Cape Ingrood

“My name is Kehinde Oyegun but you can call me Kay,” the lady replied with a wide smile. “So why did you come to Cape Ingrood?” Eva asked. “Why does anyone come to the Cape for a weekend? To find love, of course.” She had a hint of a Nigerian accent.“Kehinde, that’s an interesting name. Where’s it from?” Eva asks.“Nigeria.”“Wow! That’s awesome! What kind of guy are you looking for?” Eva enquired. “Someone witty, funny and sexy. I’m an equal opportunities admirer so any race will do. What about you?” Kay asks.“Pretty much the same criteria,” Eva responds.Whilst they were gabbing away, a cute, twenty-something Caucasian waiter set down their dinner from the set menu. Braised lamb shank with roasted garlic potatoes and sautéed garden vegetables.

There was no need for a knife as the meat practically fell off the bone. The first bite was extremely tasty and well-seasoned. “Mmmm,” a sound of satisfaction slipped out from Evas’ lips.“Yep. I agree,” Kay says enthusiastically. They sit in silence, enjoying every scrumptious morsel of their food. The main course was wolfed down and dessert came. A chocolate brownie with a scoop of Madagascan vanilla ice cream. The warmth of the milk chocolatey brownie melted the soft scoop of vanilla. That too is devoured in silence.“Would you like to come up to my room for a nightcap?”

Kay asks gently. “Sure,” Eva replies. They stroll together towards the elevator. “What floor are you on?” Eva enquires. “The first,” Kay replies. They get off the elevator and head towards room 105. It is identical to Evas’ in every way except the red silk PJs draped on the armchair in the corner of the room and fluffy bunny slippers on the floor. There is nothing out of place.“I thought you said you took a nap,” Eva wonders out loud, giggling a little.“I did. My OCD is pretty bad. I remade the bed.”“How about that nightcap?” Eva says sinking into the armchair.“What about a glass of Macallan 18 neat?”“Sounds perfect,” Eva responds, starting absent mindedly at the Andy Warhol prints on the walls. Kay plops down on the bed. They talk into the wee hours of the morning. Kay reiterates how she was determined to stay through the weekend to find amore.

They clink their glasses once more, aching for the promise of tomorrow.Eva says goodnight at 4am and heads upstairs to her room. She changes back into her PJs and heads to the bathroom to start her night-time skincare regimen. Ten minutes later, she climps into bed.Five hours go by and the alarm rings at 10.15am. Eva rolls over, shuts it off and removes her hair from her eyes. Her arms stretched over her head, she blinks several times forcing herself to wake upPutting on her slippers, she decides to have a cup of Nescafè from the coffeemaker in the room. A few minutes later, Eva sits on the balcony chair soaking in the sunshine. The vista from the balcony looked like the mini-version of the garden of Versailles. Absolute paradise.After coffee, she showers and gets dressed. Eva puts on a black silk camisole, skinny jeans and brown ankle length high-heeled boots. Making her way down to the dining room, she is eager to see her new friend at breakfast. Eva scours the room for Kay, who is nowhere to be found.

She sits at their table from last night and waits for breakfast which happens to be Full English (scrambled eggs, two slices of brown toast, baked beans, sausages, bacon and tomatoes). She finishes her brekkie and waits till the room is being packed up. Still no Kay.She decides to walk up to room 105, and is surprised to find the door open. A 5 foot 2, Hispanic maid is making the bed. Like Kay was never there, the PJs and bunny slippers had disappeared, the closet and bedside table drawers were empty.She moves down to the check-in desk. Heading towards the receptionist from yesterday, who turns out be Stephanie according to the name tag on her cotton blouse, Eva asks about Kay.

“I’m afraid she’s checked out Ms. Sosa,” Stephanie says, again with the dead, empty eyes and Stepford smile.Eva was confused, bewildered and concerned. Kay was intent on staying the weekend, that much she remembered. She had mentioned it several times yesterday. “Thank you Stephanie”. Eva walks away and stops halfway to the elevator. She picks up her cellphone from her purse and dials Kays’ number.An automated voice says, “this number has been disconnected.”Eva slowly puts down her cellphone, with a pit in her stomach. She knew something was off. Unfortunately, she would later discover not all was as it seems at Cape Ingrood.To be continued…