Chapter 10

TEN

Sabella

Did Angelo know I'd think of him every time I cuddle Pirate when he told my mom to let me keep the cat? Whenever I set my eyes on Pirate, I'm reminded of Angelo. These days, he occupies most of my thoughts as well as my daydreams.

We communicate daily. He's interested in my life, peppering me with questions about everything from my favorite food to my favorite books. He wants to know what I like for breakfast and why I love the ocean so much.

The attention is flattering. It's got my head spinning, but not enough to be blind to the fact that he's not sharing as much information with me. When I point that out, he says his life isn't that interesting. All I know about him is that his family is filthy rich, that he's involved in his father's business, which he'll take over one day, and that he lives in Corsica.

During one of our many chats, I ask him what his job title is.

Angelo: Jack of all trades.

Me: You're not a master of none.

Angelo: You flatter me.

Me: I mean it. You're one of those people who are good at everything.

Angelo: Some won't call me good.

Me: I do.

Angelo: Does that mean you like me?

Me: Would I be chatting to you if I didn't?

Angelo: One day, bella, you'll change your mind about that.

Me: Never. I'll always like you.

He goes quiet then, making me worry that I've scared him away by implying too much, but then he asks me what else I like, a clever way of changing the subject.

Me: The ocean. As always. You know that already.

Angelo: Why?

Me: I don't know. Because I feel at home in the water. I think I want to become a marine biologist.

He says nothing at that.

I think about it often, about what I want to do with my life and why Angelo isn't as interested in my career choice as in everything else that concerns me. I'm ninety percent certain I made him uneasy by saying I like him. Some guys aren't comfortable talking about mushy subjects like that. From then on, I refrain from giving away too much of what's in my heart.

During the course of the year, I become more certain that I want to become a marine biologist. I've researched several career options with my parents, but I've always had my heart set on working with sea life. The admission criteria for a BSc degree are strict, and places at the University of Cape Town are limited. I can't mess up my grades. I have to score high in science, biology, and mathematics.

When I'm not swimming for our school team, I'm studying with Colin. He wants to become a civil engineer like his dad, which is an equally competitive course. We get our learner driver's licenses on the same day, and work hard toward our academic goals. Instead of distracting me, Angelo is amazingly supportive, cutting our conversations short when I need to study and checking in to make sure I get enough sleep.

I told no one but Colin about the phone Angelo had delivered. As I can't share my lovesickness with my family, I only have Colin, whose ear I chew off about how great Angelo is, how handsome, how mature, and how utterly considerate. Colin bears my ravings without a word, listening like a good friend. Since that first day, he's never warned me about speaking to Angelo in secret again. He's accepted with quiet tolerance the fact that I'm in love with a man who lives thousands of kilometers away on an island.

I carry the knowledge like a precious seed inside me, and as time passes, it blooms like a flower in a secret garden, nourished by attention and affection. Before I know it, the year is gone, and the preparations for my seventeenth birthday celebration leave me with a bittersweet longing, reminding me of when Angelo and I met.

Seventeen is not a milestone year. Luckily, this year, there won't be a string quartet and people crammed onto our lawn. My father makes a dinner reservation at a new restaurant on the beachfront in Wilderness.

During the dinner, I sneak to the bathroom and check my phone, the one Angelo gave me, but there's no message from him. He hasn't wished me a happy birthday. Has he forgotten? Doesn't he remember the day we met? The absence of any news and no word from him puts a damper on the evening and steals my appetite.

I splash water on my face, put on a bright smile, and go back to the table. Mattie and Jared are there. They finally secured a wedding venue for October, and it's all my sister can talk about. Ryan and his wife, Celeste, couldn't make it. Celeste is pregnant with their first baby and due to deliver any day.

"So," Mattie says when I'm seated. "What did you get for your birthday?"

"An underwater camera from Mom and Dad." I smile at them. "Colin gave me a new scuba mask."

"What a pity he couldn't make it, tonight," my mom says.

"Oh, no," I say quickly. "It's better that we kept it in the family."

Mattie mixes her pink gin and tonic with a bamboo straw. "If Colin isn't family, then I don't know what he is." She elbows Jared. "Isn't that so?"

