For the rest of the day the office was buzzing with the news of everything that Andile had been up to. The information of his crooked dealings sent shock waves through everyone who had ever had anything to do with him. Lerato listened to all of it. She came out and told the lawyers involved about the email that Andile had sent her from London. She was anxious that it be very clear that she had not known anything about his shady dealings.

With Gugu by her side her name was in the clear.

The extent of the damage Andile had caused was catastrophic. It was not just Gugu who had been convinced to invest with him. There were many others.

Lerato felt sickened by it all. She kept remembering Andile’s sunny smile, and his charming ways. Everyone had loved him.

“How can he live with himself?” she asked Gugu, as they sat opposite each other, eating lunch.

“It’s the love of money that’s to blame,” said Gugu, crunching into her salad, “for all of us. Even me. I can’t even really blame Andile for my money losses. I only have myself to blame. He never forced me to invest in his horrible little scheme.”

“But he conned you,” said Lerato.

She was eating a plate of hot chips, smothered in tomato sauce. It was her comfort food, and today was a day that she needed comfort. Badly.

Gugu shrugged. “I was greedy, Lerato. I heard a warning voice in my head. But I didn’t listen. I wanted to believe Andile.”

“I suppose so,” said Lerato, nodding her head, and thinking to herself, ‘Like I thought Philane was doing a bad thing defending that man. There are so many cases where the rapist is let off I …”

A lump started to form in her throat again, and she pushed her plate away. People had tried to tell her she was wrong about Philane – Busi, her Dad, Gugu, even Andile. She hadn’t listened.

“I know what you mean,” Lerato said softly.

Gugu looked across at her. It was as if she could read Lerato’s thoughts, because she said, “But it’s not too late for you to change things, Lerato. Philane will be a good investment. Of that I have no doubt.”

Lerato drove home with the parcel containing her new dress on the seat next to her. Every time she looked at it she wanted to cry. Busi opened the front door for her when she arrived home, and Lerato fell into her arms and burst into tears.

“Oh, Busi,” she said, in between her sobs, “I’ve made such a terrible mistake. Oh God. You were right. About Philane. Everyone was. I’ve been such a fool.”

Busi led her sobbing sister to the sitting room, and helped her into a chair. Her father was there, and he looked at her with great concern.

“What’s wrong, my daughter?” he asked. “You mustn’t cry. Especially not today. Not today, when we have received such good news!”

“Sssh, Dad,” said Busi, putting her finger to her lips. “Give Lerato a moment. Let me first make some tea.”

Busi bustled off to the kitchen, and Lerato kicked off her shoes and blew her nose hard.

“I’m sorry, Dad,” she said, “I’ve just made such a mess of things.”

She patted her cheeks and her eyes with her tissue, and a moment later Busi returned with a tray set with tea and a large slice of cake for Lerato.

“Cake?” said Lerato, sitting up and taking the plate gratefully from Busi.

“Yes,” said Busi, “we’re celebrating!”

“Celebrating?”

For the first time since she had arrived home Lerato looked clearly at her sister and her father. She took a big bite of the cake. She adored Busi’s home-made cakes. She closed her eyes and savoured the taste. When she opened them again they were both sitting quite still and staring at her.

“What?” she said, still not quite realising what was going on.

“What are we celebrating?”

Busi moved quickly to the side cabinet in the lounge. She picked up an envelope there, and brought it to Lerato.

“It’s about Dad’s insurance,” said Busi excitedly. “I’ve read all the papers quite carefully, and I’m sure I have understood everything correctly, but I want you to check it all. To be quite sure.”

Lerato put down the cake, and took the envelope into her hands. She pulled out the papers and flipped through them. She began to smile as she read through them carefully.

“They’ve paid out,” she said after a moment, looking up and carrying on reading, “yes, they have. And more than we were expecting! Dad, the insurance has paid out!”

Lerato dropped the papers onto the floor and leapt to her feet. She pulled Busi into her arms, and hugged her tightly. She bent down to her father and gave him three loud kisses. She turned back to Busi and began dancing around the room with her.

All three of them were laughing. After a few minutes Lerato fell into her chair again. She was dizzy, and her head was spinning.

“Before you stop celebrating,” said Busi, laughing, “there’s something else. I just know it’s more good news!”

Lerato looked up at her sister. Busi stood before her holding an envelope, which she held out to Lerato. Lerato took it. It was addressed to her, and so she opened it. Inside was a letter.

Lerato ran her eyes over the page.

We have read the samples of your writing with great interest. After due consideration we would like to invite you to join our team of contributing scriptwriters for the television show ‘Generations.’

Lerato stopped reading. She held the letter against her chest for a minute, and shut her eyes. She couldn’t believe it. She looked down at the paper one more time.

Yes, it was true. Busi was watching her sister carefully. Now she stood up and leapt into the air, “I knew it! I knew you could do it!” she cried out, and then ran off laughing and calling out, “This calls for more cake!”

After a few minutes, the family settled down in the lounge, all talking at once in between large mouthfuls of Busi’s exceptional cake. There was so much to talk about. So many plans to be made.

At last some plans could be made for Busi’s future. They couldn’t decide on the spur of the moment. Would she do a beautician’s course, or would she go into the catering field?

Oh, well, they laughed, no big decisions had to be made today. It was just so great to know that options would now be possible. They would be able to afford a home nurse for their father and some home help as well.

A few alterations would be able to be made. A bigger bathroom, to accommodate Dad’s wheelchair, and wider door frames. They would even be able to look at some medical intervention which the doctors had been talking about for some time. Suddenly, anything seemed possible.

A little later, Lerato went into her bedroom to change into something more comfortable, and Busi followed her.

“Are you okay?” Busi asked, concerned.

“Of course I am,” said Lerato brightly, “Why wouldn’t I be?”

“Well, for one thing, you fell into the door in tears earlier. We haven’t had a chance to talk about that. I’m guessing that was all about Philane. I know you too well, Lerato,” said Busi, sitting down on her bed beside her. “Want to talk about it now?”

Lerato looked at her sister. She sighed.

“There’s nothing much to say, Busi. You were right and I was wrong. Philane won his case. But turns out the guy really is innocent. Just like you said. And I’ve completely ruined things with Philane.”

Tears began to well up in Lerato’s eyes again. “I just can’t stop crying, Busi,” she said, shaking her head.

“Of course you can’t,” said Busi, reaching over to hug her sister, “love has a way of making us do that.”

“Love?” said Lerato, meeting her sister’s eyes.

“Of course Love,” said Busi with a smile, “You’re in love with the man, Lerato,” she said clearly. “That’s so obvious. And your heart is broken because you think you’ve lost him.”

Lerato looked down. Slowly she nodded her head.

Busi hugged her again.

“Don’t give up hope Lerato,” she said, gently patting her sister’s back. “I think it’s time we made a plan.”

“A plan?” said Lerato, leaning back and looking into her sister’s face.

“Yes,” said Busi, “a plan to fix things. I saw the look in Philane’s eyes. He’s mad about you, Lerato.”

“I don’t think so,” said Lerato, shaking her head, “not any more. I think I’ve killed his feelings for me.”

“We’ll see about that,” said Busi, standing up, and wiping her hands on her apron. She gave her sister a knowing smile, and walked off into the kitchen, where she was cooking up a storm, creating a very special meal for them all.