The Beat of Safiri Bay (29 page)

The music of a string quartet fills the night air and everyone is dressed in beautiful cocktail dresses or black suits. The strings of light hanging from everywhere are much like the thousands of stars in the sky tonight. It is a perfect party for everyone but me. As I promised myself I stuck on my best face for the night while my heart cries out from under the soft red fabric of my beautiful dress. All the people seem happy to be sharing the night with dad and I. I recognise a few faces but not all. The Strydom’s are the first to congratulate me and I thank them all warmly. When I move away from them Cat walks over to me and wishes me a happy birthday. Then she starts asking out about the house, whether I have thought of selling it now that Alex won’t be sharing it with me anymore. I tell her that I will inform her as soon as I have any such plans. I don’t, at the moment it is part of my future plan but I will have to try it out first, I cannot make any decisions yet. I am glad to that Christina did not return for the party. That would not have worked for me at all. Matt is the perfect gentleman all evening and proudly walks me around the crowd till dinner time. We eat under the stars and the food is delicious as I expected. Then there is some dancing and Matt tries his best not to make me look like a fool but luckily I can still use my foot as an excuse so we don’t have to dance more than twice. Before the cake is served my dad makes a speech to wish me a happy birthday and blessings for the rest of my life. I look around for Matt but he is nowhere to be found. He probably went to the men’s room. Then everyone starts singing happy birthday and my dad walks over to me. “Happy birthday my girl,” he says and turns me around to face the swimming pool. A car’s horn sounds off and then I see Matt’s big smile in the driver’s seat of a big blue Jeep. He drives as closely as he can to the crowd and gets out with a bow. I am blown away and absolutely speechless. “Dad,” I say and happy tears run over my big smile. “You surely didn’t think I would let you drive your little bike for the rest of your life now did you?” I hug him tightly and he walks me over to the midnight blue Jeep Rubicon. I get in and look at the gadgets and gears. “It is a bit more off road than mine Rosie. I thought you might need something a bit more hard core,” dad says and I laugh at that. At least he is honest. Everyone gathers around and look at my new big Jeep. Then they leave to go eat some cake. “Want to take it for a drive?” Matt asks and my dad hugs me again before he joins the party. We get in and I drive off towards the village. I am so excited about my present and not at all bothered that it is completely crazily over the top. Matt shows me how a few things work and we drive back home. After a long night of dancing, eating and talking, people start to leave and Bronya’s team clean up quickly after the party. Matt says goodbye after a nightcap in the kitchen and then we all go to bed. I am not able to sleep because I am so excited about my new car. My dad really is the best.

I get up and walk over to the window. Last night’s sleeplessness gave me a lot of time to rethink my plan and the more I thought of it the more I liked it. I shower and have breakfast with dad but he leaves to go catch up on some things at the office. With being away for so long there are a few things he needs to work on. It works out perfectly for my plan and I pack my bag and guitar and get into my new blue Jeep. I drive down the estate road and for the first time I turn right on the small overgrown road that leads to the house in the dunes. I park in front of the garage and take out the key from my bag. I pick up my guitar and get out, unlock the door and walk into the house. I put down my guitar and open some windows and the big glass door that faces the sea. I walk around the house and look at all the detail I never saw that night. He really did make sure that everything is in its place and that we won’t need anything else. Even the kitchen is stocked with food. I open the fridge and clear out all the items that have gone off. I carry the trash out to the back of the house and then go wash my hands in the bottom bathroom. I seriously lack courage to climb the stairs and face the room where I was so unceremoniously dumped, but I have no problem with being in the rest of the house. That was exactly what I was hoping for. I get my papers out of my bag and start working on that song again. I don’t need to lock myself in my studio for this, no one ever comes this way, I am completely alone and I love that.

The house has become my refuge. I cannot wait for my dad to go to work every day or my music lessons at school to end so I can drive to the house and spend time writing songs. Matt was very worried about me not spending so much time going out with him or Emma anymore but he gave up on that after he saw that I am doing okay. I still see him every Tuesday and Thursday at school and we still hang out at the Lodge bar on weekends. He has once again become the best friend I had before. I haven’t told anyone but Thandi where I go during all the hours I spend away from ‘home’ but the fact is that I have a new home now. One I love and can’t imagine being without.

The road to the house is not so overgrown anymore probably because I have been using it every day for the past two months. The house contains almost all of the worldly possessions I want around me. I am using the guest room as my bedroom and have clothes in the cupboards and the bathroom set up to my standards. The top floor is not as intimidating as it used to be but I rarely go up there. I do most of the cleaning myself but Thandi suggested Lisa to me and she comes in to help three times a week. I pay the electricity bills and Lisa with the money I make from the music lessons. I have built a new life for myself and I have sold a song to some upcoming artist already. My dad is very proud of that and has given up trying to get me to show interest in his business. I think he realises that this is the life I want. I have found something I love and I can see myself doing this for the rest of my life. I only have one more thing I have to do. I have to tell my dad that I am moving out. I have actually moved out a long time ago but I want to spend my nights in the house as well and wake up to the sound of the ocean. I have asked Thandi to cook us a special dinner tonight and I have worked on what I want to say for this entire week. My dad pulls out my chair for me and we sit down to enjoy a delicious meal. After dinner before Thandi serves us dessert my dad folds his hands on the table and looks at me with a smile. “Out with it,” he says and I nod my head and smile. “Dad, I don’t know whether you know of the house Alex bought me for my birthday,” he nods.

