The Promise of Rain (7 page)

“I bet. Seems everyone here would defend you. You’ve created quite the kingdom for yourself.”

“It’s not my kingdom. It’s my cause. Don’t mock it,” she said, snapping back to reality. He wasn’t flirting. No. He was still too bitter about her keeping Pippa from him. And calling this her kingdom showed just how little he respected what she was doing. She jumped down and marched past him, but he grabbed her arm, letting go abruptly when some sort of fruit smacked him in the back.

“Hey, stop that!” Jack yelled toward the tree. Anna tugged her arm free. “Not you, Anna. I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to upset you. I—I intended the opposite. Just call off your mutant Doberman.”

He let go of her arm but didn’t break eye contact. Anna wrapped her arms around her waist, staring him down for a few seconds, studying him, before relenting.

“Ambosi, stop. Go play somewhere else,” she said. The monkey made a show of his teeth before obeying. “What did you come here for, Jack?”

“To tell you how impressed I am with how you saved what was—”

“Jomo,” Anna said. The name the kids had picked out for their newest orphan.

“Jomo. You were amazing, working on his trunk wound and—”

“I had to. Trunks are important,” Anna said, interrupting him. But she’d felt the heat creep up her face at “amazing,” and had to stop him. She couldn’t go there, back to when he’d made her feel as if she mattered. Back to when she’d actually believed he’d felt something for her. Back to when he’d wrapped his warm arms around her and told her everything would be okay. Nothing was okay. Not anymore. And going back was a waste of time. “Without his trunk, he’d never survive reintroduction to a herd when he’s old enough. It’s their most sensitive body part. They use it for communicating, smelling, eating, manipulating and for sucking up water to drink or mud to bathe in. That’s just skimming it. I only hope he doesn’t develop bad scar tissue from the wound.”

“There you go, avoiding a compliment. Hiding behind facts.”

“I wasn’t. I thought you’d be interested in the facts.”

“I’m interested in a lot of facts, Anna, but right now I simply wanted to tell you I’m impressed with your work, and that I’m sorry for what Jomo has been through.”

Anna stared at him, not sure what to say. Taken off-balance by his sincerity, and proximity.

“Thank you.”

“Now that wasn’t so hard, was it?” Jack said.

She glared at him. “Don’t patronize me. I don’t care how much power Dr. Miller gave you, don’t think you can waltz in here and do that. I know you’re up to something.”

He ran his fingers back through his hair before setting his palms on her shoulders. Their warmth felt familiar and safe. But he wasn’t. She had to keep reminding herself, before her heart cracked open any more. This was a game to get what he wanted. Pippa. Not happening.

“I’m sorry. I’m not trying to patronize anyone. I’m just—look, Anna. Can we just backtrack? Yesterday was a shock to both of us, but we have to figure this out. We have to be able to work together and get along for Pippa’s sake.”

He was right, of course. Priorities. This was about Pippa. Anna had gotten herself into this whole mess because she wanted what was best for Pippa in the long run. She would give her life for her daughter.

She’d never meant for so much time to pass before telling him, but time and distance had a way of tricking the mind into a false sense of peace. Losing Jack’s friendship, his trust, was the price she had to pay, but it was a small one if it meant that Pippa would always know he made room for her in his life because he wanted to. Not because he had to. For that, Anna would make nice, but only as long as he didn’t fight her for primary custody.

“Fine,” she said. She took a step back, forcing his hands to slip off her shoulders, when what she really longed for was to feel his arms wrapped around her in forgiveness. She paced, trying to focus on Pippa and not Jack. “We can be civilized. Just don’t you forget I’m her mother. You want what’s best for her? Staying with me is what’s best, Jack, and if you don’t think short visits are enough time with you, then you can...you can...move here.”

CHAPTER FIVE

“M
OVING
HERE
IS
out of the question and you know it, Anna.”

