A Different Man

By Sean Scott Kerns

Allison Aule-Davis is a busy single mother running her own company, helping her brother through college and raising her twins incognito. Her world is titled when a meeting with a client's wife turns into her worst nightmare once her ex fiancé walks into her office. Paul St. Claire is the reason she was forced to disappear five years ago, leaving France to avoid a marriage controlled by his father.

As she scrambles to protect her secrets, everything is blown wide open when Paul shows up at her doorstep, meeting the children he never knew he had. Now aware that he is the father of her twins, Paul struggles with being a new parent, his own hidden past and unresolved feelings for
Allison. As they revisit feelings for each other, their rekindled relationship must endure with the consequences of his past hurts and her guilt. To complicate matters, his manipulative father comes to America, vexing Allison and pushing Paul to the edge of his former lifestyle.

Will Paul regress to his old ways or will he fight for the family he always wanted to show Allison he is a different man from the one she left all those years ago?

• Language: English
• Publisher: Sean Scott Kerns
• Release date: Dec 3, 2014
• ISBN: 9780991054633

Sean Scott Kerns

Sean Scott Kerns has been writing since her teens. Starting with poems and simple short stories, she graduated to novels by high school. She also began writing books children's books in memory of her grandfather in 2000. In 2013 Sean added academic writing and self help subjects to her writing scope.Sean published a few short story selections in the Rhapsody in Black magazine before self publishing her first novel The Foreign Exchange through Amazon in 2013. Kumite and Spadeology 101 followed months in early 2014. A Different Man was just released in September 2014. In the Spadeology series she writes under her real name Keesha Kerns with her spades partner since college.An avid reader, Sean's favorite authors include Stephen King, J.R.R. Tolkien and Anne Rice.She lives in the Hampton Roads area of Virginia where she continues to work with students studying Go Jo Shorin martial arts. She travels the east coast promoting her books at various bookstores, libraries and private events.

Book preview

A

Different

Man

SEAN SCOTT KERNS

Copyright © 2014 Sean Scott Kerns

All rights reserved.

ISBN: 0991054636

ISBN-13:978-0991054633

DEDICATION

In the memory of my dear friend DeKeta,

I still smile when I think of the person you influenced me to be.

For Trey,

a great kid who must know he is truly loved.

CONTENTS

Acknowledgments

Prologue

1 New Friends and Old Conflicts

2 Ancient History and Old Friends

3 Truce Talks and Unexpected Visits

4 Precarious Secrets and New Questions

5 Innocent Drinks and Lost Years

6 Birthday Bashes and Slumber Parties

7 Family Visits and Uncovered Pasts

8 Painful Confessions and Bold Choices

9 Covert Operations and Overdue Proposals

10 Eager Moves and Mini Reunions

11 Dinner Reservations and Ulterior Motives

12 Necessary Actions and Motherly Chats

13 Secret Weddings and Rebellious Acts

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

A special thanks to my support system of family and friends for their love and encouragement. Another big thanks to my editor and proofreader Clarissa, grand diva of Christopher Julius.

A special thanks to 5th & York for their on paper appearance. Their music is truly a cut above the rest. Check them out at www.5thandyork.com

Prologue

Allison drove through traffic like a zombie, her mind racing with anticipation. It was so surreal, less than an hour ago, she was joking with her doctor about how planning her wedding was literally making her sick. She relayed how she thought the stress weakened her immune system and kept her tired. All she wanted was a quick fix like an antibiotic or vitamin supplement to get her through the months ahead. After a few basic tests, her doctor came back with a total different diagnosis. She was expecting. When he asked was she happy with the news, all she could do was blink like a goldfish in a bowl.

Pregnant, five months before her wedding.

Knowing her family would be excited, all she could think about was her fiancé Paul. What would he have to say about this news? Worse than Paul, what would his control freak father say?

Allison despised her soon-to-be father-in-law. He was always belittling Paul every chance he got. Allison stopped counting the nights she stayed up talking to him about his relationship with his father. Every Sunday she sat through their family dinner fighting with his father. A few times Allison was so sure she was done; she cursed Claude and stormed out of the house. Paul would always follow her, begging her to stay. Later on she and Paul would get into an argument because she wanted him to stand up for her; even if he did not stand up for himself. His father was beyond a bully. The great Claude St. Claire was a monster.

