Читать книгу Dance of the Heart - Sibusiswe Dhuwe - Страница 4

8

The next morning Mpho was all sun and smiles, excited about her holiday. She walked into Nomvula’s room and jumped onto the bed and gave her a happy hug.

Nomvula felt her heart swell with love for the little girl and wondered about her mother yet again. How could anyone bear to be parted from such a precious child?

They had just finished packing when the Bhilis arrived. Daniel stayed around long enough to wave goodbye and then left for the office. The house was unusually quiet without Mpho and Nomvula wandered around for a bit, picking up the little one’s toys and putting them away.

Botle had the day off, so there was no one to chat to. Finally she called Asanda, who told her to come over and have lunch with her.

I must buy some books, Nomvula told herself. She had stopped reading for pleasure a long time ago, but now she had all the time in the world.

With that final resolve, she shut the door and turned the key. Maybe she should have gone to East London; she missed Mpho already.

The two friends went to Lily’s, their favourite café in Rosebank. It was actually Asanda’s favourite spot, but Nomvula liked it as well.

Once they were seated at their usual table, Asanda dived right in. “So, darling wam? How are things going at number twenty-seven?”

“It’s number twenty-six,” Nomvula corrected her.

“Whatever! So?”

“Everything’s fine. I like it there; Mpho is lovely and Daniel is a nice man. Things couldn’t be better.”

“Hmm!” Asanda eyed her curiously. “You look great, you know. Better than I’ve ever seen you. More relaxed . . . and happy. That’s it, you look happy. Not over-the-moon kind of happy, but what the happiness books call ‘a sense of quiet contentment’. It looks good on you, this quiet contentment.”

Asanda smiled and Nomvula laughed.

“You read too many books, Sandi. But yes, I think I’m quite content right now. I’m dancing again, and it’s such an uplifting experience to look after Mpho . . . It makes me feel like I’m doing something that really matters.”

Asanda reached over and squeezed Nomvula’s hand. “I’m so glad,” she said.

Their drinks arrived with their waiter, and both ordered pasta and a salad.

As soon as the waiter left, Asanda leaned closer. “So, uDaniel?”

“Eish, Sandi, what can I tell you? He’s a nice man, a gentleman like you said. I thought it would be quite awkward living in a house with a man I didn’t know, but he’s really very considerate.”

“What did I tell you, Auntie Sandi knows best.” Asanda sat back, looking pleased with herself. “But come on, let’s get real here, he’s . . . You know what’s coming, right?”

“Ayoba-licious!” they said in stereo and laughed, but Nomvula was quick to change the subject.

“Do you know any of Daniel’s friends?”

“I can’t say that I do.” Asanda shook her head thoughtfully. “Why?”

“Well, it seems that I’ve been invited to a party at a friend of his, on Friday. Something like show and tell, I imagine,” Nomvula finished wryly.

“Ahh!” exclaimed Asanda. “Good news travels fast. Daniel’s got himself a fabulous new nanny and everyone wants to see her. Ag! I envy you all that attention. Have they been coming round?”

“No. Just his friend the doctor, and I guess that’s how this other friend knew.”

“Are you going?”

“I don’t know. Daniel says if I don’t go, his friend will just come round to see me for himself. This is so strange.”

“No, it’s not, my darling. If you hired a gorgeous somebody to live in your house, I’d also want to come and have a look; it’s only natural. Go to the party and have a jol. At least you can dress up and really give them something to talk about. Better than being caught unawares at home,” Asanda reasoned.

“I guess you’re right. I have to say, though, I’m excited at the thought of going to a party that’s purely social and where I don’t know anyone.”

“That’s the spirit, girlfriend. I’ve got no appointments this afternoon, so let’s go shopping.”

“I was thinking I’d wear my black trouser suit . . .”

“No, you need to buy something totally fabulous. Something uNomvula the investment broker wouldn’t look at.”

“But, Sandi . . .”

“Honey, I know your clothes, they’re not so ayoba for this type of thing. There’s this to-die-for top at my favourite boutique. It’s time to live a lot.”

“Sandi, no.” Nomvula tried to dig in her heels, but the seed had been sown.

* * *

It was an exhausting experience, but the satisfaction of finding something she was entirely happy with balanced out the tediousness of trying on a hundred and one different ensembles.

In the end Nomvula decided on a dark-gold, beaded halter top with a sexy pencil skirt. Even Asanda had to concede that although it was not the outfit she had envisioned, it was sophisticated and the height of fashion. On Nomvula it was simply stunning, especially when teamed up with a pair of killer heels. Nomvula needed no encouragement to buy the shoes – even in her years of thriftiness she just couldn’t resist shoes, bags and cosmetics.

“Okay, now we have to find a fabulous clutch.”

Asanda actually groaned. They had walked the length and breadth of Rosebank Mall, Sandton City, gone back to Rosebank and cruised a couple of stand-alone boutiques in the neighbourhood, more for the complete shopping experience than for anything else, only to find what they were looking for in a little boutique they had overlooked near where they had started.

“If I’d known what a manic shopper you’d turn into, I might not have suggested it. It’s a good thing you haven’t been shopping all these years. You’d be broke by now,” an exhausted Asanda sighed.

“Oh, how the worm has turned,” laughed Nomvula. “Come on, let’s find something to put in my hair as well.”

Nomvula’s eyes sparkled with enjoyment, and although she was tired, she was smiling. She talked about Mpho and Daniel constantly and didn’t even seem to realise it.

Both Asanda and Lerato were convinced that Nomvula and Daniel were perfect for each other. They hoped that with Mpho away on holiday, things would progress between the two of them.

“I know I’m meddling, God,” Asanda prayed as she followed Nomvula back into the fray, “but please let this work out, and I won’t ever ask for anything else again.”