Confluence

By Leonard R. Stevenson

Like dual rivers, love combines two unexpected hearts into one. Sakura's feelings run deep and fast for the man who has always been off limits. She'll have him despite the obstacles that are both above and below the water's surface. Will she find the strength to tell him how she feels? Andre is serene as a lake, but bears a multitude of emotions underneath. He's open to a lasting kind of love. Will he be open to accepting Sakura for who she is? Sakura loves Andre despite it being forbidden. Society doesn't matter as long as they flow in one direction. Together, the two lovers will blend into something unique.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Leonard R. Stevenson
• Release date: Dec 31, 2015
• ISBN: 9781311304407

Leonard R. Stevenson

Leonard R. Stevenson is a born and raised New York Yankees fan from Da Bronx. In my younger days I was an instructor with the Outward Bound USA and Fresh Air Fund organizations. I love to ballroom dance and used to teach it to children. I’m an avid Japanese/Korean/Taiwanese drama and anime fan. I’m currently learning Japanese to help better myself as a martial arts teacher. My lovely wife Amber participates and indulges me in some of my hobbies!

Book preview

CONFLUENCE

An Improbable Love Story

Leonard R. Stevenson

Published by Leonard R. Stevenson at Smashwords

Copyright 2015 Leonard R. Stevenson

Smashwords Edition, License Notes

This ebook is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This ebook 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 recipient. If you’re reading this book and did not purchase it, or it was not purchased for your use only, then please return to your favorite ebook retailer and purchase your own copy. Thank you for respecting the hard work of this author.

Chapter 1

Sakura

The morning is so cool today. It reminds me of my favorite hot springs in Japan. There is a light fog out and as I walk to my car after meeting him. I see it start to disappear and the sun starts to shine through. The image perfectly explains my mood and the duty I just performed a few minutes ago. I broke up with my boyfriend and I feel like the sun through the fog: unhindered and bright. Treylon was gettting annoying! He was making stupid accusations and I was tired of it! He is a jealous boy from the sea of boys in my school. Most of them were only trying to get laid anyway they can! Half the boys at this school have tried to date me thinking it would be easy! Then they go to the old fallback, name calling! I’ve been upfront from the beginning: no sex until marriage! I’ve been called dick tease, bitch, mongrel, ching chong, whackadoo, nigger slut, Japanese ho, amazon! The list goes on and on with these idiots! I was born of a Japanese mother and an African American father. I can’t help being different! I look mostly like my mother in that I have an Asian face with a button nose and almond eyes. My father gave me my burnt sienna complexion, though he is much darker. I have the workings of what I call hybrid hair, whereas the hair is a little kinky but tends to fall like my mom’s straight hair. I can wear it loose or in braids, that’s how thick it is! My mom is short and voluptuous and my dad is tall and muscular. I’m around 5’10’ and very curvy. I’m also muscular because of the karate training I get at the family dojo. I guess I got the best of both worlds despite what some dumb boys may say! It’s just as well I broke up with Treylon. Despite trying my hardest, my heart wasn’t truly with him. You see, I’m in love with my cousin Andre and I’ve felt this way for a long time! I thought that maybe if I tried dating other guys that I could get over him. No such luck! The few times I’ve dated has brought me nothing but problems. I go through the motions and end up at the same spot anyway: loving that tall hunk of Godiva chocolate whose blood runs through my veins. I’ve resigned that this summer I’m going to take my shot at being with him. He’s not dating anyone in college that I know of, and now that prom and graduation is upon us I’ll be free to do what I want, despite my parents. If I don’t try I’ll never forgive myself. I have this pain inside with longing for him. I’ve always known that I didn’t want him for a fling or sex to clear up any curiosity. I want him to be mine for all eternity. I want to raise his kids, keep his house, run a dojo with him, and have him cheer me on as I cheer him. He is not only the sexiest man I know, but the sweetest and most giving. My family is Christian through and through and I have to say that he is the most Christ like soul I’ve ever come across in my short time on earth. Men want to be him and women want to have 6 kids by him. I’m going to go for it, and the worse he could do is run away screaming in pain! I’d take that over not knowing.