The closer she got to her destination, her mood lightened. She and Paul had discussed a family, just not this soon. In the long run, what difference would it make? Allison was about to marry the one man she wanted to spend the rest of her life making happy, sweet and sensitive Paul. In the elevator she found herself rubbing her flat stomach as if it would grow instantly with the motion. His secretary waved her in without getting off her phone call. As Allison eased in his office she could see he was on the phone, chair turned away from her. She opened her mouth to say something but stopped when she heard her name.

Father, we are not going to rush this wedding. Allison deserves her perfect day just like any other bride. There was a pause in Paul’s side of the conversation.

When we are married I will have control of her stock options. There was another pause. Well, if we have children I’m sure he will.

After another pause, Paul angrily said, I do not know what percentage Ian will give his grandchildren! I don’t know if it will be enough to have the controlling vote. Are you serious? I do not know if company shares will be our wedding gift and I am not going to ask.

Another pause. Father, I love Allison and that is not even on my mind. Right now, I am trying to plan our honeymoon.

There was another pause and Paul gave a long sigh, Yes Father, I know what you want but do not you care what we want? Allison may not want to live in the house. She can barely sit through Sunday dinner without arguing with you.

Another pause and sigh. Then Paul yelled, She is an adult Father, you cannot control her like some child! She has her own mind. Do you think she would just let you take over everything from this wedding to raising any children we have?

His father was yelling on the other end of the phone so loud Allison could hear his voice from the door. Finally Paul sighed, "Oui, Je comprende. But Father. Yes sir. I know it is for the family and company. Yes sir. Yes, I will."

She heard Paul sigh again, heavier this time. She knew him well, knowing he was about to give in. Over the chair came more of Paul’s supportive ‘yeses’. His father had won again. But this time they were playing with Allison’s life and the life of her unborn child.

Allison actually could not believe what she just heard. Claude was planning to use their marriage to get more shares in her father’s company for majority control. The entire revelation was beyond devastating. Suddenly she felt sick. She leaned against the door frame as the room seemed to spin. Allison was suddenly sweaty. Nauseated by the thought of what the St. Claire family had in mind, she left the room as undetected as she entered. Allison leaned against the door for momentary support. After the nausea wave passed, she calmed down enough to collect her thoughts.

Holding back tears and armed with a fake smile, Allison asked Paul’s secretary for an envelope. She wrote his name on it, put her engagement ring inside, sealed it and handed it to his secretary. Allison walked out the building that day, never looking back and uncertain of her future.

Chapter 1

New Friends and Old Conflicts

Effie, Allison sighed, no polo. I will not give them another reason to destroy the house and to beg for another pet.

Allison, Walt and I just want to expand their horizons. Effie Van Haelst threw her hands up in mock exaggeration.

Take them fishing. That will expand their horizons. But a polo match means I will send them to your house when they start riding Theo and the rest of the neighborhood dogs.

I give, the older woman chuckled, we will find something for them to do next weekend.

They sat outside on a beautiful summer afternoon. Allison cut her fillet, and then dipped it in a cocktail sauce before putting it in her mouth. Finishing the bite, she said, Effie, I really appreciate you and Walt taking the boys. This new, let's call it a merger for lack of a better word, is putting a strain on me. It's not that I don't like working with Henderson, it is just taking some getting used to.

Well, when you first told me you decided to work with this remodeling-slash-construction company I did raise an eyebrow. I heard only good things about the company, but I am concerned about your established reputation. This young man does not deserve a free ride on your coattails.

Effie, I'm sure things will work themselves out. When I was bought into the toy company endeavor, you had this same conversation and played the devil's advocate. That worked out just fine and-

And we all lived happily ever after. My argument then was that Walt should have researched the company a little more before inviting you in on the venture. I did not have a problem with you joining the investment opportunity. If the company was a risky project, then Walt and I could handle the mistake. I was worried more or less of you taking a loss. The same way I feel now about this partnership.

Will you ever stop mothering me? All Allison could do was smile.

No, just in case you forgot, your mother gave me permission to mother you all I want. So by authority of Carlise Aule-Davis, I can justifiably worry. So there, she licked out her tongue in a teasing manner.

Allison returned the gesture. She had known Effie since graduate school. One of the program's internship mentors, Effie was an Atlanta socialite that ran in the most elite circles. She was the idealistic picture of an aging aristocratic beauty, coal black hair streaked silver with a dark complexion. It was hard to tell her ethnic background, a fact that Effie rather enjoyed. Years ago she would admit her mother was Native American and her father Irish and Caribbean.

