Page 255 of The Sun Sister

‘By the way, how is Lankenua? I think I recall you telling me many moons ago in a letter that she had married?’

‘She has, yes, and is very happy, by all accounts.’

‘I’d like to see her if I can. I have a photograph of Kwinet – and his wife and young child – standing proudly in the garden at Paradise Farm.’

‘Oh, I’d love to see that photograph myself. I spent so many hours working with him on it.’

‘Cecily.’ Bill took her gin glass, put it down, then grabbed her hands. ‘Why don’t you come back with me to Kenya? Just for a holiday? Kwinet has spent the last two decades tending your precious garden and hoping against hope that one day you would see his handiwork. You could see Katherine, Bobby and their children, and, of course, Kenya too.’

‘Oh Bill, I’d love to, but how can I? I have Rosa to care for.’

‘Surely Stella must have some leave owing to her? Maybe she could take a few weeks off?’

‘Bill, you don’t understand; no one here in the States takes the vacation that they’re owed, especially not an ambitious young black female lawyer who is determined to make a name for herself. The work ethic here compared to other countries is just crazy. Life in Happy Valley was all about pleasure; life here these days for someone like Stella is all about working your butt off to get to the top.’

‘Of course I understand, but that doesn’t make it right, Cecily,’ Bill sighed. ‘I would like you to think about it. You’ve told me yourself you haven’t taken a holiday since coming here! I think one is long overdue. Please, at least consider it. I’ll do what I can to help make it happen, but maybe it’s only when you see Paradise Farm again that you can help me decide what I should do. Whatweshould do.’

‘It’s a beautiful idea, but there is just no way I can leave Rosa. Anyway’ – Cecily yawned – ‘it’s way past my bedtime, and I’ve drunk far too much. I have a whole classroom of six-year-olds to face tomorrow morning.’ She stood up and smiled at him. ‘Thank you for a lovely day. It was like a vacation and I really enjoyed it. Goodnight, Bill.’

‘Goodnight, Cecily.’

When Cecily had left, Bill went downstairs to get another beer from the refrigerator, then he wandered out into the small patch of Kenya Cecily had created in Brooklyn. And began to formulate a plan...

Stella arrived home past midnight on Friday, exhausted as usual from a long, hard week down in Alabama. Cecily had sent Bill off to bed while she waited up as she always did for Stella to arrive home. Hot chocolate with cream and homemade cookies were offered as Stella talked about her current case.

‘It’s just so obvious that the authorities have fabricated evidence – we’ve discovered the witnesses couldn’t possibly have been where they say they were to see Michael Winston shooting this guy...We’re doing what we can, but I just don’t know whether we can save him from death row. The jury in Alabama are notorious for handing out the death penalty.’

‘All you can do is your best,’ Cecily said, as she always did, seeing the anger and passion blaze in Stella’s eyes. And knowing she was partly responsible for putting it there. ‘Now, you need some rest. I’m afraid you’re in with Rosa tonight, because I have a guest staying.’

‘Oh really? Who?’

‘Maybe you won’t remember him, because the last time you saw him, you were just five years old. His name is Bill and when I first found you, I was married to him.’

‘Bill...’ Stella scratched her nose. ‘Yes, I think I do remember him. Did he have light-coloured hair and was quite tall?’

‘He did, yes, although it’s now completely white,’ Cecily smiled. ‘It was him who convinced me to let your mother come stay on our farm whilst she was pregnant with you. He also worked out the plan to have Yeyo come live with us, so you could stay and I could bring you up.’

‘He actually knew my birth mother?’ Stella looked incredulous.

‘Yes, he certainly met Njala, and was friendly with your grandfather, who was the chief of the clan.’

‘Then where has he been all this time, Kuyia? Why didn’t he come with us to New York?’

‘Because he ran a big cattle farm back in Kenya and because...Bill just belongs in Africa.’

‘So you left him behind?’

‘I had to, if you were going to have any kind of future. I begged him so many times to come over, but he never wanted to.’

‘You left him for me?’

‘No, Stella, please...’ Cecily backtracked, realising what she’d said. ‘We had...hehad all sorts of issues with our marriage at the time. Our future lay here, and his didn’t. It’s as simple as that.’

‘Are you still married to him?’

‘I am. There never seemed any point in getting divorced.’

‘Jeez! That must feel weird – your husband turning up out of the blue after over twenty years.’