Maid For Marriage

105

We were waiting for our  dinner when I got a text from my mother.

"Hi princess. What time are you driving back tomorrow? Are you still sending a car to pick up your grandmother? You've been silent. We haven't heard anything from you. How is my grand baby doing? How are you doing? Please text back."

"Something wrong?" Baba asked softly. "We'll talk later." I said, giving him a small smile. He just nodded. Dinner was more focused on the kids, and I enjoyed that. All the girls completely adored their brother. Even the toddlers. On the ride home, I texted my mom and asked if I could call her in an hour. She agreed.

I got home, and I was giving Simangaliso his bath when Baba walked in. "Is everything okay?" I just sighed. "Yebo, baba. It's fine. I just got a text from my mother asking what time we're leaving tomorrow and if we're still sending a car to pick my grandmother up. With everything going on, we forgot that we made plans with my family." He sighed. "Cant we postpone? I promise you that by the end of the week, we'll be out of here. It's not only because of Zamo. I've been sorting out some logistical issues on the farm."
"I miss my house and I miss my mother. Baba, I'm exhausted. I can't do this anymore. I'm trying. I swear I'm trying." I took Simangaliso out of the water and wrapped him in a towel.

"Okay. Let me take him, and then you go to bed early tonight." I shook my head and wiped the tears that escaped my eyes. "It's not the kind of tired that can be solved by a nap. I want to go home."
"Mamakhe... Baby, please... Okay. I hear you.  I know I'm asking for a lot, but please.  Please stay with me until Friday. Only Friday. We'll leave Friday afternoon. Please, baby." I just nodded, wiping my tears. He helped me put Simangaliso to bed. "It's Saturday. He is supposed to have his four month checkup on Monday, and I'm supposed to have a general checkup." He nodded. "I'll schedule it in town for Monday. Don't worry about it. Can I get you anything before bed?" I thought about. "I actually want something to eat. Didn't you bring home a burger." He looked confused. "You want to eat?" I just nodded. "And at this time?" I nodded again. "Okay..." He brought me the burger, and I gobbled it up as if I hadn't eaten in days.

I got woken up the next morning by my phone ringing. "Princess, are you okay? You didn't call when you said you would. Is everything alright. Don't lie to me. I can feel something is going on. I can feel it."
"Morning, Ma. Ma..."
"Princess, what's wrong."
"We've had to extend our stay. We're only leaving here Friday afternoon." There was silence on the other end of the phone. "Umm... Okay. I'll let your grandmother know. Why baby? What's going on?" I didn't want to keep having my mother fight my battles, so I didn't want to tell her what's going. "Dlamini has work here, Mama."
"Thandi. Thandi no. Something is wrong. I know you. You said Mama, not Ma. That's your tell. Princess, do you want me to come over there?"
"Ma, no. Please. I'm fine." My voice broke as a tear fell down my face.
"Thandi..."
"Ma, no. Please. Let me just get to the end of the week, and then I'll be home. Please, don't try and get involved. I'm begging you. I can't keep running to my mother like a little girl."
"Thandi." She begged. "Ma, please. I'm begging you." She sighed but agreed to stay out of it.

While I had some time to myself, I contacted my lawyers and sent them the deal I got from chef Frederico. I took a shower and went downstairs to join the family.  MaKhumalo's girls and Chumisa were fighting. "But you always get to hold him! I also want a turn! It's not fair!"
"Chumisa, you just held him! Stop being selfish!" Simangaliso looked at the girls wide-eyed until he saw me. Then he started crying. The fighting carried on the whole day. Even when he was sleeping.

We heard a scream come from the kitchen and we all ran inside. "Is everything okay?" I asked MaKhumalo. She nodded with tears in her eyes. "It's more than okay.  For years, my mother has run my father's company, and she is finally retiring. She named me the new CEO."
"What! Congratulations!" I screamed and we all hugged her. Baba came in the house and we explained to him what had happened. He was just as excited as we were. This was amazing.