Page 9 of Worlds Apart
“We don’t use any single use plastics here in the camp. They’re illegal in Kenya, unless you have health reasons to use them.”
“So you’re saying I’m not special because I got a mug with my name on it?” She held up the mug with Sunny written in bright gold marker.
He smiled and looked away. “I suspect you’re special for entirely different reasons.”
Okay, she didn’t know what to say to that. Probably Martin was charming with all the guests, especially single female ones. According to Alice, Sunny was expressly forbidden from falling for Martin’s partner Errol, because he was… Well, Alice had a few choice phrases, one of which might have rhymed withtan glut. But she hadn’t mentioned anything about her boss.
“Right. Um…” Sunny started walking toward the reception tent again, only to run into Martin’s shoulder as he headed toward the Land Cruisers. “Sorry.”
“No, it’s my fault. I should have been looking…” He cleared his throat. “Did you get some breakfast?”
She held up the croissant. “Just this.”
“If that’s enough to hold you for an hour or so, I believe the chef has packed a proper breakfast for us to eat near the river this morning.”
“Oh that sounds…” She blinked. “Did you sayus?”
“Yes.” His smile was back. “By special request, I will be driving your group this week. It should be fun. It’s been years since I was behind the wheel for a whole week.”
“Special request?” She looked around. “Who…?” If Alice got even a hint that she was interested in Martin, she’d start playing matchmaker hard. “Did Alice suggest that?”
“Oh no.” Martin started back on the path toward the trucks, but he pointed in the distance. “Head to reception. I can’t wait for you to meet Ethel.”
* * *
“So I toldthe young man steering the boat to follow that thing, will you?” The women with the silver pixie-cut gesticulated wildly. “But he wouldn’t! Said it was an arapaima and it was dangerous. I didn’t see how it could be that dangerous. We were on a boat after all. But he was a skittish one.”
Sunny hadn’t blinked in fifteen minutes. Ethel Merriman hadn’t stopped regaling the group with tales from her many adventures since Sunny arrived at the reception tent. The Calaways from Arizona and their two adolescent boys rounded out Sunny and Ethel’s group.
One of the Calaway boys asked Ethel, “Did you catch any fish?”
“I’m not a game fisherman, son. But I’ll catch my dinner if I need to.”
“Were there piranhas in the river?” the other boy asked.
“Many of them, but they’re not as dangerous as the movies say. The real danger in the river is the candiru. Now that’s one you boys would need to watch for if you visit the Amazon because the candiru will sense if someone is peeing in the water and then they’ll swim right up—”
“Okay!” Alice clapped her hands beside Ethel to stop that train from leaving the station. “Who’s ready for a game drive?”
Everyone stood, including Ethel, who barely came up to Sunny’s shoulder. The boys ran to the car with their parents following them, leaving Ethel and Sunny on the deck.
“I guess the two single gals should stick together,” Ethel said to Sunny. “Is this your first trip to Kenya?”
“Yes.” She held her hand out as Ethel started down the steps. “My first real trip anywhere. I mean, I’ve been to Paris once and to Athens for a school trip because my parents kind of insisted, but I don’t travel much for work.”
“I didn’t either,” Ethel made it down the steps, steadying herself on Sunny’s arm. “Not until I retired. Now I spend every other birthday here, and in the other years, I go someplace new. Next year I’ve got a trip planned to Papua New Guinea.”
“Wow. How old are you?” Sunny wanted to bite her tongue. “I’m so sorry, that’s none of my business.”
“I don’t mind telling you! I’m eighty-seven this year. Proud of every year.”
“Wow.” Sunny would have guessed late seventies at the latest. “So what’s the secret to living a long life?”
“That’s easy,” Ethel said. “Just don’t stop.”
* * *
Martin drovethe Land Cruiser to a curve of the river where staff from the camp hopped out and quickly set up a folding table and the omelets the chef had prepared for the guests, along with fresh fruit, mango juice, and warm rolls baked that morning.
