The Twin Test

by Rula Sinara

  Dax stopped stoking.

  “You’re making them clean elephant poop?”

  “Don’t look at me.” Boy, did that carry a double meaning at the moment. “It was their idea. I lived. They will, too.”

  Dax took a deep breath and added another log to the fire.

  “I have to see this to believe it.”

  The fire hissed just as the rhythm of insect song was interrupted by grunts and howling. The girls tensed.

  “Don’t worry. They’re far off,” Pippa said. The girls seemed to relax. They all sat there in comfortable silence for a while, staring at the fire. She didn’t dare glance over at Dax.

  “I wish we had marshmallows,” Fern said.

  “You’ve had plenty of sugar.” They’d convinced him to let them eat a couple of the pastries Alim had given them. Dax shuffled his boot against the dirt.

  “It’s so pretty,” Ivy said, staring into the flame. “I love the way the burnt pieces of wood at the bottom glow red-hot.”

  “Should I be worried?” Dax joked.

  “No, Dad. It reminds me of the volcanoes in those documentaries we watched once. There was that one in Iceland people used to think was the door to hell. Mount Hek...something,” Ivy said.

  “Hades?” Fern tried. “No, Hecate?”

  “Those names are from Greek mythology. The volcano is in Iceland. Sheesh,” Ivy said. Fern’s face turned red.

  “Mount Hekla,” Dax said, trying to break up any argument.

  “I was just trying to remember the name that started with H,” Fern defended. “I know those names are from Greek mythology, just like Erebus was the brother of Tartarus, Gaea, Nyx and Eros, who were the gods of the underworld, earth, night and love. Right, Dad? I’m not stupid.”

  Did she have to bring up Erebus? Erebus. The flame. Wood burning. Coal. Fossil fuels. Pippa tried reminding herself that he wasn’t the man for her. That he’d lied about it all.

  “You actually got them right,” Ivy said. “Kind of interesting that, here we are, surrounded by earth...sitting around a fire that’s kind of like the underworld...in the dark at night...with love in the—”

  Dax coughed loudly, then pretended to wave away the smoke. Pippa’s cheeks burned and it wasn’t from the heat of the fire.

  “I think it’s time for bed,” Dax said.

  Ivy yanked Fern’s arm and pulled her up.

  “You’re so right, Dad. We’re going to bed,” Ivy said. They both stretched and yawned a little too dramatically.

  “Good night,” Fern added. They ran into the tent faster than wildfire.

  Neither one said anything for a few moments after the twins zipped up their tent.

  “Sorry about that,” Dax said, finally.

  “I know you had nothing to do with it. I’m flattered that they like me enough to pull a stunt like that,” Pippa said.

  He pressed his lips together and nodded.

  “I can stay out here and watch the fire. You go ahead and use the tent,” he said, reading her mind. After what the twins just did, sharing the tent wasn’t a good idea.

  “I can stay here. I’ve tended plenty of fires,” Pippa offered.

  “No. I’m sure you have...and could...but so long as I’m here, you get the tent.”

  Pippa tossed her pebble down and stood.

  “Thanks. I guess I’ll see you in the morning, then.”

  “Pippa—”

  He was going to say too much. She could almost hear his thoughts. It was the smoke and wilderness and darkness playing tricks with their hearts.

  “Good night, Dax,” she said, then she disappeared into the tent with the twins.

  * * *

  DAX DUMPED THEIR camping supplies just inside the door of the bungalow. None of them had spoken much that morning. They’d smothered the fire and taken down the tent, but everyone seemed exhausted. He hadn’t slept a wink and he needed to go out to his research site to check on things today, even if for only a couple of hours.

  Pippa followed the twins inside the room, helping them carry a few things. Dax wiped his palms against his jeans and waited for Ivy and Fern to pass by on their way to their room so he could speak to Pippa alone.

  “Pippa, about last night. I don’t want things to feel awkward. I don’t want you uncomfortable. I can talk to the girls or—”

  “Dax, it’s okay. Kids do things like that. They have wild imaginations and don’t always see the reality of situations. Just let it go,” Pippa said.

