Page 84 of The Sun Sister

‘Well, I’ll be jiggered, as the major would say. My dear elder brother came to visit Kenya when I first moved out here and crawled up every skirt he could find at Muthaiga Club – even though he had a very sweet wife. Are you married?’

‘No.’

‘And like you, Bill, she isn’t interested in love,’ Katherine announced from the other side of the table, giving Cecily a reassuring glance.

‘Well, that’s quite a statement, if I may say so.’ Bill raised an eyebrow. ‘Certainly at your age. It’s taken me until the age of thirty-eight to realise that love is a myth. Anyway’ – Bill stood up and turned to Bobby – ‘as we’re up early tomorrow, you and I should leave.’

‘Of course,’ Bobby nodded, then stood up and Cecily got the distinct impression that he was in complete awe of his friend. ‘So, are you going to brave your first safari, Cecily?’

‘Oh, do say yes,’ Katherine said as they all walked along the drive together. ‘The staff can manage for a night here and it’s been ages since I went out into the Bush.’

‘You must warn your American friend that it isn’t as glamorous as the game drives her godmother may have told her about.’ Bill ignored Cecily as they walked towards the pick-up. ‘No canapés and champagne and servants; just a blanket, a makeshift tent and a campfire under the stars.’

‘We’ll sort her out, Bill. So, Cecily, is it a yes?’

Three pairs of eyes stared at her.

‘I...okay. I’d love to come.’

‘Jolly good,’ said Bill. ‘Then I’ll see you all at my place tomorrow morning at seven o’clock sharp. Thank you for the supper, Katherine. It’s not often I get a home-cooked meal these days.’

‘Bye, darling.’ Katherine kissed Bobby as he climbed into the pick-up parked next to Bill’s. ‘See you tomorrow bright and early.’

Cecily and Katherine waved the vehicles off, then walked back towards the house.

‘We must get you kitted out for tomorrow,’ Katherine said. ‘Alice has lots of safari clothes and you’re around the same size.’

‘Thanks. I have to admit I’m a little nervous, especially about Bill. He made it plain obvious that he dislikes me,’ Cecily said as they entered the hallway.

‘Golly, I don’t think he “dislikes” you at all. That’s the most attention I’ve seen him give a woman in a long time.’

‘Well, if that’s his idea of attention, no wonder he’s never married. He’s so darned rude!’

‘Interestingly, from what I’ve heard, like you, he ran away to Africa to escape a broken heart. That was nearly twenty years ago and I’ve never heard a hint of gossip about him since he’s been here. He keeps himself to himself, if you know what I mean. He’s quite attractive, don’t you think?’

‘I don’t think so, no,’ Cecily said, the two glasses of champagne she’d drunk to get through the evening making her speak bluntly. ‘All he did was insult me.’

‘Well, that’s Bill all over, but you couldn’t be in safer hands for your first trip into the Bush. He knows the territory and the dangers of it better than any other white man. Now’ – Katherine stifled a yawn – ‘I have to put the dogs in the pen and find that pesky mongoose that Alice is so fond of. I fed it this morning and I haven’t seen it all day. I’ll look for some suitable clothes for both of us too. Goodnight, Cecily, see you bright and early.’

‘Goodnight, and thank you so much for this evening.’

As Katherine went out into the cool night to gather the ever-present pack of dogs together, Cecily closed the bedroom door, walked over to the bed and lay down. She wondered what heartbreak Bill had suffered to turn him into a man who seemed to have little trust in humanity itself. And most certainly not in females...

Kicking off her shoes and unbuttoning her dress, Cecily was glad of the eiderdown because she was actually cold. Snuggling beneath it, she put out her hand and felt something warm and furry. Giving a small scream, she peered under the covers and saw it was the baby mongoose she’d met on her last visit here. He’d obviously been hiding under the eiderdown. Tiny paws crept up across her chest, then came to rest in the crevice between her neck and shoulder.

Cecily smiled as she thought of her mother’s reaction if she could see her now. A wild animal – probably full of fleas and lice – curled up with her in bed. Yet the animal’s breathing was comforting and Cecily was secretly pleased that the mongoose had sought outherbedroom as a place of refuge. As for Bill, and the complexities of the evening, Cecily was too tired to think of them.

But if I ever decided to stay, I’d definitely live up here in Wanjohi Valley.And with that thought, she fell asleep.

April 2008

I stared at my grandmother, whose hands were folded neatly in her lap. Her eyes were closed and I guessed she was still in another world. A world so different to the one we were both sitting in now, it was tough to comprehend it. Finally, she opened her eyes and I saw her shake herself as she coaxed her body and mind back to the present.

‘Wow. Africa,’ I said, standing up and going to pour myself a fresh glass of the Goose. ‘Someday, I’d like to hear how I fit in to the story, and why my parents had me adopted.’

‘I know you would, but there’s a whole lot more to tell before we get to that. I have to explain to you who Cecily was, and what happened to her for you to understand. Patience, Electra,’ she added with a sigh.

‘Yeah, it’s not one of my strongest qualities. Hey, Cecily sure sounds like she had a rough time. That English guy seemed like a total asshole.’