Mr Not Quite Good Enough by Lauri Kubuitsile Read Free Book Online Page B

didn’t know the truth, or maybe she didn’t want to face it. If she hadn’t known Ozee as a petrol attendant before the Cellacom meeting, would she have gone out on a date with him? Yes, she knew the answer was yes. She was attracted to him, he was funny and so handsome and his smile – she would do anything for that smile.
    But could she have a serious relationship with Ozee? If she was honest with herself, she was pretty sure the answer was no – and that made her sick.
    They continued walking in silence until Gorata stopped. “This is my place.”
    Ozee looked up at the modest face brick house. “Nice.”
    Just then the moon came out completely from behind the clouds and Mmandu’s Rustenburg rooster crowed everyone awake for the morning he thought had suddenly arrived.
    â€œI didn’t take you for a woman who kept chickens,” Ozee said.
    â€œMy sister . . . ” Gorata answered, embarrassed. “It’s a long story.”
    Ozee smiled. “I’ve got time.”
    â€œAren’t you working?”
    â€œYeah, but my boss and I . . . We’ve got a sort of agreement.”
    â€œThat’s handy,” Gorata said.
    Ozee held out his hand and she took it. He led her to the plastic chairs under a tree in the garden at the side of her house. They sat down. And with the moon making it almost like day and the rooster singing his morning song every few minutes, Gorata found herself telling this man, hardly more than a stranger, all about the death of her mother and the character that was her older sister, Mmandu.
    Later, when things were ruined and awful, Gorata always thought back to that silvery, magical night, and it made her heart sing with happiness even when it was crying in pain.

Chapter 5
    5
    Gorata woke up early, went to the gym for a quick workout and then whisked off to breakfast with Amita. So far, she’d managed to avoid Mmandu. She had no interest in discussing Showa and his marriage proposal and what a kak mampara he was, as Ozee had described him at some point the night before after she’d poured out the sorry tale plus a whole lot more to him.
    She couldn’t believe what a great listener Ozee was. Men were notorious for having no listening skills, but not Ozee. He was genuinely interested in what she said. He was insightful, too, and wise beyond his years with his answers and questions.
    Gorata hadn’t stopped thinking about him since he left her garden in the wee hours of the morning. She hadn’t stopped seeing his smile, feeling her hand in his. He really was a very special man. Any woman would be more than lucky to get him.
    She’d showered after her aerobics class and felt fantastic. She couldn’t quite put her finger on it, but she felt different, light and free. She felt as if the world was hers. She’d left her car at the gym and walked the few blocks to the bistro Amita had chosen for breakfast.
    Gorata spotted her sitting at a booth in the corner.
    â€œHey, girl, what happened to you – you swallow a glow bug?” Amita asked.
    â€œWhat? Why are you saying that?” Gorata threw her bag down on the bench and sat down.
    â€œYou’re radiant. I guess the date with Mr ANC went smashing. Finally hit the ball out of the park then?” Amita had a thousand euphemisms for having sex.
    â€œNo, the opposite actually – Showa and I are over. He’s married – well, not legally, it looks like a traditional marriage, but there are kids and . . . Well, I’m not interested.”
    Gorata picked up the menu and her eyes focused on a photo of flapjacks dripping with butter and maple syrup. They would neutralise the good effects of the entire one-hour aerobics class she’d just gone through, but so be it. She closed the menu. “And you?”
    â€œNo, no ‘and you’ . . . Are you okay? How did you find out he was married? It must’ve been a shock. I thought he