Umfelokazi

Chapter 26

Chapter 26

This has to be the hardest thing I have to do in my life but the worry that I am feeling is not subsiding even after the fasting I have done. It has been over a week and a few days since Rethabile came here and Mimi has already left. She will fetch her when schools are about to open of which will be another week added on this one.
I have told Thulani what has been going on and also in the mist of us having that conversation I raised the matter of us maybe taking in Rethabile during school days while her mother is still sorting her things out.
Trust me that is the most difficult thing I have had to ask. Yes If I was still all alone I would've taken her without any doubt but now I cannot do as I please more especially in my husband's house and he is the one who takes care of everything in the house too. 
He didn't reply on that matter in fact he told me that we will talk about it which gave me a glimpse of hope for a few days then that hope dimmed down once I put more thought into things but I have to give this a benefit of a doubt.
So today he is coming back from his work trip and as someone who should be as excited I am quiet nervous about what we are going to talk about, the issue of Rethabile and all.
I am in the kitchen busy making some snacks for Rethabile as she is seated on the living room carpet watching some cartoons on the TV. She is quiet obsessed with watching them and I think it is the fact that all the channels on the dstv are open and paid for so she has a variety of what she wants to watch. I finish up and I go to the living room and I give her the snacks and she thanks me. 
“Thank you Mvelo”
“You are welcome Nana”,She nods and I turn and go to the kitchen.I clean up the counter and I hear the intercomr buzzing.
I quickly go to it and I answer it and I hear who it is and I swallow.
It is him. I thought he would call when he has landed in the city but also maybe he called and I didn't hear it. My mind is all over the place at the moment.  I take the gate keys and I go and open the gate and he pays for the Uber that has brought him here. I stand by the veranda shying away from the sun and wait for him.  He comes in rolling his suitcase and a smile creeps up on his face and I return it as a result feeling much ease as he approaches me. 
“Am I not getting a hug?”,He asks and I rush to him and hug him as he leaves his bag to hold me.
“How are you?”,I ask.
“I am okay, how are you?”,He returns the question.
“I am happy to see you”,He kisses my cheek and we let go of each other. 
“I had to work alot just so that I can come back earlier and I am happy I am back. I have missed home”,He says.
We walk inside the house and Rethabile turns her head towards us. 
“Hello Malome”,She says.
“Hi Rethabile how are you?”
“I am good Malome”
“I see you were keeping aunty Mvelo company”
“Yes”,She smiles and goes back to eating and watching TV.
“She has been talking less and watching more of it”,I say.
“I see”,He mentions.
We move to the main bedroom and we get inside. He heaves a sigh and dumps his body onto the bed and lays on it. I take his suitcase and open it so that I can take out clothes that are dirty so that I can wash them.
I unpack his bag while he is still resting a bit on the bed before he turns to me.  
“We need to talk, but not now. Later”,He mentions.
“Why not now?”
“I just need to clear my mind for a moment”,He mentions.
I just nod my head at that.
“Come here”,He pulls me towards him leaving the suitcase and I am seated on his lap that very moment. 
He hogs me in his arms and just keep the silence and so as I.  I just missed being in his presence and I would want to be anywhere else at this moment. 
“Qophelo is getting married soon and Mom asked me to fix the tension between us”,He says.
“And what are you going to do?”,he looks at me.
“Nothing”
“Has he ever called to try and say something?”
“No he has not and I will not bother even speaking to him if he wants to act this way”,I am heart broken on his behalf. 
Siblings should be united not apart.
“I am sorry”,I softly whisper those words. 
He perks my lips. 
“Don't ever be sorry, you did nothing wrong”,He mentions.
“I know but still I feel for the both of you”
“We will get over it trust me”,I nod my head. 
I give him a light kiss and then he rests on the bed with me laying on top of him.