"After much discussion, we decided to put the baby up for adoption. We went through a few agencies and we found a sweet, young couple, Brigitte and Henri Bouvier. They had been trying to have a child for a while but they couldn't have one. They were kind and open minded, not many people would have adopted a biracial child," Martine's back was to Sophie and Bianca.
"I had Alain on May 15th, 1993, I thought it was best he was given to the Bouviers right after he was born. I didn't give him a name, I just gave him away. I felt that if I stayed with him, it would bed hard to let go. The last I saw him was when Brigitte was feeding him for the first time and Henri was sitting ever so close to them. I felt in my heart that he was in good hands. As I left that hospital, I closed that part of my life. I worked hard to get away from that little town. I met your father while I was visiting the States. We fell in love and we got married and we had two beautiful girls," Martine turned to face her daughters.
"So to answer the question, yes, Alain is related to us, he is my son and your half-brother."
There was a long silence, but it was broken by Sophie, "How did he find you, us? What does this mean, now? Does Dad know that Alain is your son? Is he going to live here? Is he now part of our family?"
"All valid questions, Sophie," Martine interrupted, raising her hands up in surrender. "He did his research, the adoption was open, so he knew my name, my aunt had moved to another town, but he could have been able to track me down through her. Dad knows, I told him just before Alain came for dinner. I don't think he'll be moving in, I'm sure he would want to enjoy his freedom. As for if he is going to be a part of our family, that's up to him. He's coming this evening for dinner and he should be telling me if he wants to be a part of this family or if he just wants me as his mother."
"Who says we want him in our family?" Bianca grumbled. She crossed her arms over her chest and her facial expression was closed.
"I think it would be fun to have a brother, I was hoping for a younger one, but I can live with an older one. As long as he doesn't boss me around like a certain you know who." Sophie said cheerfully.
"It isn't set in stone, but whatever he chooses, I will be a part of his life."
"Is this a secret pow wow without me," James entered the living room and headed to his favourite chair.
"I was telling the girls about Alain," Martine told him.
"Dad, you knew and you didn't tell us," Sophie said pouting.
James raised his hands, "Well, to be fair, it wasn't my story to tell, baby girl."
"I guess so," Sophie conceded.
"Dad, are you going to let this other man's son be part of our family?" Bianca asked.
"I don't see Alain as an 'other man's son', I see him as Martine's son. After talking with him, I kinda like him. So if he decides he wants to be a part of this family, I'll be welcoming. I can't demand that you do the same, but I am asking for you girls to be civil with him. He is your half-brother," James' gaze had darted back and forth between Sophie and Bianca, but he leveled his gaze at Bianca as he stopped talking.
"At this point, it's business as usual, when Alain lets me know what he wants, I will let you know and we will work out how to make it work," Martine interjected. "So how about we have breakfast and enjoy this beautiful Sunday."
The Carters moved into the kitchen and despite the revelation, they fell back into their Sunday routine. As Martine started breakfast, she felt a sense of relief. It had gone a lot easier that she thought it would have gone. Now she wondered what Alain had decided.
Parte 11
"Big Brother!!!"
One moment, Alain was standing on the doorstep of the Carter household, the next he found Sophie plastered to his front, squeezing him to death. Bianca was leaning on a side wall, she rolled her eyes then went in the direction of the kitchen, mumbling something he couldn't hear.
"I'm guessing your parents told you, Sophie," Alain said, patting her awkwardly.
"Yep," Sophie released him, grabbing Alain's hand and dragging him into the house. "Maman, Dad, guess who's here." She called out as they entered the kitchen.
"Alain, of course, who else would be here?" James said, smiling at them from the refrigerator. "Bianca told me you gave him quite a greeting. Sorry about that Alain, but she does that to all the relatives. Well, with the exception of Great Aunt Geenie."
"Yeah, she's on the fragile side, plus it's hard to give a good hug to someone in a wheel chair," Sophie piped in.
"It's okay, Mr. Carter, Sophie, I'll just have to get used to it," Alain said, giving Sophie a side hug.
"Does that mean you're going to be a part of our...."
