Zenande Okhethiweyo 2

Chapter 25

I put on an apron and get started on the dough for the pies. If it was my house I would be playing music right now. Maybe I should take the boys shopping tomorrow because I need to do my hair ever since I got back to South Africa I haven't been taking care of myself.
Dudu. I wonder how Im going to get her out of this house and all our lives. I hope Nokuzotha's friend is done with the DNA tests because I really need to know. If Themba is not Zano's child I wonder who his father is. A thought of Roger Khanyile pops in to my head,I should contact a few of my people so that I can find out what he is up to. Ayabulela has already seen the boys meaning that Roger knows and by now they are planning something I have to make sure that it doesn't succeed.
"Awu Makoti" baba greets dragging me out of my thoughts.
He must have been in here for long because he is already standing by the door with a water bottle.
"Yebo baba" I greet back.
"What are you thinking about so deeply?" He asks.
"Nothing much baba just how Im going to make all these pies that everyone requested" I say giving him a smile as I put the dough in the fridge.
I will cook dinner in the meantime that I work on the filling.
"Ayi let me not delay you,you seem really occupied" he says as he gets out.
I decide on making mash potatoes,brisket and broccoli salad.

"Mommy! The girls say they also want apple pie and Themba says he wants custard tart" Lwandile says.
"Okay baby thank you" I say to him as I put the first batch of pies in the oven.
He nods his head and sits on the dinette table as he swing his legs.
"Are you hungry my love?" I ask as I mash the potatoes and put in a bit of butter.
He shakes his head. I close the pot and check on the meat.
"Mommy why don't we eat supper with everyone in the dining room?" He asks after a while.
Oh my poor boys they are used to be sitting on the dinner table with their entire family not being excluded.
"Oh my love I forgot about that it was because the entire family was here so the that huge table was full but from now on we will all eat together okay?" I say as I give him a juice packet.
He thanks me and drinks his juice. I take out the pies and put in another batch.
"Can I help you set the table?" He asks again after a while.
"Of course baby,I will call you to come and help me" I say.
He nods with a smile as continues swinging his legs. He is playing with the fruit basket on the table tracing the pattern with his little finger. I'm so lucky to have them in my life,being a mother is truly a blessing I will never take for granted.

"It smells good in here" Enhle says as she walks in.
"Hello little man" she says squeezing Lwandile.
"Mommy is making pie" he says.
"Wow you are spoiling us" she says laughing.
"Your brothers and those boys forced me in to this" I say also laughing.
"What can I do to help?" She asks playing with Lwandile.
"I have everything under control but I would really appreciate it if you could bath the boys for me" I say as I add cheese to the broccoli salad.
The boys hate broccoli so by adding cheese it makes it a bit better for them to eat.
"No need to ask. Let's go little man " she says picking him up.
"Where is everyone?" I ask.
"Dudu and Buhle are upstairs probably doing their nails. Nokuzotha took Mamkhulu to her house and the rest of the family is in the lounge watching The Smurfs." She says.
I nod my head as she walks out with a giggling Ndile holding on to her. So Dudu decided not to pitch at the meeting and yet she is still going to eat the food cooked by me? Well let's see what I can do to make sure that I remind her who she is messing with.

"Oh Sphe I'm so sorry I came back late" Zotha says as she walks in putting her bag on the counter.
"What can I help you with?" She asks putting on an apron.
I stop her. Taking the apron from her and ushering her out of the kitchen.
"You can go and get refreshed. You look exhausted" I say.
She laughs.
"Mamkhulu made me run around like a headless chicken today,I'm so happy she is back at her house" she says sighing and I laugh.
"Don't let gogo hear you say that" I say as I walk back to the kitchen.

