The Perils of Skinny-Dipping (16 page)

The regular income from working for Abbey had enabled Prisca to eat a good diet, and her health and her mood were noticeably better. She knew that, once officially diagnosed at the clinic, she would be entitled to the anti-viral drugs paid for by the government, and that this was something she would have to do if she wanted to see her grandchildren being born into the world. The change in her daughter’s state of mind and appearance had also given her a new lease of life and the will to live on. Ironically, she felt stronger now than she had done in a very long time.

Abbey Scott was not completely aware of the effect her actions that Wednesday afternoon had had on both these women’s lives, and that their commitment to her, at home and at work, was a sign of the gratitude they felt at being released from what they both saw as an impossible situation.

Chapter Seventeen

Abbey and Darren flew down to Gaborone Airport on Thursday morning and took a taxi to the Grand Palm Hotel. The capital of Botswana sprawled out before them as they drove down the dual carriageway on the outskirts of the city. The landline was continually changing, and it was here that the investment into the country’s future was really evident. New developments had shot up since Abbey’s arrival, consisting of office blocks and shopping malls. The change seemed relentless, as they passed new developments still in the process of being constructed.

The community was also changing, with families moving their homes and businesses from the troubled Johannesburg to the relative calm of Gaborone. Whether the unrest would follow them was a burning question on most people’s minds, and crime had definitely taken a turn for the worst. The tense situation in Zimbabwe was also putting a strain on the country’s resources, as more desperate refugees arrived in a bid to escape hunger and persecution. Jobs were getting harder to come by, especially for the newly arrived immigrants, and reports of petty crime and burglaries increased weekly as people, desperate for food, took desperate measures.

Despite the significant development, the roads were still busy with a mixture of motorised vehicles, donkey carts, and old-fashioned bicycles. Driving in Botswana was a hazardous and sometimes stressful experience, as etiquette and common sense seemed to evaporate when drivers got behind the wheel and turned the ignition.

The Grand Palm was a prominent landmark on Gaborone’s skyline. It was huge hotel, which had developed over the years into a casino, cinema and conference centre. A long driveway lined with palms and grass verges curved its way to the front of the white building. Abbey looked out of the window as the car neared the front entrance. She had spent her first three days in Botswana at this hotel, at a briefing meeting organised by AVP, before all the volunteers had been shipped off to their various destinations.

On the first night, a disco had been organised around the swimming pool so all the new recruits could make contact and socialise. The same evening, the hotel was overrun with American Airmen, fresh from a training exercise in the Kalahari Desert. A swinging party and serious drinking session had ensued. The next morning, after approximately five hours sleep, she had sat at the breakfast table nursing her hangover, when a tall, slim, mousy-haired gentleman sat down opposite her, a huge grin on his face.

‘
Hell, hun, you look like I feel!’

That was the first time Abbey and Phil met. He spent the next hour trying to be helpful, listing every hangover cure he knew and, although very funny, she was convinced he was making half of them up! Abbey was more than happy when both their names were called out and they were driven to the airport to catch the internal flight up to Kasane. She had known instinctively they were going to get on well.

Darren checked them in at reception as Mr and Mrs Scott, and Abbey felt a warm sensation on hearing these words. This was the first time they had travelled anywhere together since they had got married, and the first time she had heard Darren refer to her as Mrs Scott. He put his hand on her waist as they took the lift up to their room.

‘
Are you OK?’

‘
Fine,’ she smiled. ‘Absolutely fine.’

Abbey did feel fine, but there was a tinge of apprehension about meeting the surveyors at dinner that evening. The phone conversation with Anna Halley was still in her mind, but she had resolved herself not to make any judgements on this woman’s character until she had met her in person.

The table had been booked for eight with pre-dinner drinks in the bar. Abbey had brought smart but casual clothes for the evening. At seven-thirty, they walked into the bar and Darren led her over to a table where a man and a woman were already deep in conversation.

The man stood as they approached and Abbey was introduced to Mr Gunnell. Abbey shook his hand, smiled and turned to face his companion who was still sitting down. She took a deep breath as the woman stood up in front of her. She was at least three inches taller than Abbey, and wearing an expensive designer outfit. Her long, blond hair tumbled over her shoulders and Abbey noticed her perfect makeup.

‘
Abbey, this is Anna,’ said Darren. ‘I believe you two have spoken on the phone.’

Abbey smiled and held out her hand. Anna responded and shook Abbey’s fingers loosely, quickly letting go.

Good grief, that was pathetic
, thought Abbey, retracting her hand as quickly as she could. Anna immediately turned to Darren, placed her hands on the top of his arms and kissed him on his cheek, close to his mouth. Abbey pretended not to notice and showed no reaction.

She sat down, picked up the glass of wine that Darren had ordered for her and prayed that the evening would pass quickly. Over the next half an hour, Abbey stayed silent, nodding and smiling in the appropriate places. Her main objective that evening was to scrutinise this woman, who not only dominated the conversation, but who also seemed intent on undermining her confidence.

At five minutes to eight, the headwaiter approached and advised them their table was ready in the restaurant. Anna quickly stood up and linked her arm with Darren’s, ushering him past Abbey towards the door. Before Abbey had time to think, Mr Gunnell offered his arm to Abbey. She smiled and took it, thinking it would be impolite to refuse. Darren stood and waited for Abbey to take a seat at the table, sitting beside her. He slid his hand onto her lap, took her hand and squeezed it gently. She looked at him and smiled in appreciation.

‘
So Darren,’ said Anna, without looking at Abbey, ‘how is life in Chobe?’

‘
It’s very good,’ replied Darren, looking over at Abbey. ‘Everything has turned out much better than I could have hoped for.’

Mr Gunnell addressed Abbey directly. ‘How do you find Chobe, my dear? Is it to your liking?’