"Sophie, can you give me a hand in the dining room," James interrupted, "you too, Bianca," he proceeded to herd the girls out of the kitchen. "Oh and Alain, call me James, Mr. Carter is a bit formal for the father of your sisters." He patted Alain on the back and exited the kitchen.
Alain found himself alone with his mother. She turned off the stove and walked over to him. She embraced him and invited him to sit across from her at the dining table in the kitchen. She was nervous, she knew that whatever he decided, it would impact her life greatly. She got back her son.
She cleared her throat, "So Alain, have you made a decision?"
"After much thought, I have, well, I did," he could see his answer confused his birth mother. "I had planned to only have you in my life. I didn't think I would fit into this American family. You all are so perfect down to your disgruntled teen." Martine smiled at that. "But it changed when Sophie..... when Sophie welcomed me. She doesn't know me, well, all of me and yet she already has accepted me as her brother. It's different, it's new and I think I like it."
"So does this mean.....?"
"Can the Carter family find a little space for a Bouvier?"
"Yes, yes, yes!" Martine took Alain's hands in hers and kissed his knuckles. "I promise you, mon cheri, we are not as perfect as you think."
Dinner that Sunday evening was filled with laughter, even Bianca cracked a smile or two. And before Alain left, he made plans to go fishing with James the next Saturday, to attend Sophie's piano recital during the week and to have dinner with he family the next Sunday.
As he walked to the bus stop, Alain felt a sense of peace and belonging. It was new and exciting, but most of all it felt right. When he started his search for Martine, he was looking for the mother that let him go, and in the end he found a family that embraced him. He was looking forward to this new chapter in his life, a chapter that was sure to be filled with love and laughter. He could not help but smile.
###
Thanks For Reading Martine
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Below is an excerpt from a new novella.
MORE THAN FRIENDS
Would they risk a great friendship for love?
Imani James, a beautiful, black grad student, was not looking for love but she discovers that Mr. Right is right at her finger tips. But when faced with having a friend become a lover, Imani hesitates, a decision she now regrets.
Over the short time he's known Imani, Ian Hunte, an attractive, white law student, has fallen for his close friend and now he want to be more than friends. Faced with rejection, he goes in search of love in all the wrong places, only to discover that Imani is the only woman for him.
In trying to preserve their friendship, Imani brings it close to destruction, when given a chance at love, can she accept Ian as a lover?
Chapter One
“Am I black enough?”
Ian Hunte looked across at the petite, dark skin woman
sitting beside him at the bar. He took in her slim waist, full hips and bust, all tastefully covered in business casual. She brought a cocktail glass up to her full lips as her eyes closed to savor her potion of choice.
He sighed, it wasn't the first time his friend asked the question and it most likely won't be the last. Before giving a response, he placed his pale forearm next to her arm.
“Yeah, you are most definitely black,” he said before reaching for his glass of beer. “Or should I say African American.”
Imani James gave him her infamous side eye and shoved his shoulder, jostling the contents of his glass. “You know perfectly well, what I mean. I don't fall into that definition of black.”
Ian sat back in his stool as Imani listed all the things that excluded her from black culture. As usual, they had found refuge in Simon's, the bar a couple of blocks away from Edison College, the college where they were both graduate students. The bar attracted an older crowd, excluding the rowdy and exuberant college students the pair was trying to avoid.
The pair had met their first day at the Edison College and made a connection. It was during their introduction that they found out that they were in different programs. Imani was getting her MBA in Marketing and Ian was enrolled in the Law School.
Despite their schedules, Imani and Ian still made time to hang out with each other. Unbeknownst to Imani, Ian's feelings for her went beyond being good friends. He just couldn't find the right words to let her know without destroying their friendship.
“....I'm just not into hip hop and I can't stand those God-awful reality shows,” Imani continued.
“From all that you said, it sounds like a friend of mine from High School is black. He knows all the lyrics to Jay Z's Blueprint album but he has blue eyes and blond hair,” Ian said with a smile.
