The Color of Lies

By Victoria Breaux

Anne-Marie is a beautiful, rich teenager, with gorgeous blue eyes living in southern California with her family. Her world is unexpectedly turned up-side down, when a strange man comes into her life. When the stranger brings forth shocking revelations about her family and racial identity, Anne-Marie is forced to question her very existence. She learns her family is entangled in a generational web of lies, Anne-Marie finds herself in the middle of a world, that she never thought she would be apart of. Her journey for truth takes her from her secure life in California to the unknown in Louisiana and France.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Victoria Breaux
• Release date: May 2, 2013
• ISBN: 9781301020454

Victoria Breaux

Victoria Delille Breaux was born in New Orleans, LA. She comes from a large Creole family with roots in the African, French and Indian Communities. Victoria lived in Louisiana until she was ready to start school. Those early years were spent at her grandparents' home in a small Parish in Southeastern Louisiana. Most of the men worked in the Sugar Cane Refinery. The women often spoke a Patois at home. Victoria returned to Louisiana every summer and every holiday. Victoria carries the name of Henriette Delille, who is the Patron of the Sisters of the Holy Family Order. The Order still exists today in Louisiana.

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The Color of Lies

By Victoria Breaux

Copyright 2013 Victoria Breaux

Published By Victoria Breaux at Smashwords

Smashwords Edition

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All rights reserved. Without limiting the rights under copyright reserved above, no part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in or introduced into a retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form, or by any means (electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise) without the prior written permission of both the copyright owner and the above publisher of this book.

This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, brands, media, and incidents are either the product of the author's imagination or are used fictitiously. The author acknowledges the trademarked status and trademark owners of various products referenced in this work of fiction, which have been used without permission. The publication/use of these trademarks is not authorized, associated with, or sponsored by the trademark owners.

Smashwords Edition License Notes

This e-book is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This e-book may not be re-sold or given away to other people. If you would like to share this book with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each person you share it with. Thank you for respecting the author's work.

Victoria

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CAST OF CHARACTERS 2

Prologue City Asylum, New Orleans, LA 1790 4

Brandeis University, Mass. 2013 5

Chapter 1 Orleans, France 1998 5

Chapter 2 Twenty-Nine Palms, CA 1998 9

Chapter 3 Fremont High School 11

Chapter 4 Crawfish Bisque Restaurant 13

Chapter 5 Garner House 17

Chapter 6 Mr. Hot Stuff 20

Chapter 8 Donovan 26

Chapter 10 Mike Rogers 30

Chapter 11 The Pictures 32

Chapter 12 The Beaumont Hotel 34

Chapter 13 Lloyd Schiffer 37

Chapter 14 Louisiana 38

Chapter 15 Lilliane 42

Chapter 16 The Family 44

Chapter 17 The Revelation 46

Chapter 18 Anne-Marie Louisiana 1790 49

Chapter 19 Cecile 51

Chapter 20 Code Noir 52

Chapter 21 The Rilliuex Mansion in France 53

Chapter 22 Papa 54

Chapter 23 Hotel Richard 56

Chapter 24 Gallaud 58

Chapter 25 Ditillet 58

Chapter 26 Bordenave 60

Epilogue Thursday 63

CAST OF CHARACTERS

Anne-Marie Charbonnet- 15 years old. Oldest child of Francois Rillieux and

Charlotte Charbonnet. She is a Quadroon who is wants to become a placee to Michel-Gerard Rocheron.

Bordenave- Worked for Christophe Rillieux. Trusted friend of Francois Rillieux.

Cecile- 15 year old rape victim. Creole. Unclaimed daughter of a white man. Mother is a black woman named Agnes.

Charlotte Charbonnet- Creole mother of Ann-Marie. Placee of Francois Rillieux. Pregnant with 10th child. Mother was and African who died when she was a child. Her father, was a Charbonnet who, gave her Sadie to take care of her and her siblings.

Christophe Rillieux- Pedophile brother of Louis-Phillippe Rillieux and uncle of Francios. Owns a large sugar cane plantation in Louisiana.

Ditillet- Plantation overseer. White man.

Donovan- Shady Private investigator who works for Lloyd Schiffer and Mike Rogers

Edward Barthelemy- Principal in law firm that is helping Lilliane. Jeanne’s stepson.

