Echoes In The Mist

by Rifi Strawn

  She looked past the open door toward the light. “Why not?”

  He grabbed a wine bottle and two glasses and locked up the dining hall. “Let’s go sit by the pool.”

  She sat in a lounge chair next to Jeremy’s and admired the moonbeams mirroring in the infinity pool’s still water. The mood for romance was ripe. The waterfalls sounded like rolling ocean waves, and the crickets chirped all around them.

  “Another gorgeous night in paradise.” She accepted a glass of red wine from him.

  He touched his glass to hers. “To beautiful views.”

  She enjoyed her sip of a perfect blend of sweet and dry. “This wine is delicious.”

  “It’s from my family’s vineyard in Stellenbosch, South Africa.”

  “I’m impressed.”

  He admired the zebra stripe fabric of her long-sleeve cuff. “You’ve classed this place up in the short time you’ve been here. This lodge has never looked better.”

  “There’s still a lot of work to do.”

  “Don’t wear yourself out.” He kissed her hand. “I hate for your beautiful hands to get scraped or blistered again.”

  “I’m fine.”

  “Thanks for helping out today with the guests.”

  She hesitated offering constructive criticism. “You really need to tone down your pleas for donations. Too much of it will lose its effectiveness.”

  He rubbed his chin. “I didn’t realize I was badgering.”

  “I’m just trying to help,” she said softly.

  “Thanks. I might need your constructive help with soliciting donations at my fundraiser in Cape Town.” His handsome face glistened in the moonlight as he poured more wine into her empty glass.

  “When is it?”

  “We leave in the morning.”

  She sat up and laughed nervously. “This is short notice.”

  “Do you have anything better going on here?”

  She pondered. “I guess not. Where do I book a hotel room for me?”

  “No need for that. We’ll be staying at my mum’s home.”

  “I feel a bit funny staying with…”

  “Mum is excited to meet you. I’ve told her all about you.”

  She tucked a strand of hair behind her ear. “Mothers and I don’t get along—especially if their sons are involved.”

  “She’ll love you.”

  “You make it difficult to say, no.”

  He winked. “I also know a few things about marketing.” He stood, extending his hand. In one swift move, he pulled her close to his chest. His soft gaze swept her face. “You’re especially beautiful tonight.”

  She pushed away from him. “Stop flattering me. I said I’ll come with you.”

  Protectively, he held her hand on the way to the hut as his flashlight scanned the path. Inside the hut, he gave her a walkie-talkie and showed her how to use it.

  “Call me at the first hint of suspicion,” he said.

  Stanley locked the door as Jeremy left and began packing her suitcase in the candlelight. She stopped and picked up her phone to call Mr. Reed. Her unexpected trip to Cape Town for work could lose her inheritance. She’d better make sure she wasn’t breaking any rules leaving Zambia. The phone rang and rang and then went to his voicemail. Hmm… She didn’t leave a message to be safe. Hopefully, he’d see her missed call and get back to her soon.

  Within minutes, her walkie-talkie beeped.

  “Are you okay?” Jeremy asked.

  “Yeah. I’m fine.”

  “Okay, just checking on you.”

  “How should I dress for this trip?” She closed the curtains over the windows and double-checked the latch on the door.

  “Casual, no uniform. And no insect repellent needed.”

  “This trip is already paying off.”

  “Get a good night’s rest.”

  “That’s hard to do around here. Good night.”

  Stanley took off her pretty bracelet after admiring it and put it on the nightstand with her phone and walkie-talkie. Carefully, she packed the makeup jars with her aunt’s ashes into the suitcase and looked around for the rest of her belongings. There was no need to leave anything behind. God only knew who’d go through her hut while she was away.

  Chapter Twelve

  Stanley dabbed Christian Dior perfume behind her ears, in her cleavage, and on her inner wrists before her trip to Cape Town with Jeremy. She’d spent a restless night worrying about leaving Zambia.

