Chapter 24.
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1998.
They listened to Clayderman, Sinatra, Whittaker, and………..and in between they snacked and had their drinks. By the time they were ready for bed it was 03.00 o’clock.
It was 9.00AM in the morning when they woke up. The first thing he did was look out the window to see what the weather was like. It was perfect, ideal weather to get married in. After breakfast they were talking and of course as was expected the conversation would include Hippos Crossing.
He said. “My fascination with the area started when I was 12 years old, a couple of years after we arrived in Northern Rhodesia.”
“Why were you fascinated by that area?” Kim asked.
“I love the river, the people, fishing, the bush and the animals.” He replied. “Do you remember that my dad used to go fishing when-ever he could?”
“Yes, I remember him getting his fishing gear ready on a Saturday night.” She said smiling.
“Well, when we were up there he used to take me and Andy with him and we would camp for the week-end. Where we've built the lodge is where we used to camp.
“You were so young Davy. Weren’t you scared?” Kim asked in astonishment.
“I must have told you about our experiences when we were up there. Don’t you remember that?” I asked her.
“Yes I remember vaguely the stories that you used to tell me.”
“Anyway to cut a long story short, a client told me that the Zambian government was giving concessions to people who wanted to invest in the country. So I made enquiries to find out more.” He said then took another sip of my drink.
“So why didn’t you tell me what you were planning, Dave?”
“Yes babe, that was my big mistake.” He said. “I don’t know why I didn’t tell you. It wasn’t anything sinister, I think I wanted to be sure that I would be successful in the application and planning before I told you.”
“Oh Baby, I’m so sorry I didn’t listen to you. We’ve lost so much time.” She said then put her arms around him, and kissed him. “Please forgive me?” She asked in that sexy voice she had.
“That’s the past Babe.” He said. “It’s time to move forward now.”
“Where are the photos Dave. Why didn’t you bring some photos with you?” Kim asked in astonishment.
“When I got your call, I didn’t know what to bring with me. I was making telephone calls to book the flights, I had to organize the staff. I was running around like a chicken without a head. You can’t believe it. The last thing I would have thought of was photographs. I was concerned about you and Marianne.”
“My darling I can’t wait to see it.” She said.
“What is Marianne’s problem?”
“Well the way I hear it is that she invested five hundred thousand thousand and Robbie says it has been lost. I don’t know the full story because she is in such a state she can’t explain what type of investment it is. When I talked to him, he said it had nothing to do with me, I should mind my own business. Then he fired me." She started crying. “God David, what am I going to do? I can’t get another job, I’m too old. Nobody will employ me.”
By now it was 10.30 o'clock.
“Okay.” He said. “Now listen to me. If we are getting married today we better start moving.”
“What are you saying?” She asked looking confused. “How can we get married today, David?”
"All you have to do, is get dressed."
“David…”
“Don’t David me. Go and get ready.”
“Oh. David, what are you doing to me. What am I supposed to wear?” She was all excited not knowing what was happening to her.
“Kim.” He raised his voice. “If you can’t find something to wear on your wedding day we better go and do some shopping. Have a bath, then I’ll drive you to your hairdresser and when that’s done well go and buy you a dress. Just one thing I need to do. I must make an appointment with a magistrate.”
He had a shower, got dressed and was waiting for her. “Kim, ARE YOU READY.” He shouted. “I CAN”T GETS MARRIED ON MY OWN. Where are you?” He called getting a bit concerned about the time.
She came running out the room. “I’m ready.” She said, as they left the house. They had each packed a suitcase with a change of clothing for the next day. He carried them out and put both in the boot of the car.
When they got to the hairdresser he phoned a couple of magistrate offices and finally got one to marry them. They had to be at the court house in Wineburg at 15.00 o’clock and it was now 10.00 o’clock. They had some time but it goes by so quickly and he was nervous maybe more nervous than her. By the time they walked out the hair dresser it was 11.30 o’clock. She looked gorgeous. While he had been waiting they had done her hair, given her a manicure, a pedicure and bought her a bouquet of white roses.
Then they rushed off to a dress shop. She found a mauve dress which showed off her figure perfectly. She wore that together with a blue hat and blue shoes. She looked perfect, just like he would want his future wife to look on her wedding day. They were met at the court by the photographer and while they were waiting he got two strangers in the court to act as witnesses. On the 24th August 1998 at 15.00 o’clock he slipped the rings on her finger and she changed her name to Mrs Kim Paterson. He was 51 years old and Kim was 54. It had taken her 42 years to marry him but the wait was worth it. He kissed her and when their lips parted he said. “Don’t ever keep me waiting that long again.”
When they entered the Mount Nelson hotel the staff formed a gauntlet and as they walked through the wedding march was played. He had booked his normal room but because he had stayed there so often and was regarded as a good client, management put them into a deluxe suite as a wedding gift. In the room there was a bottle of Veuve Clicqot in an ice bucket and a large bouquet of flowers with a card congratulating them. The porter put their luggage in the room and after David tipped him he left. Kim jumped onto the king-size bed and he went to lye next to her.
He kissed her and she put her arms around his neck to pull him closer. Then they removed their clothes. He looked at her lying naked on the bed. Kim was a beautiful woman; she’d been told so since she was thirteen. At fifty-four she felt she was just entering her prime. She looked at him, her long golden hair was spread on the pillow, her body and her breast were still firm and she smiled at him. ”I’ve still got it, hey baby?”
He put my hand on her bear breast “and I love every inch you’ve got.”
