When You're Bound To Love

Chapter 163

SPHO**

I woke up a little late on Sunday morning. For the first time ever. It was around 11am. I sat on the edge of the huge bed. I slept in sweatpants and a vest. Lukhanyo's. He walked in with a tray putting it on the side table. Luks: "Morning." He knelt in front of me in between my legs. It hadn't been a good night. Luks: "Hey.." I couldn't even look at him. Luks: "Baby." Me: "Lukhanyo." Luks: "What happened last night? You were distressed in your sleep. I tried waking you but you didn't. You scared me Spho." The lamps were broken on the floor. It was a really bad night. Luks: "Nightmare?" I shook my head. Luks: "Please talk to me." Me: "Why didn't you leave? I gave you an option to turn and walk away from this! Why did you have to be brave and stay!" Luks: "For a few broken lamps Spho?" Me: "It starts with a few broken lamps! Then it's windows then it's bones and soon, it's your head." Luks: "Okay. Tell me what happened." Me: "I can't. It's... one of the things I can't say." He looked frustrated. Luks: "I want to help." Me: "I know you do. Why aren't you worried? About yourself?" He looked at my stomach then held it. Me: "What happened when I was sleeping?" Luks: "Tossing and turning." Me: "Did I hurt you?" He shook his head. Me: "I need to do something not now though. Just later." He nodded. Luks: "I made you breakfast." Me: "It smells wonderful. You spoil me." Luks: "I have to. You're my woman and this little guy needs to eat." He kissed my tummy and stood up. My phone rang. Masilakhe Sobekwa. Lukhanyo stared at it and sucked his teeth. Me: "It's probably about the kids." I answered. Me: "Sir." Lakhe laughed. Lakhe: "How are you?" Me: "Great. What's up?" Lukhanyo was sitting on the bed staring. His stare was always so intense like he's looking deep inside you. Lakhe: "When will you be coming over?" Me: "For what now?" Lakhe: "Uhm.. I can't bring the kids. I'll need you to come fetch them. I'm not gonna be home. My parents will be though. Since Nosi is still sick, they don't want to leave the house." Me: "But Lakhe why do you do this? You always speak at the last minute! I have to cancel all my plans for you! Every single time. Like Friday, you didn't tell me you'd want me to leave Lam as well, I didn't even have time to prepare myself for it. You never think about how I feel when you decide something and honestly I can't even take it anymore." I was near tears now. Lakhe: "I'm really sorry Spho. This is the last time, I swear." Me: "I'm only coming later. Right now I'm busy." I hung up. My eyes were burning with tears. Lukhanyo pulled me to his lap. Luks: "Yinton ngoku?" (What is it now?) Me: "He wants me to fetch the kids. Apparently he's not home." Luks: "Well.. we'll get the kids later. No issue." Me: "No Lukhanyo. You don't understand. You're a man. It's acceptable for you to appear when you like but as a woman, it's a whole different story. As their mother I literally have to drop everything otherwise I'm labeled as an irresponsible mother who'd rather spend her time with a man rather than her children. It's a whole different world for us! We shouldn't even have a breath of happiness without our children." I picked up my jeans with tears streaming down my face. I really wanted to spend a few more hours with him. I also missed my kids. My mind was a whole cluster fuck right now. I think the pregnancy was starting to kick in also. Luks: "Baby." Me: "No Lukhanyo. No." Luks: "Sphosenkosi. You're not leaving this house. You're gonna eat and relax. Once you're ready to fetch your children, that's what you're gonna do. Masilakhe is not going to bully you into a corner. If he's not home where the hell does he think you are? Angandiqali uMasilakhe, andiyeki mna." (He must not start with me, I don't stop.) Me: "But my children!" Luks: "Did he leave them outside by the pavement?" Me: "No. They're with his mom and dad." Luks: "Good. Let them bond with their grandparents then." He took my jeans and tossed a grape in my mouth. Luks: "If anyone dares try to judge you, bring them to me, you hear? You're a damn good mother and you're gonna be happy whether you like it or not. Your critics are gonna enter a brand new day with my hand around their necks if they're not careful." Me: "I don't want you hurting people Lukhanyo! Not for any reason!" Luks: "Okay ke baby but nobody is going to try you is all I'm saying." He kissed my lips. Luks: "My woman... ahhh, My everything." He sang. I laughed. Me: "Gosh. You're crazy." Luks: "Tell your man to draw up a schedule with times of pick up and drop off. Akunike notice futhi if he can't make it. Asizova ngaye kaloku thina." (He must give you notice if he can't make it. We won't be bullied by him.) Me: "He has a schedule and he's not my man." Luks: "He sure as hell thinks he is. Busy giggling on the phone." I smiled at him. Me: "You're jealous." Luks: "Of course I am. If he has a schedule then why does he still bulldoze his way?" Me: "I let him. He loves his kids but he's just always busy." Luks: "Who's fault is that? No Spho, you're too nice! You bring your last born to the office and work while taking care of him. I've never seen that anywhere. Any other person would take them to day care or get a nanny but you insist on having him on you the whole time. No Spho. No." He pushed me gently into bed. Luks: "Khange ndiphiwe nophiwa ke. So I'm a little frustrated right now."(I didn't even get some) I laughed. Me: "You're gonna have to wait." Luks: "Kanti ndiyokutshata ngoku mna. Don't even." (I'll marry you now.) I laughed. He gave me my tray of food. Me: "How do you work with your ex with the kids?" Luks: "There's a schedule. A very strict one. If the kids need me for anything else, they call me. I get them for 3 days a week, Lihle the remaining four. We rotate the weeks. Attend parent meetings together, sports events. She's on the school SGB with Lubabalo. It's not my thing. Thulani does drop offs and pick ups at schools. Everyone in the family has a role to play." Me: "Is it difficult? Seeing them together?" Luks: "Who?" Me: "Lubby and her?" Luks: "They're not together. Lihle is dating Rem'boy." Me: "Who's Rem'boy?" Luks: "Remy. A Doctor." Me: "And you're okay with that?" Luks: "Not really. He tries to upstage me every chance he gets but my kids like him so..." Me: "The same way you're tryna upstage Lakhe?" He laughed. Luks: "Okay, yes." Me: "It's healthy that you're honest with yourself." Luks: "Aren't you worried about Lakhe's new girlfriend? Doesn't it feel uncomfortable for you?" Me: "It does. He boyfriends really well. But that was my house. Where I cooked and bonded with his family." Luks: "We're just human after all. A little sting of envy is normal. As long as they're happy. I think for me that's what was important. He makes her happy, keeps her safe, treats my children well. I'm fine with that." Me: "I don't know the girl he's dating that well. Do you think I should? For the kids that is. To know what kind of person they'll be around." Luks: "Yeah but only if you're sure. Don't force yourself and end up being an evil manipulator to turn them against her. That's not healthy. Not for them or for you." Me: "You're really emotionally intelligent." Luks: "It took a very long time baby. I've been through it all." He cuddled next to me in bed. Luks: "Not even one round ke baby?" I laughed. Me: "Not even one." Luks: "It's fine. I'll wait." He kissed my cheek. Luks: "Ulumke ke sisi because nam ndiyatala."(be careful, I'm also stingy.) Me: "Good thing andibawi." (I'm not greedy.) He laughed. Luks: "Mxim. Eat baby." I had a bowl of fruit salad, a cup of yogurt, a small plate with three flapjacks drizzled in syrup and a plate of two sunnyside eggs, two strips of bacon, two slices of toast, baby tomatoes and fried mushroom. I was so hungry all of a sudden. I started with fruit and yogurt. My phone rang again. Luks: "Yoh ha.a Masilakhe bra. Ndakwenza ntoni?" (No ways Masilakhe bro. What did I ever do to you?) I laughed taking my phone and answered. Me: "Hey." Sands: "Mummy. Where are you?" Me: "What do you need?" Sands: "I'm coming to your house. I have a crisis." Me: "I'm having breakfast but not at home." Sands: "It's okay I'll wait. Love you." He hung up. Me: "I wonder what is it now." Luks took a piece of bacon and ate. Me: "Say it." Luks: "They're up to something. Then again you did say this brother is your baby too so maybe uzokufekethela." (He's being clingy.) Me: "You're not worried?" Luks: "Should I be?" Me: "No." Luks: "I'll try not to be." ...