"Lwandile!" I shout as I wipe the rest of the utensils with a warm cloth.
"Ma!" He answers running in.
He is dressed in his Spiderman pyjamas and sleepers.
"Do you still want to help me set the table?" I ask as I switch off the oven.
He nods his head excitedly. His brother also comes running in as I give Lwandile the table mats. He is also in his Spiderman pyjamas.
"Mommy can I also help?" He asks.
"Of course" I say handing him a tray with utensils.
I take the glasses and we go to the dining room. Lwandile sets the table mats as I place the glasses and Lwa finishes off with the forks. We set the table as they tell me about what they did at the mall while they were out with Siphephelo. When we are done they go tell everybody that dinner is ready.
Nokuzotha walks in as I'm dishing up and she helps me take the plates to everyone.
"Oh I think there is an extra plate" I say.
"No bring it here Dudu is not yet at the table" she says taking it from me.
I follow her with jugs of juice and place them on the table. I get seated and she walks in. Lwandle is sitting in between baba and Zano so she sits on Zano's other side where her plate is set. Lwandile is sitting between me and Enhle. Baba says grace and we dig in. It's all chatter because the kids are here.
"I love this Makoti it makes the dinner table lively" baba says referring to the children.
I nod my head with a smile.
"Mom Themba doesn't want to eat his veggies" one of the girls complain.
"Oh he doesn't like broccoli " Dudu shrugs it off.
"Themba dont you know that veggies are good for you?" I ask him.
He shakes his head.
"Veggies make you strong" Lwandile says.
"And you never get dessert without finishing them" Lwandle says causing Siphephelo and Zano to laugh.
"They don't taste nice" Themba says.
"They taste better when you combine them with what you are eating" I say.
"Should I show you?" I ask and he nods.
I help him pick the broccoli salad with his fork and mashed potatoes and feed him.
"Is it better now?" I ask after he swallows.
He excitedly nods his head.
"The broccoli is even better with the cheese you kids don't finish it then I'm having all of your dessert" Zano says.
The kids each reply to him telling him that they will finish their food.
"The boys are not even complaining,having a mother that's a doctor must be hard " Siphephelo says and they laugh.
"A world renowned doctor for that matter!" Enhle adds.
I see Buhle looking down to her plate like she is feeling sad.
"Oh come on stop acting like I'm the only one in this family that is making waves,this table is full of trailblazers" I say hoping to take the attention from myself.
"No we are causing waves and you are causing tsunamis" Siphephelo says causing everyone to laugh.
"Babe can we go to the mall tomorrow?" Dudu asks Zano.
"I'm taking the boys tomorrow maybe next time" He says.
"Maybe me and Themba could also tag along" she says.
"Didn't you say you are taking him to visit your mother? She lives in another village that will take up most of your time we will just do it another time" he says.

We all have our dessert in the lounge after Buhle washes the dishes. We are all watching Mr Bean's Holiday.
"Sphe I cannot live without your cooking" Siphephelo says.
I'm sure he is about to go on a  food coma,he had countless pieces of pie. Zano looks at him and rolls his eyes. Lwandile is sleeping on the mat so I pick him up. Lwandle also stands up and holds my hand.
"Goodnight" he says as we walk out.
We bump in to Dudu by the stairs.
"I suggest you get a doctor on standby who knows there might be poison lying around" I say.
"What!?" She screams as I disappear in to my room.
"You boys are sleeping with me tonight" I say as I tuck them into bed and kiss them goodnight.

I take a shower and do my night routine.
A knock sounds on my door as I'm reading my book,I put a bookmark on the page and attend to the door.
"Sorry to disturb you,I went to Gogo's room to kiss the boys goodnight but she told me that they are probably with you" Zano says.
"Come in they are already sleeping" I say as he walks in.
He walks over to my bed and kisses them both on their foreheads. He stands there for a few minutes lightly brushing their heads as he looks at them.
"I can't believe they are mine" he says after a while.
I stand next to him and place my hand on his shoulder.
"Sometimes I also find it hard to believe then I remember the labour pains" I say and we laugh lightly.
He stands up and walks to the door.
"Uhm... Zano I can take the boys shopping tomorrow,I also need to do my hair anyway. You can go with Dudu" I say.
He keeps quiet for a while.
"No we are taking the boys out tomorrow. Goodnight" he says and closes the door behind him.
I go lock it. I don't trust anything right now.

"So now you are sneaking into her room?" I hear Dudu say.
"I didn't sneak in everybody knows that I went to her room, yourself included" Zano says.
"Zano that woman put something in my food I dont feel well" I hear her say.
"Dudu we all ate the same food and we are fine stop being a drama queen,if you don't want to eat her food then I suggest you learn your way around the kitchen" I hear him say.
"So you want her to kill me?" She says.
"She is not like you. But there is something I do want,a divorce " I hear Zano say and I gasp.
I move away from the door immediately like it just burnt me. Zano knows that Dudu tried to kill me but why is he dragging his feet? Is divorce the first step to his plan? If he actually does get divorced to her then that changes a whole lot of things. Oh my Gawd he is coming around! I get into bed with renewed hope that maybe,just maybe I haven't lost the love of my life.