She made her way cautiously as she went past the tables and paused briefly to look for him. There was a confused look on her face, but as Jacob watched her from where he sat at the far end, he realized she appeared even more beautiful that way.
Then she saw him and smiled.
"I'm this way!" Jacob said aloud as he waved his hand.
Gloria walked slowly but gracefully and came where he sat alone. She paused briefly and queried, "Am I late?"
"No darling!" He was emphatic. "You're just in good time. I've also just arrived."
As she sat down and looked at him, she knew she could tell no difference between Jacob and Esau. They were so alike, and even as she sat staring at him, she thought she saw Esau.
They were too identical. She knew that unless one of them said she was going to meet her, then she could not tell the difference each time they met.
Of course, she knew most of Esau's clothes.
But suppose he bought new ones, how would she know? She might give him a cold shoulder thinking it was Jacob only to discover later she had ignored her fiancé. She had to play her cards well, she told herself, or else she could lose terribly.
At this moment, Gloria decided to be friendly to the twins. Perhaps even let them have their way until she could learn the difference between them.
The waiter came over their table and requested to serve them.
"Pineapple juice for me and..." Jacob hesitated and asked her, "What will you have?"
"Same!" She was now smiling.
"Two glasses of pineapple juice and hurry it up." Jacob ordered.
So he liked pineapple juice! That was one major difference, she thought, but it was not enough. Perhaps he had even ordered the juice just for her sake.
She felt she had a lot to learn about him. She was still thinking when she heard his voice.
"I thought you wouldn't come," he said when the waiter went for their drinks. "Why?"
"You sounded so harsh on the phone. Are you always like that?"
Silence greeted him as Gloria tried to find words to tell him. Then finally she spoke: "I wasn't feeling quite well this morning. And I was no mood to talk when you rang."
Just then, the waiter brought their drinks and laid the glasses on the table. Then he disappeared as he went to serve the other customers.
"Now tell me about my dad; Alfredo Karahani." He requested.
"There isn't much to say. I also knew him quite recently."
"I've been looking for him all over the island but in vain. Where does he live?"
"Nyali Estate! Your dad is a wealthy man. He lives near the Nyali Beach Hotel."
Jacob was thoughtful as he digested the information he had just heard. As she watched him, she knew he was telling the truth.
"How come you're his son, and yet you don't know where he lives?"
"My parents separated when I was still very young," he spoke reluctantly, "my father, Alfredo Karahani, divorced my mother and probably married another woman."
"So you probably haven't met your own father?"
"No, I haven't," he answered rather shyly. "As a matter of fact, I even can't even remember how he looks like."
"And where have you been all this time," she went on probing.
"I was in Uganda where I lived with my mum. Then she passed away. Before she died, she urged me to look for my grandpa in Kenya. I did just as she told me. It was my grandpa who told me that my dad was still alive." He appeared very serious as he paused.
Then he went on, "That was a very happy moment for me because I had always assumed my dad was dead. I came to Mombasa when I got my present job with a view to finding him. I was on the verge of giving up until you mentioned him today."
As he talked, Gloria felt pity for him. She wanted to kiss and comfort him. But then she remembered almost at once that it was Jacob who had just spoken and not Esau.
She felt ridiculous when it crossed her mind that she had almost felt the urge to kiss and comfort him until her memory intervened.
Then she shot up suddenly, "And didn't you ever know you had a brother called Esau?"
Jacob's face fell when he remembered Esau was the man she had been expecting the night they met at the Whispering Palms.
And then his mind walked into the past and remembered that day when Old Kasamani had talked of his father; and his grandfather had tried to say something until they were interrupted by Kutswa as they were on the title deed affair.
He also recalled that his mother had mentioned the name Esau on her death bed at Musani's home in Mubende.
Then he finally said eagerly: "I didn't know. Who's he?"
"He's your twin brother. He's your father's other son." She saw anxiety on his face even as she spoke.
"What is he to you?" He demanded again when he realized Gloria would never think of loving him because of Esau.
"I told you over the phone. He's my fiancé. We're planning to get married in three months' time."
"Oh, so that's it? And meanwhile I'm left in the cold?" Then he started laughing before adding, "I envy the man who's going to marry you. I wish I had met you earlier. Perhaps you'd have changed your mind. You were too good and sweet last night."
Gloria giggled. "That is water under the bridge; it happened and won't be repeated."
"Well, we'll see!"
They talked over their drinks and discussed their jobs. It was getting late, and the street lights were already on. Jacob then glanced at his watch and started to talk.
"Thanks anyway for coming," he said quietly and quizzed: "Aren't you interested in knowing where I live?"
"Where is that?"
"It's in Changamwe. I'm still looking for a house, though."
"My parents also live there," she mattered slowly.
"Come on," he urged: "Let's go!"
Then he rose to his feet. She followed him out of the restaurant into the street where he had parked his car. He paused briefly as his hands searched for the car keys in his trouser pockets.
Then he smiled as he found them. Opening the car door, he dropped himself onto the driver's seat.
"Come in," he urged her as she stood by the pavement.
She stood hesitating and then climbed into the passenger seat. He looked at her, and their eyes met. Then suddenly they found themselves kissing each other before she realized the mistake.
"No! Let me drop off here and catch a bus home," she said as she tried to open the door.
It was locked, and Jacob just smiled at her. Then he set the Renault in motion and said, "Now to my place for a familiarization tour!" She laughed.
The car sped along Digo Road and then came to Jomo Kenyatta Avenue. It gathered speed and went racing towards Changamwe.
Fifteen minutes later, they stopped outside his rented house.