Chapter 16
1995
A well known assurance brokerage wanted to go public but before they could do that, they had to prove they had a certain amount of assets and turnover. They started buying small brokerages to push up their turnover and assets. They also approached David and gave him an offer for his business but at that time he didn't want to sell because he felt the offer wasn't good enough and he was concerned for his ladies. But now that they had started building the lodge his attention would be focused on that and he wouldn't be able to give the client the service they required. He negotiated and came together on a price which suited both parties. A month later the check was in his account and his company was taken over.
He flew down to Cape Town to see Kim to give her the good news. When he came out the arrivals hall she was waiting for him. He put his arms out and they came together as if they hadn’t seen each other in years. When he looked into her eyes he knew that he was in love. She drove him home, her home and when they got there they were in such a hurry to get into each other's arms they left the suit-cases in the car.
It was beautiful. It was a night the Gods had arranged for them. They could not have wished for more than they had at that moment. Later while we were lying in bed David said to Kim. “I need to tell you something. For the last two years I have been working on a project which I haven’t told you about.”
“Yes.” She said. “Go on.”
“I haven’t told you about it because I wanted to have everything signed and sealed before I spoke to you about it.”
She sat up with her back against the headboard. “What have you been working on that you couldn’t tell me about Dave?” She asked with a bit of anger in her voice.
“It’s nothing sinister. I’ve signed a deal with the Zambian Government to open a lodge.”
She got out of bed and standing in front of him. “A LODGE DAVE, WHAT THE HELL DO YOU KNOW ABOUT LODGES?” Kim shouted. “The closest you’ve got to a lodge was a boarding house. And that was run by your mother.”
“I can’t understand why you’re so cross. All I’m doing is opening a lodge.” He said.
“YES, AND WHAT ABOUT US?” She shouted.
“What do you mean by what about us? Nothing changes.”
“We’ve been together for five years. Doesn’t that mean anything to you? Have you got any intention of marrying me?” She asked as tears filled her eyes and ran down her cheeks.
“I want to marry you babe. But let’s wait to get this over with. Please?” He asked.
“Dave lets go to sleep. We’ll talk about this in the morning.” She grabbed a cushion and walked through to the sitting room.
“Kim, please don’t do this?” He asked feeling really bad.
“GO TO SLEEP!” She shouted.
He lay there on the bed, staring through the blackness at the ceiling. He tossed and turned. His eyes ached from tiredness and he still could not sleep. All night he wondered what was going to happen. He didn’t want to lose her because she meant too much to him. Later she came from the darkness into the room. She thought he was asleep but he watched her as she took something out her cupboard. He was hoping that she would forgive me and come into the bed but instead she walked out softly back to where she had come from. This was the second time he could not sleep because of a woman. Suddenly he was afraid he would be alone, to be without her. He felt a tear come to his eye. When he got up the next morning she was sleeping on the chesterfield. He sat on his knees in front of her while she slept and even at that moment as he looked at her, she was the person he most cared for in his life.
She said it was finish between the two of them and later drove David to the airport. “Kim I love you.”David said but she was not interested in talking to him.
She looked at him with the sadness in her eyes that he'd only ever seen once before. That was when her father died.“I love you too. But I can’t sit at home every week, month after month, year after year waiting for you. I can’t wait another two years Dave. Maybe you need a bit more time but put yourself in my place. I need security Dave.”
“If you give me two years Kim we can be together for always?” He was almost pleading with her to at least consider what he was asking her. But it was like he was talking to a deaf person. He got no response.
When they got to the airport he pulled her to him and tried to kiss her. “This was crazy.” He said to her. But she was committed to what she was doing and had no intention of changing her mind. He got out the car, took his 2 suit-cases out the boot and walked towards the departure terminal. He saw the car disappear in the distance and suddenly a tear fell on his cheek.
June 1995.
Andy had already been at the site working with the surveyors and Simon had managed to secure a 14 year old lease so that work could begin on the site right away. 464Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVIyY8I7vVp
Simon was working with the architects who were were based in Lusaka. They were given a mandate to design the building to blend in with it's surroundings and only the best materials were to be used and if they could not be sourced in Lusaka they would come from Johannesburg and railed up there. The roof was going to be thatch and would have a high pitch and each room was to have an African theme and be stylishly furnished.
Water could be pumped from the river. They would erect solar panels and as the need increased so did the panels and they bought petrol operated generators for electricity.
Everybody that worked on the site was paid a bonus at the end of the month if they achieved their progress target and overtime was also paid. The workers motivated each other because if they didn’t reach target nobody was paid.
The lodge was set in a verdant garden and almost and all the plants were indigenous and chosen for their scents, colors, flowers and hardiness. Most of the trees had been saved and some were replanted. Water was sufficient to keep the lawns alive and green.464Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSOfrO6szgE
David tried phoning Kim but he could never get hold of her. He wished that if she would just once pick up the phone and listen to him she could share the experience and see what he was creating.
But Kim was also having a tough time. She missed him but she didn't want to pick up the phone and dial his numbers. She had withdrawal symptoms and couldn’t sleep at night and couldn't stay awake during the day. She thought of him constantly and couldn’t concentrate at work which was also creating problems for herself. She tried but was unable to reshape her life where he was no part in. She spoke to her friends and co-workers and to Marianne about why the relationship had ended but no one could help her or give advice as to what she should do.
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