They inspected the bathroom, where a large white bath was already in position. Mma Makutsi stood and admired this for several minutes, dreaming of the almost inconceivable luxury of lying in the embrace of hot water and scented bath salts. She had always had to rely on showers—and weak and dribbling ones at that; she had never owned nor had the use of a bath, let alone a bath as beautiful and enticing as this. And it was such a large bath too—enough room for two … She turned away, her ears burning with embarrassment.

“What were you thinking about, Grace?” asked Phuti.

The question caught her unawares. She could not possibly tell him that she had entertained the thought that they might both use the bath; and yet she could hardly lie to him.

“I was thinking of how big the bath is,” she said softly.

He stared at the bath. “Room for two,” he whispered.

They both laughed, and her embarrassment faded. “It’s also a very suitable bath for a traditionally built person,” she said. “Even Mma Ramotswe would fit in that bath.”

“She will be very welcome to come round to our place and take a bath,” said Phuti. “From time to time, that is. You wouldn’t want people coming to use your bath every day.”

They moved through to the kitchen, where the carpentry was already at an advanced stage. Mma Makutsi thought that she had never seen so many cupboards and shelves, and said as much to Phuti. He smiled and said, “We shall have a lot of food to put in them, Grace.” She examined one of the cupboards; the door had been well constructed and opened smoothly, closing again to make a perfect seal.

“There will be no mice in this kitchen,” she said. “There are no holes for them to run in and out of.”

It was while Phuti was laughing at this observation that Thomas walked into the room. He had been working elsewhere on the site and had clearly not seen them, as he strode in whistling, with a saw in his hand and a large piece of insulation board tucked under his arm. His whistling stopped, and he stood stock-still.

“Well, Thomas,” said Phuti. “This is all looking very good. And my wife thinks so too, don’t you, Grace?”

Mma Makutsi smiled at the builder. “You have been doing a very good job. Thank you for all your hard work.”

For a moment or two it seemed that Thomas was uncertain what to do. Then he put the piece of board down on the floor, at the same time looking over his shoulder.

Phuti was puzzled. “Is there anything wrong, Rra?”

Thomas shook his head. He had been avoiding Phuti’s gaze; now he met it directly. “I want to talk to you, Rra. I will be finished in ten minutes. I will meet you down the road. You go first, and I will follow.”