Umakoti Ngo Wethu

21

Jabu scheduled us a doctor's appointment. I walked into my father's office. He was having his morning coffee. "Baba?"
"MaGumede."
"Bab'Dlomo has made a doctor's appointment for me in town. He wants to pick me up soon." He just nodded. "That's fine. Let me know how it goes." What? Since when is it that easy with him? Something is up.

"How are you feeling?"
"Arg, I am so tired of this question. Everyone keeps asking it." I was so annoyed. "You're definitely pregnant." I just rolled my eyes at him. We got to the doctors office, and it was confirmed. I was ten weeks pregnant. We spent most of the day there. We did a whole bunch of tests to make sure the baby and I were both fine. I was poked and prodded so many times that I actually just wanted to cry.

I was so over it, but looking at the scans just made my heart flutter. I was having a baby, and this time, we're doing it the right way. I was getting my own clothes back on when I felt it. "How did I not notice you were in there?"
"In where?" Baba asked, confused. "I'm talking to the baby."
"Oh." I couldn't help but giggle.

We ate at his restaurant. I even got a takeaway. The sun was setting as we drove home, and I knew my father would have an issue, but I didn't care. I was happy. I didn't even want to get out of the car when I got home. "I really hope you're a boy so you and you're brother can carry on your family legacy but if you're a girl I'll spoil you rotten and no man will ever be good enough for you." I gasped. "Baba. No."
"What?" He asked innocently.

Our banter was cut short by knocking on my window. It was Thembi. "You've been out here for fifteen minutes. Your father is about to have a stroke if you don't come inside the house now and tell him the results." I sighed, and she opened my door to rush me. I said goodbye and followed her inside.

"Sanibonani." I said to my father and his two wives. I wanted to put my food away first, but they were waiting in the kitchen. "So? Are you pregnant? We need to know before we can proceed with lobola." I took out the scan from my bag and put it in front of him. MaRadebe gasped. At least she had a smile on her face.

"Litha, this is not how I wanted your life to go, but a baby is always a blessing. Especially for the Dlomo's who are struggling. I want you to be happy, and I want you and your baby to be healthy. We have a long road ahead of us, but we are on the right track. The Dlomo's sent the letter today. We were just waiting on you so we can set a date." I was quite shocked that he didn't try and kill me.

"Your mother's have given me quite a mouthful on how I've been treating you since you moved in. I want you to know that my actions were out of love. I was so scared I would lose you again. So I'm sorry for treating you the way I did." I wiped my tears as he spoke. He stood up and walked to me. "Do you forgive me, baby girl? Don't cry." He wiped my tears for me. "MaGumede, don't cry. I'm sorry, okay." I nodded, and he hugged me.

"Finally! I was very tired of the two of you fighting each other! Oh, nice. What's in the bag?" Nthombifuti asked, coming in. "If you touch my food, I'll kill you." I said, still hugging my dad. "Okay. You are definitely pregnant." She said, and everyone laughed. I took a long shower.

Ever since my doctor listed some of the side effects, I've been feeling them all. Joint pain, cramps, sore boobs, exhaustion. The list goes on. I didn't understand why I didn't realize I was pregnant because my little bump was already showing. This shouldn't be a surprise for me, but this really was. I was just not paying attention to my body and the signs it was giving me. I thought maybe it was too early for a bump but the doctors assured me it was normal for a second pregnancy. That, or I'm just bloated.

I got dressed in comfortable pajamas and then put my son to bed. I spent some time with Nthombifuti and then went to bed. I was nauseous first thing in the morning. The so was barely awake and I was in the toilet waiting to see if I would puke or not. Just when I decided I wouldn't, it came. I vomited my stomach contents, and I just felt weak.

"MaGumede, are you okay?" I was washing my face, hoping I was done for the day. "Yebo, baba. I'll be out in a minute." I went to bed again. I didn't feel like it. "Litha. You have to get up to eat something. You still have your food from last night." I groaned. "What's the time?" The sun was really bright. "It's half past nine, but you need to eat so you can take your medication."

She was right. I freshened up and went to eat. I ate some snacks like crackers and energy bars. I would eat proper food later in the day when I wasn't so nauseous. "Litha, are you sure you didn't know you were pregnant?" MaRadebe asked, sizing me up. "No. I swear. Why does everyone keep asking me this?" She narrowed her eyes at me. "Litha, have you looked in a mirror lately? Like, really looked?" She pulled me into the hallway.

"I know I have a little bit of a bump, ma, but it's probably just bloating." She rolled her eyes. "Turn to the side." She turned me, and I could see it clearly. I did have a noticeable bump. "Oh."
"Yes."
"Well, none of you noticed it either. A lot has been going on." She nodded. "True." Since she pointed it out, I couldn't stop looking. I loved it. I took like a million pictures of it. I was going to start documenting everything.

I spent the rest of the day editing some of the footage I took for my IG vlog. I helped out with the babies and spent some time with my boy. I was happy for the slow day because the very next day, the Dlomo's were at our gate, shouting their clan praises, wanting to be let in.

I didn't know what it was they wanted because we hadn't set a date yet but then I saw her.

MaShezi.

This could only mean trouble.