Her face flinched so briefly that Jack almost missed it. For that fleeting moment, he almost thought she’d come right out and ask him—beg him—to stay. That she’d tell him how much she’d missed him and wanted him in her life. That she had faith in him as a father, if nothing else. That she’d been wrong for saying no. But that card was off the table. He couldn’t trust her now. Not after the secret she’d kept. If he knew Anna, he knew she’d do anything to protect what family she had left, not to mention her cause. Even if it meant pretending to think he was good enough for her, even if he never had been. He needed for them to get along, but that didn’t mean he had to be stupid about it.

Anna straightened her back, reminding him of how perfectly her petite shoulders fit into his palms and how much he wanted to embrace her. To reassure her. To convince her that he could do this. He’d be a good father. She turned her chin up toward him.

“Of course it is,” she said. “I was just making a point.”

“And you can make all the points you want, but the fact remains that I’m her father, and now that I know about her, you can’t expect me to walk away. Being a rotten parent isn’t genetic.”

His words sounded as hollow as he felt. His neck muscles tightened around his throat, keeping him from repeating them in affirmation.
Being a rotten parent isn’t genetic.
What if it was genetic? What if, for all his good intentions, he ended up sucking at fatherhood? He remembered the self-destructive patterns his biological parents and their friends would fall into. The alcohol. The drugs. The fights. They developed comfortable routines and lost sight of right or wrong or how they hurt those around them. He’d had protective routines, too. Like when he’d lock his bedroom door and hide in his closet whenever his parents had their so-called parties. He’d stay in there for hours, reading a book or studying his spelling words by flashlight. If he left Pippa behind with a promise to visit, who was to say another pattern wouldn’t take over? That one delay wouldn’t lead to another? Work would get in the way, and before he knew it, she’d be all grown up...without him. If she even survived that long. After what he’d seen in the field with Kamau, there was no question this wasn’t the place for a little girl.

The heat drained from Anna’s cheeks and she shook her head.

“In all our years of friendship, Jack, when have I ever treated you like someone I didn’t respect? When have I ever implied that you were anything but good? In fact, if there’s one thing I never doubted about you, it’s that you always do what’s right.”

“And the Anna I knew always did what was right, too, which is why I think you put my name on that certificate.”

She didn’t respond.

“Look, Anna. I need—I’m asking—you to come into Nairobi with me. Just one day, maybe two, off work.”

“Why? I can’t—”

“Hear me out. No matter how we...fix this situation, Pippa needs her papers drawn up. She needs her citizenship, a passport—”

“Wait a minute.”

“No, you wait, Anna. She needs them. This isn’t about you or me. This is about Pippa’s safety and security. What if something happened to you?”

“That’s why I put your name on her birth certificate, Jack. I
was
thinking about the future and what-ifs.”

“But you didn’t follow through.”

Anna’s cheeks reddened with the slap of his words. She hadn’t followed through, just like she hadn’t returned to the States. He’d spoken the truth and wasn’t going to back down. Jack held his hands up in a peace effort, but pressed on.

“If something did happen, there would be all sorts of delays in paperwork. Is that what you want? Not knowing where she’d be in the interim?” He left it at that. One step at a time. No matter where Pippa ended up living, her legal paperwork was a matter that needed to be addressed. He was being straightforward about that.

* * *

A
NNA
WALKED
BACK
to the tree and, leaning the side of her head against one leg of her platform, tried to figure out if he was manipulating her. It wasn’t in his nature, but tap into anyone’s primal instincts and surprising things could happen. She stared out at a herd of zebras grazing unsuspectingly in the distance. In seconds they took off at a fierce run, a cheetah in fierce pursuit. All made it but one. The youngest. Jack winced.

Anna turned, leaning her back against the beam and rubbing her palms down her thighs twice before looking at him.

“It’s nature, Jack. Survival of the fittest. The lack of rain is a predator in and of itself. It’s a spectacular place, though,” she said, looking wistfully back over the dried plains before continuing. “You want me to go into Nairobi with you? Fine. On one condition. You go up there with me,” she said, pointing skyward.

