Dancing in the Baron's Shadow (23 page)
Read Dancing in the Baron's Shadow Online
Authors: Fabienne Josaphat
“Always the poet,” Raymond said.
Nicolas chuckled at first, then heard himself laugh. Raymond squeezed his shoulder.
“We can only move forward now,” Raymond said. “I'm saving money I confiscated from that swine Oscar, to go to Miami.”
“Miami?”
“My kids are there.”
Nicolas gave a start, and his lips trembled in disbelief.
Raymond smiled. “I found them.”
He'd never stopped calling Madame Simeus, his old landlord. And eventually Yvonne had contacted her to say they were safe.
“The U.S. Coast Guard rescued them and now they are political refugees,” he said.
Raymond paused for a moment, and Nicolas imagined he was pondering the perils of their journey.
“They're with her uncle,” he said.
Nicolas nearly laughed again with relief. Raymond said he was going to get to Miami to see them, maybe find a way to persuade Yvonne to come to the Bahamas. She wasn't convinced yet.
“Places have a way of changing people,” Raymond said. “She's found where she wants to be. I just want to see my kids.”
“Maybe I can help,” Nicolas said. “We'll talk about it over drinks.”
They came to a stop in front of a small car, a powder-blue Nissan.
“Is this you?” Nicolas turned to Raymond. His brother's chest was puffed outward, eyes glinting with pride.
“This is me,” Raymond said. “My taxi.”
They looked at the car, how clean it was, the leather seats like new, the body waxed and shiny. Nicolas looked at the reflection of
his brother's face in the glass. That was what he'd missed for so long.
“Can we go for a drive?” Nicolas asked.
Raymond stared at him. Nicolas had never driven with his brother before.
“Now? Are you sure?”
“I'd like to go for a drive.”
Raymond nodded. He tried to open the back door but Nicolas was already climbing in the passenger seat. Raymond, stunned, wiped away a tear before shutting the door. As he came around the vehicle and sat behind the wheel, Nicolas glanced at him but said nothing. He waited for Raymond to smile back.
The brothers relished the silence between them, and Nicolas rested his head against the seat. Raymond expertly pushed down on the clutch, put the car into gear, and began to drive.
T
his book would not be possible without so many people: My agent Charlotte Gusay, for believing in me and in this story, and for fighting tirelessly on my behalf. I'm thankful for her encouragement and that of her team at the Charlotte Gusay Agency. I'm grateful for her emails and phone calls that always light a fire under me. She is amazing at what she does.
My brilliant editor, C.P. Heiser, for helping me see the light at the end of dark tunnels when editing, and shaping the novel into what it is today with intensive labor; thank you to Olivia Taylor Smith and Amanda Armstrong, and the wonderful team at Unnamed Press for publishing and designing such a perfect cover for this book.
The MFA program at Florida International University, and the professors who taught me everything I know about writing, specifically my mentor on this project, Dr. Les Standiford, who taught me to “get the duck out of the bottle.”
Professor Lynne Barrett, who taught me what plot really is, and whose advice was truly helpful after the writing process.
The voices that helped me hash out minute details about Fort Dimanche: the indomitable Jean Mapou, for patiently talking to me and sharing his personal experiences as a survivor of Fort Dimanche, and reading through the early draft process; historian Anthony Georges-Pierre; the writings of Fort Dimanche survivor Patrick Lemoine, the writings of journalist Bernard Diederich, the writings of Elizabeth Abbott, and the writings of
Gerard Pierre-Charles. Their works are a goldmine of historical events during this infamous era.
My writing hero Edwidge Danticat, for her support of this novel, and Katia D. Ulysse, who spoke prophetic, hopeful words still toll in my head.
To my solid workshop team lead by my dear friend and writer extraordinaire Corey Ginsberg, for offering honest and crucial feedback and helping me through the agony of editing. I am so lucky to be in the midst of such genius.
And thank you to the one person who is certainly fatigued by now with this story but never tells me he is (not to my face, anyways): my husband, Gordon K. Merritt.
Fabienne Josaphat received her M.F.A. in creative writing from Florida International University.
Dancing in the Baron's Shadow
is her first novel. She lives in Miami.