Emile Decoudreau- Deacesed. Was in placage with Therese Decoudreau. Fathered 8 children with Therese a Creole. Married Nannette Poupon from France with whom he fathers 3 children.

Emily Schiffer- Best friend of Anne-Marie Garner. She is jealous of Anne-Marie's relationship with Michael Rogers.

Etienne Rillieux- Pedophile uncle of Anne-Marie Charbonnet. Lives in France with his parents, Genevieve and Louise-Phillippe Rillieux.

Francois Rillieux- The conflicted French-born father of Anne-Marie. Has other children he never publicly claimed. Parents are Louis-Phillippe and Genevieve Rillieux who live in France. Successful businessman made his fortune in the Sugar Cane business.

Gallaud- Drunk Frenchman who was in placage with Cecile’s mother. Thinks he is Cecile’s father.

Genevieve Rillieux- Anne-Marie Rillieux's grandmother who lives in France.

Giselle-Marie- dutiful granddaughter of Lilliane. Young French woman with a secret love interest.

James Toben- Private investigator who is hired by Lilliane.

Jean-Pierre Charbonnet- Quadroon son of Charlotte and Francois Rillieux. Brother of Anne-Marie, Maurice and others.

Jeanne Barthelemy Menard- Michael's great aunt and co-owner of the Crawfish Bisque.

Jessica- Michael's mother who is an alcoholic addicted to prescription pain pills.

Lilliane Marie Rillieux Comeaux- Elderly lady who lives in France. Grandmother of Giselle-Marie Comeaux.

Lisette- Michael's great aunt and co-owner of Crawfish Bisque.

Louise Garner- Anne-Marie's mother.

Louis-Phillippe Rillieux- Grandfather of Anne-Marie. French Banker married to Genevieve.

Lloyd Schiffer- Emily's father. Businessman.

Madison- Tag-a-long friend of Emily and Anne-Marie.

Maurice Charbonnet- Quadroon son of Charlotte and Francois Rillieux. Brother of Anne-Marie, Jean-Pierre and others.

Michel-Gerard Rocheron- Opportunistic son of Jean-Claud Rocheron. Wants Anne-Marie’s hand in placage.

Michael Rogers- Anne-Marie Garner's high school boyfriend.

Mike Rogers- A sitting judge and father of Michael Rogers.

Nannette Poupon Decoudreau- Left Louisiana to return to France following the death of husband Emile Decoudreau. Mother of 3 children.

Sadie- Formerly owned by Christophe Rillieux. Given to Charlotte Charbonnet to care for her and her siblings. Childless due to rape trauma. Raised Charlotte’s children as well. Father is African and Indian. Mother was unnamed slave.

Sophie-Marie Marcel Beaulieu- Anne-Marie Garner's secretive grandmother. Mother of Louise Garner.

Therese Decoudreau- Former placee to Emile Decoudreau who is not deceased. Inherited some of his fortune. Now owns and runs Hotel Richard in New Orleans. Hosts Cotillions for New Orleans' Quadroon Society.

Prologue City Asylum, New Orleans, LA 1790

Who signed this order to release her? the attendant asked. Once she started talking again, the judge said to release her. I think it's absurd, she is in no condition to live on the outside, Nurse Deborah Thibodeaux replied. Nurse Deborah and the attendant turned and look at the girl sitting in the corner talking to herself rocking back and forth repeating ,Hello, I have a pretty yellow dress for you to wear tonight. I will fix your hair in long pretty curls. Everyone will think you are the prettiest girl at the Cotillion. Papa is bringing you in his pretty carriage. Hello, pretty girl. I have a pretty yellow dress for you to wear tonight…, the girl kept repeating. Shaking her head, the attendant said, Nurse Thibodeaux, all she does is sit in that corner and talk to her rag doll. How could anyone in their right mind possibly release her? I know, but her family wants her released and the judge is allowing it to happen. Thibodeaux said. It is absolutely ridiculous. She needs round-the-clock care. She is a certifiable loon, the attendant said. Did you read all the paperwork? Whose custody is she being released into anyway? She is such a pitiful little waif, Thibodeaux said shaking her head. According to the order it says she is being released to a midwife here in New Orleans, the attendant said while looking at the paperwork. Following a long stretch of silence, the two women stared at each other in disbelief. Thibodeaux sighed, Oh well she is just a dirty darkie Creole. You had better get her family or some other disgusting darkie to clean her up and comb her hair. She is such a filthy mess. I'm not fixing no nappy hair on no nasty black gal, Thibodeaux said while exiting the cold barren room. Yes m’am, the attendant replied following behind her shutting the door. Closing the girl off from the world.