  Stress and fatigue were gnawing at his muscles and brain like parasites. He was too tired to think. She was brushing off what the girls had said, but was she also brushing off whatever had passed between her and him before that?

  He was the one who told her it could never work out between them. He was the one who wanted to protect his daughters. He had no right to wonder if Pippa was also finding it impossible to ignore the pull between them. She was acting so...professional...it bothered him.

  “Maybe the twins are getting their hopes up too much at this point. I’ll look harder at getting someone new out here to help with them. Maybe it’ll be best for all of us,” he said.

  “Oh, you’re not doing that until we figure out what’s happening at Erebus. We need to work together on this anyway. Plus, I have a school to build and scholarship to fund. You can’t fire me now.”

  “Okay, then. I appreciate your staying, Pippa. Today and the near future.”

  She shrugged and started for the washbasin.

  “Just don’t be late coming back. I have a schedule to stick to,” She said.

  Right. He’d had that one coming. And then some.

  * * *

  TWO DAYS SHE’D been on schedule, and now Dax was running late. At least he’d called this time. Pippa simply couldn’t risk having to stay the night with him and the twins again. Not after that night at the campfire and not since then, either. The twins were clearly determined to match-make. Pippa had even slipped in comments...little reminders...about how they’d stay in touch after they returned to the United States but the message didn’t seem to be sinking in. And now, she’d overheard them whispering about how they liked the way Pippa was there whenever their dad got home. Like they were all a family. She definitely needed to limit the number of times she slept over, for their sake as much as her own.

  The satellite phone sputtered static in her ear. She moved a few feet to see if she’d get better reception. She really needed to talk to him. Instead of her staying over, she had just suggested taking the twins with her to Busara. It would give them a chance to see the elephants, too, killing two birds with one stone. But his voice cut out before she got an answer.

  “Can you hear me better now?” she asked.

  “Yes, I’ve been hearing you. You can’t hear me for some reason.”

  “I can now. Wherever you’re standing, don’t move. Listen, Dax, if you heard what I said about Busara, then you’d have to agree it would work out perfectly.”

  “I still don’t think it’s a good idea for them to go all the way there without me. That’s a long drive. I’m not even sure there’s enough daylight left.”

  “I’ve done it plenty of times and I know how to play it safe. If we leave now, we’ll make it well before sunset. Look, the experience would be phenomenal for them. They’d love it. The entire family is gathering tomorrow, so I can have my Uncle Mac pick you up at Tabara after work, or even at your site if that’s easier for you. Then you can come to Busara yourself and see what a great place it is. You’ll witness firsthand how much fun Ivy and Fern are having, and you’ll get to meet my family.”

  It hit her as soon as the words left her mouth. She’d just invited him to meet her family. Surely, he wouldn’t take it that way. It was clear the entire purpose was for him to join his daughters. Still, there was an uncomfortable pause on the othe
r end of the line.

  “I don’t know. I definitely don’t want to open Pandora’s box with your uncle or the rest of the family regarding Erebus.”

  “Then we won’t mention it. Mac can pick you up with his helicopter from here. Dax, do you trust me with Ivy and Fern?”

  “Yeah. I do.”

  “Then it’s settled. We’ll see you tomorrow. In the meantime, be safe.”

  CHAPTER ELEVEN

  BUSARA WAS A hive of activity when they arrived, and after singing with the girls in the jeep for the past hour, they’d all worked up an appetite. The aroma of Auntie Niara’s cooking wafted to her from the kitchen, making Pippa’s mouth water. She hopped out of the jeep, and the twins followed suit.

  “Over there.” Pippa pointed toward a row of pens built out of wooden poles and topped with thatched roofs. “That’s where we keep the orphaned elephants. The part attached to it is the clinic where all the supplies are kept. We keep the emergency cases or surgical recoveries there, too. And off to the right, those older-looking framed tents are where I grew up, from the time I was born until I was about six years old.”

