Breath, Eyes, Memory: Chapter 24 Summary & Analysis

Three days later, Martine arrives in a cart being pulled by Eliab and another boy. Tante Atie and Granmè Ifé approach her, and Sophie watches from afar as the three women reunite. It has been two years since Sophie has seen Martine, and she is disturbed by how her mother’s skin-lightening cream has changed her complexion. When Granmè Ifé remarks upon Martine’s light skin, Martine says that the cold air in New York has turned her into a ghost. Granmè Ifé says that the sun will darken her in no time, but Martine says she hasn’t come for long—she is just here for three days.

Granmè Ifé orders Sophie to walk towards Martine and embrace her. Sophie cannot bring herself to do so, and Martine walks towards her instead, kissing her on the cheek. Martine coos over Brigitte, and Sophie robotically lets her mother hold the baby—but asks why her mother never answered any of her letters. Martine says she simply couldn’t find the words. Now, though, Granmè Ifé has charged Martine with coming here to patch things up with Sophie—plus, Joseph begged Martine to find Sophie and bring her home. Sophie tells her mother that she cannot make plans for Sophie, but Martine stonily says she already has. As Brigitte pulls at Martine’s earrings, Martine tells Sophie that now that Sophie is a woman with her own house, the two of them can start over.