Author's Note: I'm not sure what is happening with the reviews, but I am still receiving email notifications. Fingers crossed that doesn't glitch. I do hope the reviews that have been left will eventually properly show up.
Kitty settled comfortably into the sea of pillows propped against the headboard while she finished her café au lait. "Thank you," she whispered to Delia, arching her brows as her maid's eyes widened. Kitty followed the Creole's line of sight, gasping while immediately covering her husband's exposed rear end with the cotton sheet.
"Chérie, you had no problem with me being nude hours ago," Henri sleepily rumbled, unintentionally knocking the sheet off him as he rolled onto his back, "and I'm certain Delia knows male anatomy." He slipped his arms above his head, splaying his limbs out, fingertips brushing the side of his wife's body as he stretched with a profound groan.
"Oh, mercy," Delia murmured, averting her eyes, but stealing one last glance.
"Henri Luc!" Kitty admonished, quickly covering him with the quilt. The redhead sank her teeth into her bottom lip, gazing up at the ceiling while shaking her head. Her husband had no shame. "Delia, I apologize. I can't do-" Kitty squeaked in surprise as he pulled her onto him, capturing her lips to silence her apology. She barely heard her maid's chuckling as the door closed. She broke the kiss, catching her breath, swatting her husband's chest. "You are terrible. You know that?"
He simply nodded his head as his hands roamed over her, cupping her bottom through the thin fabric of her blue satin nightdress. "Do I need to you remind you how terrible I am?" he whispered, grazing his lips against hers, nipping at her bottom lip.
"Mmhmm," she mumbled against his mouth. Kitty felt his index finger hook into the strap of her gown. "Mon beau, hold on," she requested, smoothing her hands over his well-built chest. "You know one or both is comin' in here any minute."
As his wife regretfully rolled off him, he heaved himself out of bed to pull on a pair of pajama bottoms. Henri heard the pitter-patter of little feet on the pine floors and immediately recognized the footfalls. He glanced at his wife, "Vivi." He chuckled as they said the name in unison.
Kitty settled back into bed and kept an eye on the door. "Oh, she slept hard," she whispered amusedly as Vivienne wandered into the bedroom. Her daughter looked as if she'd fought a war during the night.
"Bonjour, Vivi," Henri greeted his sluggish daughter, snickering as she grumpily shook her head, shushing him as she passed. His little girl was not a morning person, but he knew cuddles with her mother would cure her grouchiness.
"Maman," Vivienne whined as she toddled to the bed, dragging her mauve blanket along the floor while tugging on her ear. "Maman," she repeated, climbing onto the mattress.
"Mornin', Sunshine." Kitty helped her the rest of the way, taking her into her arms. She soothingly rubbed Vivi's back and kissed her copper tresses, whispering, "Mornings are awful. Aren't they?"
"Vivi, pain perdu with berries?" Henri asked.
The toddler incoherently mumbled, burying her face into her mother's chest. She pulled her baby blanket over her while she yanked at her ear.
"That'll be fine, mon beau," Kitty answered for the small grouch, glancing at her husband while adjusting the blanket. As Henri left the bedroom, she noticed the frequent pulling. "Baby, does your ear hurt?"
"Oui," Vivienne whimpered, rubbing the side of her head into her mother's shoulder.
"Vivi, lemme see," she requested, gingerly tilting the toddler's head to survey the red, slightly swollen ear. Kitty cautiously touched it, wincing as Vivienne flinched and screamed, knocking her hand away. "I'm sorry, Baby," she soothed, kissing her forehead while stroking the hot tears from her cheeks. "I had to look. We'll get Papa to get Pépère." She looked up from comforting her daughter, crinkling her brows at Matt while he stood at the threshold of the room, contending with Alexandre.
Matt sheepishly fixed his eyes on Kitty. He didn't make it a habit to enter her bedroom since she was a wedded woman. He looked stricken as Vivienne lifted her head from her mother's bosom and wiped at her nose. "What's wrong?" Matt questioned while Alexandre ran to the bed, amazed at how the boy instinctively knew something was amiss with his little sister.
"What happened?" He continued to keep his distance. "Is she okay?" Vivienne's crying broke his heart. He hated when the twins were hurt or sick, especially since all he could do was stand idly by. He'd patched a handful of his son's cuts and scrapes, but Vivienne rarely sought him for comfort when she was sick. She wanted her mother or Henri.
"Her ear's botherin' her," Kitty explained, watching her son comfort his baby sister. "I think she's got a little fever, too. Matt, get Doc, please."
"Alright, Kitty."
