PULL MY HEARTSTRINGS (COMPLETE)

24

                                

     
The once clear blue sky was no longer occupied by the unforgiving ball of fire, rain clouds invaded without warning, sending big fat drops of water down, which soon turned into a heavy shower that flooded the streets within minutes. The torrent was now a cool drizzle, which snuffed out the stifling afternoon heat.       
     
They were still at the hospital six hours later, waiting for the DNA results. They were supposed to get them in a few days but one mention of the Buthelezi name had them expedited to the top of the list. Nomusa’s sister deemed the tests unnecessary because the baby had a stout nose and a wide forehead like most of Lwazi’s uncles and according to her those were true markers of the Buthelezi genes.   
     
When Kgomotso arrived at the hospital a gentleman was being escorted out of the maternity ward by security guards, while he tossed insults over his shoulder mostly at Nomusa. The gentleman was James, her on and off again boyfriend who arrived claiming to be the father until the birth and he changed his story because the baby had Down syndrome, but it was too late because the seed of doubt was already planted and quickly sprouted the suspicions in every corner of Lwazi’s head. Nomusa remained stone-faced unwilling to answer any questions posed about the paternity of her baby. 
     
A scuffle broke out when James got free from one of the guards and lunged at Lwazi, his sneaky attack caught Lwazi by surprise and amid the tussle his elbow hit Kamo in the face when she tried to intervene by pulling her husband back and the brutal force sent her into the wall head first. Her shocked cry sent Lwazi into a blinding rage, which left James with a broken nose, and a raptured eye vessel.
     
Kgomotso’s plea for both men to stop their madness fell on deaf ears because they were hyped on testosterone and enslaved by their delicate egos, which were easily threatened. Order was restored when Anesu arrived and helped the guards to keep Lwazi away from James and only then did the nurses help Kamo.
     
Once Kamo was settled in her room after being thoroughly examined by the doctor Anesu stepped out to answer a phone call, leaving Lwazi and Kgomotso to watch over Kamo. He’d been gone for over 30 minutes and yes, Kgomotso was keeping count because she was leery of his secret calls and messages that came in at different times of the day and night. She didn’t mind them at first and attributed them to his busy nature but that changed once she knew he had an ex-wife. Maybe they still kept in touch and she was sure to drive herself crazy thinking about that woman, she couldn’t find any information about his ex-wife on the internet, which was odd because it could only mean he was hiding something else from her.
     
Lwazi insisted Kamo’s room be in the maternity ward because he wanted to keep a close eye on Nomusa with the trouble she’s caused today he didn’t want to let her out of his sight. Again this was something the hospital staff frowned upon because while Kamo used that bed it meant a patient in need would probably have to be turned away, so he was charged double for ‘compensation’, which he gladly paid cause that kind of money was nothing to Lwazi.  Everything has been a mess since James showed up and turned his world upside down, he waited 9 months for this day only for him to find out his marriage almost ended because of a lie. He still had slight hope of being the father, it’s the one thing he’s thought about since Nomusa told him about her pregnancy, they weren’t together anymore but he was still elated none the less.
     
“Please, stop with the pacing, my love, I’m going to be fine. It's a mild concussion,” said Kamo, looking at her husband.
     
Kgomotso was glad her sister said something because watching Lwazi wear out his shoes was becoming annoying, they were all on edge and striding around like a caged animal didn’t help.
     
“It shouldn’t have happened in the first place.” He dropped his gaze, avoiding eye contact with Kamo. He blamed himself for what happened even though she reassured him he wasn’t at fault. But she was sure to give Nomusa an unfiltered piece of her mind once the doctor discharged her.
     
“It was an accident, my love.”
     
Anger flashed in his eyes as he battled to stay in control of his composure, he was going after James the moment he set his foot out of the hospital and he’ll make sure he felt the full might of his wrath for putting his wife in a hospital bed.
     
“He almost killed you, Kamo.”
    
That was a stretch but Kgomotso kept those words to herself, the doctor was only keeping her sister overnight for observation he didn’t say anything about her almost dying.
     
Kamo smiled, reaching out for his hand. “You’re being ridiculous and you know it. I'm a doctor so believe me when I tell you I'm fine.”
     
His drawn out sigh released some of the tension in his shoulders and he seemed to relax for the first time since they got in this room. “I got scared when I saw you hit that wall.”
     
“I’m fine, my love, I promise.”
     
“Okay.” He kissed the back of her hand. “I love you.”
     
I love you. It was just three simple words, yet what was so hard for Anesu to say them to her? Kgomotso wondered, bitterly.
     
“I love you, too.”
     
It wasn’t just words, the love they spoke of was evident in their intertwined hands because neither of them wanted to let go, the adoration that gleamed in their eyes without question the longer they stared at each other and the gentle manner they spoke with each other left her heart with a hopeless yearning.
     
Anesu finally re-joined them and his gaze lingered on Kgomotso like he sensed something was off with her, she mustered a convincing smile and he bent his head for a kiss. At least she didn’t have to feel like a third wheel anymore.
     
Lwazi pulled out his phone at the sound of the message alert. “The results are out and I’m not the father.” He was devastated but he’d cry about it later without having to worry about what his wife thought of his break down.
     
They didn’t dwell in the awkward silence for long because Caroline and Sello’s arrival killed the uncomfortable moment even though their timing was the worst. Caroline wasted no time fussing over her daughter, oblivious to the fact that Kgomotso was also in the room. Sello stood back, he knew better than to interrupt his wife.
     
