having the hugest déjà vu of my life. Tommy hadn’t been joking around when he’d said she looked like me. It was like looking at a freaking reflection of me, only older.
‘You look so young!’ I said, because I couldn’t stop myself.
‘Why, thank you. Actually, I am almost sixty-eight years old.’
‘Wow! I’d have put you at forty-five max. Please, sit down.’
‘Thank you.’ I watched her looking around. ‘This is some fancy apartment you’ve gotten yourself here.’
‘Yeah, it’s very convenient.’
‘I once lived on the other side of the park. It’s a good neighbourhood. It’s safe, very safe.’
‘You used to live on the Upper East Side?’ I said, staring at her.
Now she was standing in front of me, I noticed she was dressed in a shirt which I could see was well made and a pair of tailored black trousers. What looked like an Hermès scarf was tied jauntily around her slender throat and her hair was trimmed in a short afro. All in all, she exuded a natural elegance and beauty – and she looked rich!
‘Yes, for a while, I did.’
I realised she was staring at me as hard as I was at her.
‘How tall are you?’ she asked me.
‘Just over six foot.’
‘I beat you then.’ Stella looked pleased. ‘I’m six foot one and a half.’
‘Can I get you something to drink?’
‘No thank you.’
‘Okay. I’ll just fix one for myself then.’ I walked to the bar and acted as though I couldn’t find the vodka before I poured it and added some tonic.
‘You like vodka?’ she asked me.
‘Sometimes, yeah. You?’ I responded as I took a slug.
‘No, I’ve never developed a taste for alcohol.’
‘Right,’ was all I could manage. ‘So, you said in your letter that you wanted to see me?’
‘I did, yes.’
‘Why?’
She stared at me for a while, before she offered me a small smile. ‘You’re probably asking yourself what I want, aren’t you? Thinking I’m here to take advantage of your fame and wealth?’
I felt the heat rise to my cheeks. This lady sure didn’t mess around.
And who does that remind you of, Electra . . .?
‘Yeah, a bit.’ I decided I should fight fire with fire.
‘Well now, I can assure you I’m not here to ask you for money. I have enough of my own.’
‘Right. Good,’ I said, listening to her American accent, which was very refined. In other words, she was a classy gal. ‘Shall we sit down?’ I indicated the couch, but Stella Jackson made straight for one of the two upright chairs and settled herself in it.
‘Are you going to ask me the big question?’
‘Which one would that be? Like’ – I shrugged – ‘there are so many.’
‘Where did you come from maybe?’ She eyed me.
‘That would do for starters,’ I agreed, trying to take a small polite sip of my drink, then failing and taking a gulp.
‘You are descended from a long line of princesses, or the equivalent of them anyway, in Kenya.’
‘Isn’t Kenya in Africa?’
‘Well done, Electra. You’re right, it is.’
‘And were you born there yourself?’
‘I was, yes.’
‘So how did you – or was it my mom – wind up here?’
‘Now, that is a long story.’
‘I’d like to hear it if you’re prepared to tell it.’
‘Yes, I am, of course I am. It’s what I came here to do. Before I start, maybe I will take a glass of water.’
‘I’ll get you one right now.’ As I stood up and walked to the kitchen to take some bottled water from the refrigerator and pour it into a glass, my head spun, but it wasn’t from the vodka. The lady sitting on my couch was just nothing like I’d expected. The burning question in my head was how come, when she looked so well off, had I ended up being adopted? And where and who was my mother?
‘Thank you,’ Stella said as I handed her the glass and she took a sip. ‘Now, why don’t you sit down?’
I did so tentatively.
‘You look afraid, Electra. Are you?’
‘Maybe,’ I admitted.
‘I understand. Now, it’s been a long time since I recounted this tale. Bear with me, won’t you?’
‘Yeah, of course I will.’
‘So, where shall I begin?’
I watched my grandmother’s fingers tapping on her thigh. It was such a familiar gesture – I did it all the time when I was thinking – that the last shred of doubt I’d had about this woman’s claim to be my blood vanished.
‘Pa always said one should start from the beginning.’
Stella smiled. ‘Then your dear pa is quite right, and I