“Yes, Cat has told me about it,”

“Well, I sort of moved in there a few months ago,”

“I know Rosie, I see the way your room is nothing more than a bed to you these days. What is it that you would like to tell me?” I take a deep breath and then I say with a lot more confidence than what I actually posses, “I would like to move in properly, I mean, completely.”  My dad says nothing for a long time then he rubs his eyebrows and looks up at me. “Lany, you are old enough to make your own decisions. I just want you to know that your room is yours forever; you must use it whenever you want to and you don’t have to ask for my permission.” I get up and hug my dad. He is the best dad anyone could ask for. “Do you need help with moving anything over?” he asks.

“No thanks dad, I have everything I need.” My dad shows me to my seat again and sits down opposite me. “Since we are talking so openly I would like to tell you something as well,” I cannot imagine what he would want to say. “Cat and I are together,” my mouth drops open and I close it quickly. My dad and Matt’s aunt? Wow. I smile at him, “I am happy for you dad, she is a very nice lady,” he gets up and kisses the top of my head. “Good night Rosie and good luck,” “Same to you daddy,” I say and walk over to my room to spend the last night in my bed.

Thandi helps me to pack the suitcases of clothing into the back of my Jeep. She wipes a tear from her eye. “Thandi I will probably be here every day for tea in anyway. And I live just down the road, you are welcome anytime.” She gives me a quick hug and waves when I drive away. I open the garage with the remote control and park my Jeep in its now usual spot. The suitcases are heavy with clothes and I carry them one by one. I have decided to move into the main bedroom. If I am going to make this my home I will use it to the fullest. I have however decided to use the other bathroom. I unpack the last of my clothes and walk down to the kitchen. I take out a teapot and boil some water. I have invited my dad and Matt over for a little housewarming this evening and asked my dad to bring Cat; he said that he will be happy to do so. After tea I drive to the village to get some snacks for the night. I can’t believe that this is it, the beginning of my new life in my own beautiful house.

Chapter 16

I park my Jeep in the driveway and run the short way to the back door. It is a very cold end of July day and I felt like making soup. I think I have all the ingredients, I wrote down the recipe and took it with me to the grocer. When I put down the bag Tracy my ginger cat comes running to me and rubs her body against my leg. I pat her with my foot and pour her some milk. After I make the soup I have to get back to working on my newest song. The artist is putting pressure on me to finish his album and I have to spend every minute I can working on the songs. I chop up the vegetables and add it to the boiling water. I put the lid on the pot and walk over to my CD player, I need inspiration. My body freezes and I drop the CD cover I have in my hands. I have never had any uninvited visitors before but this man has definitely not been invited. The big glass door is the only barrier between us and I wonder what I did with my pepper-spray. Then he removes his hoody from his head and my heart stops beating. Alex. I cannot get my feet to move I just stand there staring at him. Then he moves closer to the door and I get some of the feeling back in my legs, just enough to make me walk to the door and I unlock it to let him in. “Halo Lane,” he says and I break down inside at the sound of his deep voice and British accent. I cannot talk so I move aside and he walks into the house, our house. I cannot stand any longer so I sink down into a chair and he sits down opposite me. The blood is back in my brain and I ask an obvious question, “So you are not locked up then?” He almost laughs and pulls up his shoulders.

“No, I got lucky,” he says and I look at him confused. “It’s a long story,” he says and I shrug.

“I have a lot of time,” I say and he nods. He tells me of how he was broken down by the British law system. They made him look like a complete fool and took away all his self respect and hope. On the last day of his trial the lady who accused him changed her story and said that she was paid to sleep with him and accuse him of rape. It turns out his secretary was the one responsible for that. She was in love with Alex and when he turned her down she wanted revenge and ruined his life in the process. He was cleared of all charges and got back his license to practise. I am really happy that the truth came out and I tell him so. “When was ‘all of this’ over? In your email you said you had two weeks.” I am confused that it took him so long to come back here if he was cleared in May already. “I wanted to come back right away, I promise you Lane. I wanted to come here to get you to take you back with me.”

“So why didn’t you? Why didn’t you at least email me again to tell me that there was still hope for us?” He holds onto his knees and looks down at his feet.  “Lane, when they accused me of raping that girl, they stripped me of everything I held dear. They even took me away from you, the one person in my life I would do anything for. The weeks I spent in that court made me doubt myself as a doctor, as man. They gave me my innocence and my license back but people never forget. I was abandoned by my people; I almost wrecked my father’s reputation, I had no reason for living. But it was you and your fearless ability to love me even though it must have been the hardest thing for you with all your issues. That made me fight back. That helped me to make the choices I made to be here with you right now.” I feel sorry for him, for having to go through all of that alone. I wish he wouldn’t have left me I could have helped, I know I could have. “Lane, I realise that it might be too late for us but I had to take a chance, I had to see you and find out for myself if you would be able to love me again the way you loved me three months ago.” Tears are running down my face and I wipe it with the back of my hand. He gets up and kneels at my feet, “Alex, I don’t love you the way I loved you anymore,” I say through my sobs. He hangs his head and gets up slowly. I get as well and grab him by the arm, “I love you more.” His face lights up and then tears of joy drip from both our cheeks. He hugs me tightly to him and kisses me with all the love he has for me. I hold on to him for a long time never wanting to let him go again. “I took this long to come back because I don’t want to be a part of a country that doesn’t want me,”

“What do you mean?” I ask not just a little confused.

“I have applied for South African citizenship; I want to stay here with you forever. Open a practise in Safiri so we can have our happily ever after,” That is the best thing I have heard in my life.