Brandeis University, Mass. 2013

Please join me in welcoming our visiting author, Anne-Marie Garner, Professor Dyson said. As if on cue, a thunderous applause erupted across the auditorium. Her best-selling novel has been on the New York Times best-selling fiction list for 35-straight weeks. Ms. Garner has given everyone a copy of her book to read. Let me say, Ms. Garner, I believe that your book will help people construct an honest dialogue. Rising to her feet, Anne-Marie walked across the stage and shook Professor Dyson's hand. He nodded his head to her in a show of support. Professor Dyson it is my honor to be here. It is truly humbling to share my story with you all. I have received such a warm reception here on campus. Standing behind the podium Anne-Marie took a deep breath and said, I will begin by reading Chapter One today in class. The rest of the book is your homework assignment for Thursday. I will answer any questions you have at Thursday's class. She took a deep breath as she mentally recalled her journey. Looking around at all the faces in the auditorium, Anne-Marie began, "My 10th-cousin gave me the information for Chapter One.

Actually, this entire book is truly a family collaborative effort. Some of its contents were made possible by detailed journals from over 200 years ago. A portion of it chronicles my life. The idea of this book began with a very dear old woman who has since departed this world for a better one. She insisted on finding me. In doing so, I was given the information that I needed for self-realization and recognition. I genuinely hope it helps others as well. This dear lady followed me from birth, yet I knew nothing of her existence. She lived in France, I lived in California. I was 17-years old, she was 87- years old, yet our lives are forever intertwined."

Chapter 1 Orleans, France 1998

Giselle-Marie, Lilliane said with a ragged cough, pulling her beloved only granddaughter closer to her…into her confidence. Wrapped in a warm light blue duvet, Lilliane was sitting outside in her wheelchair in the warm breeze of August in France. She was overlooking the Loire River that ran near her estate. Grandmomma, please you will be fine, everything is alright. The doctors said you will be fine. Hush petite bebe, Lilliane said coughing. The doctors do not know what my body is telling me, Giselle-Marie. Leaning close to her granddaughter so her words would not be lost, You must listen to me carefully. We must attempt to make things right. You are the only one I can trust with our family secrets. Only you and Father Dalle. That father of yours would as soon kill you and me, if he found out what Father Dalle and I are planning. You must act on it when the time is right. Bebe, that time is near," Lilliane said in a hushed weakened voice.

Grandmomma, Giselle-Marie cried, I get scared when you speak like this. Your time is not almost up. I love you. I need you. You are all I have since momma died, Giselle-Marie cried. I will not leave you alone, I promise, Lilliane said. Giselle-Marie listen carefully, my sweet baby, Lilliane said comforting Giselle-Marie by stroking her long auburn hair. We must follow what was set in my great-grandfather's will and the letter. James Toben is already in California. He has reported back to me and I am confident the time is right. She is the right one and we must do right by her… by our family.

As you wish grandmomma, Giselle-Marie said looking at her grandmother's thinning grey hair. Isn't it strange that she and I have the same name?, Giselle-Marie said between sobs. Heavens no, petite bebe, we are French. Do you know how many Maries we have in our family? Lilliane chuckled lightly. You girls do have the same pretty auburn hair and brilliant blue eyes, Lilliane said. James said you closely resemble one another. It looks like it to me from the pictures that James has given me. Pulling the duvet over her grandmothers legs, Giselle-Marie asked,Do you want to go back inside? You fuss over me petite bebe, like I fussed over you when you were a bebe, Lilliane chuckled, patting her granddaughter's hand to reassure her that everything would be all right. Hello Father Dalle, Lilliane said turning to greet the parish priest who strolled up to them on the front lawn.

Actually, Dalle was a seminarian. A young handsome man, with dark brown hair and earthy-brown colored eyes. The parish priest, Father Chenier was an elderly man who had served the parish faithfully for