  She checked her phone again. Mr. Reed, her lifeline at home, still hadn’t returned her call. This trip felt like a blessing and a curse. Cape Town surely had better phone reception and she welcomed a break from insect repellent and suntan lotion. The lack of communication with Mr. Reed had her stomach-churning. His unavailability was a bit unsettling. How was she supposed to inform him about the change in her plans?

  Tucking the phone in her purse, she grabbed the bracelet off the nightstand. Waving a few buzzing mosquitoes away, she looked at the door and window jamb for cracks. How were these blood suckers still getting in? She’d hardly left the door open long enough for them to sneak in.

  Adjusting her dress, she slipped into her high-heeled pumps and took a final look in the mirror. She hadn’t seen her legs in ages and needed a tan. Maybe she’d get the chance to get some sun in Cape Town. Jeremy said he’d take her sightseeing to see the coastline.

  Soft taps on the door rushed her to take one last look for her belongings. If she never used that insect repellent again, it would be too soon. Waving a fly away from her face, she opened the door for him.

  Jeremy’s admiring gaze lingered on her face. He must like me in full makeup and with styled hair. “Who are you?” He looked past her in the hut. “Where’s Stanley?”

  “Good morning.” She chuckled. “I barely recognized myself in a dress.”

  “I like it.”

  She skimmed her hands on the simple sheath dress just above the knees. “Tabo made it for me.”

  He smiled. “We use that fabric to make our napkins and table cloths.”

  “I think this tribal black and white print makes a pretty dress.”

  “I’d say so.”

  In one assessing glance, she approved his trimmed beard close to his face and brushed back hair. He looked exceptionally handsome in his collarless, brown lightweight leather jacket over his off-white shirt and slacks. He would be the perfect male model to advertise their anti-aging cream on a cover of a brochure if she were looking for one.

  “You clean up nice,” she said with a smile.

  “I’m glad you approve.” He grabbed her suitcase. “You travel light for a woman who loves fashion.”

  “Don’t worry, I’ll be over packing soon now that Tabo’s making me some cool outfits.”

  She closed the door to the hut after a little hesitation. Would she ever see it again? She had no choice but to trust him. Without him, she’d be lost and unprotected here. As they walked down the dirt path, he looked past the trees and shrubs with caution. Since the attack on Tabo, he’d been extra careful.

  Lucky drove them to the helicopter, wished them well, and then drove off. Jeremy took control of the cockpit.

  “I didn’t know you’d be the pilot.”

  “Don’t worry. I’m a licensed pilot.” He smiled. “I transport more than distressed wild animals in my helicopter.”

  After Stanley secured herself in the harness, Jeremy put on his headphones and motioned her to turn on hers. The whirring sound of a loud engine and the wind noise made it impossible to speak in a normal voice. He lifted off the ground, and when they were at a safe height, he talked with her again. “It’s a perfect day for flying. You’ll love the views.”

  “I’m so excited to see Cape Town.”

  “You’ll love my hometown. There’s so much to see and do.”

  During the entire flight, Jeremy showed her beautiful scenic spots. His piloting skills were superb. She gave the handsome, well-dressed man another admiring glance.
The only thing that would make him unattractive was if he left the toilet seat up—and she wasn’t going to find that out anytime soon.

  ~*~

  Before landing in Cape Town, Jeremy gave Stanley an aerial view of Table Mountain. “It’s the most popular tourist site.” He pointed to the clouds above the flat surface. “We refer to them as the table cloth.” Excitedly, he showed her a Dassie. “It’s the nearest relative to an elephant.

  “I don’t see any resemblance. From this far away it looks like a big rat to me.” She looked down at the lush gardens on the east side of the mountain. “How beautiful.”

  “That’s Kirstenbosch Botanical Gardens. This side of the mountain gets more rainfall.”

  Jeremy landed safely at the airport. A black Mercedes SUV was waiting for them. Holding her hand, he rushed her from under the whirring blades of the helicopter. She pushed back her long hair whipping in her face and ran her fingers through the tangled mess.

  The polite driver opened the car door and welcomed her with a smile. “Howzit?”

  “I’m fine, thank you.” Stanley returned the smile and slid in the backseat with Jeremy.

