Zambezi Seduction (18 page)

TWENTY – TWO

A
pale, gaunt-featured Chad whose stride was hesitant, lacking the purpose and confidence of old.

“Hello, Kerry,” he said simply.

There was a roar as Camilla took off in the Golf, job done. The car raised a fresh cloud of dust, a few joyful-sounding beeps on the horn the Dane’s only farewell.

Kerry could only shake her head, thinking of the planning that had gone into this and knowing that she was helpless to do anything about it.

“She’d better pray that I’m in a good mood next time we meet – if there is a next time.”

“If anyone’s to blame, it’s me,” Chad told her. “I put her up to it.”

“Really? I’d never have guessed. I understand you’ve changed trades – from painter to plumber.”

The South African smiled for the first time. Suddenly he looked more like the man she remembered and she was glad to see it.

“No flies on you,” he said. “You have it all figured out.”

Kerry was angry. She felt she had been made to look a fool.

“Will you stop grinning and fetch your car from wherever it’s hidden?” she demanded. “You can drop me at the nearest bus route. I don’t care for this deception.”

Chad’s look darkened. “You’ll do us both a favour if you quit acting so bloody aggrieved and hurt.” His words carried a sharp edge. “I’m not something crawled out of the swamp. We spent three weeks together, remember?”

How could she ever forget? Every day since, she had thought of him, convinced they had blown any chance of a reconciliation . . . only for him to appear like some half-starved wanderer from the bush.

“I wanted to talk to you,” he told her, cautiously keeping his distance, respecting her space.

“But, why
here?
” Kerry couldn’t understand the thinking behind it. “All right, I’m listening . . . I’m going nowhere, it seems.”

Chad Lindsay visibly relaxed. His artist
’s eyes moved, taking in the trees and
kopje
which dominated the scene. He breathed deeply of the warm
Highveld
air.

“In a year or two, when the homes are up, this will have changed,” he said. “But not too much, I hope.”

“Why should that concern you?”

“S
orry, I should explain.” Chad threw his arms out wide. “The land we’re standing on is mine.”

“Yours?
You’re going to build here?”

He nodded. “The cottage at
Kyalami is rented. I’ve made good money over the last year or two. The time is right for a home designed to my specifications. I can have that here. The plot is large enough for a fine house, a garden and pool – all that a man desires.”

Kerry was genuinely pleased for him. “It
’s a prime site.”

“I engaged an architect. That
’s why I was unable to meet you at the airport. I’d some details to discuss with her before we left for Zimbabwe –”

“Her?”

“A woman, yes. Erica van Rensburg.”

“Erica . . .
that first day I heard you and Anna talk about a meeting with Erica.”

“And you assumed she was a girlfriend?” Chad read the situation exactly right.

Kerry glared at him, feeling colour rush to her cheeks.

“Well, what
was
I to think? Anna warned me that you had a reputation.”

“Moving on,” Chad said, taking a few tentative steps towards her. “Things have changed somewhat since then.” His voice had grown tight, almost pained. “I
’ve told Erica to suspend work on the house plans.”

“Whatever for?”
Kerry was shocked. “There’s nothing wrong, is there? You’ve lost weight.”

“F
or the first time after a field-trip, I couldn’t get down to work. Even now, I’ve hardly put brush to canvas. Doubts about the house design, never there before, keep springing to mind. Life is a trifle confused – worrying – right now. For me, a new and humbling experience.”

“There must be a cause you can pinpoint and put right.”

The South African laughed, his piercing eyes fixed so intently on Kerry she felt a couple of lasers were being directed her way.

“Sound advice,” he answered. “It seems I
’ll have to spell it out for you. I mentioned that with this new home I’ll have all a man desires. Not true. Something is lacking. A year or two back, it wouldn’t have mattered – but I’ve matured. The time is right. Kerry, I’m talking about a woman to share it with . . .”

He paused, glancing at her nervously.

“After you left, I missed you more than I would ever have imagined. The cottage seemed bleak without you. The prospect of future field-trips without you at my side was unappealing. I realized that I love you and want to marry you – if you’ll have me. I want us to go into this . . . this home, this future, together.”

He
waited, his look awkward, fearful.

***

After the initial shock, Kerry was experiencing a feeling so wonderful she doubted it could ever be bettered.

She loved this man.

Had from some indeterminate moment in Zimbabwe.

They had fought, as strong-willed people do, but gradually, like adversaries in the ring, each had won the other
’s respect – and more.

Her legs seemed to be on the move even before her brain had given its permission. They took her at a rush into his open arms. And when his mouth and tongue sought hers – not darting hungrily like a sneak thief in the night – but gently with all the warmth and tenderness deserving of such a moment, Kerry knew happiness beyond her wildest dreams.

***

Chad laid her gently down on the
veld
grasses. He stretched out his long frame beside her, supporting her head with his arm.

“Owning my own piece of Africa is something I
’ve always wanted,” he said, emotionally. “I have it now – and I have you. I’m a lucky guy.”

He seemed transformed from what he had been only minutes before. Kerry was glad to have the old Chad Lindsay back. Already he was making plans.

“We’ll see the architect. We’ll need an extra room for your writing study. And you’ll have to okay the kitchen and number of bedrooms . . . Ah, it’ll be a grand house . . . with room for your father. I’m sure he’ll fancy tackling the tigerfish in Lake Kariba.”

He paused just long enough to draw breath.

“One thing – as the house goes up and I’m working – you’ll have to chase around choosing fittings, furniture, all sorts of things. We can use some of Per Olsen’s Scandinavian designs. I’ve been over to check him out, and he’s good. That’s when I hatched the plot with Camilla – I had a hunch you would phone her. What I’m saying is you’ll need that driving licence.”

Kerry laughed, giving vent to her pent
-up joy. She told him not to worry.

“It
’s done. Unlike someone I could mention, I haven’t been idle.”

***

The air over the
veld
shimmered under the summer sun. A falcon rose on a thermal above the rocky hill. Kerry could smell the grass and the sweet scent of crushed blue gum leaves. This small part of Africa would soon be hers too. Like Chad, she had long harboured such a dream.

His lips captured hers again. Kerry shut her eyes happily. A vision of her life flashed through her mind –
not her past, but her future through to maturity and old age.

At that moment she knew such contentment, it brought sudden tears to her eyes.