  “You lived in a tent. Permanently?” Fern asked.

  “Yep. Not even a modern bathroom. We took bucket showers out back. At the time, my mother was raising me on her own. My dad wasn’t around back then. It was just my mom, her best friend, whom I call Auntie Niara, and her son Haki, who was a little older than I was. My mother’s colleague, Kamau, worked here, too. He ended up marrying Niara and adopting Haki. You’ll meet them along with Haki’s younger brother, Huru. You’ll also meet my younger brother, Noah.”

  “What about your dad? Why wasn’t he around? Work? Our dad used to not be around a lot of the time because of his job,” Ivy said.

  Pippa put her arm around her. She didn’t want to overload their minds with the fact that her dad hadn’t even known about her until she was four.

  “Oh, he was working in America, but he did end up moving here permanently, and that’s when they built that house over there.” She pointed to the left of the circular clearing in the center of the buildings. “That made life much easier. We even got a real bathroom.”

  “I want to see the baby elephants.”

  “Can we really touch them?”

  “You can. I haven’t forgotten about the stall-mucking deal, you know.”

  Their faces fell.

  “Well, if we can pet a baby elephant, it’ll be worth it.” Fern said.

  “Pippa! We’ve been waiting,” her mother, Dr. Anna Bekker, called out from the clinic doorway.

  “Hi, Mom.” Pippa motioned for the girls to follow her. “Come on. My mother is queen of the elephants. In fact, her radio name ever since I can remember has been Mama Tembo, which means elephant mother. She’s probably dying to introduce you to the babies.”

  “Oh gosh! Ivy, look!” Fern pointed toward a keeper who was walking one of their most recent rescues out into the courtyard area. He was leading the baby toward a nearby clearing where they took the elephants to be fed and exercised. Anna stopped him as Pippa approached with Ivy and Fern. She’d never seen such huge smiles on their faces.

  “Mom, this is Ivy and Fern.”

  “Hi,” Ivy said. She wasn’t as bold as usual.

  “Hi...Mama Tembo,” Fern said. Pippa chuckled at the surprised look on her mom’s face. Poor Fern’s cheeks reddened. “I’m not sure what I’m supposed to call you.”

  “I was just telling them about the code name you earned,” Pippa explained. “I should have told you girls that her real name is Dr. Anna Bekker.”

  “I thought your last name was Harper,” Ivy said.

  “It is. I have my dad’s last name. Mom kept her maiden name for professional reasons.”

  “You can call me anything you like. I answer to all of it,” Anna said with a welcoming smile. “And this little one is Amani. It means ‘peace’ in Swahili.”

  Amani raised her trunk and poked at Fern’s belly, then Ivy’s. The girls giggled and tentatively reached out to touch her trunk.

  “What’s she doing?”

  “She probably thinks you’re hiding her milk bottle in your pockets,” Pippa said.

  “She has hair on her head,” Ivy noticed.

  “The babies are quite fuzzy,” Anna said. “Most people don’t realize that.”

  “This is so cool.” Fern looked like she was about to cry from the experience.

  “Dad isn’t going to believe we got to pet an elephant. This is so amazing.” Ivy held out her palm and scrunched her nose when Amani tickled it.

  “He’ll be able to see for himself soon. I believe Mac is going to do rounds in his helicopter to pick everyone up,” Anna said, as Amani was led away.

  “Everyone?” Pippa assumed he was picking only Dax up.

  “He’s stopping at Camp Jamba-Walker to get Tessa. His wife,” Anna explained to the girls. “And he’s also picking Haki and Maddie up from the airstrip at Hodari Lodge.”

  “They’re making it in from Nairobi?”

  “That’s the plan.”

  Pippa had seen them plenty of times since her return from abroad a year ago. Her trip had been more about needing to reevaluate her life and identity than about trying to avoid them. And things were okay now between them all, sort of. She still felt awkward around them, but things were civilized because they had to be. She wasn’t sure how she felt about Dax’s meeting Haki, though. She wasn’t sure why. It just seemed strange, even if she and Dax weren’t together.