  After the driver loaded their suitcases in the trunk, they drove to Jeremy’s mother’s house.

  She smiled as his South African accent intensified. At times, she barely understood his slang as he chatted up with his long-time family employee.

  Her attention shifted to the majestic Table Mountain across the bay. It really did look like a dining table of the Apostles. She gave the steep incline a skeptical look. Jeremy said they’d hike later. He was in much better shape for a strenuous climb than she.

  She rolled the window down to take in more sights, sounds, and smells of Cape Town. The perfect climate and tropical landscape were similar to southern California. The pristine colonial buildings were a dramatic contrast to the colorful township they’d driven by. She took pictures of the small houses in brilliant shades of blue, pink, and yellow. There was no mistaking this was Africa—the land her aunt had loved and talked about nonstop.

  Suddenly, Jeremy’s conversation with the driver offended her. He used racist words like “coloreds.” The driver looked at her in the rearview mirror. “It’s not a bad word here like it is in America. We call the mixed races coloreds. We have blacks, whites, and the coloreds.”

  “That’s interesting to know.”

  The Mercedes maneuvered into the high-end Garden District. She admired a huge mansion tucked into the lush landscape. There must be a lot of really rich people living here. Some of the stucco mansions were just like the ones back home.

  “It’s so beautiful, Jeremy. I can see why you host your fundraisers here.”

  The driver looked at her in the mirror again. “Mr. Jeremy grew up with royals.”

  “Don’t exaggerate, Peter.” Jeremy read a text from his mother. “Mum is excited to host her first American guest.”

  Stanley clasped her hands together. “I hope I don’t disappoint her.”

  They stopped in front of an ivy-covered, walled-in compound in a posh neighborhood. A thick stand of trees and shrubs hid the house from the street. The driver punched the remote, and a wooden gate slid to the side.

  She sat up as they drove down the smooth pavement and stopped in front of a red brick traditional mansion with a green slate roof and white painted windows. This was no cozy cottage like Jeremy had described. She’d love to see what he considered a palace. No expense was spared building this home decades ago.

  The driver rushed to open the door for Stanley. She took a deep breath to calm her nerves. What if Jeremy’s mother hated her? Not that she was trying to make a good impression on a possible future mother-in-law, but her strong personality often clashed with a protective mother.

  She eyed the sprawling home and the lush landscape with flowering potted plants. Jeremy’s family is freaking rich. An elegant, gray-haired woman in her late sixties slowly walked down the porch steps to meet them. Her kitten-heeled, slip-ons peeked beneath wide-legged linen pants. She wore a matching long-sleeve, light pink tunic. Now she knew where Jeremy got his taste for monochromatic uniforms.

  “Hello. I’m Torrey Bergen, Jeremy’s mum. Welcome to my home.” She smiled sweetly and extended her elegant hand complete with French manicured nails.

  Stanley held the delicate hand. “Thanks for having me.”

  Jeremy’s mother was almost as pretty as her Aunt Zoie. When Torrey raised her hand to brush back her gray bob, a large diamond ring flashed on her index finger. Beauty and good style have no age limit.

  Torrey led them both into the grand mansion, trailing the scent of her lavender perfume. Jeremy had inherited his mother’s light-gray eyes and broad smile. He must take after his father in his height and muscular physique.

  “Jeremy didn’t exaggerate when he said how beautiful you were,” Torrey said in her thick South African accent.

  “She’s smart and talented,” he said with a smile.

  Blood rushed to her face from the mother and son’s generous praise. “You two are making me blush, which is rare.”

  Stanley stepped into the grand living room. She admired the high-end furnishing in various shades of white. Sprinkles of light pink and black accessories gave it the feminine touch. The African tribal artifacts and a painting of an elephant herd splashing through the water above the marble mantel had to be Jeremy’s contribution to the décor.

  An impressive crystal chandelier from the white, wood-beamed ceiling added the perfect finishing touch to the blend of elegant and rustic furnishings.

  She smiled. “Mrs. Bergen, you have a beautiful home.”

  “Oh, please, call me Torrey.”

