Rue Toulouse (41 page)

Charlotte smirked. “Oh, well, pardon the hell out of me.”

Paulette gave Caterine a smug smile. “Since you haven’t been staying in the carriage house, and your car was taken away, what I do find mysterious, Caterine, is where you’ve been living and who’s been driving you around. Could it be your new biker boyfriend I saw you with?”

Determined not to let her anger show, Caterine stared without speaking until the smugness left Paulette’s face. Then, in a voice sounding like Miss Dauphine at her haughtiest, she said, “I haven’t the slightest idea what you’re talking about, Paulette. Besides, where I’m staying and who I’m staying with isn’t your or anyone else’s business. And, speaking of my car, you wouldn’t happen to know who damaged it beyond repair, would you?”

“Don’t be absurd, Caterine,” Charlotte said. “Why on earth would any of us know what happened to your car?”

“Because it had to have been tampered with while it was outside the carriage house. I find it hard to believe that out of all the cars parked at the house, someone would only target mine.”

Paulette’s face was flushed with anger. “I don’t know anything about your damn car, but I do know you’re a filthy little liar. I did see you dressed like a tramp, standing with some dirty Cajun.”

“For heaven's sake, Paulette, lower your voice. We’re in a public place,” Hyacinth hissed, scanning the area for eavesdroppers.

Charlotte snorted. “Really, Paulette, Caterine wouldn’t be so daring as to be seen with someone inappropriate. What if Grandmère were to see her? She might take Ma Chérie away from her.”

“That’s enough,” Jules said. “I’m in no mood to listen to your bickering.” He turned to Caterine. “What’s this about your car?”

After Caterine had explained, Jules shook his head. “That’s incredible. What can I do to help?”

Caterine smiled. “Thanks, but I have a friend bringing me a car.”

“Really? Are we going to get a chance to meet your new boyfriend?” Paulette asked.

“No. I’m meeting the
mechanic
in the parking lot.”

Charlotte’s brows rose. “Is he so bad that you won’t let us meet him?”
 

What a difference between the friendly family I was with yesterday and this school of piranhas I’m stuck with now,
Caterine thought. Aloud she said, “Speaking of new boyfriends, Charlotte, I heard you’ve been seeing someone. Why haven’t you brought him around? Or isn’t he suitable? I understand he has quite a dubious reputation.”

Charlotte gave Caterine an icy glare and mouthed,
Bitch
. “I’m going to the ladies’.”

Hyacinth and Frances rose as well. “We’ll join you.”

As the women walked away, Caterine turned to see Randal closely studying her before he stood abruptly. “I’m going outside for a smoke.”

Caterine’s eyes met Ray’s. Shrugging slightly, he followed Randal.

“Are those blue jeans you’re wearing, Caterine?” Paulette asked.

She looked at her jean-clad legs, then opened her eyes wide. “Yes, Paulette, I’d say they’re blue jeans.”

Paulette scrunched up her face in distaste. “Imagine that, Caterine Doucette in blue jeans, and cheap ones at that. Tell me, Caterine, are they part of your new persona? Does your boyfriend like it when you look cheap and tacky?”

Caterine cursed inwardly. She’d been in such a hurry to leave for the hospital she had just grabbed a pair of the jeans Elaine had bought for her. She made a mental note to collect more of her own clothes when she stopped by the carriage house. “I didn’t realize you paid that much attention to what I wear, Paulette. How flattering.”

When her cell phone rang, Caterine sighed with relief. Rising quickly, she headed for the door as she answered. “Yes, this is Caterine.”

“Hey,
cher
, this is Antoine. I have a car for you.”

“That’s what I understand, but you didn’t have to do this.”

“No problem.”

“Where are you?”

“Remi told me to stay out of sight, so I’m in the back of the visitors’ lot.”

