The Joys of life

51

[CHAPTER 51]

Lethokuhle

I was woken up by tiny cold hands on my face and I knew it was my baby boy. I pulled him to my arms holding him tight with my eyes still closed.

Sqalo: "Thotho he.ehena." he screams laughing.

Me: "I missed you so much." I say kissing his face. I pull him inside my covers and cuddle him.

Sqalo: "Nami."

Me: "I love you yezwa?" I could feel my tears about to fall. I really felt like I have been neglecting my babies since I gave birth plus it also doesn't help that they don't spend a lot of time here now.

Me: "Are you happy?" he shakes his head playing with my face.

Me: "Why?"

Sqalo: "I want ice cream mama, please."

Me: "That's why you woke me up and let me kiss you right?" he smiles sheepishly. I tickle him and he screams laughing and wiggling his body.

Fana: "Mama." I laugh opening my covers and he also snuggles on me.

Me: "You also here to bribe me with a kiss for ice cream?" he laughs as I tickle him also.

Fana: "Cha.." he screams. Sqalo has long left and is now hogging my phone.

Me: "I missed you, baby."

Fana: "I missed you too mama." he kisses my nose and I kiss his back. He giggles hiding his face with his hands.

Me: "Where's my baby?"

Fana: "Babazi is feeding her. Mama, when is she going to talk kanti?" I giggle.

Me: "When she's old enough baby."

Fana: "That's boring."

Me: "Okay, let's go eat. I'm hungry." They both walk out and I go to the bathroom to freshen up then go join them.

Lizwi: "Hey baby." he seems so excited. He pulls me to him and kisses me.

Fana: "Babazi no! Stop kissing mama!"

Sqalo: "But mama is babazi's girlfriend nje." I looked at Lizwi shocked but he was just laughing.

Me: "Sorry bhuti, where did you get that?"

Sqalo: "I know mama." I roll my eyes. I won't deal with this.

Me: "Why did Melody not come this time?"

Fana: "Baba is taking us to the beach tomorrow mama."

Me: "Aybo. Lizwi?"

Lizwi: "I was gonna tell you, baby, Lwande did run it past me. He is taking Portia and the kids."

Me: "Oh okay."

*********
My phone rings, and I answer it without checking the caller ID.

Gogo: "Lethokuhle!"

Me: "Mah?"

Gogo: "Didn't I tell you to wait?! That child isn't even a year old and wena usumithi futhi?!"

Me: "Aybo mah!" she sighs.

Gogo: "I know you married but you could've waited a bit baby. You haven't even started working and already you will be taking another maternity leave?"

Me: "Mah, I am not pregnant. I swear."

Gogo: "Just go to the doctor and check!" she hangs up. I sigh looking at this little person in my arms. I text Lizwi to bring me some pregnancy tests. A knock comes through before the door opens and Londi walks in looking distraught.

Londi: "Hey sis." she flops next to me and lays her head on my shoulder.

Me: "Are you okay?" she just starts crying. I carefully place Swelihle in her rocking chair and then attend to Londi.

Londi: "I did something horrible sis and I'm afraid it's haunting me."

Me: "What is it?"

Londi: "A few months back, I found out I was pregnant and I had an abortion. I was scared sis, I didn't want to make Dad hate me even more and I'm not ready to be a mom." she cries. I shush her.

Me: "I'm sorry love, you did what you thought was best for you. And that decision had consequences and now you have to face them. You need to sit aunt down and tell her babe so they can help you do all the necessary cleansing ceremonies."

Londi: "I'm scared sis, this time they will ship me off to the farms and I can't have that. Baba is so close to beating my ass, I can't." she cries more.

Me: "There is no other way babe. Does the father know?"

Londi: "No, he is married." I gasp.

Me: "Silondile Mnikathi !"

Londi: "I know, I know sis. He doesn't care anyway. He's never really loved me, he sold me dreams that he was in the process of getting a divorce but after sleeping with me, he told me they were working things out with the wife and so I stayed away."