Pedigree

I went to bed pretty excited, I don’t know why but all I wanted was for morning to come. I get up pretty early and make myself a cup of tea the walk to the balcony where I take a few pretty shots and post them on my status.

I am about to switch my data off when I get a phone call, it’s from a strange number.

‘Someone is up early.’ The voice says

It’s VK.

‘I see I have a stalker.’ I respond allowing the morning breeze to make love to my face.

He chuckles.

‘I am no stalker, just a man who happened to be online at the same time you decided to spoil us with photos.’

I can’t help but laugh, he sounds really cute with the way he says it.

‘Good morning.’

‘Good morning VK, how was your night?’

‘I slept really well and honestly I don’t remember the last time I was so anxious about getting up. Made me feel like a teenager whose virginity is about to be broken.’

‘I hate to say this but that is how I slept as well, and I keep telling myself how wrong this is at all levels but I just can’t help it.’

‘Just this one date and we can go on with our lives.’

‘Just this one date.’

‘I will come pick you up by your room in an hour, make sure you wear something comfortable.’

‘Sure.’ I say

There are a few minutes of silence before he can cut the line, it’s like we both have so much to say to each other but then are trying not to cross boundaries. I really want to enjoy this moment with him but how can I when he is my boss.

I take a relaxing bath and settle into white shorts, a beige smart shirt and matching slippers. I don’t know how the day will go but I still wear my makeup perfectly matching my outfit, I am about to step out when a video call notification comes through. It’s dad.

‘Daddy.’ I say when I pick up excitedly but my smile immediately disappears when I see him with aunt Ivy.

‘You still hate me?’ She asks and I just feign a smile

She excuses herself from the call.

‘Really?’ Dad asks

‘What is she doing with you this early?’ I ask my anger building up

‘You don’t need to fight battles that you know nothing about child, she didn’t do anything to you.’

‘I am not trying to fight any battles, I just don’t understand how she never used to come over at home when mum was alive and yet here she is all over you.’

‘Kasweka.’

I look the other side, I just don’t understand him. There are things that mum never told me whilst alive, maybe because she was rarely home and we were not close but one thing I do know is that she and aunty Ivy were not the best of friends and I can’t help but feel she is trying to get close to dad and have a relationship with him.

‘Ivy and I are just friends.’

‘Friends.’ I repeat and he looks at me sternly

‘I am sorry dad, I just can’t help it.’

‘Anyway, I guess this is not a good time for you to talk.’

‘Chisoni N’guni listen.’ I say, I only use his full names when we are having a serious conversation.

‘Have a good trip baby, and tell me when you are home. I love you.’ He says before dropping the line

I can’t help but feel shitty, I should have given him a chance and not treating him like that. I leave the room and walk over to the restaurant, it looks like we have a favorite spot because he is seated at the usual table reading the paper.

He stands when he sees me, kissing my cheek lightly he says good morning.

‘Are you okay?’

‘It’s my dad.’

‘What’s the problem?’

‘So he has this friend, who was not in our lives the time mum was alive but weirdly she is all over him now.’

He raises an eyebrow

‘I am not even jealous, I mean mum has been gone for years and if he wants to be with another woman but not just aunty Ivy.’

‘That’s a pretty name.’

‘And the two of you can make a pretty couple.’ I roll my eyes

‘You should see yourself right now, okay tell me about this aunty Ivy.’

‘All I know is that her elder brother who is late was dad’s bestfriend but the two lost it along the way for reasons no one has ever given me and now she is all over dad and dad being the good man that he is, he is tolerating it all without realizing that she is just throwing herself at him.’

‘Give her a chance.’

I shake my head

‘I can’t, I have a very bad feeling about her. There are things about dad’s past that he doesn’t talk about, one time I over heard him and mum arguing and aunt Ivy’s name popped up. Since then I have never liked her, I have a huge feeling she could be one of the reasons my parents have never been close.’

‘What if she is the only reason they were together for that long?’

I shake my head and shake off that possibility, the image I have of my parents is distant one but they were in love and I would love to keep it that way. Nothing he tells me will make me change my memory.

After breakfast we walk towards the lake, when we finished eating we talked for quite some time.

‘Don’t tell me you got the entire boat just for us.’ I say when we are received with wine

‘Thank you.’ I say to the gentleman

We take our seats, I am comfortable and the fact that we have the entire boat to ourselves makes it even more comfortable. Soft music is playing, VK has connected his phone to the speaker.

‘Tell me why we are doing this.’

‘Do you want the truth?’

‘Enlighten me.’

‘You have a beautiful mind, it’s hard to stay away from you.’

I look away shyly but he makes me face him, then places his lips on mine gently.

‘You are beautiful Kasweka, very beautiful.’

I hold his face and kiss him again, honestly VK might be as old as my father or even older but right now I just want to enjoy the moment.

‘You have drifted.’

I chuckle, it’s nice to know that he can read my mind like this.

‘You are very beautiful, your mind is beautiful too.’

‘VK you already said that.’

‘I want it to sink in, because I am not here to play. I want you to know that I don’t do games, I am too old for that.’

‘Show me what this old soul can do.’ I say biting my lower lip and he just smiles before kissing my hand.

..

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Winnie

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