'd been wrong after dealing with Toulouse. While he had put a bowl of chicken livers out for the feline, the tar black cat knocked over a full bottle of absinthe, voraciously lapping up every last drop. Doc chuckled to himself, twisting the key into the lock, ambling down the steps, slamming the gate shut behind him. He breathed in the morning air, listening to the lively sounds of the French Quarter. He debated on walking the distance to The Seraphine to see the progress. On an impulse, Kitty had decided to purchase the adjoining building and lot with intentions of expanding the hotel.
Doc set off in the direction of The Seraphine, hoping the walk would do him good. He had quite a bit to think about after a recent conversation with the redhead. Kitty had tempted him with the idea of retiring to New Orleans again. She'd offered to give him the masonry cottage. He was enticed – more so than he had been the last time he was in New Orleans. He could watch the twins grow while being a man of leisure. For the first time in his life, he could experience being a man without a care in the world.
Doc dodged an inattentive passerby, muttering under his breath. He stopped at the corner and realized he'd left his eyeglasses on the entry table. Doc turned around, complaining the whole way back to the bungalow until he caught a glimpse of a man a foot taller than everyone else wearing a sweat stained Stetson on his head.
"Matt!" he hollered, quickly walking up to the big man. He didn't have to ask why he was in the city. He knew.
"Doc," Matt curtly greeted, shoving down the anger he felt rising within him. He glanced at the cottage he'd visited several months ago and blew out a breath. The same cottage where he'd made love to Kitty for the very last time, before telling her to marry another man.
Doc swiped his fingers over his chin. "What are you doing here?" he asked, opening the gate and unlocking the door. He heard Matt's boots following behind him.
"That's none of your business."
"Kitty's not here."
"Yeah, I know," he replied flatly. He supposed she was feeding the babies or sitting under one of the magnolia trees in the expansive backyard with them.
"Are you planning on seeing her?" Doc inquired. He shook his head at the younger man's silence while lifting his glasses off the entryway table. "Matt, you shouldn't see her."
"I can see her if I damn well please," he barked. Matt stared at the table, recalling the red dozen roses had been there. Those damn roses. If he only hadn't overreacted when seeing the card that accompanied the flowers…
"Leave her be, Matt."
The big man set his jaw, breaking his eyes from the table to set them on Doc. He was sick of the man telling him what he should and shouldn't do. "You can stand there and tell me to leave her be, but you kept it from me that she was havin' my babies."
"Matt, I believed you had a right to know, but Kitty…" he paused to take a breath. "She was still hurt by the way things ended then. She made me swear not to tell you. She swore she'd never speak to me again if I did."
Matt smirked, "I bet she had to really twist your arm to do it, Doc." He'd always been a good friend to the physician. He'd saved the man's life a time or two, and it stung him that Doc prized his friendship with Kitty more.
The elderly man smacked his hand on the table. He could apologize until he was blue in the face, but his explanations wouldn't be good enough for Matt. The physician didn't regret keeping his promise to Kitty. "Dammit, Matt! I did what she asked of me! And you know what?! I'd do it again!"
"When are you coming back to Dodge? Or are you gonna stay here with her?"
"I don't know."
"Oh, I see," Matt sarcastically drawled. "That's another secret you'll keep from me."
The lawman's snide remark struck a nerve. "I've had more important things to do here than worryin' about when I'll come back to Dodge!" he snapped.
"Like helpin' Kitty keep all her secrets? What else have you and her kept from me?"
His frustration boiled over. "I've been helping to keep your daughter alive!"
Matt felt like he'd had the wind knocked out of him. He dropped into one of the chairs next to the table, taking off his hat, holding it by the brim. He'd seen the girl with his own eyes. She appeared healthy. "What? What do you mean? What's the matter with—" he lingered, miserably realizing he didn't even know her name. He didn't know his little girl's name, and he didn't know his son's name either.
"Vivienne." Doc sat next to him. "Her name is Vivienne. Kitty calls her Vivi."
For the next half hour, Doc told him about the night the twins were born, how easy his son had arrived, how difficult it had been delivering his daughter, and how it had been touch and go with her. He answered each question Matt asked. Doc didn't spare one detail. He watched Matt lean back in the chair and rest his hands on his knees.
"Matt, you shouldn't see Kitty. It won't do either of you a bit of good."
"Doc, I want to see my boy and girl. I have to."
"All right, Matt. I can understand that."