Within minutes, Doc was in the bedroom, attempting to examine his granddaughter. He clucked his tongue as Kitty securely held her on her lap. "Honey…" he sighed, listening to Vivi's crying, staring at her precious, flushed face. He hadn't put a hand on her, but she warily eyed him, pushing at his arm as he came closer to her.
"Pépère will make you better, Vivi," Henri told her as she clutched his hand. "I promise he will, but you have to let him look."
"Hurts, Papa," she cried, crocodile tears rolling down her cheeks. She wiped at her nose, sniffling, reaching for her beloved father.
Henri nudged his finger under her chin and stroked the tears from her cheek. "Mon petit amour, let Pépère examine you."
She stubbornly shook her head.
Doc smiled warmly at the toddler. "It won't take a minute, Vivi." He heaved a sigh as she began to move away, jerking her head in disagreement. "Vivienne, be still," he ordered as he gripped her shoulder, feeling his heart crack as a fresh set of tears spilled out of her eyes. He pulled the otoscope away as she slid her arms around her mother's neck to cry into her.
"Baby, I know it hurts, but you have to let Pépère see what's the matter," Kitty spoke softly yet resolutely, rubbing her child's back. "Please let him look at you, Vivi," she implored, noticing Matt hovering in the corner. Kitty took a strengthening breath and fixed her eyes on Doc. "Doc, do what you have to do."
Doc made another attempt, springing back as Vivienne violently thrashed, screaming at the top of her lungs for her father. He heard the lawman's boots scuff against the flooring while Henri swiftly pulled Vivienne away from Kitty before she could accidentally hurt her mother.
"Vivienne," Henri hummed as her head hit his shoulder. Her fair skin was reddened equally by her fever and tantrum. She hiccupped in between sobs, pointing to Doc, disjointedly jabbering in English and French. Henri calmly lowered her hand, kissing her cheek. "Vivienne, mon petite amour, you have to calm down." His voice was tender as he spoke and pressed his lips to her temple, slowly drifting around the room with her. "Pépère won't hurt you. You know he wouldn't, Vivi. You're making things harder than they have to be," he murmured, humming Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star to her. Halfway through the tune, her breathing had become peaceful, and her tears had dried. Henri kissed her copper tresses and pointed to Alexandre resting in his mother's lap. "Your frère's worried about you, Vivienne." He sat down on the bed with her, pulling the moppet onto his lap.
Alexandre tugged on his grandfather's vest. "Pépère."
Doc looked at his grandson, grinning as the boy tilted his head while pointing to his ear. He knew exactly what the tot was doing and momentarily kicked himself for not having the idea. "Alexandre, your ear hurts, too?"
He nodded his head, tawny-brown curls bouncing while nudging his sister. "Vivi, watch."
Doc examined the boy's ear, acting like he didn't notice Vivienne intently inspecting.
"It's okay, Vivi," Alexandre whispered to Vivienne, reaching to hold her hand.
Vivienne wiped at her eyes and snuffled, nodding her head. She was safe in her Papa's arms, and her brother had given her a dose of bravery. "Pépère," she mumbled, allowing him to finally examine her ear.
"That's my girl," Kitty murmured. She peppered her son's face with kisses. "You're the smartest and sweetest boy. Do you know that? I love you so much, Alexandre."
"I love you, Maman," he returned, bashfully grinning at his mother while keeping a hold of his sister's hand.
Kitty smiled at him. Her little boy had no idea how much he was like the man standing in the corner. She heard Vivienne's shrill whine and rubbed her arm. "Vivi, he's almost done with you."
"By golly," Doc hummed, scrutinizing the inflammation. "Outer ear canal's infected," he determined, straightening to gaze at the adults in the room.
"Maman?" Vivi croaked.
"He's done for now, Baby," she assured, stroking her hair out of her sapphire eyes. Kitty kissed the middle of her forehead before she slipped out of Henri's lap and scooted to the end of the bed.
"Galen, do you have what you need?" Henri asked.
"I'll get it if you don't," Matt offered, stepping forward, needing to be useful.
Doc eyeballed the men, swiping his mustache. "I don't have everything. I don't have the drops she needs," he divulged. He'd fully stocked his medical bag on the last trip into town, but he hadn't prepared for an ear infection. "Matt, I'll make a list for you to take to Thibodeaux's Pharmacy."
"Until then? Is she gonna be all right?" he worriedly asked, staring at his sniffling little girl huddled at the foot of the bed with her brother. He put his hand on Kitty's shoulder, squeezing gently.
The physician nodded. "She'll be perfectly fine in a week or so. I'll give her something to ease the pain until you get back, Matt. No more swimming lessons for Vivi for a while. Water got trapped in there and created the perfect environment for an infection. It's no one's fault," he proclaimed, glancing at Henri and Matt since they had taken the twins swimming days ago. "Kitty," he said, meeting her concerned eyes. "I'll go over it all with you, but I need to clean her ear first.
