QUEEN OF DIAMONDS

CHAPTER 56

There's generally nothing good about having your father in law coming to your house but you know it's going to be absolutely horrible when the first thing they ask you for is a glass of whiskey. "Where are my grandchildren?" he asked after drowning the glass. "They are sleeping. Is everything okay, ntate?" I asked as he gestured for me to pour him another drink. I reluctantly poured him another drink before sitting down across him. "Ntate? Is everything okay? Is something wrong with ma?" I asked and he shook his head as he downed the glass again. "Never keep secrets from anyone, moshemane. In the end, they always come back to bite you in the ass," he said. "Ntate? I don't understand..." I said. "Ke tloha thuso, moshemane," he said.
"Is this about Keabetswe's paternity?"
"How do you know that?"
"I know a lot of things, Ntate."
"Do you know about the Malanga boy then?"
"That she's his long lost sister? Yes."
"Have you told her?"
"It wasn't my place, ntate."
"For years Kedi and I couldn't conceive, we tried everything from traditional healers to Western medicine-"
"Ntate, you don't have to explain to me."
"It's okay, I want to. Anyways where was I? Yes- we tried everything. And then we got approached by some nurse we knew from around the village. She said she knew of an adoption center-a good one that could help so we... we took her up on her offer. Kedi went away for a while and we told people she was pregnant but very ill and didn't want to be seen. Seven months later we had a baby girl. Keabetswe, and as her name suggests: we welcomed her into our little family. We were happy just the three of us and then Kedi got pregnant with Tshegofatso- a blessing in every sense of the word. Her pregnancy was a difficult one and it backed up the story about Keabetswe's conception. And then when Kedi was in labor, there were rumors that the adoption center wasn't..."
"Exactly legal."
"Yes. That. But the night the owners the nurse included were allegedly meant to be arrested, and the place searched-the entire building went up in flames, with them inside. I never told Kedi or anyone about it but now, with this Malanga boy... It just seems so unfair to deprive another family of knowing their daughter."
"I understand Ntate."
"Should I tell her?"
"Do you think so?"
"Aketsi moshemane."
"No harm, no foul."
"Ure eng?"
"Ntate, Keabetswe has just gone through something really traumatic ntate, the last thing she needs is this. I'm not saying don't ever tell her, I'm just saying: not now," I said and he sighed. "Moshemane, you go to the grave with this secret," he said getting up. He gave me one last look before leaving. Oh shit.

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"Mfethu you're drooling over my car," I said and Siya laughed. "Can I drive it, please?" he begged. "No, now my wife is waiting for me. I need to go," I said. "Can I drive you to the airport?" he asked and I got in to the car. "You can drive it back," I said and started the car. "You getting in?" I asked.