“I’m on my way.” Expecting to see Ray and Randal in the outdoor smoking section, Caterine was surprised to find the area empty. The rain had stopped, but the day was still gloomy. A misty fog now covered the parking lot. As she tried to spot Antoine, she could vaguely make out a figure waving in the distance. She waved back and quickened her steps. Halfway to where Antoine stood, she thought she heard a car engine accelerate.

“Caterine, watch out!” she heard Antoine yell, as she realized the car was behind her.

To Caterine, everything that followed took on a dreamlike quality—Antoine coming toward her through the mist; the car’s roaring engine; the jolt of their bodies as Antoine slammed into her, hurling them to the ground between two parked cars; the sound of screeching tires as the car drove away; and Suzette’s piercing screams.

“Motherfuck!” Antoine exclaimed. “Caterine, are you all right?”

She lay face down on the dirty, wet parking lot, gasping for breath with Antoine on top of her. “I don’t know.”

Antoine rolled off and helped her to her feet. He swore a string of Cajun as he stared in the direction the car had disappeared.

“Oh my God, are you two all right?” Suzette threw her arms around them both. “What the hell was wrong with that person? Didn’t they see Caterine?”

“Suzette, could you tell what kind of car it was?” Antoine asked.

She shook her head. “I was so scared I closed my eyes.”

“Remi is going to have my ass for this.”

“What are you talking about, Antoine?” Caterine’s teeth were chattering so badly she could hardly speak. “You saved my life.”

“I should have been paying closer attention. I couldn’t make out a damn thing about the car,” Antoine said. He ran his eyes over Caterine. “Are you okay?”

“I think so, just a little scuffed up.”

“No, Antoine, she isn’t all right. Her arms and cheek are scraped, and she’s shaking from head to toe. She needs to sit down,” Suzette said. “Should we take her into the hospital?”

“No!” Caterine cried. “My family’s in there. I don’t want them to see me like this.”

“Wait a minute, your family are all in there?” Antoine asked.

She nodded.

“Then we need to go see if anyone is missing because if they are, they just tried to run you down.”

Caterine’s voice broke on a sob. “Maybe it wasn’t any of them. Maybe the driver just didn’t see me.”

Antoine laughed without humor. “Yeah, and come Christmas, I’m Papa Noel. Besides, if that were true, why didn’t they stop?”

“I don’t know.” Caterine hugged herself, trying to control her shaking. “I can’t believe they had the nerve to try and kill me right here in a public place.”

Suzette looked from Caterine’s stricken face to Antoine’s angry glower and frowned. “I don’t know what’s going on, Caterine, but if you need me to go into the hospital with you, I will.”

“There you go. Take Suzette and go find out if your family are where you left them.”

Caterine took a deep breath and wiped the tears from her eyes. “Antoine’s right, Suzette. I need to go in. And I would appreciate it if you’d go with me. Antoine, will you wait outside the door for us? I don’t want my family to see you, but I’d like to know you’re close.”

“If that’s what you want, I’ll be there.”

As she went back into the lobby, Caterine noted that only Uncle Jules, Uncle Markus, and Aunt Frances were still sitting in the waiting area. She walked over and stopped in front of them.

Frances gasped. “My God, Caterine, what’s happened to you?”

She ignored her aunt and demanded, “Where’s everyone else?”

“I don’t know,” Jules said. “They said something about getting coffee and perhaps something to eat.” Concern filled his face as he stood and put his arm around her shoulders. “Darlin’, what’s happened to you?”

“I almost got hit by a car in the parking lot. This is my friend, Suzette. It was her boyfriend who saved me.”

“Have Ray and Randal come back in?”

“We’re right here, Cat. What’s going on?” Ray stopped behind Caterine.

Without answering, she studied each man. “Where have you two been? You weren’t out in the smoking area.”

“I needed cigarettes, so we went to get some. Why?” Randal asked.

“Because a few minutes ago, I almost got run over in the parking lot, and I wondered if you’d seen anything.”

Caterine watched as Ray’s face paled and Randal looked surprised.

“No, we just got back. Do we need to call the police?” Ray asked.