Kitty sighed heavily, exchanging a look with her husband. She knew it would be hell. "Matt, take Alexandre to Delia, please. He'll get upset."
"C'mon, Son," Matt said and scooped Alexandre off the bed while Henri skillfully preoccupied Vivienne. "Let's go see, Delia." He carried him out, stopping in the doorway. "Doc, make that list of what she needs." Matt stepped into the hall, nearly colliding with the maid. "Kitty wants you to take him. Doc isn't finished with Vivi."
"That poor baby," Delia murmured, taking the boy. "Silas needs help feedin' those goats, Monsieur Alexandre. Let's go help him. What do you say?"
Matt grinned at his son's excitement and leaned against the wall. He ran his hand through his hair, hearing the slam of the front door. He drew in a deep breath as Vivienne's painful howls hit his eardrums, pulling him apart piece by piece.
She stepped into the darkness, listening to the chirping of crickets and the distant hoot of an owl. His thoughts were louder to her. Kitty could feel his guilt like the humidity in the air. She loosened the sash of her tea gown and sat down next to him on the brick steps of the rear porch. Her arm rubbed against his as she pulled her knees to her chest, resting her head on her arms. She slanted her head, anxiously gazing at him, wondering if he'd open up to her.
"I should've been there," he thickly confessed, turning his head to stare into her compassionate eyes.
"You're here now, Cowboy."
He shook his head, overlooking the flutter in his chest at her usage of the affectionate name. "I should have been there when she was born. I should have been the one to stay up with her all night. If I had, she would've wanted me today," his voice cracked.
"Matt, she can't help that. Henri is her Papa. He adores her."
"I know she can't help it. I'm not blaming her for," he stammered, blowing out a frustrated breath, "something that's all my doing."
"It wasn't all your doing."
"It was, Kitty."
"You have to stop shoulderin' all the blame. It's not all yours."
He scoffed at her assertion.
"I could have told you. I wanted to tell you, but…"
"Why didn't you tell me?" he asked. "The Kitty Russell I knew never held back and never backed down."
"Oh, Matt," she faintly murmured. He still hadn't comprehended her reasons after three years. Kitty turned toward him, lifting her head off her arms. She reached out, cupping his jaw, stroking her thumb over a weathered line of his tanned skin. "I didn't want to force your hand."
He withdrew from her consoling caress, unable to bear how soft her hands were and how wonderful her touch felt on his skin.
She let her hand fall to her side, resting it on her thigh, tracing the path of Japanese wisteria embroidered on the garment. "I got tired of fighting the badge. I wanted you to choose me."
Matt let her words soak into him. He ran the tip of his tongue along his lip, concentrating on the times he'd chosen her. He scrubbed his hand over his face, pained by the times he hadn't put his heart above the badge. He released a shaky breath. "Did he know you were carrying my baby?"
Kitty swallowed hard, subtly nodding her auburn head. She wouldn't ever let him know the dark place she'd been in on the night she'd told Henri. "He did."
He suddenly felt jealous of the Frenchman. His enviousness had always been there, simmering under the surface, but the jealousy washing over him was raw and intensely different. Henri knew she had been carrying another man's child and had still wanted her. It seemed as if the choice was as simple as breathing to Henri Broussard. His jaw tightened and rippled. "Goddamn saint," Matt bitterly muttered.
Her eyes widened at his grumble. "Wait a minute, Matt. Henri is not a saint."
Matt shifted and doubtfully fixed his eyes on her. He knew men had flaws, but the Frenchman didn't seem to have a single one.
"He's a good man. He's a wonderful husband and father, but not one bit a saint."
He pondered what she'd meant. He wanted to ask but knew she wouldn't tell him. She wasn't the kind to air intimate details.
"Madame," Delia called from the entranceway, squinting to see the two figures ahead of her.
"Yes?"
"Miss Vivi's woke up crying for you."
Kitty sighed deeply. "I'm coming," she replied. "Matt," she whispered, waiting for him to look at her. She stared into the depths of blue, hating to see him still grief-stricken. "You're forgetting the most important detail."
"What's that, Kitty?"
She bit into her lip and ran her fingers through the shaggy waves on the side of his head, hoping she was comforting him instead of tormenting him. "Vivi wouldn't be here if it wasn't for you. Neither would Alexandre. You need to remember that," she professed, pressing her lips against his temple. "I know I'll always be grateful to you for giving them to me." She put her hand on his shoulder, pushing herself to stand and heading back into the house to take care of their little girl.