Page 157 of The Sapphire Child
‘Me, Belle,’ the girl agreed.
At once a woman appeared out of the shadowed veranda and grabbed Belle’s hand to stop her toppling off the steps.
It was Gabina. She gasped in surprise. ‘Stella-Mem’!’
Stella mounted the steps. ‘Hello, Gabina. Didn’t you get my telegram?’
‘No,’ the ayah answered. ‘But please, come, come. Lomax Memsahib will be so happy to see you. It’s been too long, Stella-Mem’!’
They hugged. Belle clung to Gabina’s salwar kameez and stared up at Stella.
‘Who lady?’ she asked.
Gabina and Stella exchanged looks. Quickly Gabina said, ‘This is your Auntie Stella.’
‘Auntie S’ella,’ the girl repeated.
Stella crouched down and smiled, drinking in the sight of her daughter after all this time. She noticed that the colour of her hair had lightened to a pale brown. It was wavy, just like Myrtle’s.
Stella touched her jacket lightly with a finger. ‘I sent you this for Christmas. It suits you. And I’m glad to see you like your wooden mouse.’
Belle suddenly remembered she’d been playing and rushed to pick up the thick string of the toy. She began tugging it across the veranda, where it bumped off the furniture and overturned. Stella hurried to help right it.
‘What does the mouse say?’ Stella asked. ‘Squeak, squeak!’
Belle gave a smile of delight. ‘Squeak, squeak,’ she imitated.
They laughed and made mouse noises at each other. Stella had to resist pulling the girl into a hug; she didn’t want to alarm her. She could hardly believe she was right there beside her.
A voice made her jump. ‘Stella? Can it be you?’ Standing up, she saw Esmie in the doorway.
‘How wonderful!’ cried Esmie, holding out her arms.
Stella stumbled towards her, suddenly on the verge of tears. ‘Esmie, I had to come!’
Esmie enveloped her in a warm hug. Stella burst out crying.
‘Oh, lassie,’ Esmie crooned, stroking her hair. ‘I’m so glad you did.’
Stella stood clinging onto the older woman and sobbed into her shoulder.
Esmie said gently, ‘It must be very emotional, seeing Belle again?’
Stella made a supreme effort to stop weeping. She broke away and fumbled for a handkerchief. Glancing round, she saw Belle had retreated to Gabina and was watching her warily.
‘Yes, it is.’ Stella was frank. ‘I’ve missed her so much. But that’s not why I’ve come. I sent a telegram. Gabina said you didn’t get it.’
‘No,’ said Esmie. ‘When did you send it?’
‘Three days ago.’
‘Ah, well. Things are less reliable these days – the war has other priorities.’
With a leaden heart, Stella said, ‘As soon as I heard about Andrew, I knew I had to be with you.’
Esmie was startled. ‘So, you’ve heard?’ she asked.
With fresh tears welling, Stella nodded. ‘I – I got a letter...from Andrew.’
