CHAPTER 4
She makes her way across the paved halls, filled with the chitter chatter of high school students. She has a math class in a few minutes and just enough time to get from the parking area to her class room.
Deep in thought about the math lesson awaiting her she nearly bumps into Anna, a pure Afrikaans red head heading in the opposite direction.
"Oops! I'm so sorry Anna, I didn't see you there." Felicity apologises missing Anna by mere centimeters.
"Lis! How good to see you! And no worries there girl, I guess when you're looking so under the weather you're bound to bump into someone at some point right?" she answers with her fine high pitched voice.
"Under the weather? Sorry I don't quite understand what you mean?"
"Yes! With the school, your big project, the wedding arrangements you know, I can imagine it's just so much for you to handle. Please just don't buckle under the pressure okay?"
Felicity is not sure if Anna is sarcastic or not, but she smiles nevertheless. "I assure you everything is under control, thank you for your concern Anna."
"Any time Lis, absolutely any time!"
They head in their various directions again when Anna calls her name again.
"Oh Lis! I still wanted to say that I absolutely adore the top you're wearing today. It was sooo cute when it was still in fashion." she winks at Felicity, who in return is trying her hardest to keep her facial expression neutral. "Kiss kiss!" Anna sings in greeting and walks away.
It doesn't happen much but she's completely speechless. She has no idea what this woman's problem is with her. It's not like she's competing for any special attention from the school board and even if she was, their fields are light years apart.
She shakes her head and resumes her route to her class room.
She's just in time as the bell rings indicating the end of break and as the students start piling into the room she readies herself for the lesson.
"Good morning everyone, please settle down and take out your assignments from yesterday, so we can quickly run through the answers before today's lesson."
She starts opening her notebook when she notices one of the students approaching her desk in the corner of her eye.
"What's your excuse this time Norman?" she asks still going through some notes. "You should be very worried, because I'm starting to wonder that your dog's diet consists only of homework." she looks up at Norman suddenly blushing. "Come on, out with it." she prompts.
"Well Miss Felicity, you see, the weather was absolutely amazing and it was also the last weekend before our neighbours' granddaughters had to go back to Namibia, so there was absolutely no time for homework."
Felicity is positively shocked by the truthful admission from the boy standing in front of her and she tries her best to hide her smile.
"Please Miss Felicity, I'm sure a pretty lady such as yourself will appreciate that I had a real predicament this weekend."
"Careful young man, she's taken."
She turns her attention towards the sound of the voice when Norman's blushed face turns as white as a sheet. Ray enters with a smug smile on his face, but playfully winks at Felicity who is clearly surprised by his presence.
"You're here!" Felicity hugs Ray, not sure if she should be happy about this sudden drop in.
"Yes, and just in time it seems. Maybe I should buy a shotgun? First the strange man in the supermarket and now the kid? Do I have something to be worried about? Are you trying to tell me I have competition?" he asks jokingly.
"No honey, nothing to be worried about." she pats him on his chest.
"Well wonderful then." he leans down to kiss her, but the moment the kids start cheering she pushes him away with a warning look.
"Okay okay, I just wanted to make sure you're not working yourself too hard."
Does she really look that bad? What is it with everyone thinking she's overexerting herself?
"I'm fine honey, I promise." she turns toward her desk and picks up the box with the toothpaste and toothbrushes she got at the supermarket and hands it to him. "But, if you really want to help, you can put this box with the rest of the supplies please."
She laughs when he pouts his lips like a two year old. "Come on, off you go. I'll see you in a bit."
"Fine, saving the world one toddler at a time." he whines while he kisses her cheek and then leaves with the box.
"Is this really necessary?" he complains when they enter the driveway of the Swartberg Manor.
"Yes Ray you know it is. I promise I'll be quick okay?" she squeezes his hand before getting out of the car.
"Yes yes, now hurry up!" he rushes her, but she laughs it off, not entirely sure if he means it to be a joke or not.
She heads towards the main entrance feeling her heartbeat increasing. She hates playing referee between her fiancé and her family, it's exhausting. Maybe that's the reason Anna thought she looked worn out.
Once she reaches the patio in front of the entrance she hears what sounds like 50's music playing. Curiously she enters and finds her sister in a typical black 50's dress completed with gloves and a shawl, draped with black pearls around her neck, a red feather in her hair and a cigarette holder between her fingers.
"And what's this?" she questions looking around the foyer, "Halloween is still months away."
Her sister rolls her eyes at the quip. "Mom had this brilliant idea to have a 'Breakfast at Tiffany's' theme for our guests. She's busy preparing the food as we speak."
"Breakfast? It's nearly dinner time!"
"Dinner shwimmer. This breakfast will kick any dinner's ass."
Felicity laughs and then looks behind her when Caitlin's eyes keep reverting back to the door.
"Ray waiting in the car?"
"Yes he is." Felicity gives the short answer.
"Of course he is. It's utterly unfair to expect the 'Ostrich Baron' to mingle with the commoners."
"Caitlin! You can't really blame him after what you said."
"I only said he was a nice guy." she responds innocently, but Felicity gives her sister a knowing look.
"Okay, more like he has the potential to be one."
"Cait!"
"Whaaaaat? It was a compliment."
"I can promise you he didn't take it that way."
"I say it's misinterpretation. Now that's quite something when you have such a high IQ."
Felicity rolls her eyes and decides to immediately change the subject, "so is everything ready for the gala dinner? You still remember you promised to introduce me to the director of the Global Upliftment Fund?"
"Yes sis, I still remember, now will you please relax?"
Felicity is ready to continue the conversation and tell her sister to back off, when Julian enters the room. He has a mask covering his nose and mouth and he urgently makes his way over to the reception desk with a pack of wipes and more masks.
It's obvious that he wants Caitlin's attention but she completely ignores him. After a few seconds of awkward silence and glances he rings the reception bell.
"Caitlin?" he asks softly.
"Yes Julian?" she finally acknowledges him.
"You are aware that the people from the Global Upliftment Fund are here right?"
"Yes Julian, I am very well aware, everything is ready and no, I don't have amnesia." Caitlin answers snippy.
"It's just….there are a lot of people from other countries being represented here where personal hygiene is not a priority. So who knows what kind of germs or viruses will enter with them?"
Caitlin stares at him in disbelief.
"It is my duty as co-owner of this manor to inform you of the dangers that await us and kindly request that you wear one of these." he explains lifting up one of the sealed mask.
"Okay Julian, two questions….one, what on earth makes you think that, that thing," pointing to the mask in his hand, "will fit with my outfit? And two, have you ever wondered about the people who pack those masks? You know, the people who make the masks and put them into their boxes and so on? .Germs."
Julian stares at her with big worried eyes. He tries to answer, but he's stuck. Finally he throws the mask down on the counter and shivers as Caitlin's words sink in when he dramatically runs passed Felicity and out the door.
Felicity stifles her laugh, but when her eye catches the clock against the wall she realises she'll have to finish up her little pop in.
"Well that was fun, but I have to run. Ray's waiting for me, you know, dinner with my fiancé." she waves heading for the door.
"Enjoy your dinner Snob!" Caitlin jokingly yells after her.