Jacob was a delighted man. He was happy that he had come to learn about his father's residence outside the island. He was also thrilled that he had discovered Gloria's house at Tudor.
As he drove towards Nyali after work, he knew it would no longer be a difficult task finding his father. Gloria had given him a fair description of the old man's residence. But on second thoughts, he realized he had been foolish not to check his father's name in the telephone directory.
Fate, he thought, had a way of leading people to each other, and it had definitely led Gloria and his father to him. He slowed down when he realized he was approaching the Nyali Beach Hotel.
Then he saw the small sign post by the side of the road. It simply said: ALFREDO KARAHANI ½ A KILOMETRE AHEAD. Jacob swung the car onto the small dirt road that led to his father's house and drove slowly.
As he approached the house, he was quite surprised by its beauty. It looked quite picturesque as it stood overlooking the ocean. It stood like a colossus and was painted white. It was surrounded by Bougainville trees, which looked like soldiers besieging a city.
Jacob drove to the parking space and stopped the car. Then he emerged out and admired the beautiful view of the sea. The cool evening sea breeze that brushed gently on his face was like the sweet, loving words Gloria spoke on the nights they made love.
Alfredo had seen the car stop outside his house and began to wonder who had called at that hour. Esau, who sat next to him on the sofa, wore a sad and tired look. Meanwhile, Jacob was outside the door and rang the doorbell.
"Just come in!" Alfredo's voice came from the lounge, "Push the door open. It's not locked!"
Jacob obeyed and entered the lounge. It was a large luxurious lounge, and he paused briefly, not knowing where to go. Then he saw them as they sat on the sofa. As their eyes met, Jacob could not believe whom he was staring at.
Seated at the far end of the lounge on the sofa was a young man of his age. As Jacob looked at him, he thought he was looking at his own reflection in a mirror. Next to the young man was an old man who bore some resemblance to the young man.
Alfredo was startled when he saw him. He almost froze. He was startled. Then it dawned on him he was staring at his own son whom he had been separated from many years back. He rose quickly to his feet and went to meet him.
"Welcome!" He sounded happy as he paused and then said, "Who are you, young man? Jacob, my son, I presume?"
Jacob unbelievingly glared at his own father and was quite moved. He was home at last, he thought happily as they shook hands. "Yes, dad. I'm your son, Jacob Karahani."
Alfredo burst out into a prolonged laughter and began to embrace his son.
Meanwhile, Esau, who had been watching keenly, knew he was staring at the man he had seen kissing Gloria the previous night. As his eyes met Jacob's and remembered he was the twin brother Gloria had spoken of, Esau felt a wave of hatred sweep across his heart.
His eyes were filled with envy and hate as he watched his father embrace the new comer; Jacob. Then slowly, he rose to his feet and made his way towards his bedroom. He reached the exit when Alfredo noticed he was missing and saw him.
"Come on Esau, where are you going? Aren't you happy to meet Jacob? Come and meet your twin brother who was separated from us many years back," Alfredo sounded very excited and cried out, "Call your mother Lucinda here quickly!"
Jacob knew his father was excited and delighted to see him again. But as Esau was disappearing, Jacob remembered he was the man Gloria had referred to as his twin brother.
The reality had finally caught up with him; the chicken had finally come home to roost. He had a twin brother as his dying mother had tried to tell him at that time, although he had never understood.
And this new reality did not amuse him because he knew he now had a rival to contend with as they sought Gloria's love and attention. One man stood between him and Gloria; his own brother Esau! Jacob almost started regretting why he had come.
"Sit down," Alfredo urged him when he saw Jacob was still standing.
He sat down and regarded his father. Alfredo looked like a man in his late fifties or early sixties. He also appeared quite a healthy and contented man.
"Tell me about yourself," Alfredo urged him. "Where's your mother, Angela?"
Jacob swallowed hard and replied, "She's dead. She died many years ago when I was still a little boy. She died at Mubende and was buried there."
"Is that in Uganda? I heard last time that she went to live there."
Alfredo appeared shocked by the report about the death of Angela but quickly recovered. Then he heard his son speak cautiously. "Yes, it's many miles from the city of Kampala."
At that moment, Lucinda appeared in the lounge and looked baffled. "What's this I hear Esau telling me? He says a brother of his has just arrived. What did you just tell me, Esau?" She was asking Jacob as he saw him seated next to his father.
Like Gloria, she mistook Jacob for Esau.
Alfredo intervened almost immediately. "This is not Esau, Cindy! It's little Jacob, Esau's twin brother, who is now a full-grown man."
Lucinda was baffled but recovered almost immediately and burst out laughing. "I'd never have known if you hadn't told me. It's hard to tell the difference between them."
"I too was baffled when he arrived a few minutes back. But instinct told me he was the long separated Jacob," Alfredo sounded even more cheerful as he talked.
Then, turning to Jacob, he said: "This is your mother, Lucinda."
He knew Lucinda was their stepmother the moment she entered, and he rose to his feet and shook hands with her. They smiled at each other broadly.
"Now Cindy, prepare us a good meal as I learn more from my dear son," Alfredo waved his hand in a gesture of dismissal, and she retired into the kitchen.
She did not ask any questions and performed her duties zealously, especially cooking, which she liked and enjoyed. She knew Alfredo preferred the food she herself prepared and did not want any other person to do it; not even the domestic servants they employed and who also lived on the compound.
When he saw her leave, Alfredo nodded with satisfaction and resumed the talk. "Now tell me, what are you doing here in Mombasa?" As he asked, Alfredo guessed his son was doing quite well.
His eyes ran over the clothes he wore and the car he had seen on his compound and knew he worked for a good and well paying company. "I work for the Transocean Company."
"Since when have you been around?" Alfredo probed as he seemed anxious to learn more, "And you work there in what capacity?"
"I've worked for almost three years. I began as a simple clerk, rose to an administrative manager, and was recently promoted to Deputy Company Secretary."
"Three years and yet I didn't know you were right here in Mombasa? It's ridiculous, but I can't blame you." He paused then continued, "How did you know I live here?"
"Someone told me."
"Who was it?"
"Gloria Auma."
"So it was Gloria? What a nice and kind lady! I've not seen her for some time."
Then suddenly, his face looked troubled when he noticed Esau's absence.
"What's wrong with Esau?"
He was now almost speaking to himself. Then he called out, "Esau! What's wrong with you today? Aren't you happy to meet your twin brother?"
Silence greeted him. Then he said, "Wait a minute, Jacob! Let me fetch your brother."
He walked out of the lounge hurriedly and disappeared along the corridor that led to one of the bedrooms. Jacob remained sitting alone in the lounge as he brooded. He had noticed Esau's cold attitude and began wondering.
Was Esau suspicious of his affair with Gloria? It was most unlikely, thought Jacob, since they had just met for the first time.