AllFreeNovel
Share Us
On his part, Sefton spent his time talking with his students. I listened in now and then as he told them about his career and about his own path to being an artist. I thought he was a bit pompous, but he was merely answering questions, not volunteering the information. Plus, he had every right to be proud of his accomplishments. We paused for a meal, the guides bringing out tables and folding chairs and even white tablecloths.
Sefton left me alone for most of the day, and I spent it pretty much in solitude. I wondered why he seemed to ignore me, but he did, and didn’t once come over to see what I was working on. It wasn’t that I wanted his attention. I was pretty much on my own all day, left to myself. The other students talked to Sefton or focused on their work and so I did as well.
In the middle of the afternoon, we moved to another location when the giraffes moved out of the shade and to a watering hole. We followed them and set up beside the small lake to see the animals that congregated there for water. There were wildebeests, giraffes and antelope. Apparently, there were crocs in the lake so the animals had to be on the lookout.
I sent Drake a text, suspecting it wouldn’t be sent until I returned to base camp.
I miss you. I drew giraffes this morning, and now we're looking at wildebeests at a watering hole. We ate our lunch at a folding table on the savannah with white tablecloth and china. I feel a bit like a member of the British Raj in Colonial Kenya. I wish so much you were here with me…
There was no indication that the text had been read and no sign of a pending reply so I returned to my drawings and worked until the sun started to fall behind the hills in the distance. Finally, it was time to leave for the day. I was very hot and very dry and sunburnt, despite the sunscreen we slathered on, my face hot, cheeks flushed. I was glad to get back to base camp and a shower before dinner.
Claire was already back and was ready for the dining room, having changed into a colorful tunic and pants with a leopard pattern, so she went ahead of me. I'd join her when I was dressed, choosing a white blouse and matching trousers so that every inch of me was covered up – especially my back and shoulder.
On my way to the dining tent, I met up with Sefton, who had himself apparently had a shower, for his long fair hair was still damp. He was wearing a white shirt and cargo pants and his skin was burnt like mine.
"How was your day?" he said as he fell in beside me as I walked to the dining tent. "Are you enjoying your safari so far?"
I nodded. "So far, so good," I said. "I'm hot, tired and hungry though."
We sat with Claire and a few of the other travelers, and I was only too happy to drink a glass of white wine before our dinner was served. Sefton and Claire talked about South Africa, about politics there. Sefton was thoughtful and reasonable, betraying my view of him as an arrogant jerk. I kept quiet, missing Drake very much, wishing he were here with me. The meal was served shortly after the wine was poured and it was very good – roasted game with root vegetables and fresh chapattis. Claire became quite boisterous, downing several glasses of wine. She showed us all her photographs on her digital camera, and we all ooh'd and ahh'd over them.
After a full day on the savannah, I couldn't wait to get to bed. I decided against going out to the observatory for a second night and instead, went back to my bed and called Drake on my cell phone.
His cell went directly to voice mail and I saw there were no text messages from him and so I felt quite sad, and a bit lonely. He must have been very busy with calls in the ER. I went out to the tiny patio outside our tent and watched the night sky. We faced the savannah and the view of the sky was magnificent. Onc
e more, I felt so lonely, missing Drake, wishing he had been able to come.
Before I turned to go back inside my tent, I saw Sefton walk up, his hands in his pockets.
"Well, Ms. McDermott, how are you this lovely evening?"
I forced a smile, a little startled that he'd snuck up on me like that. "I'm exhausted after a day spent in the heat."
"I find I sleep really well out here," he said, not getting the hint. "The air is so fresh, and it's so quiet."
"It is."
We stood in silence and watched the sky.
"Too bad your… man… wasn't here but I guess he has more important things to do back in Nairobi." I could smell the wine on him and his words sounded a bit slurred.
"Yes, and he does have something important to do this weekend. He's on call in the ER."
"Very important," Sefton said, a hint of humor in his voice.
"It is important."
"More important than experiencing this?" Sefton pointed to the vista with a sweep of his arm. "More important than you?"
"We both have our own lives."
"Of course. Too bad your lives are so different and so separate. What do you do – catch each other on the way to and from work? Not much of a relationship."
My entire body stiffened. I couldn't believe he said that to me…
"You have a lot of nerve saying things like that to me."
"Why do you say that? I'm merely making an observation. Maybe you don't mind being separated from him all the time. But seriously, you and I have spent more time together this weekend than you and he have probably all week. Am I right?"
