Cherry Marbles
Page 10
“Doing what again?” he asked.
“Candidly saying what I think before considering the consequence,” Langa sighed.
“I’d say that’s the most refreshing thing about you: you speak your mind. Most people, women especially, feel they have to watch what they say when they speak to me. They outrightly lie to my face if they think it will make me happy,” Regile said.
“Well, you’d better get used to the sucking up. When you’re king you’ll have to deal with that all the time,” Langa mused, lightly playing with her napkin.
Regile laughed. “Sometimes I wish I’d been born in a normal family or that at least I had an elder brother. He’d take all the pressure off me and maybe make my father proud.”
“He is proud of you. You work very hard.”
“All my parents seem to want from me is a queen,” Regile countered. “And babies!”
“So, then I suppose your queen won’t work; she’ll sit at home barefoot and have one baby after the other?” Langa asked, remembering that he’d said Ndebele women didn’t work.
Regile laughed. “Well, initially I thought so but lately I’ve been thinking she can work if it makes her happy. I’ve realised that a woman who speaks her mind and makes her own decisions is very attractive. I’ll just bask in her success and not be threatened by it.”
Langa took a deep breath. “Richard and I broke off our engagement.”
“I know; Nandi told me,” Regile said. “I had the great pleasure of watching her perform at Baseline last night. She told me all the things I’ve been afraid to admit to myself.”
“That’s why she was so offish when I wanted to go with her,” Langa realised. “I should’ve known she was up to something; she must’ve gotten your number from my phone. What did she tell you?”
“All the things I’ve left unsaid,” Regile answered mysteriously, taking out a small box from his pocket and placing it in front of Langa. She gasped and opened it. It was a beautiful ring made of colourful beads.
“You remembered,” Langa marvelled. “It’s an idzila; it’s beautiful!”
“This is a symbol of friendship; forgetting the past and starting over. To answer your question, my bride-to-be can come out of the smaller room to make space for new possibilities,” Regile said and took Langa’s hand. “I’ve disappointed my parents once again by calling off the wedding.”
Langa felt tears forming in her eyes.
“I fell in love with you the first time I saw you, Miss Buthelezi. The evening we came here and your face was covered in make-up, I knew it without a doubt. Last night Nandi helped confirm all the feelings I’ve been running away from,” Regile continued. “I’m in love with your hard-working nature and your love for God. And your strong will and independence drive me crazy!”
“Crazy?” Langa uttered breathlessly.
“Yes,” he nodded, “a good crazy. I love the fact that you’re a smart and independent woman who’s not afraid to speak her mind. That’s all new to me; I’ve always been surrounded by women who dote on me and don’t seem to have a brain of their own. The fact that you’re so independent attracts me to you, even though it made me so mad in the beginning. I’m not proposing just yet, but I’m sure if you give me a chance to get to know you better, I will do that someday soon.”
“Will I have to stop working when I become queen?” Langa asked confidently.
“Not unless you decide to,” Regile answered, his eyes dancing.
He leaned over the table and reached for her face. Their lips met and they kissed, unconcerned about anyone watching them. When they separated to catch their breath, the waiter was there, clearing his throat.
“Are you ready for me to take your order?” he asked.
“The gentleman will have lamb shank and I’d like pan-fried rump steak with paprika, both with chips,” announced Langa, happily squeezing Regile’s hand. “And to drink we’ll both have Cherry Marbles.”
About the Book
Synopsis
Langa Buthelezi owns her own events company and lives in a fabulous New York-style flat in Quinn Street, Johannesburg. She is engaged to Richard, a cameraman for the SABC. One Sunday afternoon, on her way home from church, she has an embarrassing encounter with a handsome stranger – to whom she is very rude. During a major event proposal, Langa comes face to face with the very same handsome stranger – Regile Mabhena, owner of Mabhena Oil Limited, who will decide if she gets the contract. It’s while organising the event that Langa finds herself working intimately with Regile, realising at last what true love is . . .
About the Author
SHUKIE NKOSANA was born to a Zimbabwean father and a Zambian mother. She matriculated in London and moved to Johannesburg in 2008 where she began to study arts and literature. Shukie’s love of books motivated her to work part-time at Xarra Books in Newtown, Johannesburg.
Extremely outgoing and impulsive, Shukie drew her inspiration from all the different people that crossed her path. Shukie passed away unexpectedly in January 2010 at the tender age of twenty-four. Her manuscript, Cherry Marbles, had already been accepted for publication.
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Are You a Writer?
Are you a writer? Do you want to get published? Write a truly South African romance novel for our new romance imprint, Sapphire Press – only 30 000 words. Email sapphire@kwela.com for more information, or to let us know if you liked this story. Alternatively, send us a letter to Kwela Books, PO Box 6525, Roggebaai, 8012. You can also fax us at 021 406 3812. Feedback will be given on publishable manuscripts only.
Imprint Page
Sapphire Press is the romance imprint of Kwela Books,
an imprint of NB Publishers,
40 Heerengracht, Cape Town, South Africa
PO Box 6525, Roggebaai, 8012, South Africa
E-mail: sapphire@kwela.com
Website: www.kwela.com
Facebook: www.facebook.com/Sapphire.Press
Copyright © PS Nkosana 2010
All rights reserved
No part of this electronic book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any electronic or mechanical means, including photocopying and recording, or by any other information storage or retrieval system, without written permission from the publisher
Cover image by Gallo Images/Getty Images
Cover design by Hanneke du Toit
E-book design by Full Circle
Available in print:
/> First edition, first impression 2010
ISBN: 978-0-7957-0302-7
Epub edition:
First edition 2011
e-ISBN: 978-0-7957-0368-3