AYANDA: Another Chance At Love

Chapter 41

I'm woken up by a loud unbearable noise, it's Nathi's phone, my heart starts beating out of my chest, I make a short prayer hoping that this isn't a repeat of the last time him and I were together like this. We fell asleep on the couch with me between his arms.

I shake him softly, he wakes up and looks at me with slightly parted eyes, "your phone" he stretches himself then reaches for his phone "oh, it's the alarm, we should get ready for our drive to KZN" I shoot him a look "OUR drive?" he yawns and sits up, "yes, I'm not letting you drive 6 hours to KZN all on your own, plus I get lonely driving alone"

"where's Amahle?" this question has been burning in me since he arrived here, he sighs "she left me, she went back ekhaya kubo" I look at him waiting for him to go on, "she found out about your miscarriage and I tried to make her understand that I'd have to come here to live with you for sometime until you get better, she didn't want to hear me out so she left"

"and you just watched her walk out on your like that?" he sighs "dude that woman is carrying your child, do you understand that? She might give birth anytime from now" he takes my hands into his "I just wanted to he there for you, you were also carrying my child, she was fortunate enough to experience this pregnancy with the father of her child next to her, you went through both pregnancies on your own without me on your side, I owe it to you and our children to support you through this, besides, my marriage was still standing for the sake of the unborn child anyway"

I'm shocked at the last statement "what do you mean?" he stands up from the couch, "let's get ready, I'll tell you all about it, we should leave the house at 7" I just let him be, I go upstairs to my ensuite, I left him downstairs to use the main bathroom. I take a long hot shower, I would've opted for a bathtub moment but I'm still bleeding so that wasn't an option.

I grab a towel then walk out to my bedroom, I lotion and pick an outfit, opted for a black below the knees bodycon dress, black biker leather jacket and black airforce sneakers, it's a bit chilly but I'll be in the car the whole time so I don't think I need to over dress.

I pack my suitcase and wear a doek to cover my old, long overdue braids. This is the first time I've actually looked at myself in the mirror since that incident, my skin is pale, I have dark rings around my eyes, I have eye bags, I look dehydrated, I look nothing like my usual self, I cant help but shed a tear, my hands involuntarily move to my belly, this was once a home to my baby whom I didn't even get a chance to hold, why is life so unfair?

I've had to bare so much pain eversince I got introduced to the Mabaso family, when will I finally get my breakthrough? Will I ever be happy and just get to share my life with someone? Someone who wants me just as much as I'd want them?

I'm distracted by a soft knock on my door, before I can even answer he let's himself in, I try to quickly wipe off these tears but I guess he saw me, he rushes to me quickly and then pulls me into his embrace, he smells amazing, I guess he brought his toiletries with him. I just sob softly in his arms then after sometime I pull away.

He wipes my tears and leaves a soft kiss on my forehead, all this while there's complete silence. I appreciate him most because he doesn't ask, he doesn't talk about any of what I'm going through unless I bring it up, but he still chooses to be there for me regardless of the fact that I don't want to talk about my feelings.

"I made breakfast..." I chuckle "made or bought?" he chuckles and looks down in embarrassment, "well at least you plated it, right?" he laughs "why would I plate when we are supposed to be driving out in the next 5 minutes?" I join in the laugh because I know his excuse has nothing to do with the real matter at hand, Nathi just hates leaving a dirty space especially if he will be traveling, he always wants to come back to a clean place, he's OCD like that.

We walk downstairs with him complimenting my outfit, Zulu men are such sweet talkers honestly. He bought wimpy breakfast, just how I craved for my morning to start, with something greasy and oily, it's been a while. I dig in and ended up finishing up his plate too. We threw out the doggy bags and decided that we'd drive down in my car, I know it'll cause a whole dramatic entrance but hey I have too much going on already.

5 hours of sleeping, eating, listening to Nathi's crazy childhood stories, singing to songs we both know and love, stopping for pictures even though I initially didn't feel like taking any pics, we are finally just an hour away from Hammersdale. We stopped to get a few grocery items, awufiki ekhaya ulengise izandla. It's 2 in the afternoon and I'm so over this ride.

We finally drive into the yard and it looks like everyone is here, women are moving up and down the yard making sure that everything is in order, the kids are running around and I even spotted Muzi. We drive in and find parking space. He helps me with the bags then we walk in, I walk straight to the sitting room because I don't even know which room I'll be using since Muzi is here. I walk in and find a very beautiful light skinned chubby lady sitting on a two seater couch, there's space next to her so I sit and greet the whole family. There's MaMabaso, baba and An old lady sitting there.

"Naze nafika" ma exclaims, she stands to give me a warm assuring hug. "baba, ninjan" I greet Bab'Mabaso "siyaphila ndodakazi, uqine mntanam" he assures. I get introduced to the old lady in the room, MaSithole, she is the family seer, and the lady next to me is Nokubongwa, Muzi's Fiancee, yes you heard me, they're engaged so that automatically means I have no place to sleep while I'm here.

My family booked into a guest house which is just 10 minutes from here and they informed me an hour before we got here that they've arrived.

Nathi walks in "MaGumede, your bags are in my room, you'll let me know once you've sorted out your sleeping arrangement" I guess he had already spoken to everyone else before I got in hence he didn't greet. He has my car keys so I've concluded that he will be using my car for the duration of the weekend.

Nokubongwa and I seem to really be getting along. The elders left us in the sitting room to discuss something privately so we just sat there and got to know each other. she's a school psychologist, she lives in midrand and she has no kids, she even opened up to me about their fertility issues with Muzi, doesn't she know who I am though?

"I'm Ayanda Gumede, I'm a teacher and a mom in my spare time" she chuckles, then has a bit of frown as if something has just registered in her mind. "you are Muzi's ex wife?" she asks, I nodd and then there's awkward silence. She excuses herself and now I'm left here wondering why she suddenly switched up on me Like that...