Six years later.
The island shimmered beneath the midday sun. On the island was the home of a bloodline feared in silence. Valerie had become part of that legacy.
She moved through the grand hallway, her spine and gaze were sharper. She had a quiet storm that never seemed to appear in her face.
From the side corridor, a little boy rang out, "Mum, I found the blueprint you told me to look for. You were right it was hidden somewhere else"
Valerie turned, her brows slightly rising as she watched Andre run towards her. He had a rolled paper in his hands and he wore a prideful smile. He was only five and was already too smart for his age. He was observant and curious and had a very sharp memory. He asked questions most adults avoided, and if he didn't get answers, he found them himself.
Valerie took the scroll, smiling faintly. "Good work, my little agent."
"I'm not an agent yet," he said. "Grandpa said I still need to pass many more tests." he rolled his eyes.
She chuckled softly, ruffling his hair. "Grandpa likes tests. But you'll pass them."
"Are we still going to Aunt Tamara's wedding?"
Valerie nodded. "We leave tomorrow. You'll get to meet her for the first time."
"Who is she marrying to" Andre asked, looking thoughtful.
"Anthony," she replied, grabbing his small backpack and slinging it over her shoulder. "He's nice. Tamara says he's kind and smart."
"Is he rich?"
"Why?"
Andre grinned mischievously. "Because rich people have the best dessert tables at weddings."
Valerie laughed. It had taken her a long time to laugh again without guilt and the constant reminder of how she had been discarded. She rarely thought about the man whose blood ran through her son's veins. Not because she hated him, but because she didn't want to give him space in a life he didn't earn. Andre was born silently, in a dimly lit room that saw the ocean. She had made her choice, that he would not grow up in scandal or shame.
His face was blur in her mind. A sharp jaw, intense eyes, the heat and the hunger was all she could remember. That night was a night she had no desire to revisit. The only thing that mattered from it was Andre.
Andre sat beside Valerie in the jet's cabin, flipping through a puzzle book that was half completed while Valerie sat with a tablet in hand viewing the itinerary for the wedding weekend. It wasn't long before Andre slept off and Valerie began to stare outside the cabin window and wonder.
As far as Valerie was concerned, this was a trip to celebrate her cousin's happiness.
The car rolled up to a high rise apartment complex somewhere in the city. Valerie stared at the familiar skyline from the backseat. Valerie and Tamara had been in communication but it had been a while since they had seen each other.
"Are we at aunty Tamara's place?" Andre asked, his face pressing to the window.
"Yes" Valerie reached over, packing her things "Now remember what I told you"
"Be polite, don't hack into the building Wi-Fi, and don't mention knives," he whined with a grin.
"Exactly"
The elevator ride to the seventh floor was quiet. When the doors opened, Valerie could already feel the wedding spirit. The hallway was decorated with fresh flowers, different boxxes, ribbons and lots of papers and cards. The door to the apartment flung open before Valerie could knock.
"You're here" Tamara threw her hands around her cousin, pulling her into a tight hug.
"I miss you too" Valerie chuckled, embracing her cousin.
Then Tamara crouched down to Andre, "Andre baby, you're so grown now"
"A big boy in fact, not a baby" Andre said with a finger up.
Tamara laughed and motioned for them to come in, "Come in both of you."
The apartment smelled like vanilla and fresh paint. There were dresses hanging on racks, a few wedding planners scattered across the coffee table, and a soft hum of music playing from the speakers.
Valerie helped Andre out of his coat as Tamara crouched beside him. "You hungry?"
Andre nodded "Do you have those special gummy bears with the sour stuff on them?"
Tamara blinked. "I might. How specific are you?"
Andre gave her a thumbs-up. "Very."
Tamara laughed. "I like him so much"
Valerie set her purse on the counter and turned to Tamara. "I need to run a few errands before tomorrow. You sure it's okay for him to stay?"
Tamara waved her off. "Please. I was hoping you'd leave him here. I want to spoil him. We'll do movies and snacks, and have dinner early and stay up past bedtime."
Valerie hesitated at the door, looking back once. She didn't know why her chest felt tight. Maybe it was the city. Or the idea of seeing people from her past. She really hoped she didn't cross paths with anyone.
"Be good, little king," she said, brushing her hand over Andre's head.
"I will" he grinned before walking off to explore the living room and asking Tamara questions about every single painting.
****
The elevator dinged softly, and Anthony stepped into the hallway, balancing a box of wine bottles on his palm. He whistled a casual tune, used the spare key Tamara had given him, and pushed the door open.
"Tamara?" he called out, stepping in. There was no response but someone was there.
He paused in the doorway to the living room, his gaze falling on a small boy sitting cross-legged on the floor, surrounded by a carefully constructed Lego city. The kid was focused, lips pursed in concentration, stacking blue blocks like he'd done it several times. Anthony's greeting stalled in his throat.
The kid looked familiar, too familiar. There was something about the eyes, it was sharp and observing. The shape of the jaw. Even the little frown of concentration reminded him of someone else.
He crouched down slowly, still holding the wine. "Hey, bud. What's your name?"
"Andre." he said, not looking up.
"Nice Lego work. You visiting?"
Andre nodded. "My mom is Aunty Tamara's cousin. She's running errands. I'm staying here tonight."
"Oh" Andre smiled faintly but his mind was already miles ahead.
He set the wine box down, pulled out his phone, and walked into the hallway, lowering his voice as he tapped through his contacts.
"Yo," came the voice on the other end, bubbly as always.
"Uh quick question Julian"
"Make it interesting"
Anthony looked over his shoulder, "Does Damian have a kid?"
There was silence. Then Julian snorted. "You drunk already? The wedding's not until tomorrow."
"I'm deadass serious, a little boy, maybe five or six and has Damian's jawline. Here let me take a picture" Anthony took a quick shot of Andre and sent it over to Julian.
A laugh came from the phone, "I think you're drunk Tony, this is a picture from when Damian was a kid. Where'd you find it?"
"I swear I haven't had a drink today, the kid is here, at Tamara's place. He said his mom is Tamara's cousin"
Julian's tone changed slightly. "Tamara's cousin?"
"Yes, Tamara has a bunch of distant cousins"
"What's the mother's name?" Julian asked.
"I don't know yet. Haven't met her. But dude, this kid is too close. You'd believe it if you saw him."
"So my brother has a kid?"
"I didn't say that bro" Anthony said, putting his free palm in the air. "Don't do anything stupid or I'll pick your tombstone when Damian kills you"
"Hmm, I'll call you back"
And the line went dead.