“Good morning all,” said Shane Simba as he walked into his presidential office for the first time since his marriage to Alexandra Delamere. 

 

I must admit that if a lion can produce a glow, Shane did - absolutely.  He seemed to exude happiness and a sense of well being.  He greeted us warmly; even hugging his baboon secretary who I thought might sizzle at the touch of the boss she adored.  He even gave Amy Chui a pat on the shoulder. 

 

            Later, Alexandra drove in from the bush house, eschewing a driver.  She was introduced to her new social secretary, Bernice Bear, who sulked for Betty's cause just a few minutes before falling under the spell of the charming Alexandra whose throaty and heartfelt laughter was quickly becoming part of the ambience in the state house corridors. 

 

“What can you teach me about this job, Bernice?  I know you have a wealth of experience.  Shane has told me all about you....he tells me that you are the most marvelously efficient animal in the State House,” said Alexandra, causing Bernice to beam. 

 

“Well, Mrs. Simba…..” began Bernice only to be cut off quickly.

 

“Just Alexandra or Alex as Shane calls me,” instructed the new first lady. 

 

“Alexandra, you have to choose an area that you’re most interested in and designate it as your special focus as first lady,” instructed Bernice. 

 

“Well, I’m an economics and political science major but I returned to Kenya to become a planter on my family’s tea and coffee plantations, so I suppose you could say ecology is my interest….and agriculture,” said Alexandra, lighting a cigarette. 

 

“Have you met Wangari Maathai the parliamentary leader for ecological matters here in Kenya?  The President is a great friend and admirer of hers.”

 

“I simply adore her.  I’m a huge fan,” said Alexandra, clapping her hands in delight.  “She’s been to my plantations and I’ve worked on her committee for the greening of Kenya.”

 

“So should we set ecology and agriculture as your specialties?” asked Bernice who was becoming more enchanted by the minute with this innovative and charming young woman. 

 

“Oh yes, let’s, Bernice.  You are simply a genius to arrive at what I shall be doing so early in the game.  I think we are going to be great friends.”

 

Bernice couldn’t help but agree. 

 

            Shane was quickly finding out that there were fascinating additional facets and delightful aspects to his new wife.  On a Saturday morning when he rose from their bed after a bout of love making, he told Alexandra he was going to play tennis at the sporting club if he could find a partner. 

 

“How good are you?” she asked, heading for the bathroom. 

 

“I think I’m pretty damn good.  Are you interested in my scores?” he teased, following her into the shower. 

 

“I just wondered if you were as good a player as I am.”

 

“You play tennis?”

 

“Yes, of course I do.”

 

“You never told me that, Alex.”

 

“You never asked,” she giggled.   

 

            They ended up playing six sets with Alexandra winning half of them.  Her new husband was most impressed. 

---

             Jane Leoparde had taken the marriage of her former lover and father of two of her children with as much equanimity as was possible.  She could do this because she was a level headed animal and the wife of a husband who was proving to be extraordinary – Luke Leoparde.  She had become friends with Betty Chimpo and in that capacity was responsible for a great deal of the soothing that took place with her one time nemesis.  Betty was not taking this final chapter of Shane Simba exiting her life well at all.  Jane reminded her that she had three children by him that would tie her to him forever but that was small comfort to Betty who had wanted to be loved and adored by Shane Simba forever. 

 

            Shane called Betty and asked if she would bring Solly and the twins to the state house or did she prefer they be picked up by the official limousine.  He wanted Alexandra to get to know them and vice versa.  They would stay the weekend and be returned to their mother.

 

“I will bring them there, Shane,” she said and hung up abruptly for fear of loosing a torrent of abuse and tears on his head. 

 

            Betty’s car drove in the state house drive, letting out two nannies, two bouncing cubs, and the reluctant Solly as well as herself.   The mandatory Masai guards pulled up in another car driven by Wilda Wildebeest.  Betty was dressed to the nines with Solly clinging to her leg.  The twins went scrambling up the stairs of the government building to greet their father. 

 

“Mommy, what if I don’t like her?” asked Solly with tear filled green eyes so like Shane’s. 

 

“Solly, you won’t dislike her.  You are too loving a little chap to do that.  Let’s go see what she’s like,” suggested Betty, adjusting her skirt after her son’s grasp. 

 

They entered the State House and immediately saw Alexandra coming toward them in the hall.  She held out her hand to Betty who spontaneously grabbed hold.

 

“You must be Betty, I've been wanting to meet you,” she said and then looked down at Solly who had once again retreated behind his mother.  “What a lovely boy you are.”

 

There was such genuine warmth in Alexandra’s voice that mother and son were drawn to the tall young woman who stood before them.  Betty noted that their was a total lack of smugness too.  Alexandra was not about to gloat in manner at having managed to marry Betty's former and much loved husband. 

 

“Let’s go to Shane’s office.  I think the twins must have gone there,” suggested Betty. 

 

Betty and Alexandra meet at the State House....

 

The group headed down the hall to the executive suite.  Shane was in the outer office with his staff, the twins, their nannies and me looking very nervous.  Shane totally seemed relaxed.  Solly ran first and hugged his father whom he truly adored.  Betty looked slightly shell shocked at the entire panoply.  I came over and draped a friendly arm around her shoulders.  Shane stepped forward and gave Betty a kiss to the cheek.  For Betty, it was a living nightmare taking place in slow motion before her eyes.  Introducing Shane’s new wife to the children she shared with him was almost more than she could bear.  But I have to give her an A+.  She pulled it off with great aplomb.  After what seemed an eternity to even me, I walked with Betty to where her car was parked in the drive.

