“I showed Ma the picture Mpho’s friend left behind on my coffee table. She wanted me to see the picture of Mpho and George together. The worst of it was that they were in Mom’s house, making out on her bed.”

“No! What did she say?”

“At first she was stunned. She only believes that a man cheats on his woman. She said she’d never have believed that a young woman she had known all her life would do something like that.”

“When a man cheats there is always a woman involved.”

“Of course,” Mahamba said. “But now everything is OK with Mama and me. I’ll never forgive Mpho for driving that wedge between us. At first I had wanted to lash out at Yonela, her so-called friend, for telling me. I thought ‘ignorance is bliss’. But whatever her motive I’m very glad I found out about Mpho. If she was cheating on me before we even got married, what chance did we ever have?”

Juliet nodded her head. “I’m very happy everything is OK with you and your mother.”

“I told her we had met,” Mahamba now said, gazing into her eyes.

“Does that mean that I’m now unemployed?”

Mahamba laughed. Then he shook his head, slowly but surely.

“Well let’s put it like this, she was grinning like a Cheshire cat when I left her. Mama said that in the short space of time she’s known you she’s already come to like you.”

“Did she give you my address?” Juliet asked.

“Yes. And I’ve got something for you in my car.” Mahamba rushed away before she could say anything.

“I didn’t know which ones you liked best so I bought them all,” he said as he came back a moment later, laden down with flowers.

“I love them!” Juliet grinned as she ushered him into her flat.

“Does this mean we can start all over again?” Mahamba asked.

She hurried over to him and threw her arms around him, holding him close.

“You are just so incredibly sexy,” Mahamba said with a husky voice.

“You make me feel that way, Mahamba,” she said, her own voice low. They sat down on her couch and Mahamba held tightly onto her hand.

“I’ve never … properly … made love before,” Juliet said softly.

“Then I’m glad I’ll be your first, Juliet.” He stroked her face tenderly with his hand.

Juliet wrapped her arms around his shoulders and held onto him. Her fingers toyed with the hairs at the nape of his neck as their breathing slowed.

“Will you … spend the night here with me, Mahamba?” she asked hesitantly.

He rearranged the cushions until they were both comfortable and then he pulled her into his arms. “Of course. Whatever … however you want. We can make this work, Juliet. We are meant to be together.”

“I’m very attracted to you, Mahamba, very. But I want you to know that … at the same time, I don’t want to rush into having sex with you. ” She felt confident. He loved her. He would wait.

“That’s OK, sweetheart. I’m not going to rush you. I’m going to court you.”

“I like the sound of that,” she smiled. Then she continued, “There is so much to talk about … think about … find out about each other.”

“Why do I get the feeling that there is something else you want to tell me?”

“You’re a mind reader now,” she teased. “I don’t want to stay working for your Mom for ever. I want to open my own florist one day. My gogo left me some money. She adored flowers too. She always told me to follow my heart.”

“I know that, and Mom does too. She said you’re a natural. She also said you’ll go places, my girl. I know she’ll help you fulfil your dream, Juliet. I will too.”

“Thank you,” she kissed him hard on the mouth. “Thank you, Mahamba.”

“We are destined to be together, sweetheart. I’ll never hurt you. I’m a one man, one woman kind of person.”

* * *

Tell us what you think: Are Mahamba and Juliet suited to one another?