She pushed off and strode past him not waiting for a response. He’d cornered her and she hated being cornered, especially when she’d given him a means. Nevertheless, she’d seen plenty of critters who, when they couldn’t escape to the left or right, opted for up. Ambosi, for one. And up was a brilliant option. Pure genius, if she could say so herself.

“You want me to climb a thorny tree with you?”

“Oh, for heaven’s sake, Jack. Up in the sky. In a helicopter, smart one.”

Jack grinned like a hyena at breakfast.

“I know what you meant,
genius,
” he said, emphasizing “genius,” just as he had back in school, when he’d egg her on until she loosened up and laughed.

She wasn’t about to give him the satisfaction, but the memory, and the familiar way he was smiling at her... Anna sucked in her bottom lip and bit down. Hard. A reality bite that hurt a lot less than the pain he’d cause if she fell for his obvious plan. Nostalgia had no effect on her. The past was nothing but lies. She gave him her best
I’m being serious here
look.

“Didn’t you bring that camera? The one you never let me borrow?” she asked.

“Of course I did. You’re treating me to photo ops? What’s that got to do with Nairobi?”

“Nothing at all.” Anna started back toward camp and he fell in step. A great sign that she’d turned the tables. She smiled, half show and half satisfaction. “An aerial view is an efficient way to check on herds, movement patterns, which watering holes and riverbeds have dried. You get the idea.”

“Checking on poachers?”

“The authorities do that. If we happen to see something suspicious, then of course we’ll report it, but this is strictly to check on the elephants.”

“If there’s a helicopter around here, then why did I have to endure that road trip from Amboseli?”

This time, Anna couldn’t suppress her laugh. “Aw, Jack. Was that a little too wild compared to your pristine lab?”

“No. Just wondering,” he said, visibly straightening.

“Your supplies might have been too heavy, but either way, we don’t have an official landing pad out here. Just a grassy area big enough to set down a chopper in case of emergencies, and for chartering the occasional observatory flight.”

“Your expense list didn’t say anything about charter flights.” The look on Jack’s face told Anna that he hadn’t intended to say that. She stopped and folded her arms.

“Seriously, Jack? You’re unbelievable. Miller’s minion. I happen to know someone who owns a tourist charter flight company. He donates some flight time each month to anyone at a wildlife reserve who needs it. He’s already indulged me this month, though, and it wouldn’t be fair to ask without offering compensation.”

In reality, Mac had been more than kind to her, and she’d been getting the impression that he was interested. The last thing she wanted was to feel beholden to anyone, or to lead anyone on. Taking Jack up would solve several issues at once.

She glanced at him. “You provide the payment—trust me, it’s affordable for you—and I’ll go to Nairobi with you within the week.”

“Affordable, huh? Is this some plan to run my pockets dry and strand me here?” Jack asked, scratching his jaw. She arched her brows and waited. “We do Nairobi tomorrow.”

“Can’t. I have a wedding to attend tomorrow,” she said.

“You’ve got to be kidding me. Out here?”

“Pretty much, yeah.”

“Fine,” Jack huffed, as if she was lying to buy time. She really had blown his trust. “We take care of Pippa’s paperwork the day after tomorrow.”

“Perfect.” Anna swung around and resumed walking. Jack always could read her face, and she didn’t want him seeing the satisfaction on it. That would only raise his guard.

He was right about needing to sort out Pippa’s paperwork. Anna couldn’t argue with that. She wanted what was best for their daughter, just as Jack did. He would do what he thought was best, so she had only one option: make him fall in love with Busara, with Kenya. Convince him that being here with her mother was the best thing for Pippa.

And if plan A didn’t work, then Anna would have no choice but to go with plan B. A plan she didn’t have the money for, but which she’d have to find a way to execute. She’d fight for custody.

* * *

M
AC
THE
GQ
PILOT
was too handsome for anyone’s good.

What bugged Jack the most was that he seemed to have it all. The flying skills, the generosity, a passion for wildlife
and
he was local. Everything that fit perfectly into Anna’s life. And if Jack had to witness one more round of Mac insisting she sit up front with him in the snug little chopper and Anna blushing in response, he’d suffer a preflight bout of nausea.

