Page 207 of The Sun Sister

‘Why?’

‘Because...’

‘Yes?’

‘She is black. Adoption of such a child just does not happen in our world, or anywhere else in the world for that matter.’

‘Why, Mr Forsythe, the great champion of the Maasai, who even has one at his side everywhere he goes. Underneath all that, you’re just as prejudiced as everyone else! Well, let me tell you something: if this baby goes, so do I! Because I made a promise to that poor young girl and I will not send her baby away, you hear me?!’ Cecily rose with Stella in her arms, marched to the bedroom, then slammed the door behind her and locked it.

Laying the baby down on the bed next to her, Cecily burst into noisy tears.

‘Don’t worry, little one,’ she hiccupped, ‘I’ll die before I let harm come to you, I swear it.’

Cecily was woken by a knock on the door. She looked at the clock and saw it was past midnight. The baby was stirring next to her, stuffing her knuckle into her mouth, which was her way of saying she was hungry.

‘Cecily, can I please come in?’

As Stella needed a bottle anyway, Cecily reluctantly unlocked the door with the baby in her arms. She didn’t so much as look at Bill as she walked out past him to fetch the bottle. Having warmed it, she sat down on a kitchen chair to feed her charge.

‘Forgive me, Cecily,’ he said as he appeared at the kitchen door. ‘You’ve done nothing wrong at all.’

‘No, I haven’t,’ Cecily hissed. ‘And anyone who says I have is a despicable human being.’

‘I agree,’ Bill said, sitting back down in the chair he’d occupied earlier.

‘I mean it. If you suggest again that this baby goes to an orphanage, I will pack my things and leave with her. Do you understand?’

‘I hear you loud and clear. But the fact remains that society has not yet been awakened to cross-racial adoption, on either side,’ he added firmly. ‘Perhaps someday that won’t be the case and I pray it is so.’

‘I don’t care about what society says and I didn’t think you did either!’

‘Cecily, believe me, if Ididcare about the rules of society, I’d never have married you in the first place, and we certainly wouldn’t even be having this conversation. I’d have simply grabbed the baby from you and whisked her away to Nairobi. So please, give me some credit. Nevertheless, the three of usdohave to live in society, however much we try to bend the rules. And a white couple adopting a black baby is literally unheard of.’

‘I—’ Cecily opened her mouth to speak, but Bill put up a hand to stop her.

‘Hear me out, please. You’ve obviously become emotionally attached to the baby. Which is understandable, given the loss of your own child. I have only known about this...situation for a few hours, so forgive me if I’m struggling to come to terms with it. The fact is, Cecily, that even if you did leave with the baby, you have nowhere to run to.’

‘Of course I do! Katherine, or even Kiki would take us in...’

‘I’m sure they would initially, but they would say the same as me. You cannot be a mother to a black child. It would not be accepted anywhere in the world. And please don’t say you’ll go and live with the Maasai, because they wouldn’t want you either,’ Bill said, making a weak attempt at a joke. ‘Cecily, do you hear what I’m saying? The fantasy world you’ve created since I’ve been away cannot ever be real. You must know that, surely?’

Cecily bit her lip, knowing that to some extent what her husband said was true.

‘But I can’t give her up, Bill. She was given to me to care for. And besides, this is all your fault to begin with. If you hadn’t let Njala come stay here on our land, then we wouldn’t be in this situation now.’

‘I’m aware of that, Cecily, and I now rue the day I said yes. Come, let me hold her,’ Bill said, reaching his arms across the table.

‘You swear you won’t make off with her in the night to Nairobi?’

‘I promise. Here,’ he encouraged, and reluctantly, Cecily placed Stella in his arms.

‘Hello, little one,’ he said as he stared down at her. ‘You’re just like your mother – absolutely beautiful.’

Cecily watched as Bill held out his finger and one of Stella’s tiny hands grabbed it and held it tight. The sight brought tears to Cecily’s eyes.

‘My goodness, Mrs Forsythe. You’ve certainly led me a merry dance since I married you.’ He gave her a weak smile. ‘And there was me driving home, thinking that we were sailing into calmer waters because you seemed so much better.’

‘Divorce me if you wish,’ Cecily shrugged defensively.