he’d promised her to be all those years ago.
“Life has a way of making even the worst situations work out for the best. You simply need to keep the faith, my boy.” His pa’s words rolled over him and watered the seed of hope he’d planted the day he’d run in to Mina.
Pa continued on their stroll and Ray followed. His head and his heart were spinning.
The pair walked up the path in silence as Ray led them to a tap so they could rinse their feet before putting on their shoes.
“It was good to see you. I think there is still much you must face, but this time you are not alone.” Derek embraced him.
Ray waved as the old man made his way back up the steps toward the main house. He longed to follow his pa.
I have a daughter …
Agh, who was he kidding? Father? He couldn’t be a parent to her. He’d given up that right the day he’d thrown Mina away like a soiled rag.
This was his place in the world now. A bottom feeder. A nobody who owed the world everything and deserved nothing. And yet his heart ached to reach out and be with them more than his lungs yearned for oxygen.
Mina looked up from her empty plate as Derek entered the kitchen.
“Oupa!” Lullu called as she strutted into the kitchen from the back door.
“Ah, back from your ride?” Derek asked.
“What? What ride? Lullu Marie van der Westhuizen, you said you were going to groom Boesman, not ride him,” Mina scolded.
“Agh, Ma, he was antsy. He needed a bit of a run before he’d settle down. You know what men are like.” Lullu brushed her mother’s anger off and sat down at the table. “What’s for pudding?”
Mina gave Derek a warning glance when he burst out laughing, and Grace shook her head as she rose and walked over to the fridge while Derek, trying hard to smother his humour, cleared the leftover cutlery and bowls from lunch. Mina simply leaned her head in her hands and sighed.
“Was that man your friend, Oupa?” Lullu asked as Derek took a seat across from her.
Mina’s head shot up. She glared at Derek, who smiled and said, “Yup.”
“He looks just like you from that photo of you and Ouma. You know, when you were also younger and thinner.” Lullu giggled when Derek leaned forward to tickle her.
“It’s all your Omie’s good cooking.” He patted his belly in an attempt to change the subject.
Mina felt her chest constrict. God! This girl was a bloodhound when she latched onto an idea, or in this case, the one thing Mina really didn’t want her to discover.
“That’s enough now, bokkie. Come, Omie has made your favourite pudding.” Grace came to the rescue as she placed a plate of freshly made koeksisters and melktert before them.
“Ooo yummy!” Lullu said.
After they’d all finished the desert and coffee, milk for Lullu, and cleared the dishes, Derek stretched his arms up in to the air, “Ready Grace. It’s a long drive back.”
“Ja, it’s time to go.” Her mother smiled as she stroked Lullu, who’d snuggled in to her grandmother arms, head.
Mina walked her mother and Derek to the car. Lullu ran off to check on her pony, again.
“So, Ray wrote to me about the poachers.” Derek’s voice took on the paternal tone he used whenever he got serious about things.
“Ja. But we’re safe. They only wanted the abalone,” Mina reassured him.
“Thank God. With all these farm attacks …”
“You also live on a farm, Derek,” she reminded him.
“True. We all need to stick together during these dark times.”
“Look, I’ve got to ask …” She paused and looked her pseudo father in the eye. “Do you think Ray …” She swallowed when Derek frowned deeply. “Could he be involved?”
“No.” His answer was swift and clear.
“With his past …”
Derek held up a hand. “Six months ago, I’d have cornered him myself. But the man I saw today … no, I can honestly say with a clear conscience that Raymond is not involved.”
Mina nodded. She believed him. Derek had never beat around the bush when it came to his son’s faults.
They continued on their walk to the car.
“You need to speak with him.” Derek took her hand in his. “He knows, and I’ll not play middle man any longer. ”
Mina swallowed hard. “He doesn’t deserve anything, Derek. I raised her. I’m the only parent she’ll ever know.”
“That’s for your daughter to decide.” Her mom spoke up.
“And what would you have