Love's Courage (9 page)
Authors: Mokopi Shale
At her shattered look, he bows his head a little to recover. “I need you, Lesego.” He sees her face burn as that familiar look of longing enters it; he wonders whether to pursue it but realises that she isn't even aware of what an open book she is to him.
“I realised that you've been having the same problem that we're having â a lack of expertise in certain areas,” he continues.
When she realises that he means he needs her professionally, her face falls just a little as she waits for him to finish.
“I know how important the Batshweneng restoration project is to you, and I want to tell you that it's one of the reasons I have set this all up. I want to pick up the funding for it and make sure that it is realised.”
“I wondered whether I could apply. I mean, I didn't want to cause you any more trouble,” Lesego says.
“No, this is a private fund. Obviously it's governed by rules, but I made it clear to my partners that I was going to fund it,” he replies.
“Not that there is any reason you shouldn't,” she answers. “I mean, we're no longer together, so there isn't really a problem.”
He gives her an unfathomable look. She blushes and draws a deep breath to calm herself.
“Anyway,” he says, drawing them back to what he wanted to say, “I think the service that you've been providing to entrepreneurs is an invaluable one. And I'd like to know if you'd assist us by offering the same service to our candidates. Perhaps even drawing up a mock proposal, and offering the same kind of advice. For a fee, of course.”
Lesego is floored. “Well . . . yes, I could,” she stammers. “But we'd have to talk over the details and iron those out.”
“Of course. You have my number; call me tomorrow and we can set up a meeting.”
She nods.
He looks at her hopefully, wondering if she will say anything about the two of them. Willing her to.
Lesego feels her mouth go dry and the words get stuck in her throat. She tries to open her mouth but it seems sealed shut. They look at each other. She struggles to find the words to say what she needs to, but draws a blank.
He nods and stands up, disappointed.
“Okay, I'll hear from you this week then?” he says.
She nods, he looks at her and still she cannot say anything. He turns to walk away.
“Kenneth!” she calls.
He stops, relieved. Then turns back to her with a brilliant smile.
“I . . . I just wanted to say that . . .”
He looks at her hopefully.
“Thanks for everything. And I . . . I'll call you tomorrow sometime.”
His smile evaporates and her face stiffens.
“You're welcome, Lesego,” he says, then turns and walks away.
She stares into her glass and calls herself a fool and a coward.
After a long time, Lesego finally manages to collect herself. She gets up and walks out of the venue.
9
Lesego has spent a sleepless night trying to figure out what to do. How can she get Kenneth back? Is that floozy his girlfriend? Would it be immoral to take him from her? During the night she came up with many a plan, discarding each of them soon afterwards.
She realises that she has to separate business from pleasure. She needs to get the one out of the way before she can even broach the other. They have to be completely separate in her mind. She waits till nine to call him.
“Hi, Kenneth. It's Lesego.”
“Hello.”
“To follow up on our conversation of last night . . . Could we go ahead and set up the meeting?” she asks.
“Yeah, sure.”
They consult their diaries and set a date and time that works for both of them.
“Oh, I also wanted to say, well done and congratulations on last night's launch; I'm sure it was a great success,” she says.
“Thanks, Lesego.” There is a brief pause. “Well, I guess I'll see you later in the week then?”
“Yes. Uhm . . . Yeah, bye.” Lesego hangs up, and grabs and pulls her hair. For someone supposedly gifted with words, she just can't seem to come up with any. She immediately starts stressing about whether it would be cheap of her to pursue the personal aspect before the business is sorted out.
She SMSes Joy:
You think I still have a shot with Kenneth? Is he seeing anyone?
Not as far as I know. It all depends on what you offer him, though.
her friend replies.
* * *
After a shower and more agonising, Lesego walks through the mall, intent on some retail therapy. She stops at a coffee shop, orders food and sits down to watch people go about their business. After breakfast, she sits for another while, then decides to go and look for a book to help calm her mind so that she can think clearly.
Her head is bent over a romance novel when someone taps her on the shoulder. She turns and looks right up into Kenneth's hazel-brown eyes.
“Fancy meeting you here,” he says casually.
“Yeah, how unexpected.” She looks at him with all the love that she feels in her heart.
His breath catches.
“It's really good to see you, Kenneth.” She reaches out her hand to put it on his arm.
“Yeah, it certainly is,” he answers.
They stare at each other for a few moments, then he breaks the silence. “Adding another one to your massive collection?” he asks, pointing at the romance novel.
“Yes, I needed something light but uplifting. These always pull me in and give me hope that love can survive anything.”
“Oh?” he says.
“Kenneth, can I buy you a coffee?” she suddenly ventures. “I really need to talk to you. Or are you in a hurry?”
“No, I came here to get away from the loneliness of my house,” he responds candidly.
They order and she sits across from him. Lesego looks him straight in the eyes and then starts speaking. “I wanted to be clever and think of a wonderful plan and strategy to tell and show you how I feel about you. I wanted to create the perfect moment. But a very wise man once told me that there are no perfect moments, only the moments we're given.”
Kenneth just smiles and lets her continue.
“I've lived with fear for a long time now; fear of others failing, and fear of me failing to stick to the standards that I want in a relationship. I always thought it was best to walk away while you're still able to do so. I walked away from you, thinking I was ready, but I've realised that I can never get away from you. Because you were in my heart all along.”