“What happened, mokgwenyana?” She fired the question at Lwazi.
     
“Relax, Ma, I fainted. It was nothing serious.”
     
Kamo lied because she knew Sello would never forgive Lwazi if he found out she got hit and she couldn’t risk her husband losing anymore favour with her father, especially with the damage the baby saga caused and she regretted her outburst during the dinner because Sello now treated Lwazi with indifference. 
     
“But you’re in a hospital bed, whatever made you faint must have been serious.”
     
“Your father is right.” Caroline added.
     
“The doctor is just being overly cautious.”
     
Kgomotso and Anesu slipped out unnoticed, she was happy to get away because she couldn’t ignore her hunger anymore. He took off his jacket and draped it over her shoulders when they got outside.
     
“Thank you.” She smiled as his scent enveloped her and was grateful when her nausea remained dormant.
     
“Dinner?” he asked.
     
“Yes, please.”
     
He took her hand and led her to his car she was pleased to see Anesu had moved it closer to the entrance because the drizzle was still steady.
     
“I’ll come to get your car tomorrow,” he said, as soon as he drove out of the parking lot.
     
“Okay. Kamo isn’t going to be happy that we left without saying goodbye.”
     
“I’ll call, Lwazi,” Anesu didn’t think it was a big deal, especially because they felt like intruders once Dr Diphoko and his wife arrived.
     
“That was hectic, I can’t believe Nomusa would let her lie go on for so long.” Kgomotso broached the subject.
     
“Some people do questionable things when they’re desperate, maybe she knew James would react that way when he found out about the Down syndrome and the prospect of raising a child who would require extra care alone frightened her.”
     
“That might be true but it doesn’t make what she did right, her lies caused a rift between Kamo and Lwazi.”
     
“I didn’t say it was right, baby, I’m just looking at the bigger picture and I’m sure Lwazi and Kamo will fix things between them. They were already smitten with each other again when we left the hospital.”
     
Oh, why did she even bother? It was better to wait for tomorrow so she could gossip about Nomusa’s drama with Kamo, there was no need for objectivity all Anesu needed to do was pick a side and stick with it even though it was petty to do so.
     
“Do you want to have children?” she asked, placing her hand on her stomach. After walking out of Keedo earlier that day she intended on telling him but she feared Nomusa’s baby fiasco would overshadow her announcement, so she would try on another day.
     
He was stunned by her question because he never thought of procreating after his divorce reason being he was certain he’d never get married again and that naturally cancelled out children. But he wasn’t so sure he still felt the same way, meeting Kgomotso opened him up to those possibilities again and he wanted to take a leap.
     
“Yes, one day I’d love to have children with you.”
     
He didn’t want to have them with anybody else only her and that left her in a state of euphoria and thoughts of his ex-wife quickly vacated her mind.
     
“How many would you like to have?”
     
“Four but I’d be happy with two.”
     
She was 31 turning 32 next year, so two was a reasonable number considering the challenges women faced conceiving when they reached a certain age.
     
“I’m also happy with two.”
     
“I’m glad that’s settled, so tell me how your day was? I didn’t even get to see you when you left this morning.”
     
He had to set Tinashe straight about his reckless talk. He had a chance at happiness with Kgomotso and didn’t want Tinashe to swoop in and ruin things under the guise of being protective. It was better for Tinashe to focus that energy on fixing his life.
     
Kgomotso sighed, thinking about what happened at the nail salon. “I bumped into Nolitha.”
     
“Xola’s wife?”
     
“Yes, and she was with Jessica Ngobeni.”
     
Anesu’s stomach instantly turned cold when Kgomotso mentioned Jessica’s name, the past colliding with the present was never a good idea and he had no way of stopping that from happening again.
     
“The actress?”
     
“Yes, she’s actually beautiful but her attitude was less than desirable so I’m not a fan anymore.”
     
“I’m not familiar with her work.” He lied.
     
His mind flashed back to the early days of their marriage when he was still blinded by love, he spent hours helping Jessica memorize lines for upcoming auditions. They were happy and he wanted nothing more than to be a supportive husband because unlike her he actually meant his vows. That was a long time ago but the pain felt new every time these memories resurfaced to taunt him.         
     
“Where are we going?” she asked, as he drove towards Midrand.
     
“Does pasta sound good?”
     
“Yes, pasta is fine.”
     
“Great, because I know a place.” He smiled.
     
“Is the dessert any good because I’m craving chocolate, the sweeter the better.”
     
“No worries, they have the best chocolate gelato.” He was feeling awfully sure of himself. “Will I also get dessert?”
     
“What do you want?” Kgomotso asked, feigning ignorance.
     
“The chocolate between your thighs.” His voice was a soft rumble emanating from his chest and she loved its seductive sway. He was capable of making her do anything, using that voice and she suspected he knew that.
     
“Where do you want to have it because we can’t go to your place with your brother there?”
     
“You don’t have to worry about Tinashe, he’s with my mother at her house.”
     
“Then why are you not with them? We could’ve done this tomorrow or some other time.”
     
He shook his head. “They need space to reconnect and I’ll take any opportunity I get to spend time with you.”
     
He could be such a smooth talker sometimes.
     
“Fine, we’ll go to your place then.”
     
“So, I’m no longer on punishment?” He chuckled.
     
“You were never on punishment, Anesu.”
     
Kgomotso thought she could hold off for another day or two but the yearning lurking in his eyes was too consuming to ignore.