 

“Strong drink will be waiting for you and Wilda this evening at our house,” I told her.  “I am very proud of you, Betts.”

 

She broke down slightly when I said this but pulled herself quickly together. 

 

“He will stay with her forever, Maury.  She is just right for him - one can see that a glance.  The worst part was seeing him look at her...so much love in his gaze......and I will have to live here and see it play before my eyes,” she said and then got in the car and drove off quickly.

---

 

           

the undecided but fetching Leah Simba....

 

      On another front, Leah Simba was having a difficult time making up her mind as to who her favorite male happened to be – Trevor Tau or Jack Tarzan.  There was a slight difference in the two male lion’s reactions to Leah.  Trevor was besotted with her and Jack felt she was most enticing but could take or leave the pretty lioness-jaguar mix.  Fortunately, Leah’s parents returned from their location trip to Italy where Roy Lee was filming Spartacus in the title role. 

 

“Mom, I like two guys these days,” admitted Leah to Janice Jaguar Simba. 

 

“So what’s wrong with that, darling?  Do they both like you?”

 

“One more than the other.”

 

“Leah, you married very young and had a passel of young.  Why don’t you just sit back and have some fun for a change.  You don’t have to make decisions about males anytime soon,” was Janice’s wise counsel to her daughter.

 

            The problem with that summation was that Dr. Trevor Tau, like his colleague Dr. Juma Mnyama, is a serious soul indeed.  When one deals all day with the pain and stress of dying and desperately ill patients, there is not much room for humor unless you are just hell bent on having fun and capable of  leading a schizoid emotional life.  Trevor required seriousness in their relationship. 

 

     Staci Simba Mnyama was finding this out in her marriage to Juma.  She missed the lighthearted gaiety and fun of being around Luke Leoparde.  Juma tended to be stern and deadly serious in all things.  One draw back was Juma’s very vocal disapproval of Staci’s father, Shane Simba.  He absolutely refused to go to dinner at Shane’s home when he brought Alexandra to the Mara as his wife.  Staci went alone, making excuses for her husband’s absence. 

---

 “I think Shane will love this woman forever, Lachlan,” said Betty sadly.

 

She and Wilda had walked up the street to have a drink with us and a bit of barbecue Lachlan was creating, dabbing it often with marinade as the succulent pieces rested on the grill. 

 

“Oh, Betts, my goodness….don’t mention that lion with anything of permanence.  He’s a typical lion only ten thousand times worse than the average,” scoffed Wilda, forgetting Lachlan was one too.

 

“Say what you really think, Willie,” he teased.

 

“Oh, Lachlan, I quite forget you’re a lion too.  You are so different,” giggled Wilda. 

 

“What do you think about Shane’s new marriage, Lachlan?” asked Betty with real and very intense interest. 

 

“Shane Simba will have to undergo a sea change before any marriage can last with him.  It is a toss up as to whether this one can keep him interested. Of course, you also have the animal/human factor at work -only a hand full of marriages between animals and humans in Kenya have played out well.  It is still too new a concept and we’re the only country that allows them.”

---

                     Two gigantic dogs ran for Shane Simba as he entered his wife’s house on her coffee plantation in the highlands – a place he had not visited before.   They snarled and growled ferociously, their hackles raised, their great teeth bared. 

 

“Shit,” he shouted.  “Alex, come get these bastards.”

 

His Masai guards tried to hold them off of him but were having a struggle and didn’t want to injure them.  Alexandra came running out and calmed them immediately by calling their names sharply. 

 

“Those are lion hunting dogs, Rais Simba,” informed one of his guards. 

 

“Yes, that’s right, Luv.  There used to be wild lions around here...these dogs are Rhodesian Ridgebacks.  Brutus and Georgio kept them off the property.  They were Father’s last dogs – got a bit of age on them,” said Alexandra, kissing her ruffled husband, whose own hackles were standing beneath his crisp white linen collar.

 

“Well, could you dispense with them please, at least when I’m around – pen them up or something.  I didn’t enjoy their enthusiastic greeting at all. I may not be wild but they obviously realize that I AM a lion,” he requested, removing his suit jacket. 

 

“Oh but you are wild….very wild,” she said, giving him a long invasive kiss. 

 

            Later, over a drink before a roaring fire, he finally told her about Johanna losing the baby.  He seemed a bit depressed over the fact. 

 

“You are disappointed, naturally,” she surmised, stroking the back of his neck. 

 

“Only about the baby….as far as Johanna goes, I am letting her keep the penthouse for as long as she wants to stay.  I feel a sense of relief to have her off my plate….but I was looking forward to the baby; I have to be honest about that, Alex.”

 

“Will it make you feel any less a sense of loss if I tell you that I am pregnant too?  It is definitely yours.  I haven’t had relations with anyone else for at least two years.”

 

His green eyes took fire with a mixture of wonder and pure unadulterated joy. 

 

“How long have you known this?”

 

“I learned shortly before we married.”

 

“Is that the reason you consented to marry me?”

 

“No, I wanted to marry you, Shane.  I am simply dotty about you.  If you want to have tests made to prove that the child is yours, I will be glad to comply.”

 

“That won’t be necessary, Alexandra.  I trust you implicitly.  Johanna was something of a slut.  I didn’t trust her as far as I could throw her.”

 

"I do want to keep close tabs on this pregnancy.  I've heard great things about your tiger doctor in the Mara."

 

“Alex, we are going to be so happy…I just know this about us,” he breathed into her hair. 

 

“I tend to agree,” she answered with a husky whisper.

 

 

Alexandra and Shane on the beach in Mombasa....