That night was the rehearsal dinner. The wedding party and a few friends and family members would meet in the big tent at Bonang’s parents’ house. Luckily, the tent suppliers had arrived just before sunset to take down the tent with no roof and put up a new, even bigger one. Mrs Wang was inside directing an army of assistants to decorate the tables, and put up flowers. She had fake birds flying at the top of the tent, vines were threaded in and out of the ropes. A massive Mother Earth poster draped behind the top table with a woman whose body was a tree trunk and arms branches, sprouting from our planet. I was not sure it was strictly wedding compatible, but it did stick to the theme.

I arrived a little early hoping to pre-empt any problems. I walked around the tent and then outside to check the food for the dinner. As I approached the cooking fire, the woman I had seen earlier alone in the tent passed by.

“Hello,” I said.

“Hi.”

“I haven’t met Mike yet – is he around?” I asked.

“I’m actually just going to the road. He SMSed that he was arriving.” The woman sped off toward the front of the house. Something was not right about her. My private investigator senses knew something was up, but I couldn’t follow her because suddenly Jomo was there.

“Lola, I’ve been looking all over for you! I have a big problem. A big, big problem.”

“What’s happened?” I could tell by his face it was serious. Jomo was not an excitable person – so unlike his mother – but he was clearly upset so I knew it must be something important.

“The ring. Lola, I’ve lost Bonang’s ring!”

“It can’t be lost. Where do you last remember seeing it?”

“I’ve been keeping it with me. I was afraid this would happen, so I’ve been keeping it in my pocket, in its case. It was there before I took my mother to the florist. Then I dropped her back here, and went home to change. When I was changing I found it was gone! How can we get married without a ring?”

“It must be at the florists. You relax. I’ll pop over there and look around. Don’t worry, I’ll find it.”

Jomo looked slightly calmer and I set off for the florists. When I got there the owner was just about to close the shop. Mr Moore was one of my clients. I had managed to solve the case of his missing lawn furniture (his wife had given them away to her sister in Cape Town but didn’t tell him because she knew he loved the furniture but she hated it). Mr Moore was happy to see me.

“Oh, Lola! Did you need a bouquet? I was just closing but I’m happy to open up again for you.”

“No, I’m part of Jomo and Bonang’s wedding. I’m sorry to keep you, but it looks like when the groom and his mother were here earlier he must have dropped the bride’s wedding ring. Can you let me look around?”

“Certainly, and I’ll help you look.”

Mr Moore and I searched the entire shop thoroughly and found nothing. That was not a good sign. If Jomo didn’t lose the ring here, where did he lose it?

I got back to the tent just as dinner was starting. Jomo and Bonang were already seated at the front table. Jomo looked hopefully at me and I smiled. He looked relieved. I’d leave him until after the dinner to let him know I found nothing.

I took my seat next to Bonang and looked out at the gathering; I could see most everyone was there. Then I spotted the malingering woman. She sat alone at a back table. Her face was firmly set in a frown, her arms crossed in front of her. I followed her sightline and it led straight to Jomo. This woman looked unhappy and it looked like Jomo might have something to do with it.

I leaned over to Bonang. “Who’s that woman at the back, the one sitting alone?”

“Ask Jomo,” Bonang said visibly annoyed.

I leaned across her. “Hey, Jomo,” I said. He was busy talking to his best man on the other side; I tried not to notice Gideon.

Jomo turned to me and Gideon said, “Hey, Lola, great job today with Jomo’s mum.” Then he winked. I tried not to see.

“What is it?” Jomo asked. He put out his hand as if I might want to hand over the wedding ring, but I ignored it. He didn’t say anything for fear Bonang would hear. A lost wedding ring might be the straw that broke this bride camel’s back.

“That woman, that one at the back, who is she?”

Bonang butted in, “He knows exactly who she is and it really makes you wonder what kind of man does that!”

Bonang was near tears – again. What was going on?

“She’s no one,” Jomo tried.

“No one? No one? You know exactly who she is – she’s your ex-girlfriend Kukie! Why you invited her to the wedding who can know. Maybe you want to get back together with her?”

Bonang began to cry. I rubbed her back and glared at Jomo.

“I didn’t invite her. I didn’t even know she was around. Last I heard she moved to Durban,” Jomo said in his defence.

“Well, she can’t stop looking at you, that must mean something!” Bonang said.

“I don’t know what her problem is. I just saw her here today. I’m keeping away from her. I greeted her this afternoon for just a second. I was on my way to the florist. I thought she was just stopping to say hi – I didn’t know she would come tonight.” He grabbed Bonang’s hands and she turned to face him. “I mean it. I didn’t even know she would be here. I did not invite her. I love you.” He kissed her and the people clapped.

As we were talking I took my eyes off Kukie, and when I looked up she was gone. Maybe the problem had solved itself.

The waitresses brought the first course of soup. Bonang’s father stood up to give a toast. Jomo’s mother stood up to give a longer toast. The main course of roast chicken and potatoes arrived. Gideon stood up to give a toast. And then it was my turn.

“Bonang has been my friend since we were little girls,” I started. “And I’ve known Jomo ever since we all worked at Mr Wang’s place together. At first glance, you wouldn’t think the beautiful model would be interested in the quiet, humble driver, but love is a funny thing. It shows up in all of the wrong places for all of the right reasons. I wish my dear friends a happy, long, and loving marriage. Pula!”

As I sat down, out of the corner of my eye I saw Gideon looking at me. What did that look mean? I turned away and just then I saw Kukie rushing out of the tent. Where had she gone? And more importantly – what was she up to?

***

Tell us what you think: What do you think happened to the ring?