Chapter 274: Darlene Pellerin, 15, Boss Lady...

Kate Broussard was far from even considering retirement. She was simply having too much fun. But over the past few months, she had been making some life changes.

The main thing — she had a small house built down in the Cajun Bayous. She still spent most of her time in the little apartment on the second floor of Miss Kitty’s. Next to her office and close to the action.

In addition, she did some remodeling on that floor. She added a photo studio, with a darkroom for Ray-Ray when he went analog. The studio’s primary feature was lighting — Ray-Ray and Evelyn worked closely with Kate’s general contractor to install a soft lighting system that Ray-Ray could adjust to flatter any hair color and skin tone of the models.

Kate also had the remodelers install a one-way mirror in her office. It was 6-feet wide by 4-feet tall, and allowed her to look down on the stage, bar, and audience areas in private.

But the main change in her life involved Darlene Pellerin. Kate was turning more and more responsibility over to the former Contrary-Mary waitress.

Kate told Eulalie, “Darlene has a real knack with pussy. Hiring it, manipulating it, managing, monetizing it.”

And, Kate had now opened up her books to the 15-year-old phenom. The ultimate sign of trust.

Kate was spending little more leisure time in her new bayou home. Just relaxing, settling into the rhythms of a slower-paced life. She sometimes spent a couple of hours with Sinéad at the Bayou Bar and Bank. Talking shop — mainly pussy.