Black Mischief Read Free

special boy, who had lost his life on that May evening.
    Rafaella, the good-looking, Italian born matriarch of the McCalls of Londiani, had also been plunged down into the depths of grief of loss two years before when her husband, Don, had died not a hundred metres from that veranda when his small white aircraft had been forced just the smallest fraction too far right as it came in to land on the slippery dirt runway on Crescent Island. On the eve of Christmas, joy turned to despair in a single moment. The wildebeest that had forced Don off course then skipped away to nibble at a patch of grass under a nearby acacia tree.
    It was Rafaella who had been first down the steps to embrace the portly Sally. The hug was long and the two became four, five even when Sally insisted that Angela, hovering in the background, come down the steps to join them. Before the women separated, Sally was into a burst of that throaty, chuckling laughter that made the little group rock gently.
    â€˜Ladies, can you see that I have put on a little weight in the belly region?’
    None of the four was willing to acknowledge what they had all noticed as soon as she stepped down from her car.
    â€˜I have some news. A little one is on his way. Yes, I know that I am a bit older than usual for having a child. But it is a wonderful gift to us. I said to Abel that if God has granted us the ability to do this thing, then we should accept the chance. Glory be, Abel said that he totally agreed! I have to admit I enjoyed the process of, what shall we say, procreation! I feel like an eighteen year old again.’ She rounded off her announcement with another sexy chuckle.
    All awkwardness was gone. The exchanges were open and no subject was taboo. Maura was intrigued by one word of Sally’s.
    â€˜â€œHis”, Sally. How do you know it will be a boy?’
    â€˜Ah, yes, it’s true. The wonders of science. One little scan and the mystery is gone. And I am not unhappy. For one thing I can talk to him. Yes, we have had many conversations. They are all a bit one-sided just now, of course. And our son-to-be has a name. It is Abel’s choice.’
    Rebecca looked across at her mother who was standing behind Maura’s chair and winced briefly. Sally alone of the company did not notice the tiny gesture. Rebecca had guessed a name and it set off a stream of unpleasant memories.
    â€˜The boy will be called Julius. I must tell you that this child is already bringing new life to this family in more ways than one!’
    There was a brief silence. None of Sally’s companions could think of anything to say to keep the flow of the conversation from breaking. Sally understood.
    â€˜Julius, God bless his soul, brought bad things to this family. I know it. He brought many bad things to himself also. I failed him. I could not lead him out of his darkness. Perhaps no one can do that in somebody else’s life. Rebecca, I had a big hope that with you he would find himself. God forgive me, on that day when you came to our house drenched in the rain and said that your engagement to Thomas was over, I pushed away the truth that was so clear. You gave me hope for the first time in years. I thought you could grow to love him, bring him back to us. After that terrible night, our lives fell apart for a time. It was hard for us all but especially for his father. His heart was broken. Maura, thank God for your letters! If only I could have persuaded Abel to read them, but so many things reminded him of his special boy. Glory be to God, every day I pray that a healing will begin for Abel. I think that this new child will help him.’
    Rebecca reached across to take Sally’s hand. ‘Sally, it’s all right, Mama, I’m not being disrespectful.’ Her tone was firmly controlled at first and the words came slowly as if they were being carved out of some hard substance. ‘Many things have happened to us all in this last year. There has