Chapter 1
Trish was excited and apprehensive as she sat on the plane. She had visited her dad, Rudiger, four times in her child hood, during her one month school holidays. He was always very happy to see her and quite fascinated with her, she recalled. Each time they had met in a different city and he travelled around with her. Trish knew that he was wealthy, but busy and always in a rush, and half the times, when she was visiting, he left her in the care of other people. She had never been inside his home, they had travelled around and lived in hotels. As far as she and her mom knew, he was single. Trish was looking forward to spending time with her dad and finally getting to know him.
It was icy cold and cloudy as she touched down. Her dad was not at the Airport, but a handsome, tall, lean, athletic blond young man in a suit and tie waited for her, with a placard bearing her name. His name was Harald and he seemed in his mid twenties. He whisked her to a hotel and told her her dad was tied up and would see her the next day. There was a welcome note and cash form her dad.
Harald offered to take her out to eat and show Trish around. She agreed. She called home to say she had arrived safely, and called Dez' house, leaving a message for him that she was missing him already.
Harald took Trish out for a Pizza in town. Then he drove her around and showed her the harbour. He was gazing at her with fascination. Her German was faltering but Harald spoke English fluently. He told her he had graduated in business, something he was very proud of. He had been working for her dad for several months as an assistant. As they ate, Harald suddenly eyed her hard and said,
"Fascinating!"
"What! My black skin?" Trish asked him.
"No! Its just that you look like a black version of Iris."
"Who is Iris?"
"Mr Schmidt's daughter."
"What!"
"Yes! You really look like her."
"Well, that is not very surprising, considering I am his daughter too."
"What!"
"Who did you think I was?"
"Well, eh, Mr Schmidt said you were some African girl that the firm had given a scholarship to," Harald blurted, looking confused. "Please don't say I told you."
"Can I use your cell phone please?" Trish said angrily. Harald gave it to her. She called but he didn't pick up.
"Tell me about his family."
Harald was beginning to look uncomfortable. "No! I have already said enough. Please, don't say a word to him. I need my job."
"Well, unless you don't want me to mention your name, you better tell me everything."
Harald told her that her that Rudiger had a family, with four children. He had started off as a doctor, then inherited his Dad's firm and was now a multi-millionaire. He was now in politics, campaigning to get a seat on Hamburg's Senate.
Trish was confused. She returned to her Hotel room and called her mom, waking her up. She told her all she had found out.
"Mom! I cant believe it. I have half brothers and sisters I have never known about. My dad lied to me all these years!"
"Relax Trish! He probably didn't tell his wife about you. Just be glad to be away from the war. Make him pay for you room and your studies, and by the time you are finished, hopefully, the war will be over, and afterwards, you come back home and find yourself a nice job. All right!"
"Mom, I wanna get to know my siblings. They are my flesh and blood."
"Trish! I will call him and handle this, all right? You just stay calm honey. Stay calm."
After Trish hung up, she suddenly laughed as she remembered the Oracle. She had been right. It seemed the only thing she had been wrong about was her pregnancy, for Trish's periods were just finishing and they had been as heavy as usual.
Trish met her dad the next morning, at the reception. Rudiger was a tall, handsome, straight backed, broad shouldered white man in his 60s. He had steely gray hair. He had sharp, pale, gray brown eyes. The sides of his face were shaved clean, and he had a trimmed beard and moustache around his mouth. His jaw was square. He had an aura of power and confidence. He looked good in a gray, pin striped, fine tailored suit, white shirt, tie and leather shoes. He smelled of rich, fine cologne.
The moment she saw him, Trish squealed and ran to him, to hug him tightly. She started crying, tears of joy, at the man who had given her half her genes. Rudiger smiled broadly and hugged her tightly. Then he disentangled himself, and took her hand firmly, chuckling,
"Gosh. You are a a full grown woman now. People will get funny ideas, like I am some old, lecherous guy preying on some young, sweet, pretty black woman. Lets get a bite..."
He led her by the hand and to the dining room, for breakfast. He ordered for her. Trish saw happiness, love and affection in his eyes. The same she had seen on the few occasions she had visited him. It was confusing for her. She had a feeling her dad loved her when he saw her, and forgot about her when he didn't. Out of sight, out of mind. joined her for breakfast. They hadn't seen each other for four years.
"Wow! You are now a big woman!" he said. "A big, pretty woman."
"Thanks dad. You are looking good. I hear you are a politician now."
"I talked to your mom, or rather, she shouted at me. But we came to an agreement. I will pay an apartment for you, and your tuition, I will give you a generous monthly allowance, and you can study anything you want."
"I want to meet my family."
"Eh, that is not so easy. You can have anything else, but have to keep away from my family."
"And what am I? A dog?" Trish burst out emotionally.
"No. You don't understand. My wife would not be able to deal with this. And I am involved in an election. Something like this could really hurt me."
"Dad, I want to spend some time with you, get to know you. And I wanna meet my sisters and brothers. I will go and introduce myself, if you wont take me," Trish said defiantly.
"Tut tut. Patricia! I flew you all the way here from your impoverished, war torn country to give you a chance in life. Now don't bite the hand that feeds you like an ungrateful dog! All right!" Rudiger sneered, his voice and eyes going hard.
Trish broke into a loud wail and started sobbing heavily. The other diners turned to look at them. Rudiger was very uncomfortable. He took her hand in both of his.
"Come on Trish. Calm down honey. Papa is under a lot of stress right now. We will sort everything out once the election is over, I promise. OK honey!"
Rudiger tasked Harald with enrolling Trish in a language school and getting her a place to stay in a student's hostel. He also took her to a driving school. Though she had a licence, she would have to do two months and pass a driving test before she could drive in Germany.