Chapter 27

Kudzikama—Calm

“Everybody, I would like you to meet our young banking operations director, Unashe Made,” Chamu said with a big smile.

Joe and Tapiwa stood up to shake his hand. Priscilla stood up as well as everybody shook hands with excitement and enthusiasm. Then it was her turn.

“Unashe,” she said.

“Hello, Priscilla,” he said.

“This is a surprise. Does Aunt Mukai know you are here?” Priscilla was trying hard to avoid asking any other questions. What are you doing here? How did you and Chamu get to know each other?

Her heart was beating so hard she wondered if the guests could hear it as loudly as she could hear the noise in her ears. She had learned to hide her feelings, but she wasn’t sure how well she was doing with this particular shock.

“Of course. I forgot you two may know each other,” Chamu said, looking at Priscilla.

“I’m very close to his mother,” Priscilla said, looking at Joe and Tapiwa. “It’s good to see you.”

“This is my wife,” Chamu said and walked over to hold Priscilla again. It took all of Priscilla’s strength not to step out of his arms; his grip felt too tight, and Unashe was watching his hands in a way that disturbed her equilibrium. “I didn’t know she was married to you,” Unashe said as he brought his companion forward.

“This is Dora. Dora, meet Priscilla.” Priscilla shook the hand of the smiling, gorgeous woman.

“Everybody enjoy the hors d’oeuvres. I’ll check on dinner. I’ll be right back,” Priscilla said to the room in general, and then walked to the kitchen and out the laundry to the back garden. She really had to be alone to clear her head. She had to get herself together before she made a fool of herself.

She needed more time to cool her heated skin, but she knew it would seem unusual if she stayed out any longer. The evening was warm with a gentle breeze, and she had a good mind to walk and sit by the pool all evening. She couldn’t face him. Or could she?

After taking several deep breaths of the cool evening air, she walked into the kitchen. Her panic had subsided but her heart hadn’t slowed. She was as terrified of going back to her guests as she had been as a child facing Oliver after she had done something wrong.

“How is the food coming along?”

The two men dressed in white chef uniforms turned away from the stove and looked at her.

“It’s done, madam. We can serve as soon as you are ready.”

“You can bring it in now,” Priscilla said and walked back into the living room.

Another couple had arrived, so that meant ten people for dinner. Chamu was talking to the men and the women, as usual, were talking in a group on their own. She glanced at Unashe very quickly and looked away. He was busy listening to the other men talk, a glass of wine in one hand and the other in his pocket.

She walked over to the women and introduced herself to the newcomer, a mother of four and business owner, Faith Sekeranai. Faith was very warm and friendly. Priscilla gravitated toward her. She liked her independence and the way she had started her catering and wedding planning business. Listening to her talk was calming. At last Priscilla was finally able to get her mind off the huge distraction in the room.

“My next venture is to move in another direction. I want to buy land and develop a wedding venue. There is a lot of money in that also. I know a couple that had to pay thousands of dollars for a piece of grassy land to have their wedding. I can do better than that, and create a beautiful garden with water features and exotic flowers.”

Priscilla paid attention to the conversation, but her whole being was alert, completely aware of when Unashe took a drink or laughed or said a word. As they were getting ready to go to the dining room, Rudo came down the stairs. Priscilla laughed when Rudo walked in and saw everybody. The child’s eyes went round with surprise. Priscilla’s smile froze when she caught Unashe looking at Rudo.

“Say hello to everyone, Rudo,” Priscilla said. Rudo walked around giving everybody a handshake, the way they had taught her after Lina’s lecture. The last person she greeted was Unashe. He seemed enthralled by Rudo.

“I knew you had a daughter, but I didn’t know she was this big,” Unashe said, looking at Priscilla.

“Time flies,” Priscilla said.

“Rudo, you can go to the kitchen and Sisi Maidei will give you your dinner. We can’t eat together tonight,” Priscilla said.

“Because of the people?” Rudo asked, looking around.

Everybody smiled or giggled at her comment and the way Rudo asked the question.

“I’ll take you,” Priscilla said and walked with Rudo to the kitchen. She was aware of everybody’s eyes on her, but only one set made her tremble.

Dinner was a mixture of traditional and Western food. The rice mixed with peanut butter was a family favorite, and there were two kinds of meat, oxtail stew and roasted chicken. The coleslaw salad was always there, and Priscilla had asked for some mushroom sauce on the side.

Priscilla sat down opposite Chamu on the long glass and oak table while the other couples all sat opposite each other on either side. Unashe was separated from her by one other person. She could see everything he did in the corner of her eye.

If asked, Priscilla couldn’t tell anyone how the food tasted. Her mind kept racing throughout the meal. Unashe was so close, and she couldn’t even have the luxury of yelling at him or slapping him or holding him.

* * *

“That was an excellent dinner,” Chamu said as they got ready for bed. Priscilla removed her earrings in front of the dressing table. Her mind worked at high speed as she tried to think of the appropriate things to say.

“It was good. How on Earth did you get hold of Unashe?” Priscilla looked at Chamu in the mirror. She hoped her voice sounded neutral.

“I had a talk with his mother,” Chamu replied.

“Auntie Mukai?”

“Yes. She knew that he would be coming back, so we decided to get him the job. He has been working in Standard Chartered in England, and I figured he would be an asset with his international exposure and banking certifications.” Priscilla nodded slowly. Chamu undressed and went to stand behind her.

“Come to bed,” he whispered in her ear.

Priscilla wiggled out of his arms and walked into her closet. She took off her dress and put on a long nightdress. She started tidying up her closet, but, after a while, she knew she had to go bed. Chamu sat on top of the gold bedding looking at the newspaper.

“I’m really tired,” Priscilla said, getting under the sheets. Chamu folded up his newspaper and joined her under the satin sheets. He reached for her.

“Come on, Pri,” Chamu said, pulling her resisting body to his. She stiffened and curled her legs up to her chest.

“I’m exhausted. I can’t do that tonight,” Priscilla whined.

“You are always tired. I’m a very understanding husband, but I think it’s time to try for our next child.”

“I know,” Priscilla said with little enthusiasm. She was tired, yes, but more importantly, her mind could not calm down. She had just said good-bye to Unashe at the door.

Unashe.