“Do you think you should write to him first?”
“No, no, I won’t let him get away this time. How’s Git e?”
“Fine, fine. She says to send her love.”
“Say hi from me, too. Tel her the good news.”
“I wil . Keep me posted. I hope it goes wel , duckie. I’m sure it wil . This is like one of your romance novels, isn’t it?”
“Wel , not exactly. But who knows, maybe I’l write one about a long-lost true love. There’s a song about that, isn’t there? Mummy used to like it.”
“Wel , if he’s in some bat le slain,” my father began to sing, “I’l lie stil when the moon doth wane. If he’s drowned in the deep salt sea, I’l be true to his memory. And if he’s found another love, and he and his love both married be, I wish them health and happiness, where they dwel across the sea.” He stopped singing and coughed. “Bit early in the morning, my voice isn’t quite awake.”
“Don’t stop there! Sing me the end!”
“He picked her up al in his arms, and kisses gave her one, two, three, saying weep no more, my own true love, I am your long-lost John Riley.”
“You’re right, it’s very romantic.”
“This real y is wonderful news, Dana. Qal’at al-Maraya, Jesus. Please be careful, duckie. Good idea to go down with El a. Don’t try it on your own.”
“I couldn’t even if I wanted to. Otherwise I’d be in a taxi right now.”
“Yes. Wel .”
“Dad, can I ask you something?”
“Of course.”
“What did you and Mum do back in South Africa?”
He laughed. “In fifty words or less?”
“I mean, were you in prison? You never real y told me.”
“Why are you asking now?”
“It came up … in a conversation. And I realized that I had no idea.”
“I’m sure I told you we were in prison, for four months. I was in for four, your mother for three.”
“I’d like to know more.”
“Why don’t you come visit, duckie? I’l be happy to tel you about al our antics.”
“Why didn’t you tel me when I was younger?”
“To protect you, I suppose. It would have upset you.”
“Why?”
“Wel , we had a hard time. The bad old days. When are you coming to visit?”
“We’l both come, we’l come together. Me and Daniel. It wil be so great!”
“Yes, that real y would be a dream come true.”
“Bye, Dad.”
“Hugs.”
Ra was sit ing at the kitchen counter, smoking and looking at a newspaper, but I could tel he wasn’t concentrating on what he was reading.
“My father’s a bit of a mystery to me,” I said.
“Why?”
“He just is. He’s quiet, but there’s a lot going on inside his brain.”
“Have you met his wife?”
“No, she’s afraid of flying. They’re very happy together. Guess what? Volvo thinks he’s gay.”
“I can’t think about Volvo right now,” Rafi said.
“I’ve never seen you like this. Of course, I’ve only known you for a week …”
Before he could to answer, the phone rang. It was El a.
“Hi, Dana?” she said. “Odelia told me you were trying to reach me.”
“Yes, it’s about Daniel. He’s living in Qal’at al-Maraya.”
“Yes, I know. Do you want to see him?”
“Of course!”
“I can take you tomorrow.”
“You mean—you’ve known al this time?”