Lesego feels dizzy and out of breath but forces herself to go on. “I love you, Kenneth, and I need you in my life. I proved to myself that I can function without you, and that I can survive on my own. But I'm so much happier when I'm with you. I need your strength and your support, your silliness and your sense of humour. I know I can make do without them, but honestly . . . I'd rather not.”
She looks at him . . . He looks at her . . . Is it too late? Can they still be together the way they used to be?
She stirs her coffee and stares deep into the cup, waiting. Then she looks up at him and sees him looking into the mall, watching the people going by. She wonders what he is thinking; she wonders whether she should ask him. Should she give him time to digest what she has just said? Lesego takes a hasty sip of her coffee to stem the tears and suddenly wonders if Kenneth is embarrassed for her and doesn't know how to tell her without too much of a scene that he has someone else. Lord, she has made an utter fool of herself. It's been two months, what did she expect? That he would be waiting for her?
“Listen, Kenneth . . .” she begins.
“Shhh,” he stops her.
She frowns and then continues, determined to stop this. “I know it's been a while and . . .”
“Lesego, please stop talking. Just give me a moment, if you don't mind,” he says.
“A moment for what?” she asks, exasperated.
“For what you've said to sink in,” he replies, looking into her eyes.
Confused, she stares at him. But this time she keeps quiet.
After what feels like forever, he asks, “So, are you saying that you were wrong about me then?”
“Yes, I am,” she answers.
“Are you saying that I wasn't just another roll in the hay?”
“Yes, I am.”
“And do you still love me?”
“Yes, I do.”
“Okay,” he says and smiles at her.
Lesego pauses for him to say something more, then realises that he has no intention of doing that.
Kenneth waits for the crestfallen expression on her face, then he grabs her arm, drags her out of the chair, pulls her into his arms and kisses her as if his life depends on it. She clings to him and her heart begins to smile a smile that spreads throughout her being, until her lips are smiling as well.
“I'm crazy about you . . . I adore you . . . I want to be with you too,” he says, interspersing the sentences with kisses. “Let's get out of here!”
10
It's the end of a long evening. Lesego is lounging on a couch in the reception area of a chic establishment with Kenneth's arms around her while they survey the last flurries of activity as the cleaning staff finishes up. She glances up at him just as he looks down at her adoringly and gives her a little kiss.
“Hi,” she says.
“Hi yourself,” he replies.
“We did it,” she says.
“We did indeed. The Batshweneng cultural village is finally up and running, despite all the problems we faced. I'm truly pleased. I couldn't have chosen a better project to partner on my virgin venture,” he says, giving her a gentle, loving kiss. “So, Mrs Tumaole, how does it feel to own your very own cultural village?”
“It's wonderful to know that we've given people their dignity back. Now they have a fair chance to provide for themselves and their families. It's been a life-long dream of mine.”
“For the first time I'm living my dream as well,” he says. “This project gives us all roots by documenting where we come from so that none of us will ever feel lost, and on top of that you've given me true belonging, for which I'll love you forever.”
“Oh, Kenneth.” She pulls his face down to kiss him with all the love that beats in her heart. “I thought what you said after we first met was cheesy, but I failed to realise how true it was.”
In answer to his raised eyebrows she says, “You said that my ancestors kept throwing me at you, and that's exactly what happened. Despite how wrong things went and how impossible it all seemed, here we are together, enjoying the realisation of one vision.”
“Well, there's one vision that I look forward to: the one of you swollen with my child. You promised that we could start on that project tonight,” he says, wiggling his eyebrows sexily.
“Yes, I did, and my mother will love you even more if she hears you talking like that.”
Lesego gets up and holds out her hand. They walk through the beautifully appointed reception area to the majestic staircase flanked by two mahogany statues of baboons in honour of the totem of the Batshweneng. They go up the stairs hand in hand and disappear into their suite to begin the next phase of their lives together.
Twenty-nine-year-old Lesego Khumoetsile has no intention of getting into a serious relationship. She has big plans of creating a cultural retreat where the young and trendy can take a break from the bustling pace of Jozi to learn about their heritage. Bumping into Kenneth Tumaole won't distract her from her goals, not even when they start a steamy romance that leaves them both gasping for breath.
When Lesego applies for funding for her project, Kenneth is assigned as her head financier, but their attraction is too strong for them to stay away from each other, despite the potential conflict of interest. Then a media scandal erupts which drives them apart. Will Lesego have the courage to put aside her pride and accept Kenneth's love?
A steaming hot romance for the modern woman.
MOKOPI SHALE began her career in the media as a radio drama actress in 1998, while in the process of completing her degree in drama and industrial psychology at Rhodes University. It was through her radio drama acting that she was presented with an opportunity to become a television presenter for
Take 5
, a youth educational magazine programme for the SABC, where she also worked as a researcher and script writer, and later as associate producer for the show. In an endeavour to increase her skills in the field, she took on another job as a radio producer for TranxAfrica Media, which was in its fledgling stages, and produced two programmes for them â
Your Life
and
African Pioneers
. After a stint as the corporate accounts manager for Ochre Moving Pictures, she was approached to become a commissioning editor in the drama unit of the SABC's Content Enterprises, where she currently works.
Love's Courage
is her debut novel. She has also written a second novel for Sapphire Press titled
A Prince for Me
, under the pseudonym Nolo Mothoagae.
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