They take their places at the table but Neil stands, switches on a lamp and lights a cigarette. The last time Yvonne visited, he and Emma stood out on the terrace facing each other as they puffed away, their profiles almost identical.

Cynthia lays out several plates of sandwiches and cake and serves tea from a pot. They’re so old-fashioned, so English and proper. They must have found it strange to have a daughter like Emma, with her American twang, loud politics and scruffy clothes. They gave her so much to rebel against.

‘It’s ready now, Neil,’ Cynthia says. ‘Please, come and sit down.’

He looks at his cigarette and tightens his lips before stubbing it out on an ashtray and joining them at the table.

They quickly flick through all the conversation starters; finding the flat, the flights over, the ease of Dubai as a transfer spot. Then, there is silence.

‘I hope you like madeira cake,’ Cynthia says, a blush rising across her cheeks. ‘It’s so hard to find good cake here. The Kenyans over-ice everything.’ Her hand slightly shakes as she hands Kiama a small slice.

‘Thank you.’

She stops and stares. ‘You look very different. Doesn’t he?’ she asks the room.

‘It’s been a few years since we last saw him,’ Neil says.

‘Five. It’s been five years. You look more like your father. But then, you’ve always looked more like his side.’

Kiama nods. ‘I get that a lot.’

‘There’s not much of Emma in your face,’ she stops herself. ‘Except the odd expression and—’

‘So,’ Neil interrupts, ‘what are you going to do while you’re here?’

‘We really want to drive up to Lake Nakuru to see the giraffes. Mum used to take me there, so I wanted to see it again.’ He looks down at his plate, ‘And Yvonne’s never been. You should come along too?’

Neil laughs, ‘No, we’re a bit past doing that kind of tourist stuff. I never understood why Emma liked it there so much. And there are no flamingos left anymore, global warming put an end to that.’

Kiama laughs in a dry way Yvonne hasn’t heard before. ‘I guess it is quite a corny thing to do. We also wanted to go up to Hell’s Gate and hire bikes.’

Neil laughs. ‘Bikes? Have you finally learned to cycle?’