QUEEN OF DIAMONDS

CHAPTER 15

I left early the next day to avoid Andile and asked Stones to drive Naye to school. I sat in my office thinking about the previous day's happenings. I was so wrapped in my thoughts I didn't hear my assistant, Kim, knock and enter. "Mrs Mkhize, are you okay?" she asked her voice raised. I snapped out of my trance and looked at her. "Yeah, sorry what can I help you with?" I asked sitting up straight. She frowned at me in concern before clearing her throat. "Uhm, Mrs Mkhize senior called, she was worried she couldn't reach you on your cell," Kim said and I checked my phone, 5 missed calls. "Shit, thanks, I'll call her back," I said and Kim nodded and left. I called Mrs Mkhize and she answered on the third ring. "Makoti, I was very worried, are you okay?" she asked before I could say anything. "Hello Mah, yes I'm fine. I'm sorry my phone was on silent. Is everything okay?" I said quickly. "Yes uhm well the uncles want to host a slaughtering ceremony for Andile. To thank the ancestors for his safe return, I would have called him but I don't have his new number," she said. "Oh okay when?" I asked. "This weekend, the goat will be slaughtered on Saturday and eaten Sunday. Of course you'll need to be there to let the ancestors know you are no longer a widow," she said and I mentally started moving around meetings that are on Friday. "Okay Mah, we'll drive down there on Friday then," I said. "Okay Makoti, bye then," she said. "Bye Mah," I said. "Oh Makoti, qinisela sana lwami, I know it seems hard but still hang on. My son loves you to bits makoti and I know you do too," she said and hung up. I banged my head on the table and sighed. I opened my emails, replied to some and got started on a presentation. I finished up and drove myself home, after hearing that Refiloe had picked up Naye and Owami (her daughter) for a play date. I got home and took a shower before changing into sweatpants and a hoodie. I went over to Andile's room and was about to knock when the door swung open. "Really dude? What, do you just wait behind the door and listen for footsteps?" I asked and he laughed. "No, I was on my way over to you actually," he replied. "Oh what did you want?" I asked. "You came here first so how can I help you?" he said opening the door to let me in. I walked in and surveyed the room, papers on the floor couple of clothes on the bed and three cups on the nightstand, which was weird considering what a neat freak Andile was. I raised an eyebrow as I walked in tentatively. "I like what you did with the place," I joked and he laughed. "Thank you I have heard I have impeccable interior design taste," he said settling on the bed. I sat on the couch across from him and looked at him. "Your mom called, apparently the elders want to host a goat slaughtering ceremony for you during the weekend," I said. "Oh, so do we drive down together?" he asked. "I suppose so, it makes the most sense. We can leave on Friday and come back Sunday night," I said and he nodded. "So what did you want to talk about?" I asked. "Ngathi," he replied and my heart sank. "Oh uhm I-I," I stuttered and he stared at me. "Never mind, ngiyabonga for telling me about the ceremony," he said and I took it as my cue to leave. I got up and stretched before walking to the door. "And if you don't mind, please return the cups to their respective place, I don't think they deserve to be held hostage," I said and left.