BROKEN PIECES.

CHAPTER 19 | ESME

Everyone is silent on the table and no one is talking. They keep looking at Uncle Leo and my aunt Natasha. My mom almost fainted when she saw uncle Leo. She looked at me with teary eyes and tried to talk to me but I ignored her. She then took my aunt to a room and two of them started shouting at each other until my grandmother went to the bedroom and came out with them.
I know they can see a connection between my uncle and I cause I almost look like him too. I'm sure they now know that Dan is not my father unless they already did. My uncle and aunt have me sitting in the middle between them. My mom is busy wiping her tears and looks at me with apologetic eyes. I don't know if she feels sorry for lying to us about our father or something forced her to keep our identity a secret from all of them including my father.
" Why was a meeting called for me mkhulu? " I ask my grandfather.
" just wait Thato. I want your mother to explain something to me. Who is this man in my house Eunice? A man that looks like your first born son."
My mom looks at my uncle, me then my grandfather.
" He is not his father baba. He is thato's uncle." My grandfather looks at her shocked.
" Wait his uncle? Meaning his brother is Thato's father? "
" Yebo baba ( yes father ) " My grandfather laughs.
" Then why were we were told that uDan is thato's father? " My mom looks at my grandmother and my gran shakes her head.
" Gogo you knew that uDan was not my father! "  I ask her shocked. My grandmother knew and hid it from me.
" Haibo Nkos' kazi.( My wife ) You were also part of this? "
" I found out later when thato was sick and his mother was panicking baba. She also hid it from me baba." My gran explains.
" What the hell happened Eunice? "
" Baba I can explain. I met thato's father when he was here on business. My brothers found out about meetings with him and when I introduced them to him, they realized he wasn't from South Africa and they forbade our relationship. They wanted us to stop seeing each other and I pretended to cause Dan was also my boyfriend..."
" You stole him from me. He was my boyfriend first but all of you wanted her for him cause his family had money. I didn't matter what I wanted. You didn't care! " So Dan was my aunts boyfriend?
" Oh enough Natasha. This is not about you. We are talking about thato here but as always everything has to revolve around you " My mom says sounding bored like she wasn't crying a few minutes ago..
" Because you took him from me. You were cheating with my boyfriend!.  Each and every time I had to be the one that sacrifises for this family then you wanted thato to sacrifice himself for the family and you almost got away with it but I am so happy that it's not going to happen."
" That is still going to happen Natasha. You know that very well." My grandmother says.
" I am not going to marry Boni gogo. I love uJabu and she's the only I love and going to spend the rest of my life with " All of them laugh excluding my uncle and aunt.
" My boy you are still young to even think that girl is the one you're going to get married to " My uncle Fana says.
Uncle Leo takes a deep breath in then out and I can feel his anger cause he has his fist clenched tight.
" Talk makaPalesa " My grandfather commands her.
" I would ask Natasha to accompany me to see his father when he's in town and she would keep us company. I didn't know who got me pregnant cause I was sleeping with the two of them so I decided to pin the baby on Dan and I had hoped it was his but then one day thato got sick and needed blood. I took him to the doctor and they took his blood and they weren't a match with Dan cause earlier that month we had taken a life policy and I knew what blood group he was so when the results came not matching. I knew Dan wasn't his father. Mom then came and found me panicking. She told me to shut my mouth and keep it to myself but I told Natasha what happened and I don't how she did it but she got the same blood type thato has." Wow.
" So everyone in this house knew excluding thato and I. My wife, my sons and both my daughters hid something like this from me. The house of the family. All of you decided to make decisions about what happens in my family!. How dare you! " He says hitting the table with his closed fist.
" I'm sorry...." my grandfather raises his hand and stops my gran from talking.
" It's clear that thato's father and family now know about his existence that is why his uncle is sitting here in my house uninvited. What is the reason for you to be here? " He asks my uncle.
" My name is Leo Alarie. I am  Raphael-thato's biological uncle. His father is Nicholas Alarie and we are from Senegal and we come from a very big family. I'm sorry to come in your house uninvited but my nephew asked me to come with him. I am here because I love him. I want what is best for him and I want you all to stop using him as your pawns to whatever game you think of or are playing with his life cause that is not going to happen." My uncle says and the house goes quiet.
" That is disrespect to all of us here. You will not come into my house and start telling us what to do when we have just found out about you 2 minutes ago. Get up, walk out and go back to whatever country you belong to " My grandfather says.
" If I get up and walk out of this house. Believe me I'm not going alone. I will take my brother's children and you will never see them again! " uncle Leo tells my uncle.
" Children? " My grandfather asks.
" Yes. Dimples is also Nicholas's daughter. Not Dan's. Did you know this too mamie cause you and your daughter are very close " Aunty Natasha says.