Henri inspected the diamond drop earrings and matching necklace the jeweler had created for his wife's birthday. He heard a knock at his office door. "Come in," he called out, recognizing the thump against the wood. "Bonjour, Galen," he addressed without looking up. He snapped the box closed to put the gift in his desk drawer. He locked the drawer, furrowing his brow at the heavier footsteps. The physician wasn't alone. Henri nodded to himself, unsurprised by the extra presence. He'd heard about the giant inquiring about him around town. Henri set his dark eyes on the lawman, pushing his chair back, rising to his feet.
Doc glanced at the two men while he shut the door. He doubted his sanity for putting them in the same room. The tension was as head-splitting as the tick of the wall clock. Doc observed the men staring at each other, undoubtedly sizing each other up. He'd never realized until now that Henri was only a few inches shorter than Matt and just as formidable.
Matt broke the silence. "I want to see—"
"Why?" Henri abruptly questioned, rounding his desk to stand in front of Matt. "Why do you care? You left Kathleen. You tossed her aside."
Matt simmered underneath his hat. "Listen to me, Mister. You don't know a thing about me and Kitty."
Henri's mouth slyly turned up at the corners. "Oh, but I do. I do know a thing or two. You didn't deserve the love she gave you. You didn't cherish her giving heart. Now, that it's not yours you want it back. You cannot have it back. I will not allow you to see my wife."
Matt rested his hands on his belt, gathering his thoughts, contemplating if the Frenchman was insecure in his marriage or protective of the redhead. Obviously, Broussard viewed him as a threat. Matt couldn't deny the boost he felt to his confidence, but he was smart enough to understand that the younger man was equally a threat to him. After all, Henri had put a ring on Kitty's finger. "What if I want to see Kitty?" he pushed, testing the man's temperament.
Doc's astute eyes darted between the pair. He saw the rebellious glint in Matt's eyes and the tense ripple of Henri's jaw. He was grateful neither had a revolver, but he knew substantial damage could be done with fists. He scrubbed his fingers over his chin. "Where is Kitty?" he inquired, hoping to break the standoff.
"Upstairs. Sleeping," Henri answered, not looking away from the taller man. "You and I have a problem, Matt Dillon. You are in my house. You will not see Kathleen," he answered evenly.
Matt bit down on the inside of his cheek. The man was protective not unconfident. He reminded himself to keep his temper in check. He wanted to see his children, and Henri stood between him and the twins.
Henri strolled to the decanter filled shelf of the bookcase lining the back wall of his office. He poured a generous amount of cognac into three glasses, handing two to Galen. Henri sipped slowly while leaning his back into the ledge. "I'm not your enemy," he said as Matt set the untouched tumbler on the desktop. "I'm simply the man that did what you wouldn't. You told her to marry me."
"You took my family," he growled.
With a smirk, Henri finished his drink. "You cannot take what's given away," he countered. "I am sorry you regret your choices, but I'll allow you to see Alexandre and Vivienne."
Matt walked up to Henri. "What if I want them? I am their father."
Henri barked out a hearty laugh.
The Frenchman's raucous, booming laughter took the doctor by surprise. He apprehensively glanced at his old friend, catching a glimpse of the subtle flinch and lift of Matt's sizable right hand. Doc ceased breathing, expecting to witness a backhanded blow. He released a shaky, relieved breath as Matt's hand settled on the shiny belt buckle, gripping the silver so hard his knuckles turned white.
Henri caught his breath, shaking his head. He had to admit that he admired the U.S. Marshal's tenacity. "You could try, but I'd fight. I'm equipped for a lengthy battle. Are you?" he probed. He didn't believe the man's bank account could handle a legal battle. He understood that not every man could breathe and make money like he could. "Besides, I believe you've done enough to hurt Kathleen. I don't believe you wish to destroy her again," he concluded, viewing the answer in the lawman's grief-stricken eyes. Henri walked to the door, opening it, glancing at Galen. "Will you escort him? The babies are in the nursery."
He lost track of time, unsure of how long he'd hovered over the canopied cribs. Matt was awestruck by the two perfect little humans he'd made with Kitty. He stared at his son's face, meeting his bright blue, alert eyes. Matt reached into the crib and smiled as the boy gripped his index finger with his whole hand. "I'm your Pa," he whispered, leaning over, lifting his son out of the crib. He studied his face, sitting down in the rocking chair. "You got my nose," he told him, chuckling as the infant let out a whimper. "You'll grow into it. You got my name, too." He was sure Kitty had given him that. "Doc, tell me about him," he requested, hating he didn't know for himself.
Doc nervously gave his ear a tug. He'd been on pins and needles, constantly glancing at the door, praying Kitty wouldn't come inside. He pulled his eyes away from the doorway, surveying the father and son. "He's a good baby, Matt. He's slept through the night here lately," he informed. "He's liable to grow up as big and strong as you."
