Endgame. Wilna Adriaanse
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He’s my soulmate. One day when you meet the right person, you’ll understand.”
Ellie felt like laughing. Her mother didn’t sound convinced that she would ever meet the right person. She wanted to ask her mom if she was still drinking, but she was suddenly exhausted. It was a conversation for another day. “I have to go now, Mom. I’ll see you on Saturday. Is there anything I can do for you?”
“No, thanks. Magda and Delia are arranging everything. They’re sweethearts. You’ll love them to bits.”
It wasn’t the first time her mom had referred to Janus’s daughters as “sweethearts”. Her mom had truly hit the jackpot. Not only a new husband, but two sweet daughters as well. And a son.
“Let me know if there’s anything I can do for you. SMS me the arrangements.”
“I will. Thanks for calling.”
She started telling her mom that she was visiting her dad, but her mom had ended the call.
Ellie sat motionless for a while, not certain what to do next or where to go. She touched the tree trunk. “I hear you, and I’m trying my best. But it’s never been simple between the two of us. And now this man … and the two daughters …” Ellie smiled. “At least you’re not the only one who’s been replaced.”
A bird landed on the lowest branch and the leaves stirred lightly. Ellie almost laughed out loud when she saw it was a weaver. Her dad had never liked weavers.
“Karma, old man. For all the weavers you chased out of the garden with your slingshot.”
She didn’t know whether to tell him her mom was getting married. The great love of his life had found someone who made her happier than he ever had. Perhaps he knew. If so, she hoped he was so happy where he was now that he didn’t mind. She thought again about the house that was going to be sold. Sometimes, before she was properly awake, or just before she fell asleep, she imagined she saw him in his garden. And for a brief moment the world was good and the pain was less. But lately another face sometimes moved in front of his. For that reason it might be better if the house was sold. She needed to remember him somewhere. Where he’d been happy some of the time.
She got up, touched the tree again. Then she picked up a leaf and put it in her backpack. “I’ll be back.”
Slowly she made her way back to the entrance.
When Ellie stopped some distance from the house in Rondebosch it wasn’t on impulse. She was not the spontaneous kind.
Ever since Happy had told her that Clara was missing, she had known she would come here. Even though she was annoyed with Albert for asking. It might even be the reason why she was so annoyed with him. She had known she would have to come. Even if she tried to deny it, and even if her mouth was dry and her hands clammy at the thought of seeing Reggie.
It was half past three and the streets were alive with children in sports kit returning from school. A few cars were parked in front of the house.
To her relief, Elroy opened the door when she pressed the intercom button at the gate.
He frowned when he saw her. “Can I help?” Then his eyes narrowed. “I don’t believe it. Miss McKenna! Where have you come from?” He pointed at her hair. “Like a brand-new person.” The smile he greeted her with vanished quickly, as if he suddenly realised he was doing something he wasn’t supposed to do.
“Hi, Elroy. How are you?”
“I’ve been better.”
Ellie remembered the first time she had met him. He and Reggie had fetched her at the office and taken her to Williams. Elroy had always been warm and friendly. Unlike Reggie. But at the moment there was little evidence of friendliness. He seemed to have aged in the course of a few months.
“Is Mr Williams here?”
He moved towards her, but hesitated before opening the gate. “He’s actually quite busy.”
She smiled. “I won’t keep him long.”
“Maybe I should find out first if he’s willing to receive visitors. It’s really quite hectic around here.” He unlocked the gate.
“Fine. Give him my regards if he’s too busy to see me.”
She waited in the hallway while he disappeared into the house. Nothing had changed. She could see the dining-room table from where she was standing and she wondered if there was any food or biscuits on it. She had never seen as much food as there was in this house.
“Miss McKenna?” Nazeem Williams came walking towards her.
“Mr Williams, I’m sorry to arrive unannounced, but I was in the neighbourhood.”
He motioned towards the lounge to their right. “Come in.”
“I just came to say I’m sorry to hear about Clara and to ask if you’ve heard from her. And to tell you personally that I’ve never had contact with her again. I’m sorry now that I didn’t keep in touch, but I didn’t want to complicate an already difficult situation.”
He ran his hand across his face. “I’ve done many difficult things in my life, but these past few months have aged me.” He looked straight at her. “Are you a religious person?”
“My dad was religious. Some of it has rubbed off.”
“Do you believe God sometimes punishes you for things you have done?”
“I don’t know about that. But I know it sometimes feels like it.”
“At the moment it certainly feels like we’re being punished.”
“I’m sorry I can’t be of any help.”
“After everything that happened, I was forced to hire people to look after her. She made their lives hell. She begged me to find you and get you to come back. I tried for a while, but you seemed to have vanished from the face of the earth.”
“I had to get away for a while.”
“Miss McKenna … do you think Allegretti’s got her?”
Ellie shook her head. “I’ve asked myself the same question, but I don’t think so. He has many flaws and has probably done a few things he should be punished for, but in his own way he loves her. He wouldn’t kidnap her. He knows how traumatic it would be for her. She’s very attached to her family.”
“We could only do our best.”
“Have you notified the police?” Ellie didn’t know if she was imagining the glint in his eyes. And it was interesting that he hadn’t asked her how she knew.
“Not officially.”
“Maybe it’s time you do.”
Nazeem ran his hand across his face again. “It’s not so simple. There are all kinds of things to weigh up, of which her safety is the most important. If I knew who had her, or where she was, I’d have a better idea of what to do. I suppose there’s always the possibility that she ran away. That she planned it herself.”
“I hope it’s the case, but I’ll say it again: She loves you and she knows it would break your hearts.” Ellie got up. “I don’t want to keep you. I just wanted to come and tell you that I’m sorry and I hope she comes back safely.”
“Mavis would have liked to see you, but she’s lying down. The doctor gave her a shot this morning. She hasn’t eaten or slept since Friday night. You can imagine that she feels responsible.”
Before Ellie could react, a woman came through the front door. Williams called out to her. Ellie recognised her when she walked into the lounge.
“Sally, it’s Miss McKenna, who used to look after Clara.”
Ellie got up and held out her hand. “We met briefly before. I’m very sorry to hear about your problems.”
Sally