INCLINATION

CHAPTER 49 | Forgiveness

EMIHLE

If it was up to my parents, my son and I wouldn't be leaving, we'd be staying right here until I give birth. My mother has been crying because she said I shouldn't be alone during this time of my life, I need to always have someone around me until I give birth and that person should be her.

My parents asked me, begging to at least move in with my grandparents so that way my grandmother and Nandi would be there in case anything happens. I feel like they think that Hlanga might not be here for the birth of his child and that hurts them. It hurts me too but I haven't lost hope. I know he will be here once he hears the great news. Nothing will stop him from coming back to us.

" I'm going to Maritzburg with you" my mother announces as we're having breakfast.
I glance at my father then shift my eyes to her. They discussed this.
" Ma, we are going to be okay. The house is full and if anything happens, Nandi and Gogo will come. You don't have to leave ubaba alone and come with us"
" You need me more than your father and don't worry, I'll be at the farm so I can be close. Your father and I think it's best if you and Aya live at his father's farm too for the time being."

" Ma…."
" No Emy, you're pregnant and you need me, your mother. I must be here for you. I'm coming with you and my grandson to take care of you until you give birth. Your father will visit us when he misses me but for now, he'll be fine. He has your sisters and they'll take care of him"
" Mom is right, Emy, you need her. She was there for me when I was pregnant and now, it's your turn to be taken care of." Thando says.

I wonder if my relationship with Hlanga’s mother was going to be like this if she was still alive because the relationship I have with his aunt Nonhle is complicated but maybe one day, we would forgive each other and be a family because even though she hurt him, he still misses her, a lot.

" Ok ma. We will live at the farm and I don't think Hlanga will have a problem if you stayed at the farm with us"
" No," my dad disagrees.
" The simple thing you could do is buy a house so mom wouldn't have to worry about living at Hlanga’s house or travel every morning and night to be with you." Melusi says and I just knew this thing about a house was going to come up.

" I don't want to house hunt right now especially because Aya is in the middle of writing exams. I don't want to disrupt his schedule because he has to have a say about the kind of house he wants us to live in. Isn't that right Aya?"
He's been quiet, listen to us.
" Why do you need to buy a house mom because we have the farm and our house too?"
God. " because I'm not married to your father and it's uhm….it's against our tradition to live with a man you are not married to."
" But you are going to get married soon, right mom?"

" I hope so but until that happens, I'll have to find place for us to live in"
" But I don't want us to be separated, we are finally a family man and you moving out will…how will we be a family when we are not living under the same roof?"
" We don't need to live under the same roof for us to be a family. You will spend some nights with me and some with your father."
" I don't like it" I don't either, but that's how things should be. " We were all living together all this time, what changed ma?"
" Like I said, it was wrong and traditionally that's not how it's supposed to be"
" Your father just needs to make things right with your mother so all of you can live under the same roof. Okay Gwabini?"

" Yebo Mkhulu. I understand ma, we can get an agent to look for houses and then we can go see the ones we really like."
" Are you sure you'll manage?"
" I will ma, don't worry about me" he beams at me.
" Okay baby"
" See? That's sorted out " Melusi grins.

My father comes with us and we drive to the Makhoba residence to see Auntie Nomusa and tell her the great news. I can't wait to see her because it has been a while since we have last seen each other. I wonder how she's going to react to the news of our pregnancy. Hlanga should have been here with me when we told her but I have no choice, I'll have to do this alone without him.