" Eunice! " My mother sniffs crocodile tears.
" How dare you take my daughter's blood without my permission. You will not take my children away from me. Ever! " She shouts at her sister.
" Oh it wasn't her mother. It was me. I wanted to know if she was my father's daughter too."
" Thato why are you like this! Look at how Natasha has poisoned you against me! "
" You did this to yourself Eunice. Own up to your mistakes and apologize to your son for lying to him all these years. You should thank me cause I did you a favor "
" You ruined my life Natasha! I hate you! "
" The feeling is mutual sweetheart "
" You miserable bitch. You have always wanted what I had. My family, My children and my husband! " My mom says.
" Oh you can keep that good for nothing husband of yours. I hate him with everything I am. He is just as rotten as you!"
" You think I ruined your life when I took him away from you? Bitch I have done worse things to you that you don't know about. " What the hell is my mother talking about?. How did she ruin my aunts life?.
I have always known my mother is heartless but I am seeing this side of her for the first time and I hate it. It scares me.
" Eunice stop talking to your sister like that! " My grandmother reprimands her.
" I don't care what you did to me. If I did. I would be miserable like you." My mom laughs.
I look at my uncle and he shakes head shocked. His phone rings then he gets up and walks out of the house. It was my father calling.
" Good. He's finally gone. Now back to you Thato. Why did you break that poor girl's heart?" My grandfather asks.
" I was tired of pretending. I don't love her and I will not marry her. Give her to one of my cousins. They will gladly marry her "
" No thato. The deal was made before you were born. We need these two families to be one and it must be you and her." he says.
" Mkhulu I know in this family you love money. My happiness doesn't matter to you that is why you were all forcing me to be with boni. Nganitshela ukuthi angimthandi ( I had told you that I don't love her ) but you don't care and now I don't care too. You will not force me to do anything I don't want to do " I tell them.
" Too bad cause they are on their way here right now " My mom says.
" You bitch! What did you do? " My aunt asks her.
" You will soon find...Ooh here they are "
I look behind me and see Boni with her parents, grandparents, her uncles and aunt too and wait what?! Hell no!. I get up, push the chair and it almost falls down.
" What the hell is this!. I am not doing it! " I scream at them.
" You left us no choice thato. This is best for the whole family my boy. You will hate us now but when you grow up. You will realize that sometimes you have to make sacrifices for your family." My grandfather says.
" Kubheka! Did you not tell us that you talked to this boy and he agreed to get married to Boni today! " Boni's grandfather asks my grandfather angrily.
" I do not love her and nothing you say or do will make me change my mind. I am not fucking marrying Boni. Tell them to take their priest and go back where they come from! "
" Thato please! " Boni begs me
" I do not love you Boni! Get that through your head or are you that stupid and desperate?! "
" Shut up Thato. We talked with her family and fixed thing and we all decided to forgive you for what you did to her. You are going to marry Boni now. That's the end of it." My mom says again forcefully.
" Eunice! What kind of a mother are you?. Why can't you stand with your son and protect him! "
" I am doing what is best for him. These families need each other. We are the only one's who are going to run Newcastle, run Majuba district and the whole fucken KZN! "
" Isn't it enough that he's been bombing ATM's and stealing money for this family?, isn't it enough that we steal for this family and now you want your son to marry into the family of drug dealers?! How heartless can you be Eunice! "
" I am his mother and I have the final say! "
" Not if I have anything to do with it! " My father says walking in.
" Papa? " I can't believe it.
Everyone goes silent. Boni's family looks at me then look at my father. I look exactly like him. My eyes get blurry, I sniff then tears fall down my cheeks. He walks straight to me and pulls me into a tight hug. I hug him too and cry on my father's chest.
" C'est bon mon fils. Je suis la maintenant. Je vais tout arranger. Personne ne vous fera jamais de mal ou ne vous forcera a faire quelque chose que vous ne voulez pas faire. ( It's okay my son. I am here now. I will make everything okay. No one will ever hurt you or force you to do anything you don't want to do.) "
" Nico? "
" Hi Natasha "
" What.....what are you doing here? " My mom asks my dad.
" Where's my daughter? "
" Hey you don't have kids here! These kids belong to Dan. He paid damages for them and married their mother " Uncle Fana says.
" I heard everything in this family is about money." My dad says kissing my head. " My son has been working for this family for years stealing. You taught him how to be a criminal at his young age. You robbed him off his innocence when you introduced him to that life. Why couldn't you give me my children to raise them myself? Why did you allow my son to be corrupted by your family Eunice?. Was my daughter that I never knew was mine going to be corrupted the same way or even worse. Marry her off to a rich man who will abuse and hurt her?. Is that what you wanted for her too since you are forcing my son to marry someone he doesn't love? "
I turn and look at my mother and her face is void of emotions.
