Anni mimed zipping her lips.
‘Oh, come on. Just say it. I’m not going to get mad,’ Kaavi said.
‘Fine. I’ll go first,’ Anni said.
‘That was fast,’ Kaavi muttered.
‘Shh. Just listen. Look, I know you’ve been through a lot. I know healing takes time. And I get that you think Neel’sjust sticking around because of everything that’s happened. But seriously, are you happy with him?’
Kaavi didn’t answer.
Anni leaned in. ‘Why don’t you just tell him you want to stay married and be together? Why don’t you tell him the truth?’
A pause.
‘Somebody has to say it,’ Anni said.
‘I know, Anni. But what if I tell him … and he rejects me?’
‘But what if he doesn’t?’ Shona asked.
Kaavi shook her head.
‘I don’t know. I really don’t. I’ll think about it another time.’
She took a long sip of her drink. ‘Anyway. Can we change the subject? What’s happening with the workshops?’
Anni pulled out her notebook. ‘Alright. Kelly’s ordered the makeup kits from her supplier. I love that you chose a local shop to do the order. The kits are arriving on Sunday afternoon and she’s promised to deliver them to the hotel first thing Monday morning to be ready for you, Kaavi.’
Shona jumped in. ‘Just a heads-up, I’ll be in Durban for the first few days, sorting out the shop. So I won’t be there at the start.’
‘But I will. I’m there to help you and manage registration. We’ve got this,’ Anni said.
‘How are the numbers looking? It’s school holidays. I can’t imagine many kids want to spend their break at a makeup workshop,’ Kaavi said.
‘Are you serious?’ Anni stared at her. ‘Kaavi, we’ve got almost 30 girls signed up. They’re hyped. Because you’re doing it.’
‘Wait, really?’ Kaavi blinked. ‘You’re not just saying that?’
‘Really, Kaavi,’ Anni said.
‘Really,’ Shona echoed, leaning in. ‘You have no idea what this means to them.’
Kaavi stayed quiet.
Shona continued, ‘And it’s not about the makeup, not really. None of them even knows they’re getting free kits. They signed up because of the last one. They felt something.’
She paused.
‘Remember that girl? The one whose mom said her dad hated makeup and called women who wore it sluts? You sat with her. Talked about choice and power. About finding your voice.’
Anni nodded. ‘You changed something for her.’
‘These aren’t just classes, Kaavi,’ Shona said. ‘You’re teaching them how to own who they are and you’re rocking it.’
That night, after the catch-up with Shona and Anni, Kaavi climbed into bed and lay still for a moment. Two weeks ago, her life looked completely different. Her husband was back in her life. Her father, who’d cast a shadow over her life for years, even from a distance, was finally gone and somehow the grip he’d had on her without even being present was starting to fade.
Also, tonight, she’d learned something else: she was making a difference in girls’ lives. In real, lasting ways. It mattered. And for the first time in a long time, Kaavi went to sleep feeling just a little lighter.
