“That’s music to my ears. How much do you need?” he asked when she called him.

“I don’t know,” she answered estimating the costs.

“Ama, are you serious? You should consider these things,” he said calmly.

He just called me Ama, only Charlotte does that. His voice is also music to my ears, she thought and smiled. She wished she could listen to it all day.

“I don’t know what to start with,” she said grabbing her notebook.

“Today, start jotting down all the resources you need, then you tell me the total costs,” he said.

“Thank you!” she said. What a supportive man she had.

“For what?” he chuckled.

His laugh was like a rhythm, she closed her eyes and felt the tune in her soul soothing every pain.

“For everything…I mean, you are encouraging me,” she chuckled.

She wondered where he was all the years when Sammy, Dennis, Larry, and Cliff were playing with her heart.

She felt his breathing as if he was near her. She wondered what his body smelt like.

“Don’t thank me yet. I realise this is your dream and I want you to succeed too. Now start calculating, then we can talk later,” he said and she agreed. They dropped the call.

I wish I could hear his voice more and more, she thought. But he was right, she needed to calculate. She rummaged in the drawers for a pen and started to think of all the equipment she needed.

She needed approximately R20 000. This was making her head go in circles. The money was too much, even the bank wouldn’t give her that much. Could Trey afford so much? But he promised to help her. She was confused and lost. How was she going to break the news to him?

She spoke later to Charlotte.

“I know he cares but what if he can’t help me? I already agreed to do the event, Charlotte.”

“Darling, just tell him. He will surprise you, maybe he is a rich man,” she brushed her shoulders and sat close to her friend.

“I am so nervous,” said Amanda.

“Don’t worry.”

Amanda was stranded; she didn’t know what to do. She felt her stomach turn and each turn was painful, but she had to know how Trey would respond. She called him.

“I need 20 000,” she said, shaking.

“That’s nothing, give me your details,” he said quickly.

She didn’t hear his words because the stress was overshadowing her ability to listen.

“If you can’t then that means my loss,” she said heartbroken.

He paused, but she could hear his hoarse breathing.

“Did you hear what I said? Give me your banking details,” he said loudly but not roughly. That’s when she heard it and she screamed with joy. “Oh my god…I thought you said…Thank you so much!” she paused and recalled what he had said and squeaked.

“Now send the banking details,” he said calmly.

“Thank you, babe.” She didn’t know what else to say.

“Anything for you, my lady,” he chuckled.

She sent him the details and in a minute a message came through from her bank:

R35 000 deposited by Trey Gimm.

Tell us: Why do you think Trey is giving Amanda money?