How many times in the past few years had she gone up alone with this guy? Or out with him?

“We don’t have all day, so why don’t I sit up front, since I have the camera,” Jack said, patting his camera case.

“Sure, man. No problem,” Mac said. He shrugged at Anna and helped her into the back, then got in position.

There was no way Jack was letting on that he’d never been in a helicopter...and had his reservations. The blades began whooping, and revved to a deafening whir. Mac handed them headgear and adjusted his own. By the time Jack realized that having both of Pippa’s parents go up in this tin can together might be too much of a risk, they’d lifted off. He made a mental note.
First step as new dad: write a living will.

Mac veered left, causing Jack’s case to slide. He trapped it with his foot, then mustered up the courage to reach down and pull out his camera. The chopper had leveled off. This was good. He uncapped the lens, tossed it into his case then adjusted his zoom. Man, this camera had seen just about every sunset and sunrise during his gangly, semi-outcast teen years. A birthday gift from the Harpers that he later realized was an attempt to draw him out of his shell. Teach him to trust again. No amount of rain, snow or fog had kept him from taking it to the lake...or to school games. Not that he’d watched them. Every one of those shots had been focused on the warm, accepting, shy face of a girl who, whether she knew it or not, had kept him from looking back. Anna’s innocence, optimism and open heart had convinced him that only the future mattered, and all he had to do to shape it was focus ahead and work hard. So he did.

And look where it got him.

Jack leaned cautiously into the windshield and looked down. Incredible. Breathtaking. In spite of every English class he’d aced, he was pretty sure even a thesaurus wouldn’t carry a word that adequately described the scene below. The tree-dappled expanse. The veins of blue meandering through endless brown grassland. The flocks of white birds taking flight. It was formidable. He aimed and clicked, lost in the deafening whir of the helicopter’s engine and captivating canvas through his lens. From here, there was no smell, no dust, no death. Just...amazing.

They passed over a copse of acacia trees and cleared the camp. Busara looked miniscule against the vast plain. The chopper dipped and Jack instinctively grabbed the side of his seat with one hand. Then, when he noted the corner of Mac’s mouth turn up, he pretended he was shifting positions for a better shot. The guy had probably done it on purpose.

Jack adjusted his lens, turned and took a shot of Anna beaming out the window behind Mac. She turned and grinned.
That smile was for me, dude.
Jack clicked. She gave him a thumbs-up and pointed excitedly out the window. He clicked again. She sent him an exasperated look. Within seconds, Jack felt one of her hands grip his shoulder and the other tap the pad on his ear. She, too, wore noise protection, but the movement of her lips suggested that she was talking to Mac, and Jack couldn’t hear them. His headset was turned off. Mac reached out and fiddled with a knob, and suddenly, Anna’s voice came through Jack’s earphones. So did Mac’s amusement.

“Look down, Jack. You can’t miss this,” she yelled, her face close enough for her sweet scent to envelope him. Close enough for a kiss that wasn’t going to happen. He ignored Mac’s smug look and, obeying Anna, turned toward his window.

“What the...”
No way. Whoa.
Thousands of animals flowed across the plain like a wave of creamed coffee spilling across a maple floor. Beyond them, the unmistakable black-and-white of zebras moving congruously stood out against the neutral backdrop like visitors from another world that didn’t belong. Just like him. Jack had seen migrations on those TV nature shows, but in person it was simply phenomenal.

He didn’t realize Anna had scooted behind him until he felt her hands on his shoulders. He glanced at her as she peered out his window to gain his vantage point. He could feel her breath on his neck as she spoke through the noise. She pointed.

“Wildebeests. They migrate annually in a large circular pattern in search of water. You saw how dry most of the area is, but that river calls to them. And those zebras? Remember when you’d watch TV with me after school and you’d go on about how zebras had zero camouflage sense?”

Jack nodded. She still remembered that lame joke, his attempt to laugh off his lack of fashion sense back then. He wasn’t sure he cared for Mac listening in on this.