Imani looked at Ian, taking in the 6ft white man with a shock of auburn hair and the most intense green eyes, then laughed. She could always count on him to find the light side to her turmoil, be it stressing over exams or dealing with her inner demons. Ian could always bring a smile to her face.
“So what happened?” Ian asked soberly.
“Hmm?” Imani took a sip of her drink.
“What happened that caused you to question your identity?” he prompted.
With a groan, she said,”Diversity Marketing. Can I help it if I cannot list elements that help in marketing to African Americans? You should have seen the look I got from Rahsheeda. It was as though I was an imbecile. Excuse me, I grew up in Claremont, Minnesota, not the Southside of Chicago.”
“Are you and Rahsheeda friends?” Ian placed his glass down and turned fully to Imani.
“No,” Imani said with a pout.
“Then what does it matter what she thinks? Plus, you are in that class to learn, not to teach the class on how to market to people of your race.” There were times when Imani needed a pep talk and Ian was always ready to offer one.
“Yeah, you're right,” she said with a sigh. “So how was your day?”
“The usual, lectures and research,” Ian began. “Plus, I'm compiling a list of firms I will be approaching for an internship.”
“Who is at the top of your list?” Imani's interest was genuine.
Before Ian could answer, he sensed someone behind them.
“Imani?”
The friends turned around to see an attractive light skin man behind them. He was shorter than Ian, about 5'9”, had a muscular build and wore a sweatshirt with the Edison College emblem across the front over dark blue jeans. He wore his dreads locs loose, but every now and then he would tuck a loc behind his ear when it would fall in front of one of his hazel eyes.
“Um, Andrew, right?” Imani asked politely.
“Yeah, yeah, we had Professor Nunez's class together last semester,” he explained, his attention solely on Imani.
“Oh, Andrew, this is my friend, Ian. Ian, this is Andrew,” she said by way of introductions.
The men greeted each other and shook each other's hands. Then Andrew turned to Imani, “There is this art opening at the Dailu Art Gallery. An artist from Harlem is exhibiting his paintings of city life. I'm going and want to know if you'd like to come.”
Imani smiled, “That sounds cool, I love art openings. Do you mind if Ian comes along?”
Ian could tell that Andrew was more interested in spending time with Imani than entertaining the both of them. Instead of saying no, he asked Ian if he would like to come.
“When is the opening?” Ian asked, toying with the other man.
“Friday at 7:30pm,” Andrew replied.
“Sorry, I can't make it,” Ian said. “You two, go on and have a good time. Maybe another time.”
Andrew looked visibly relieved. As he and Imani arranged when and where they would meet to attend the opening, Ian turned back to face the bar. He ordered a shot of Whiskey, aiming to burn away the feelings of anguish. This could be the start of a relationship between Imani and Andrew. He ordered a double shot.
Once they established that Imani and Andrew would meet at the Dailu Art Gallery, Andrew said goodbye, telling Ian it was nice meeting him. Ian in return raised his hand and said the same.
“Why can't you make it?” Imani asked, turning to the bar.
“Lucas and I made plans to see a movie,” Ian lied.
“Lucas?” her brows wrinkled as she tried to remember. “Who's Lucas?”
“The guy with glasses, lives down the hall from me,” Ian explained.
“Oh, oh yeah,” Imani nodded her head slowly. “So tell me, who is at the top of your list of firms?”
Welcoming the return to their original conversation, Ian told Imani of his choices. As the evening progressed, he tried his best not to think of Imani going out with Andrew. He focused on enjoying his time with her, even if the night out was not classified as a date. But would Imani ever consider dating him?
Want to find out if Imani would ever consider dating Ian,
click here to get your copy of
More Than Friends
About The Author
Kimolisa Mings was born on the small Caribbean island of Antigua and still calls it home. She began writing poetry at the age of thirteen when her English teacher at the time told her that she had a talent for it. In 2012, Kimolisa started to write short stories and wrote her first eBook titled Martine. In 2014, she published a collection of poems titled She Wanted A Love Poem and her first novel, Saving Babylon, an erotic suspense. In 2015, Kimolisa published Dark Warrior Vol. I, a collection of poems, and Red, a suspense novella.
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