“Andre, Jean Junior will want to see the ship we came on. Take your nephew on a tour of the entire ship. I expect it will take about at least an hour. Do you understand?”

Andre looked from Jean to Marie and back. Chuckling lightly and shaking his head, he took Junior’s hand.

“Come Jay-Jay. Come see the big boat that Papa and Tonton Andre came in on.”

“Yes, Tonton Andre. Please take me. Don’t worry Maman, I will be good.” Jean Junior squealed with excitement.

“On your way back, bring Henri with you,” called Jean as Andre and Junior briskly walked out the front door.

Marie gave Jean a seductive smile. 

“I haven’t seen that look since the first night I walked you home in Jeremie” Jean whispered.

“Has it been that long, my love? Remind me.”

Jean walked to the front door, locked it, and flipped the wooden “open” sign around. He turned back and scooped Marie into his arms as she buried her head in his chest, kissing his neck. He raced with her up the steps to the bedroom, where they made passionate, beautiful, homecoming love together.

Lying together afterward, Jean recounted some of his story, glossing over or leaving some parts out to instead focus on little Henri and his plight. He asked Marie whether the boy could stay …