Je t’aime

Chapter 5

They had arrived a bit early, but since so many of the family were staying at the house, the gathering was in full swing. Kendra saw Greta and Margot seated across the yard under some big trees. They had cups of tea and were entertaining a group of older women. They waved them over, but before Remy and Kendra could move in their direction, a beautiful woman dressed in a peach colored sundress called Remy’s name.

There was no doubt but that this was Remy’s mother, he had clearly gotten his good looks from her. Extending her hand, she shook Kendra’s warmly, then gave her the customary French greeting. Taking Kendra by the arm she led her away to meet some of the family.

Remy watched them go with a look of amusement on his face. He should have warned Kendra about his mother and the fact that he had never brought a woman to a family gathering before. He and Bridget hadn’t been together long enough. Deciding that Kendra could handle his mother, he wandered off to find his father, who was most likely out by the tennis courts where he would be over seeing the roasting of some huge piece of meat. He knew it would be several hours before he would be able to reclaim Kendra, he might as well spend some time with his father.

Kendra followed Remy’s mother around the yard, as she kept up a steady stream of chatter relating family history as she went. They stopped by group after group of people, each related to the family in some way. As the morning progressed, Kendra began to notice that there were a lot of dark faces in the crowd. Many had been introduced as one cousin or another. There were many mixed race couples, more than Kendra had ever seen before in one place. She was curious but decided it might be a question for Remy.

She enjoyed the time she spent with Remy’s mother, she was down to earth, nothing like Kendra had imagined. Although the matriarch of the family, she had a career of her own, working as a victims advocate at a local woman’s shelter. She also loved to cook and invited Kendra and Remy to dinner some night to show off her talents.

By the end of the morning Remy’s mother, who had insisted on being called Barbra, had wormed her way into Kendra’s affections. She missed her mother and it was nice to be around another mother figure. She was confused about everything Greta had said about marriage as a business and all that, the night they met.

Barbra had given Kendra every indication that she expected her children to have normal lives, a career of their choosing, a happy marriage, and children if they wished. She spoke of Margot as if she was one of the family. Deciding that she should just ask, she gathered her courage.

 “Greta told me that you expect her to marry for connections.” She paused, clearly uncomfortable. “I wouldn’t normally be so forward but it just….”

“Oh, dear. Has Greta been spinning that story again? “Barbra interrupted. “ The truth is I just want her to be happy and clearly Margot makes her happy. But she so enjoys playing the long suffering daughter. It’s one of the games she plays. When she came out we were nothing but supportive, in this family we are very open minded and accepting. You’ll see.” Barbra explained, putting her arm around Kendra and leading her to the tables where the food was set up.

To say that there was a lot of food would have been an understatement. If Kendra wanted to taste just a bit of everything it would take her more than a week. She spotted Remy coming up the lawn toward them, smiling broadly, he was helping carry the largest platter she had ever seen. Following them was a procession of men, each carrying their own platter.

They set the platters right in the center of the long tables filled with food. The old dinner gong, which had been brought to the porch, was sounded and people began to line up for the food. Remy’s dad, who Kendra hadn’t met yet, made a brief speech then people began filling their plates.

Remy and Kendra started heading to the line, but his mother and father stopped them.

“Let me fill some plates for you guys, Kendra you haven’t met Remy’s father yet.” She said.

“I’m Martin. It’s nice to finally meet the woman who has so captivated Remy.” He said extending his hand.

“Thank you, it’s nice to meet you too.” Kendra said, blushing, remembering just how captivated Remy had been just that morning.

“I hear you are one of the best chefs to come out of America in quite a few years.” He said, putting his arm around her and steering her toward a table.

“Thank you, cooking has been a part of my life since I was little. I grew up cooking for my family and it just naturally became my career.” She said. Her mother had taught her that it was impolite to brag about your accomplishments.

“I hope I will have an opportunity to sample your work. I’d visit your restaurant but I can’t seem to get a reservation.” He said, laughing.

As they seated themselves, Barbra came by with their plates, piled high with food. Dropping the plates off, she was off again to get food for some of the elderly who couldn’t get their own. She was followed by a group of young people, obviously her helpers.

Kendra had no idea where to start on the huge plate of food but picked up her fork and began to eat. Everything on her plate was filled with a burst of flavor, real French cooking created by hand from the kitchens of Remy’s family was better than she could ever have imagined. Content to sit quietly and eat, she listened as Remy and his father discussed the family.

Kendra noticed that each time Remy brought up the family shipping business, his father quickly changed the subject. Remy kept pushing the matter until his father turned to Kendra and asked if she had heard about their unusual family history.

When she just looked at him, puzzled. He quickly launched into the story of how his family had arrived in Paris in the early 1800’s. According to family legend, the patriarch of the family had left America to return to France in 1809. Mathew had sold his plantation, packed up his belongings and the woman he loved and fled to Paris.

As the oldest son of a plantation owner, his life had been planned out for him. Marriage to a local girl from one of the other plantation families. She would be of good breeding and bring money and land with her as her bride price. He would manage the plantation and the slaves, spending his life just as his father had.

But when he had been 17, a new slave was added to the household staff. Her name was Margaretta, she was the daughter of a slave belonging to the plantation of his betrothed. His soon to be mother in law, wanted her out of the house. She was much too beautiful, and the woman feared her husband would be tempted with her around.

He had been known to mess with the slaves and she only allowed the most homely of slaves to serve in the house. Margaretta had been lucky, most rejected house slaves ended up in the fields. But with the recent marriage contract, she had been given to Mathew’s mother as a gift from his fiancé.

She had been trained as a ladies’ maid, but Mathew’s mother already had her own so she gave her to Sarah, Mathew’s younger sister. They were very close since her rooms were across the hall from his own. It was only natural that he would be one of the first in the house to come in contact with their beautiful new slave.