With the desire he’d never felt before. He reached out and gently parted her thighs. She took him between her forefinger and thumb and massaged it until it was hard then guided it to her wet sex. Her head went deeper into the pillow and she arched her back as he entered her and started moving in a slow rhythm up and down into her. When he saw the signs of her beginning to orgasm he started thrusting with his hips to meet her. When it was all finish they lay there, their naked bodies stuck together from the sweat. “David!” She said softly. “Please do it slowly.” He looked at her enjoyment as she felt his penis slither out of her, followed by a warm gush of her own vaginal fluid and when they came apart it was with a sucking reluctance.
He felt empty. All the energy he still had in him was gone. After they had loved one another he opened the bottle of champagne and then they looked around the suite. The bedroom was large and separate from the living and dining area. The bathroom was tiled in luxurious marble and it had a walk-in dressing room. On the balcony overlooking the perfectly manicured garden was a table set for a perfect wedding night. The suite would have pleased anybody who had the pleasure of occupying it and he learnt quite a bit that could be used in the lodge.
In the evening they ordered room service and dined on the balcony and when the people walking in the garden saw them they waved and smiled.
The next morning after they had breakfast in the planet restaurant they booked out. When they drove out the parking Kim had the two bouquets on her lap. “I’m going to dry these flowers so that they last for ever.” She said then looked at him and smiled.
While they were having a drink at home he suggested that they go over to see Marianne and give her the good news. He also wanted to know from her what business she had done with Robbie and see how he was going to handle it. "What do you think. Should we invite Marianne to join us when we go to the lodge."
"Oh David, could we?"
"Do I have to say it again?"
"Of course not."
When they walked into the house he stood by and watched Kim hug Marianne. Then she pulled away and showed her the rings on her finger. “He finally married me Ma.” She said laughing. “I told you he would fall for our trick.”
David looked at her and was about to say some-thing when she said. “I’m only joking."
Marianne looked at Kim then at him. “Come here David.” She put her two arms around both of them like they were her children. “I don’t know why you wasted so much time.” She said.
When they were comfortable she offered them tea.
“Could I have a whisky please, Marianne?” He asked.
“Of course you can and if you don’t mind I’ll have one too.” Then turning to Kim she asked. “What about you my angel. What do you want?”
“Ma you sit down, let me get it while you get to know your son-in-law a bit better.”
“Okay my darling, tell me what brought on this sudden brainwave of yours.” Kim and David looked at each other and smiled.
“Well when Kim asked me I couldn’t refuse.” He said as she walked into the room. She grinned and shook her head at him as if to say, really, I don’t know, then handed them their drinks. They put their glasses together and Ma wished them.
He tried to find out what Ma had done to lose all that money, but all she could tell him was that she had invested Rand500 thousand with Robbie and he told her the company had gone bankrupt and all her money has been lost.
He tried to make out that it was her fault, that he had warned her and she hadn’t taken his advice. David got her to get him all the paper work so that he could later have a look at what Robbie did or didn’t do.
Kim asked Marianne if she would like to come with them to the lodge. “Do you mean it, Kim my darling?”
“I’ve never been more serious Ma. It was actually David’s idea.”
“I would love to go with you. Do I need a passport?” She asked sounding a bit worried and excited at the prospect of going on a holiday.
“Don’t you have one?” David asked her.
“No. I never needed one. Attie and I never travelled.”
“I don’t know if mine is still valid.” Kim said.
Later in the week Kim went to fetch Marianne. They were both sitting in the lounge enjoying a glass of wine when David came in after a game of golf. He kissed Kim.
“Marianne is having dinner with us tonight.” Kim said holding him around the waist and looking at him with her beautiful blue eyes.
“I see.” He said. ”How are you, Ma?”
“I’m alright my darling and how are you?” She replied.
“If you will excuse me, I’ll just go and tidy myself up.”
After having a shower and changing out of the sweaty clothes he returned to the lounge. ”Ah! That feels better. Can I get you ladies a drink while I’m pouring?” He asked.
“No thank you, we’re both still alright.” Kim said.
“So what are we having for dinner, tonight?”
“Oh. Ma helped me in the kitchen. We cooked a Malay curry.”
"That’s not true David. I held the salt and pepper cellar and passed it to her when she called for it.”
“Well!” Said Kim. “Isn’t that what you call helping.” She said then winked at David.
Later they sat down to dinner. It was delicious and when the time came he drove Marianne home.
“Have you packed your suitcases yet?” He asked.
“Oh my goodness, no!” She answered. “When are we leaving?”
“Tomorrow.”
“Why didn’t Kim tell me? I would have stayed home and packed.”
“I’m just joking Ma. We leave next week.” They both burst out laughing.
“David, you mustn’t do that to me. I nearly had a heart attack.”
He dropped her off at home and when he got back Kim had done the dishes and tidied up. ”That’s one way of getting out of doing the dishes, hey.” She said as he walked in the door.
Kim still had a passport that was valid for two years. They had to get Ma, as he was now calling her, a passport because she had never been out of the country. He thought that would delay them quite a bit but they were very efficient and helpful at Internal Affairs. They had all the necessary documents that were required, and after 10 days they could go and collect it. While they were waiting for the passport he had Kim and Ma vaccinated against yellow fever and got them to get a police clearance as well. As South African citizens they didn't require a visa. He booked their flights to Zambia with SAA. To leave Cape Town on 10th April then phoned Simon to arrange for John to meet them at Lusaka and Andy to meet us at Ngomo airport. He also told him that he had Got married.
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