Wait, before I forget, she reached into her purse and withdrew an envelope. Walt wants you to do him a favor. This is information on one of his new employees. He is moving from some part of France and needs some help setting up his new home. He and his wife have already bought a house. I think they may want some remodeling and need their things shipped over. I believe my husband was thinking you could make the transition easier for them. You know, working with another French native.

With all the work I have now, he wants me to slip in another client? she sighed. If it was anybody else but your husband, that would be a no. You tell Walt he owes me one, no three.

I will. Seriously Allison, thank you. I know my husband doesn't think sometimes, the other woman grasped her hand. All the information is in the envelope and Walt's company will pay for everything.

Good and you can start right now by paying for my lunch.

When she got back to the office, Allison called Walt's company to talk with the young man. She immediately liked him over the phone. Monsieur Coiteux was seven years Allison's junior. He was originally from Versailles country. He had only been married a couple of years and moved away from France for personal reasons Nickolas Coiteux did not wish to disclose. He basically was sleeping in the house on a bed that was purchased for one of the guest rooms until their furniture could get shipped. Madam Coiteux was still in France and would be there another three weeks. What he wanted Allison to do was help his wife on one of her visits to pick out colors and decorate the house. There were a few changes they had discussed and he wanted them done before she moved in.

Allison, in turn, was friendly as well but thorough. They set a date for someone from the remodeling team to come out and work with him. She gave Monsieur Coiteux her office and cell numbers so the next time his wife in the city, she could call Allison with any questions. She assured him the job would be done before his wife made her final trip to move in. Ending the conversation with pleasantries, Allison went back to planning her trip to Virginia.

One good thing about being the boss was setting her own work hours. Two days a week Allison left the office an hour early to pick up her boys. Today being Thursday, was one of those days. She eased the pearl BMW truck into a space and walked to the fenced in area where children were playing. She encountered Mrs. Myrick first. The woman worked in the public school system for 30 years before retiring. She joined the private school staff almost two years ago. Allison liked her the first day of school. She was a teacher that did not mind disciplining a child then calling the parents to get to the root of the problem.

Miss Aule-Davis, how are you today?

Fine and yourself?

Can't complain. I'm not the one running and playing out here. I swear these kids store up energy all night just to come out here and play until their tongues hang out of their mouths like pups, the teacher chuckled at her own comment.

Sometimes Mrs. Myrick’s country sayings did not make sense to Allison, but she smiled and nodded anyway. Her attention went to the two most important things in her life, her children. Identical in every way except temperament and a few physical marks, her sons were their usual hyper selves. One was playing soccer and the other was hanging upside down from a jungle gym. She secretly looked forward to their excessive chatter on the way home. Then she would hear it again as they told her brother Todd. She walked into the building to collect their things.

The ride home was routine with the twins telling Allison about everything that had happened at school. When they got home, Todd wasn’t there so they went outside to play with Theo, the family's Chow. Allison warmed leftovers and shortly afterwards heard Todd pull up.

Hey sis, Todd breezed by.

Food's almost ready. Tessa called.

I don't know what she thinks, Allison's younger brother came to lean against the kitchen door jam. I just left her about an hour ago in study group. I made one stop by an AV store and she is already tracking me down for that ‘article to share’. Her brother did the quotes motion with his hands in the air.

Did you tell her that you were coming straight home?

I didn't tell her I wasn't.

"Well mon frere, I told you I thought that maybe Tessa wanted to be a little more serious than your study partner. And what about Angie? Are you breaking up with her? I think maybe you two should talk. Have you told her, I mean Tessa, you have a girlfriend?"

Todd shrugged, Yeah. She said she understood. But it's Angie I am worried about. I said I needed space and she said okay. I didn't even ask for a lot. I just want to hang with the guys some nights. What fun is college if you miss parties and stuff stuck under a girlfriend?

Your call, Allison shrugged.

Yeah. It's just . . . Hell, I don't know.

Uncle Todd! PJ and Parker burst in the house, followed by Theo.

Hey, my two favorite bugs. Hey PJ. He picked up Parker.

Come on Uncle Todd, you know I'm Parker, the youngster squirmed.

Todd put him down, You're right. PJ is always the dirty one.

Hey!

Hey, is right, Allison inserted, go wash up for dinner.

After dinner Todd went upstairs to call Tessa. The boys rushed to do kindergarten homework so that they could play on their tablets afterward. Allison began washing clothes. Once the load was in the machine, she went to her elliptical machine in her home office beside the laundry room.

That night Allison had a nightmare. She was in the mall and could not find her children. She had them paged over the mall’s intercom system. She searched through