A/N There are several triggers in this chapter.  Race discrimintation, and teen pregnancy are part of this story, along with the long term consequences. 

June 25th, 1963

Charlie Woo is the most fascinating and frustrating human being I know. He makes me feel things I know I shouldn't. Father Rafiel preached on thou shalt not commit adultery again last Sunday, and I know I'll go to hell. I wonder how many confessions he has heard and who is cheating on who in this town. When I confessed to those thoughts he assigned me five hundred Hail Marys. I won't be telling him about Charlie.

Especially about last night with Charlie down behind the oak trees. I climbed down through the thorns of the climbing roses. A few scratches were a small price to pay, and Mama only cares if I don't do my chores.

Dishes, vacuuming and dusting. Saturday morning so we are all clean and ready for Sunday. But back to Charlie. His kisses are so sweet, and he's so handsome in his uniform. Even if he didn't want to go to war, he had to. The draft notice meant he didn't have a choice. He was working at the distillery.

He's leaving for Vietnam tomorrow and I love him so. My heart constricts with fear when I think of where he must go. Will he come home? I can give him this memory and take it for myself too. Papa hates him. Even though he's already asked him if he can marry me. I know I'm only fifteen, but I know I'll never love another like I do my Charlie.

Papa says no Chink is marrying his daughter. Why does the color of skin matter? Besides, he's only got one grandparent who is half Chinese. He's taller than me, so he isn't even short like most of them. Mama says I'll never find a man to marry anyways. I'm too tall.

Last night hurt the first time. But when we did it again, Charlie gave me the most incredible feelings. That's what it's all about. The splintering of my soul and only he can hold the pieces as I hold his.. He promised me he'd be back, and when I'm eighteen, we'll run away and be married.

We said goodbye when the sun rose. I'll never forget this night. It should have been my wedding night. I know two other girls who got married because their Papas said yes. Why can't I?

"Oh my God, Andrew. That's where I get my eyes from, and the shimmer of gold to my skin," Chantal exclaimed. "My poor mother. Not fair at all. What happened to Charlie?"

Angelique wiped a tear drop of her eyelashes, then said, "I didn't tell you earlier, because I wanted you to read this first. It's good to know my aunt came from love, even if it was forbidden. Grandma always did go after what she wanted without worrying about the consequences."

"Tell me," Chanta insisted. "I'm going to keep this diary. I can't read it all at once. It tears at my heart, and I need to process it properly. It isn't good is it?"

"Obviously," Andrew said. "You were adopted. The documents are authentic from what I can see." His hand squeezed her shoulder, and he sat down on the side table beside the sofa.

"I knew you would figure it out. Family law is your specialty, darling."

"Illinois removed the underage marriage provisions from the state marriage laws last year. No more having parent's permission to allow those younger than eighteens to marry. It was long overdue in my opinion," Andrew informed them.

"It would have been nice if I knew that when we were younger. I could have asked Mom and Dad to let us get married. Instead, we had to wait until we were in college and elope. It would have been okay. Your parents loved me right from the first time you took me to meet them."

"Rose colored glasses, Chantal. Although I can see how it would look to younger me too. We were so hot for each other, and so in love. Your mother would have given in to your dad. His word was law."

"I know, I was Daddy's little girl. I miss them, Andrew." She squeezed his hand as she spoke.

Angelique watched them as they supported each other and saw love like her grandparents had. Maybe her mother's parade of boyfriends over the years, along with her continual string of broken engagements, wasn't the only way relationships went.

"You remind me of Grandma and Grandpa. She would have been happy to know you've had a happy life."

"I wish I could have known her," Chantal said.

"I'm refurbishing and renovating her house in a town just down the Mississippi from here. I'll give you the address. The oaks where they met are still standing," she offered.

Chantal nodded furiously. "Please. I want to see her home."

"I know I'm asking awkward questions, but do you have children?" Angelique inquired.

"Not awkward. You're my niece. You have three cousins. Two boys and a girl."

"And you have a half-sister. My mother. Moira De Coeur O'Keefe."

Andrew's jaw dropped first.

Chantal looked at him and asked, "What?"

"Only one of the most famous super-models of the nineties," her husband answered.

"Does she know about me?"

Angelique winced as she answered, "No. I haven't told her yet. I had to find you first or she would have dismissed me as delusional. It wasn't easy growing up with her."

"And her husband is?" Andrew prompted. "Seems she was engaged more than once."

"Her scandalous lifestyle never seemed to matter to the Paris designers. She was the Queen of their runways. New York too at times. She never married. I still don't know who my father is," Angelique confessed.

Chantal shook her head. "That's no way for a kid to grow up. Introduce me to your friend. He must be important to you if he's come along with you."

"I'm Justin Arlington. Her dance partner and friend."

Thank God he didn't say boyfriend. But man, I'm rethinking that one. He's been amazing. The look on Chantal's face says she doesn't believe he's just my friend. I wonder if she'll push it.

"Good to meet you. I'm glad she has someone in her life who cared enough to come with her."

Don't tell her you volunteered at the last second. Please Justin don't embarrass me.

"She's become an important part of my life in the last few weeks. When her girlfriend and business partner couldn't come, I did."

Thank you, thank you. I owe you big time Justin.

"Oh my God, Andrew! We have to tell the kids. They're all away at school. We downsized into Mom and Dad's bungalow when Billy went out of state too."

Andrew smiled, and said, "Leave it until they come home again for Thanksgiving. They're making their own lives now, but you know they'll drop everything including their jobs and school if you drop this bombshell now."

Chantal groaned.

"My phone number is in there with the rest of the paperwork I gave you, Andrew. I have to get back to the job site. I'll be selling the property after I finish fixing it up. Grandma ended up with a taxes and utilities owing on it."

"We'll see about that," Chantal murmured.

"I agree," Justin told her.

"Arlington? Arlington Realty and Development?" Andrew asked.

"Yeah, not that I like to admit it at times."

"He's not his father's puppet, Andrew. Right Justin?" Chantal put in.

When Angelique heard her aunt's question, it hit her. Her assumptions about him were all wrong.

"That's what I've been trying to show her, but she's a stubborn woman." Justin winked at her and her heart skipped a beat.

What am I going to do?

A/N Chantal and Andrew romantize the way their relationship could have gone with state laws the way they were when they were young lovers. A totally different reality exists now.  This is where prompt 8 comes into the chapter.