Embedded

Chapter Ten.

Chapter Ten.

"It's not your job to be everything to everyone." x THEOPENINVITE.

••

In she walks carrying a crying Luthando. My eyes go wide as I stop with checking these grade nine's books. I close and put the book that was on my lap aside, standing almost immediately.

"Zonke...and then?"
"She won't keep quiet. Shut her up while I go make a call." She says shoving Luthando into my arms. She's almost red with all the crying she has been doing and that can't be good. I search her bag for some milk and when I find it, feed her it's contents. She sucks hungrily on the bottle and almost calms down. My butt is on the sofa again before I carefully wipe her precious tears away.

What is Zonke doing...and where is Thokozani?

She nearly finishes the entire bottle when I decide to put it aside. I put her on my shoulder and pat her back gently, encouraging her to burp. I remember our mother used to do this to Buhle, and as young as I was she'd show me how to do it too.

Minutes after Luthando burps, Zonke returns to the lounge looking rather pleased with herself.

"Zonke, why did you bring Luthando here?"
"Haibo Gimba, wasn't it you who was complaining about me not giving a shit about her and now that she's here you still ask me stupid questions."
"This is not what I meant."
"Whatever, anyway I need this thing's birth certificate." She grabs Luthando's bag off the floor and opens it up, searching for this certificate.

"What are you going to do with it?"
"Hello, the money!"
"You...you mean the grant?"
"That one."

So, this is not at all because she cares about Luthando?

I focus my attention on this tiny beautiful soul as she started to fall asleep in my hold. I regret informing Zonke about this money thing now and also putting this child through so many unnecessary things. I should've kept quiet and left things as they were.

Somewhere deep inside my heart I wished Thokozani would just come and get her, and even skip the country with her. More especially now that I see Zonke really doesn't care about Luthando at all.

"Here it is." She squeals putting Luthando's bag down again. She's texting on her phone. I get up. I'm going to go put Luthando down in my room. I put my pillow down on the center of the bed and gently position her on it. She wakes up. I rub on her belly gently and to my luck she drifts back off into her peaceful sleep.

I sigh out in relief as I sit down on the edge of the bed. My phone vibrates and chirps from between my breasts. I retrieve it and unlock it. It's a message. The twitching of my lips has me opening the message at a rather quick speed.

'Hey, you back from work yet?' His text read.

'Yes.' I reply with a smile emoticon.

'So, can I call you?'

I'm indecisive, wondering if I should grant him this opportunity or not. I want to give a stupid reasoning for him not to call me, but then again I wanted to hear his voice once more.

'Yes.' I text back getting up from the bed and head to my window. Not even a minute later my phone rings.