Simi calls after Lola. “You know Lola – I loved it. The experience of my life. You’ll want to go and see Africa one day. Trust me.” But Simi can tell Lola isn’t listening. She’s over in the far corner, leaning on the cutting table, sketching something on to a large piece of paper. Above her a lamp is switched on, its light picking out her braids.

Love her hair. If you’ve got a sister who can braid you are so in luck. Plus she’s got the time.

Simi stands up, and as she does so the mobile in her pocket buzzes.

“I’ll get it,” she calls out to nobody in particular. “Hello. Kaftan Shop.”

“Hello,” a cheerful voice bounces down the line. “Can I speak to … Simi? Is that you?”

“Marybelle? How did you get my number?

“From the doctors. Oh, it’s so lovely to hear you. I can’t talk long, I’m on Father Norman’s mobile. It’s just that I’m coming over to England for a visit. Isn’t that crazy?” Marybelle giggles.

“What? A visit? When?”

“Soon. Not sure exactly. Are you well Simi?”

“Yes. Yes I am. But …?”

Simi tries to gather her thoughts, as Marybelle charges on.

“Simi I’m coming all because of Father Norman and Lady Rodwell. Anyway, he got Fred and I …”

“Lady Rodwell?”

“Yes. Oh. Sorry. Maybe you weren’t there. Do you know the Lady Rodwell?” 

“No …”

“Oh. It’s a hospital in Bulawayo. Lots of babies got adopted from there. I was adopted from there.”

“You?”

“Yes. Well, Father Norman’s mother has just died, and she asked him to search for someone in the records there.”

The words tumble down the line.

“Oh …” says Simi, mind racing. “Marybelle, can you just slow down a little?”

“Oh sorry. Well, the person Father Norman was looking for …”

“Is? Is you Marybelle?”

 “No. No silly. Sadly the lady his mother wanted him to find has died. In one of those Viscount disasters I think. But the point is Father Norman also helped Fred and I look for people.”

“Fred? You’re related to Fred?”

“What?”

“You and Fred are family?”

“What? No Simi.” Marybelle’s laughter bubbles into Simi’s ear. “No Simi … I’ll start again.”

“Okay. Can you slow down a bit. I’m really confused.”

“Right.” Simi hears Marybelle take a deep breath. “Father Norman was looking for somebody his mother knew about, a cousin I think. He found the name, but the lady’s died. He then asked me if I would like to find out about my father and, I said ‘yes’. I never wanted to before, but I think the cyclone and the wedding made me think.”

“And?” asks Simi.

“Well, he helped me search. Turns out there’s no trace of my father, and I’m sad, but not too sad about that … can’t really imagine finding him now … but it was exciting to look … but … Simi … guess what?”

“What?”

“He found someone for Fred.”

“For Fred?”

“Yes. Fred also has a link to Lady Rodwell, but I didn’t know that, until Father Norman came. Then I found out.”

“And?”

“Fred has a daughter.”

“And it’s you?”

Copyright Georgie Knaggs & The Phraser 2023