“Investing your funds in fixed-income assets will provide you with a secure level of income and will ensure- ” Matt Stevens abruptly stops in the middle of giving financial advice to the man sitting on the other side of his desk. He looks into the distance and absently runs his hand through close-cropped brown hair.  His mind is visibly elsewhere. ‘RICHARD BOLD FINANCE’ is large and red on the glass wall of his office. Matt is a financial consultant here. This is a pitch he has given a thousand times. He tries to summon back the pitch, but his mind has suddenly gone blank.

“You were saying, Mr Stevens?” says Mr Nkosi, his client.

“I’m sorry about that, Mr Nkosi,” says Matt, rubbing his temples with the heels of his palms.

The script comes back to Matt. He tells Mr Nkosi about the investment product.

“Let me think about it,” says Mr Nkosi. “I’ll be in touch after I get input from the wife. She’s the boss.”

Mr Nkosi chuckles. Matt just nods – distracted.  He would usually at least smile at Mr Nkosi’s joke about calling his wife the boss. Mr Nkosi quickly wipes the smile and looks at Matt with concern.

“I hope you get over whatever it is that is bothering you,” says Mr Nkosi, offering his hand to Matt.

“Thanks, Mr Nkosi,” says Matt, shaking hands, nodding and smiling politely as Mr Nkosi leaves.

Matt has a lot on his mind. His wife, Naomi, is five months pregnant and, for the first time since she conceived, today she had to go alone to see her doctor. Being absent during Naomi’s visit to her doctor has deeply troubled Matt. Naomi assured him she would be just fine going by herself. But Matt felt like he was not playing his role as a supportive husband and father-to-be.

“I witnessed my father not being there for Mom and vowed to always be there for my wife. Worst of all, today is the day we are supposed to find out the gender of the baby. I want to be there for you, Naomi,” Matt said in the morning, while serving her breakfast in bed.

“It really is fine, babe. I’ll manage,” Naomi said, taking a bite of toast, scrolling on her tablet.

They are opposites. Matt worries too much, Naomi is calm. Matt was raised by a single mother, Naomi grew up in a large family.

Matt picks up a stack of paper as another client approaches his office.

“Just a second,” he says to the client. “I’ll be with you shortly.”

Matt sneaks out to the back of the office. The Johannesburg winter wind chills his face. His heart is pounding as he dials Naomi’s number.

“Naomi? Are you alright, babe?”

“It is almost my turn,” says Naomi.

“Otherwise you are well? Did you eat? Did you manage to drive OK?”

“Yes, I am well. I ate. Don’t worry, Matt, I drove just fine. I am pregnant, not disabled.”

“Good, then. Keep me posted – just say if you need anything.”

“Thanks, Matt. It’s a boy: I can feel it,” Naomi chuckles.

Matt has a flashback of the day the pregnancy was confirmed – cuddling with Naomi, saying he wants a girl, Naomi saying she wants a boy.

“It doesn’t matter, babe. As long as the baby is healthy,” says Matt, turning away from a gust of chilly wind that seems to emanate from Nelson Mandela Square across the road from the office.

“Aren’t you working, Matt?” says Naomi. “It’s not lunch time yet according to my watch.”

“I just sneaked out to make the call. I’m worried about you.”

“No, Matt!” says Naomi. “Get back to work. I’ll give you a call when I’m done.”

***

Tell us: There’s a saying: “Opposites attract”. What do you think Matt and Naomi are looking for in each other? What are you looking for in others?