Matt felt a stab in his heart. He wouldn't get to see his son grow up. He put away the feelings rising from the depths, threatening to spill out of his eyes. He pressed his lips to Alexandre's forehead, staring at his handsome face, committing his features to his memory. Matt held him and rocked his son until he fell back to sleep. He placed his boy back into the crib, fixing his eyes on the sleeping girl. The pint-size snorts and grunts she made in her deep slumber tugged on his heartstrings, but he was afraid to hold her. She seemed so small in her crib. "What about Vivienne?" he shyly asked. "Vivi," he tried the nickname, smiling at how easily it rolled off his tongue.
"Matt, you can hold her."
"Doc, she's…she's so little," he stated.
"She was five pounds when she was born."
Matt closed his eyes, picturing her being blue and lifeless as Doc had described to him. He shuddered at the image. He gently placed his hand on her chest, feeling the rise and fall of her breathing. "Will she be all right, Doc?"
"Well, don't let her fool you, Matt. She's tiny, but she's bigger than what she was. She's," he hedged, wiping the underside of his jaw, ambling over to peek in on the newborn. "Well, Vivi's her mother's daughter. She's been colicky. Keeping us on our toes."
Matt nodded his head. He could tell she was her mother's daughter in more than her looks. He delicately ran his fingertip along her cheek. "She's beautiful. I can't believe I had a hand in makin' her," he whispered, discreetly wiping underneath his eye as he turned away.
Doc took a breath and placed his elbows on the edge of the crib. He silently pleaded with Vivienne not to wake up screaming at him. He lifted her, cradling her in his arms, handing her to Matt. "I promise she won't break," Doc assured, tickled at the giant being utterly intimidated by the tiny girl.
Matt held his breath, watching her squirm in his hold. "Doc," he mumbled as Vivienne's sapphire eyes popped open. "What if she starts crying?"
"For heaven's sake, Matt," Doc grumbled, scrubbing his mustache. "You'd stop her crying. Let me tell you she knows how. Golly, she knows how."
"You're all right, Vivi," he soothed, holding her securely against his chest, rubbing her back, kissing her auburn locks. He breathed in her sweet baby smell, unhurriedly rambling to the window. "I'm your Daddy. Maybe that's what you'd call me," he spoke softly, smiling as she cuddled into the warmth of him.
"Matt, I'm sorry I didn't tell you."
"Doc, you were doin' what she asked," he replied. Being around his children had caused his anger to fade, made him see things clearly in an odd way. He was gradually accepting his fault. He should have learned how to give and bend more when it came to Kitty.
"I shouldn't have kept it from you, and that's gonna rot inside of me for the rest of my life," he sincerely uttered.
Matt licked his lips, clearing his throat. He glanced around the nursery, scanning over the painted landscape beautifying the wall, the shelves filled with children's books, the rocking horse, and the dressers filled with fine clothes. Henri could give his son and daughter more than he'd ever dreamed of giving. Still, a question inhabited the forefront of his mind. "Should I worry about the babies? Are they in good hands with him?"
The older man sighed and looked Matt in the eyes. "Matt, I know you. Even if I tell you otherwise, you'll still wonder and worry."
"Doc, are they in good hands with him?"
"I can confidently tell you that they're in good hands with Henri. He loves Alexandre and Vivienne like they're his own. He stayed up with that little girl all night when she was born. He'll take care of them. They will not want for anything."
"Much obliged, Doc," he spoke faintly and kissed his daughter's hand, closing the distance between him and the physician. Matt put Vivienne into the man's waiting arms. "Does she love him?" His baritone voice strained with the question, but he had to know. He had to know that her heart still wasn't broken by him, that she had wholly moved on from him.
"Matt, I can't speak for—"
"Doc," he interjected. "Does she?"
Doc solemnly nodded his silvery head. "She loves him, Matt," he disclosed, looking up at him. "You know you'll always hold a place in her heart. Don't you?"
Without a word, he took his Stetson, placed it on his head, and drifted to the door. Matt cracked it open, cautiously peering up and down the hall. He slinked through the doorway and down the staircase. He recalled what an old timer had told him in his youth. A whiskered, craggily faced man had told him that a man would have a few things in life that he'd regret. Matt had already known what his regrets would be for the rest of his life, but he couldn't leave New Orleans without speaking with the mother of his children.
He stopped in the magnificent foyer, letting his eyes drift up to the second floor. "I'll see you soon, Kitty."