‘
It took a bit of getting used to, but yes, I am very settled there now.’

‘
Do you work, Abbey?’ continued Mr Gunnell.

‘
Yes, I work for the charity AVP, looking after the new tree plantations.’

Anna cleared her throat, as if mocking Abbey’s statement.

‘
Of course, I haven’t always done that, not that it isn’t a good job,’ persisted Abbey. ‘Before I came to Botswana I…’

‘
Darren, what’s this I hear about a new drill?’ cut in Anna, before Abbey could finish her sentence. Abbey drew breath; she was aware her cheeks were starting to burn and quickly excused herself to the ladies’ restroom.

Once inside, she leaned on the hand basin and looked in the mirror. What the hell was the matter with her? Why was this woman making her feel so inadequate? She looked at her clothes and wished she had worn something a bit classier. As she straightened her hair in the mirror, the door opened and Anna Halley strode in and washed her hands in the basin beside her. Abbey stood paralysed on the spot; her brain and her body seemed to lose communication. Anna, sensing Abbey’s vulnerability, struck quickly.

‘
So, how long have you actually known your husband, Abbey? I mean, it can’t be that long.’

Abbey looked at Anna’s flawless reflection in the mirror.

‘
We’ve known each other long enough to know that we want to spend the rest of our lives together.’

‘
Really? Did he say that to you, or you to him?’

‘
Actually, we both share the same view.’

‘
You know that’s the problem with men, don’t you think? They’re so, what shall we say, damn predictable.’

‘
I don’t follow you,’ said Abbey, her voice still quiet.

‘
Gosh, you’re so naive Abbey, considering your age! I mean in my experience they say what they think you want to hear, while their actions say something completely different. I’m surprised you haven’t noticed that!’

Anna looked down at Abbey and smiled before walking confidently out of the room, flicking her head to one side so her hair bounced off her shoulders. Abbey stood completely still. She looked at her own reflection in the mirror. Even with a full makeover, she would never be able to compete with Anna. How could Darren not be attracted to such a stunning-looking woman?

Now she was being silly. Darren had married
her
, in fact he had proposed to her, not the other way around. Those weren’t the actions of a man who didn’t mean what he said. After a couple of deep breaths, Abbey quickly regained her composure and returned to the table, determined not to let Anna’s bullishness intimidate her further.

Dinner finished just after ten and Abbey felt a rush of relief as they said goodnight and retired to their room. As they took the lift, she wanted to speak to Darren about Anna’s attitude and the conversation they had had in the ladies’ toilet, but felt it should wait until the morning.

Darren appeared completely relaxed and unaware of the inner turmoil going on inside Abbey’s head. In a bid to hide her anxiety, she poured him a glass of whiskey, lay on the bed and watched him undress. He smiled and, without saying a word, slid over the top of her, unbuttoning her blouse as he kissed her neck. She had never needed this closeness, this oneness in the same way as she did now. She encircled her arms around his back, holding on to him, determined not to let him go.

The next morning, Darren was up and showered before Abbey was awake. He had organised a breakfast meeting at eight, to discuss work with Anna and Mr Gunnell, as he hadn’t wanted Abbey to feel bored or left out of the conversation the previous evening.

Abbey chose to stay in bed, order room service, and indulge herself with satellite TV. After she had eaten, she showered and made her way to the hotel reception to browse around the selection of shops situated in the reception area of the hotel. She decided to take the stairs rather than the lift, and look at the paintings that were hung around the staircase walls. Abbey smiled at the number of untouched breakfast trays outside doors with the ‘do not disturb’ sign hanging on the handle. The hotel had been busy last night and she had heard laughter up and down the hallways well into the night.

As she approached the ground floor, she heard Anna’s shrill laugh ring out across the foyer. She followed the sound and saw Darren standing with Anna by the reception desk. He was holding a small package in his hand and was showing the contents to Anna. At that moment, Anna turned and spotted Abbey on the stairs. Smiling, and without acknowledging Abbey, she took the box from Darren, kissed him on the cheek and whispered something in his ear which made him smile. Abbey took three steps backwards before turning around and making her way back to the room as quickly as she could. She sat on the bed, feeling paralysed, and once again totally out of control of the situation.

By lunchtime they were on the plane heading for Kasane.

‘
You’re quiet,’ commented Darren, after the air stewardess had poured their drinks.

‘
I didn’t enjoy the company last night.’

‘
You did very well, considering.’

‘
Considering what, exactly?’

‘
Considering Anna was doing her utmost to wind you up!’

Abbey turned her head to look directly at Darren.

‘
Why would she do that, Darren? Is it a habit of hers, winding up the wives of her clients, or is there more to it?’ She surprised herself at the bluntness of her question.

‘
It’s just the way she is,’ replied Darren, ignoring the sharpness in her voice. ‘You might have noticed she doesn’t like to compete for male attention.’

‘
And you just play along with her little game, do you?’

‘
I don’t play along at all, Abbey. What’s the matter? Are you jealous?’

‘
No, should I be?’

Darren twisted in his seat to face her. ‘Listen Abbey, I think we need to trust one another here. Please don’t judge me, based on her behaviour.’ He reached into his jacket pocket and handed her a package. It had been exquisitely wrapped. ‘I bought you this,’ he whispered. ‘I hope you like it.’

Abbey removed the wrapping and recognised the box as being the same one she had seen Darren showing Anna earlier. Inside was the carved gold bracelet she had been admiring the day before when they had first arrived at the hotel. Darren slipped it onto her wrist.

Abbey put her arms around him and kissed him.

‘
I’m sorry,’ she whispered before putting her head on Darren’s shoulder, squeezing his bicep as if amplifying her apology. He was right. She must put Anna Halley and any silly, insecure thoughts out of her head.