strapped her tote across her chest so that it hung safely in front of her. She shifted Pippa on her hip, unwilling to trust the little girl not to pull free and disappear. Anna grabbed one of Haki’s hands, while Niara took the other.
According to Jack, he’d taken care of their accommodations. They had all packed lightly and efficiently for the brief trip. He took their carry-on bags and, surprisingly, led them through the crowd as if he’d lived in Nairobi all his life.
Had he come to Kenya on lectures in the past? Without bothering to hunt her down in Busara? He’d known she was somewhere in Kenya. He could have pressured Miller to tell him where, if he’d actually come through here in the past. Anna thought about the possibility and decided it didn’t make sense. Then she saw a tall, dark and well-dressed man waving at them. No wonder Jack seemed on top of things. He had a beacon.
“Over here!” The man shouldered through the crowd and closed in on them. “ Jambo, Jack. Back alive, I see.” He laughed, shaking his hand and relieving him of one of the bags.
“Did you get the other samples I sent?” Jack asked.
“Yes. Yes. Thank you. They arrived safe and sound.”
“Good.” Jack put his hand on Anna’s back. “Dr. Alwanga, this is Dr. Anna Bekker and my...daughter, Pippa. And this is Niara Juma and her son, Haki.”
“ Jambo. Nice to meet you,” Dr. Alwanga said, shaking Anna’s hand briefly, then holding on to Niara’s a meaningful moment longer.
Well, well. Anna cleared her throat. “We should get out of here,” she said.
“Absolutely. I have a car waiting.” Dr. Alwanga turned and led the way.
Exhaust fumes ambushed her as she followed the doctor to a white SUV. Anna rubbed her nose against her sleeve. She preferred dust to fumes, although she knew from past trips that she’d adapt to the noise and smells soon enough. Especially if she got a delicious whiff of savory street food. She hadn’t had anything but her coffee all morning. She’d been too busy getting Pippa and herself ready for travel. Not that she ever ate breakfast, but since Jack had shown up, snacking had gotten the best of her. Her stomach growled and she quickly pressed her hand against it, hoping no one had heard.
“I figured you must all be starving. We can stop wherever you like before heading to the hotel,” Dr. Alwanga said.
Anna blushed. “Actually, it’d be easier if there’s something at or near the hotel,” Anna answered, climbing into the back with Niara and the kids. The children were getting jumpy. A warning that they were probably hungry and tired, yet excited over the change in scenery—a mix that could inevitably lead to a meltdown.
“No problem,” Dr. Alwanga said, maneuvering into traffic. “We can stop at the university after you have a chance to eat and freshen up. I looked into procedure and printed off the forms you asked for when you first got to Busara, Jack. However, the embassy website asks that you send the paperwork electronically in order to book an appointment. I couldn’t get that done for you.”
Anna caught Jack, who’d sat up front, glancing at her through the side mirror. She wrinkled her forehead at him. Planned ahead, did you? She knew he’d booked a hotel after she’d agreed to the trip. But Dr. Alwanga just said Jack had contacted him when he first arrived at Busara. He’d had his doctor friend get the ball rolling before he’d spoken to her. How had he been so sure she’d agree to the trip? What would he have done if she hadn’t? Why didn’t he just come out and say he’d planned the rest?
It was all moot now. What he’d done partly irked her and partly...felt good. She was relieved that someone was taking care of things. Appointments for legal paperwork didn’t happen overnight here. She’d been expecting long delays. But it wasn’t all on her shoulders now, as she was accustomed to. She was relieved that the darn legalities, which had nagged at her
According to Jack, he’d taken care of their accommodations. They had all packed lightly and efficiently for the brief trip. He took their carry-on bags and, surprisingly, led them through the crowd as if he’d lived in Nairobi all his life.
Had he come to Kenya on lectures in the past? Without bothering to hunt her down in Busara? He’d known she was somewhere in Kenya. He could have pressured Miller to tell him where, if he’d actually come through here in the past. Anna thought about the possibility and decided it didn’t make sense. Then she saw a tall, dark and well-dressed man waving at them. No wonder Jack seemed on top of things. He had a beacon.
“Over here!” The man shouldered through the crowd and closed in on them. “ Jambo, Jack. Back alive, I see.” He laughed, shaking his hand and relieving him of one of the bags.
“Did you get the other samples I sent?” Jack asked.
“Yes. Yes. Thank you. They arrived safe and sound.”
“Good.” Jack put his hand on Anna’s back. “Dr. Alwanga, this is Dr. Anna Bekker and my...daughter, Pippa. And this is Niara Juma and her son, Haki.”
“ Jambo. Nice to meet you,” Dr. Alwanga said, shaking Anna’s hand briefly, then holding on to Niara’s a meaningful moment longer.
Well, well. Anna cleared her throat. “We should get out of here,” she said.
“Absolutely. I have a car waiting.” Dr. Alwanga turned and led the way.
Exhaust fumes ambushed her as she followed the doctor to a white SUV. Anna rubbed her nose against her sleeve. She preferred dust to fumes, although she knew from past trips that she’d adapt to the noise and smells soon enough. Especially if she got a delicious whiff of savory street food. She hadn’t had anything but her coffee all morning. She’d been too busy getting Pippa and herself ready for travel. Not that she ever ate breakfast, but since Jack had shown up, snacking had gotten the best of her. Her stomach growled and she quickly pressed her hand against it, hoping no one had heard.
“I figured you must all be starving. We can stop wherever you like before heading to the hotel,” Dr. Alwanga said.
Anna blushed. “Actually, it’d be easier if there’s something at or near the hotel,” Anna answered, climbing into the back with Niara and the kids. The children were getting jumpy. A warning that they were probably hungry and tired, yet excited over the change in scenery—a mix that could inevitably lead to a meltdown.
“No problem,” Dr. Alwanga said, maneuvering into traffic. “We can stop at the university after you have a chance to eat and freshen up. I looked into procedure and printed off the forms you asked for when you first got to Busara, Jack. However, the embassy website asks that you send the paperwork electronically in order to book an appointment. I couldn’t get that done for you.”
Anna caught Jack, who’d sat up front, glancing at her through the side mirror. She wrinkled her forehead at him. Planned ahead, did you? She knew he’d booked a hotel after she’d agreed to the trip. But Dr. Alwanga just said Jack had contacted him when he first arrived at Busara. He’d had his doctor friend get the ball rolling before he’d spoken to her. How had he been so sure she’d agree to the trip? What would he have done if she hadn’t? Why didn’t he just come out and say he’d planned the rest?
It was all moot now. What he’d done partly irked her and partly...felt good. She was relieved that someone was taking care of things. Appointments for legal paperwork didn’t happen overnight here. She’d been expecting long delays. But it wasn’t all on her shoulders now, as she was accustomed to. She was relieved that the darn legalities, which had nagged at her
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