Andre

Sometimes I think we take the simple things for granted. We see something small and assume that it will never grow big, or even become medium sized. Few people drop the stone in the water and wait to watch the ripples. I realized looking back on the past few weeks that at the beginning of the summer I was one of those who walked away and thought nothing of ripples and the people around me. How surprised was I when the biggest ripple of my life I started! I recommended a summer job to my cousin that I’m really tight with! I’m 21 and in my third year of college looking forward to working at a sleepaway camp in upstate New York. This would be my fifth summer there. It pays well, especially since I’m one of the activities instructors who are paid significantly more. I usually teach basic martial arts during two week sessions with the kids. The summer season is from early July to early August. It is early June and I’m home thinking about what equipment I’ll need for camp. I hear a Japanese ring tone that perks me up! It’s my aunt Keiko. Let’s go into my family tree a little bit: My dad William DeAngelis has two other siblings: his brother David (the middle child) and his sister Patricia (the youngest). My dad got married to his college sweetheart at 24 while David joined the Marines at 18. Patricia was 16 and still in high school. My family had me the first year, while Uncle David was stationed in Japan for a few years as his first assignment. He met Aunt Keiko within 4 months. She was one of the instructors in her family’s karate dojo. It was love at first kata for Uncle David when she showed him some karate moves and cultural dance moves. They dated, got married then had my cousin Sakura who’s 3yrs younger than me. Their love was a difficult one, with my uncle being black and Sakura being mixed. It was great timing when the navy transferred my uncle and his family back to the states. His family eventually ended up in New York like the rest of the family when it was all said and done. Growing up was fun with my family, for everything was an adventure. My aunt eventually opened a dojo that my whole family got involved with. The martial arts taught there combines karate, aikido, kendo, and archery. I was lucky to receive my black belt at 16 and then sensei rank at 18. Aunt Keiko’s mother moved to the states when her husband passed away, so she teaches Japanese dance at the dojo also. Most of my siblings, cousins and I speak at least 2 languages of our choosing, though Japanese and Spanish are the most common. We all hang together, watch each other’s backs, fight and party together, and basically love on one another. We could be found hanging out in each other’s houses all the time, even when we come home for break.

Moshi moshi (Hello) Aunt Keiko!

Moshi moshi (Hello) Andre! How are you?

I’m great Aunt Keiko! I hope all is well!

It is Andre, It is! I have a favor to ask of you, and if it is too much, feel free to refuse ok?

Well if it is under my control, it will be no problem!

Okay, here goes: Sakura is starting at your college with you in the fall! We have everything she needs to move in and books but I want her to have some walking around money. Your uncle and I could give it to her of course, but I feel it would be better if she earned it. I remembered that you work at a camp upstate. I was wondering if you could perhaps get her a job up there! I think it would be great for her not only for money but to travel and work away from home. Plus I know you will keep her out of trouble.

I’ll see what I can do Aunt Keiko! I will call after we hang up to see if they still need staff. It is usually hit or miss with new or returning staff around this time, so keep your fingers crossed!

Arigato gozaimasu (thank you very much) Andre! I know Sakura will be excited if she can work at the camp with you! It was actually her suggestion! I’ll talk to you soon! Love you! Bye bye!

Hello! Is Mr. Higgins in? I’ll hold. Hi Mr. Higgins, It’s Andre! How are you doing these days sir?"

Hey Andre! It’s good to hear your voice! You gearing up for another exciting summer at Camp Borealis?

Yes I am sir! I’m looking forward to getting up there to the clean air and the best views in New York.

Me too Andre! So what can I do for you?

Well sir, I was wondering if there are still positions available at the camp this summer. I have a cousin that is going to college in the fall and she wants to earn some cash for books before she goes. Any position available would help, especially since it will get her out of the city for the summer.

Well you are in luck Andre, there are still counselor, Jr. Counselor, kitchen staff, and instructor positions available. We just posted on the website what and how many staff are needed. By the way, you wouldn’t happen to know if she has any special talents or skills?

Actually, she has almost the same skill set that I do! We are both black belts that teach regularly in our family dojo. We can both teach African and Japanese dance. I only edge her out when it comes to outdoor skills!

Well that sounds great Andre! If she wants, she can apply for one of the instructor positions if she wants. If she doesn’t feel ready for it, she can always help you with teaching karate and be a junior counselor. Either way, be sure she reminds me who she is in her response.

Thank you sir! I’ll go chat with her about it first thing in the morning!

Sakura

When I peeked through the peephole at my cousin Andre I knew it was going to be a good day! He is expected, but he just gets me all tingly inside! I’ve been in love with him since puberty, but he has always been my favorite person! My first words supposedly was kissu. My mom would play a game with me when I was a baby where she’d say:kissu! and give me a kiss on the lips. I’d giggle and grab her face like the typical cute baby! I started talking later than most babies unfortunately! One day my uncle and his family came to our home in Japan for a visit with Andre in tow. It was the first time we met, and I toddled over to him and said:kissu then planted one on him! He smiled then laughed, and we were inseparable the whole day, hell, our whole lives! We have other first and second cousins but we always seen to gravitate towards each other! We watch each other’s backs in all things. I was always jealous of his girlfriends when he was growing up and now. I held it