  “Well, then. You’ll get to meet my cousin and friend, too, Ivy and Fern. Why don’t you come in the house for some snacks and I’ll introduce you to Noah and Huru. Oh, and no doubt Auntie Niara is cooking up a storm. She’s an incredible cook. Sorry, Mom.”

  “Don’t be. Everyone is safer when I work with wildlife, as opposed to food. Ivy, Fern, make sure Pippa brings you out here again to see the clinic and meet the other orphans. I need to get back to work.”

  “Thank you,” the twins chimed, as Anna returned to the clinic.

  “Now, only one rule out here,” Pippa warned them. “You don’t wander off. Got it?” The girls nodded. “I mean it. This isn’t Tabara Lodge, not that you should wander off the grounds there, either. But this camp is pretty isolated, and the reason we have orphans in our care is because there are poachers out there. Evil people you don’t want to encounter. And then there are wildlife dangers. I don’t want you anywhere I can’t see you. Promise?”

  “We promise. For real.”

  Interesting qualifier on a promise.

  “Okay, let’s go inside. I’ll show you my bedroom. All my stuff is still in it from when I was your age.”

  They headed up the steps to the front porch of the single-story home. Mosi, the vervet monkey who’d been hanging around Busara all of his life, just as his father, Ambosi, had before him, jumped out of the tree overhanging the porch and screeched at the twins. They both jolted and screeched right back, terrified. Both of them gripped onto Pippa’s arms and stood slightly behind her.

  “He won’t hurt you. This is Mosi, the monkey I told you about. He’s a self-appointed guard for the camp. Trust me, once he realizes you’re not strangers, he’ll start flirting or begging you for food instead of trying to scare you.”

  “I wasn’t scared,” Ivy said, slowly peeling herself off Pippa’s side. Nope. Not scared at all.

  “He just surprised me,” Fern said.

  “It’s okay. You’ll get used to him. Mosi, I don’t have any food, and that’s not a nice way to greet our guests.”

  The monkey cackled and scampered back up the tree.

  Pippa held the screen door open for the twins.

  “After you. I’m starving.”

  * * *

  BETWEEN GOING THROUGH her books and photographs and visiting the elephants again, P
ippa lost track of time. The twins had fallen asleep on her bed, poring over the photos of her, Haki and Maddie as kids.

  Seeing those pictures used to make her throat close up and her chest cramp. Tonight, the twist in her stomach had been a little less harsh. Was it because she now had Dax and the girls around—temporarily?

  She took one last look at the twins sleeping on her bed. They looked so harmless and innocent while sleeping. She’d heard people say that about little kids, but now she knew what they meant. She closed the door and went to the living room to sleep on the couch.

  “Hey.” Her mom was standing in the corner of the kitchen making a cup of tea. “Do you want a cup?”

  “No, thanks. I’ll end up falling asleep before it cools enough to drink.”

  She followed her to the couch, and they both curled their feet up.

  “I like them. The twins,” her mom said. “Good kids, despite the stories you’ve told me.”

  “I like them, too.” Though it was more accurate to say she loved them. Her mom tipped her head to the side and gazed carefully at Pippa.

  “Don’t do that, Mom.”

  “Do what?”

  “Try to read me or put pressure on me to speak without your saying a word.”

  “I don’t do that.”

  Pippa gave her a look.

  “Okay, but I’m a mother and something tells me your liking the girls isn’t the whole story.”

  “There is no story.”

  “I guess I’ll find out for myself tomorrow, when their father gets here.”

  “Mom.”

  “Pippa. I just don’t want you hurt again. I’ll know when I see the two of you together if something is going on.”

  “Nothing is going on. Nothing whatsoever.”

  “Just remember that he’s already a father. If you grow too attached to his children, you could become an instant mother—twice over, in this case. Trust me, that’s not easy. I was a single mother raising you out here, and we didn’t even have this house. I know a thing or two about responsibility.”

  “And I don’t? Mom, I’m not the same person I was two years ago. I know who I am and what I can handle.”