  “Torrey, it is.”

  “Jeremy tells me you’ve made some fabulous changes at the lodge.”

  “It’s a work in progress. There’s plenty more to do. That lodge has so much potential.”

  Torrey’s voice had a hint of sadness. “It’s special to me.”

  Stanley walked over to the grand piano in front of the living room’s large picture window. Her fingers itched to play a song or two to test the white Steinway’s rich sound. Minding her good manners, she politely looked at Torrey. “Do you play the piano?”

  “No one has played it since Jeremy’s father.”

  “I’m so sorry for your loss,” she said softly.

  Jeremy put his arm around his mother. “Mum’s an amazing pianist. I wish she’d get back to playing. It used to be her favorite hobby.”

  Torrey checked the time. “I have a hot breakfast waiting for you two.”

  Jeremy flashed a smile and rubbed his hands. “I’m hungry.”

  His mother walked them down the hall into a large dining area. Fresh air poured in and blew her dress as Torrey slid open a wall of glass. The indoor and outdoor boundaries of the house disappeared to reveal a stunning garden where tweeting birds drank from a bubbling fountain. Here, instead of mosquitoes’ stings, butterflies kissed her skin.

  She savored the scent of fragrant flowers in pots around the swimming pool deck. The bright blue water welcomed her like an oasis amid this lush landscape. She eyed the luxurious lounge chairs. Maybe she’d get some sun and read a book for hours.

  Jeremy ushered Stanley to the dining table. She looked at the fine china and silverware glistening on top of the pink linen-covered round table. Had his mother gone all out just for her? As she sat, a short, stocky maid in a white uniform gave her the eye before filling her cup with coffee. Perhaps, she was the first American the local woman had served in this house.

  She looked at Jeremy and Torrey’s ease with the formal dining, which was a drastic change from her casual upbringing at the farmhouse. Her hallmarks of breakfast were a kettle whistling on a gas stove within a few feet of the dining table. Often, she’d have to push aside mixing bowls full of beauty cream recipes to make room for her plate and mug.

  The rich taste of the gourmet coffee melted in her mouth as Jeremy and his mother caught up on
their family gossip. She nearly burned her tongue when Torrey mentioned Claire, Jeremy’s fiancé.

  “You’re engaged?” she blurted after a quick glance at his mother.

  He gave his mother an annoyed look. “Claire called off the wedding.”

  Torrey put her hand on her chest. “Oh, no. I’m so sorry, son. Did she say why?”

  “Not now, Mum.”

  Stanley put her cup down. “I want to hear this.”

  He tossed his napkin on the table. “Claire expected me to move to Cape Town after the wedding.”

  “And you never discussed this before?” Torrey said.

  “Mum.” He sighed. “Stanley doesn’t want to hear this.”

  “Oh, yes, she does.” Stanley leaned forward on the table. “Then what happened?”

  Torrey smiled. “Jeremy tells me you’re good at organizing parties.”

  Her face dropped from the sudden change of subject. “I know a little bit about entertaining.”

  “Mum, you might want to enlist her help for the fundraiser. She gave me some good advice on how to perfect my sales tactics.”

  “I’m always open to new ideas.” Torrey crossed her arms. “I hope Claire’s father doesn’t stop his generous support of our cause.”

  Stanley listened carefully. So, Claire had promoted the international fundraising campaign through her modeling influence? Finally, it made sense why there was a pretty girl in every picture with the elephants. His ex must’ve taken those pictures in Zambia by the river. She glanced at his upset face. Now she knew his type—tall, slim, and perfect.

  After listening to Jeremy’s sad saga, Stanley questioned her sudden desire for him. Was she willing to give up her life in the city to live with him in the bush if they ever got serious? And did she even like elephants? Maybe she’d embraced his world in Zambia simply to pass the time during her obligation under Aunt Zoie’s will. Funny how she hadn’t thought about her real job in San Francisco, lately. She must need a break from it. Knowing that Neil was handling things in her absence gave her peace of mind.

  Jeremy gently tapped on her forearm. “Are you still with us?” He repeated the question.