" These are my children. Not yours! " she insists.
" You weren't alone in making our children. You were there and I was too. They are mine too " Her tells her.
" Like my son said. These children are traditionally Dan's. He did what was expected of him. He is their father."
" These are my children and no one will tell me otherwise. He did what was expected of him because your daughter lied about it sir. This is all her doing. Had she told me that I fathered our children. I would have made things right form the beginning and be involved in my children's lives. " My father says the last part emotionally.
"What did you do when you found then huh? Why didn't you do right?! " My mom asks him.
" I've been doing just that with him ever since I found out and I am here now to just that again. Make things right for my children since their happiness costs money in this family. So here it is."
My uncle and three other guys put four heavy duffel bags on the table and open them. They are filled with money.
" Each bag has R500000 inside meaning what you have here is R2000000. I think that will be enough  for you. I am not buying my children and I never will. I am giving you what you want cause it's money you are after. My children are worth more than anything I can ever have in this world and I am taking them."
" What! Never! My children are not going anywhere with you! Over my dead body! " My mom screams.
" Thato and Palesa are mine! My children and I am walking out of here with my children Eunice and no one here will stop me. You will be allowed to come and see them cause every child needs a mother even though they are heartless and toxic like you. If it was up to me. You wouldn't see them. Ever! "
" You are not taking them, Never!..... " My mom screams.
" You're my dad. My real dad? " Palesa's voice cuts off my mom screams.
My mom walks to her but Palesa steps away and walks towards me.
" Pale baby? " She calls her name.
" You're my brother's dad and my dad too? " She asks our father again.
My dad crouches to her level and looks at her and wipes a tear on his face.
" I am Nicholas Alarie, your real father my cherie amour ( darling love ). You and your brother are my children. I am so happy to finally meet you " My little sister sniffs then she cries.
He gently pulls her to him and hugs her whispering to her in French. Telling her he loves her and he will make sure we have the best life possible and always safe and loved.
" Baba. Mama you can't let him take my children away from me. You can't."
" They are his children Eunice. Duma, Fana take the money." My uncles and their wives pull the bags down, zips them then they drag them out."
" Baba please! He will take them and I will never see them again "
" Sibalukhulu as you can see thato won't marry your granddaughter and we will not force him. His father is taking to his home country and that won't work for us. One of my other grandchildren has agreed to marry her in case something happens and it did. So Boni will marry Mandla "
" No! I want thato mina mkhulu! " Boni cries.
" You will do what we tell you to do. You are marrying mandla and that's it." Boni cries. I look at her parents and they don't care.
" Baba please don't allow him to leave with them " My mother begs him again.
" He has paid for damages and more. We can't deny him his children "
" How does it feel Euny?. Our parents choosing money over you. Did you not think that one day you will feel the same thing I felt? Did you honestly think that they will choose you over money? " My aunt laughs.
" I wish I can say it was an honor meeting all of you but I would be lying. I didn't know the mother of my children was this cold and heartless person but seeing how this family operates. I understand and I am glad I came now before you ruined my children. Don't call them Eunice. They will call you and we'll arrange a meeting on how you can see them." My mother cries.
" Palesa are you leaving with a man you don't know baby? "
" He's my father and thato would have told me if he was not a nice man. I am going where my brother is going. With our father "
" OK....OK.....Come and hug me " My little sister goes to her and hugs my mom who's crying.
" I want to leave " I tell my dad.
I take Palesa's hand and pull her away from my mother who clings to her.
" No! No! Not her. I don't care about Thato you can take him but please not my daughter. I promise I'll be good and take care of her "
" No! I am taking her with me. Don't make me cut you out of their lives Eunice. Don't! "
" Don't cry mom. I will visit you but right now I am leaving with my dad. We will face time and talk on WhatsApp. I promise." My mom nods.
" Thato? " My grandfather calls my name. I look at him. " I hope we will see you again. Soon "
I walk to my grandmother who's crying. I hug her then kiss her cheek then walk out with my little sister. Aunty Natasha, My dad and uncle follow us with their man. We get in the car and it drives to Joburg.
" Papa? " Palesa says to dad who smiles.
" Cherie amour "
" What is my French name? " We chuckle.
" Your name is Esme. Do you like it? "
" Esme. I like it but what does it mean? "
" It means beloved." She smiles.
" Are you going to teach me french too so I can speak like you and Raphael " We laugh.
" I will my fosette "'
" What does that mean? "
" It means dimples " She giggles. " I never thought I will see this day where I will be around my children and I am so thankful. Thank you Natasha for everything. I promise you and your brother that I will be the best father ever. I love you and I am always going to take care of you."
" We love you too dad "
My aunt looks at us smiling and I just ask myself why didn't my dad meet my aunt first. She's been another to me than my mother ever has.