Jared straightens his glasses. "Oh." He glances at Mattie and clears his throat. "Yes. I have a friend I'd like you?—"

"I don't want to meet him," I say.

"Come on, Bella." Mattie stabs the ice with the straw. "Just meet the guy for drinks."

My dad checks his watch for the second time in five minutes. "What's taking them so long? Are they catching the prawns?"

Mom picks up her wine and asks with thin lips, "Do you have somewhere else to be?"

"Just tired," my dad says, winking at me. "It's been a long day."

I watch him closely, taking in the bags under his eyes and the extra weight he picked up around his waist. "Is everything okay at work?"

"Of course," he says. "There's nothing to worry about."

"Are you sure?"

He leans over the table and pats my hand. "It's the spillover of the end-of-the-year stress. You know how it goes." As he looks over my shoulder, his expression lifts. "Ah. Here are our starters."

Mom and Mattie launch into a conversation about the wedding arrangements while Dad wolfs down his food and Jared seems to tune out. I fish my phone from my bag on my lap and check the screen under the cover of the table.

Still nothing.

"Sabella," my mom says.

I jump, guilt painting my cheeks with heat.

She frowns. "No phones at the table."

"Sorry." I put the phone away. "I'm expecting a message from Colin."

Lying became easier as the months passed. I'm doing it now without as much as wincing. Guilt still plagues me, but not nearly as much as in the beginning. I guess you grow immune to it after a while.

The pleats on her brow smooth out. Somewhat pacified, she says, "You can check your messages at home."

For the rest of the evening, I push the food around on my plate while I think up a hundred reasons why Angelo forgot my birthday. It's the anniversary of our first meeting after all. Doesn't that hold any importance for him?

Dad excuses himself when we have dessert to make a call outside.

"What's so urgent that it can't wait until the morning?" my mom asks when he gets back. "Does your CFO still work at this hour?"

Ignoring her, Dad waves over a waiter and orders a coffee.

Things have been hectic at the office since his junior accountant was murdered. Dad is still battling to find a good candidate to replace him. The ones he employs don't stay long. I overheard Ryan tell Celeste that the staff turnover has never been as high.

The online article said the police suspected that the victim was hijacked on his way to work. The assailants must've thrown him over a cliff. His body washed up two weeks later near Buffels Bay. I shiver at the thought. The traffic police later spotted his car on a highway near Cape Town.

They arrested the driver, who claimed he bought the car from a private seller. The seller had been convicted of several car thefts throughout the Western Province. He'd been arrested on charges of theft and murder but was released due to a lack of evidence. These crimes happen so frequently that no one blinks when it's on the news any longer. It's the first time it happened to anyone in our close circle though.

While Dad settles the bill, I drive home with Mattie and Jared. Jared kisses Mattie goodbye and leaves just as Mom and Dad arrive. Dad goes to his study to work for another hour, and Mom and Mattie go to bed. I have a shower, dress in my favorite T-shirt and boy shorts, and go downstairs to say goodnight to Dad.

"Happy birthday, darling," he says with a smile, shutting his notebook in the drawer before switching off his desk lamp. "I'm going to call it a night too."

Dad locks the doors and sets the alarm as I go in search of Pirate, who now has access to the garden as well as the entire house. As it turned out, my mom outgrew her allergy.

Pirate comes out of the lounge when I call him, knowing there's a treat waiting for him. I tuck him under my arm and carry him upstairs.

When I get back to my room, my phone pings. I leave Pirate's snack in his bowl and rush over to retrieve the phone from my bag.

It's the wrong phone. It's Colin. My shoulders slump.

Colin: How was dinner?

I sigh. Thank me later for sparing you from sitting through that.

He sends a laughing emoji. I would've liked to go.

Trust me. You wouldn't have enjoyed it.

Night, Bella.

Smiling, I type, Night, Colin.

I dump the phone on the nightstand and check the other one.

Nothing.

After switching off the light, I crawl into bed with Pirate, as always, taking comfort from his warm body pressed against mine. I'm about to doze off when my phone pings again.

Rubbing my eyes, I reach for the phone to tell Colin to go to sleep, and then my heart jumps in my chest.

It's not Colin.

I grab the other one from where I've hidden it under my bed.

The screen lights up with a text message from Angelo.

Open the gate, bella. I'm outside.