She shook her head. “I’m not hurt, and the car is gone. I don’t know for sure if the driver even saw me.” The sound of heels clicking on the tile floor made her turn to see Charlotte, Paulette, and Hyacinth coming their way.

Charlotte was the first to speak. “Good grief, Caterine, what’s happened to you? You look as if you’ve been rolling around in the dirt.”

Caterine watched as Paulette studied Suzette from her curly red hair and tight blues festival T-shirt to her low-riding jeans. The disdain that filled Paulette’s face had Caterine’s temper rising. “Where have you three been?”

“In the cafeteria, if it’s any of your business,” Paulette replied. “Is this one of your new friends, Caterine?”

Caterine’s back stiffened and her anger soared. “Yes, Paulette, Suzette is my friend. Do you have a problem with that?”

Paulette’s eyes opened wide. “Temper, temper, Caterine. Why are you being so defensive? Is it because your little friend knows what you’ve become and what kind of trash you’ve been hanging around with?”

“Caterine, is this person related to you?” Suzette asked, giving Paulette a scornful look in return. “If so, I’m sorry, but she has to be one of the rudest people I’ve ever met.”

Paulette’s eyes flashed with anger. “Why you little––”

“That’s enough, Paulette,” Ray said. “Can’t you see Caterine’s hurt and upset?”

“Will you all be quiet,” Hyacinth hissed. “You’re bringing attention to yourselves.”

“Aunt Hyacinth, someone almost ran me down in the parking lot. I’m really not concerned about people overhearing.”

Charlotte rolled her eyes. “Oh really, Caterine. Always the drama queen.”

Suzette opened her mouth to speak and Caterine shook her head. “It’s not worth it.”

“Thank God, here comes the doctor,” Hyacinth said. “Perhaps now we can all get out of here.”

“Miss Dauphine is a lucky lady,” the doctor said. “There aren’t any broken bones, just some bruising and a sprained ankle, but she does have a slight concussion. I’m going to keep her overnight for observation. They’re taking her to a room, and as soon as they have her settled you can go see her.”

“If Miss Dauphine isn’t hurt badly, I don’t see any reason we all have to go up. There are things I should be doing at home to get ready for the ball,” Hyacinth said.

“I agree,” Charlotte added. “I have things to do as well. Randal, will you drive us home?”

Randal shrugged. “If that’s what y’all want to do.”

“Well, Frances and I are staying until Mother gets settled,” Jules said, his tone expressing displeasure at his family’s mass exodus.

“I’m staying as well,” Markus said. “How about you, Caterine?”

“I don’t want Grandmère to see me in this condition. It might upset her, and she’s already had enough for one day. Uncle Jules, please tell her I’ll be back later this evening. Come on, Suzette, let’s go.” Caterine could feel her family’s eyes boring into her back as she walked away.

“What a nasty bunch,” Suzette said when they reached the pavement.

Caterine smiled without humor. “They’re a far cry from Remi’s nice normal family.”

“Antoine can be a pain in my butt, but like the rest of the Michauds, he’s good people.”

“Speaking of Antoine, do you see him?”

“Over there.” Suzette pointed to a cherry-red Mercedes parked not far away. “That’s the car he brought you.”

Caterine blinked back tears as she saw Antoine’s grinning face. “Suzette, I don’t want my family seeing me in that car. I’ll call a cab. You two meet me at Remi’s apartment.”

“I had to follow Antoine, so you can drive his car. Here’re the keys. The car is back there.” Suzette pointed to the rear of the lot. “It’s the black Mustang.”

“Thanks.” Caterine gave her a quick hug, then walking toward the car, called Remi’s cell. “Remi, it’s me. Get out of there. Some of them are on their way home.”

“What’s wrong? You sound funny. How’s Miss Dauphine?”

“Grandmère isn’t hurt badly, and I can’t go into anything else right now. I’m taking Antoine and Suzette back to the apartment. Get there as soon as you can.”