One of Mandisa’s friends passed by and Mandisa scurried from my lap toward them.
“Silly girl,” I muttered.
“She’s fond of you,” Ian said, when the others got up to get plates for themselves.
“I hope so.”
“She loves you.”
I whipped my eyes toward him. “You think so?” I asked softly.
“I know so.”
This bolstered me like nothing ever could. If a child chose to love me even though I was so undeserving, did that mean I could earn Ian’s love? Could I become worthy? I studied his beautiful pale face, framed with messy black hair and piercing blue eyes. God, he was so fascinating to look upon.
“What?” he asked, running his hands through his hair. “Do I have something on my face?” He smoothed his hands down his expression.
“No, nothing,” I answered, standing up to grab a plate.
Ian got up and stood close behind me a few seconds later and I could feel the smile on my face grow to impossible lengths.
“Will Pembrook come through?” he asked the back of my head.
Now, I knew boys. Well. He knew Pemmy would try his best. He just wanted to talk to me and that brought the butterflies back.
“He will try his damnedest.” I cleared my throat. “Have-have you been vaccinated?” I asked reticently, afraid of his answer.
“I was the last time I visited home.”
“That’s good,” I said, relieved, lining the linoleum with the toe of my boot.
“Jinja’s a dangerous drive,” he stated.
“Why doesn’t this surprise me?” I added sarcastically. “What is it about this bloody place? It’s the land of every extreme possible.”
Ian grabbed my arm unexpectedly, the heat from his hand warming me to an impossible temperature, and turned me toward him. “You’re right but with extreme suffering, there is extreme happiness. With extreme earth there is extreme beauty.”
I thought on what he’d said and remembered the view from my plane when I arrived. “You’re right. Lake Victoria was one of the most beautiful sights I’ve ever seen.”
“It’s incredible.”
“The children here are extremely loveable,” I declared.
“Good one,” he said, smiling. “That they are.”
Four giggling girls walked by us arm in arm singing a traditional song, making my heart swell.
After breakfast, we grabbed the satellite phone and hopped in Ian’s truck. I took note of the rifle strapped behind the seats and my blood began to pump, adrenaline flooding my body.
“It’ll be all right,” Ian assured me.
“How do you know?” I asked when he revved the engine.
“I don’t,” he said, “but I’ll protect you.”
My heart began to slow and my breathing steadied...because I believed him.
The truck was too loud to hold any kind of conversation and that disappointed me. I was dying to talk about whatever that thing was that happened between us at the watering hole. I was determined to get to the bottom of it as the sat phone charged.