But he hadn’t even thought of that. Just assumed his grandparents would pass on the message. Though maybe they haven’t and tomorrow will be a surprise for her; he can’t wait to see her face.

He feels another yawn coming, but doesn’t want to go back to his room. ‘Should we put on the TV?’ he suggests. ‘I was surprised they’ve got all the American and British channels.’

‘I don’t watch that much TV.’

‘For real? No social media, no side hustle, no TV. You must do something other than work?’

‘Of course. I told you, I run. I go to events. Plays. Readings.’

‘You really are middle-aged, aren’t you?’

‘Ha ha. I’m only recently forty.’

It’s weird to think that Mum would have been forty too. He had thought about it on her birthday this year, imagining how big her party would have been. How he would have surprised her with some amazing gift. But what? He can’t imagine what she would have liked at this age. And it would be a weird question to ask Yvonne.

‘You really don’t like TV?’

‘No.’

‘But what about series? What about true crime?’

She lifts a chicken skewer and takes two bites before putting it back down.

‘What about sci-fi? Fantasy?’

‘Definitely not.’

‘Well, we’ve got six evenings together and we’re not going to spend them watching a play.’ He gets up and heads to the door.

‘You’re going?’

‘Back in a minute.’

His room is dark and now slightly chilly. He grabs his laptop and takes it back through to Yvonne’s. ‘I downloaded some series before I left.’

‘Shouldn’t we be having an early night? Especially you.’

‘Why? We’re not due in Kilimani till one. You don’t need to get up early.’ He flips the lid open and Yvonne smiles at his screensaver, a picture of him and Nana.

‘That’s such a nice photo of you both.’

‘It was New Year’s Eve. Originally, she wanted to go to Barbados, but she wasn’t well enough to go abroad. So we went Center Parcs instead.’

It was kind of depressing at first, hiding out from the bad British weather in those big chlorine-smelling spheres. But after they got over not being on the beach, it was one of the best holidays ever, because they were all together, all the uncles and cousins, and Nana seemed so happy.

‘I didn’t realise you went back to Barbados,’ Yvonne says.

‘Yeah, a few times. Though, getting Dad to leave Harrow is like pulling teeth. He hates going abroad.’

Kiama mirrors the laptop to the hotel screen and jumps back on the bed. ‘You’re going to like this show. Trust me.’

He takes a few pillows and lies down, closing his eyes while the opening titles run.

Chapter Ten

Blackface

August 2001

Yvonne