FRIDAY, 12 JULY
I am currently in South Africa with Stefan, Ivy and Nikki. We are getting ready for the negotiations tomorrow. Stefan managed to get two of his uncles to delegate on his behalf and they are here too. My brother is at home with the rest of my family.
Stefan and I are in the bedroom, separating our clothes because I have to go home now.
I zip up my bag and put it down.
Stefan: do you really have to go?
Me: yes.
Stefan: like really, really, really?
Me: yes.
Stefan: Angel, come on.
Me: you wanted this.
Stefan: you want it too.
Me: I do, baby. so I have to leave. how do you feel now that you are going to finally meet my mother in person?
Stefan: slightly excited.
Me: slightly?
Stefan: yes, slightly.
Stefan and Ivy met my mom over Zoom last week and she was not so pleased at first but she thinks I chose well because he is really handsome with his snow white hair. She is obsessed with Ivy though.
He walks closer to me and hugs me for dear life.
Me: you are going to see me tomorrow, Setffy. do not be a big baby.
Stefan: ugh.
I laugh at him and he sits on the bed. I then get a call from Emily.
Emmy: hey, Angel. my husband and I have landed in SA as well.
Me: how is the nausea now?
Emmy: I feel better than I did when we were on the aircraft but I will just get some rest before anything.
Me: okay, love you.
Emmy: love you, bye.
She hangs up and I look at Stefan who is staring at me.
Me: what, weirdo?
Stefan: by the end of this year, that will be you.
Me: no.
Stefan: do you want to bet on it?
Me: yes. I do not mind because I know it will not happen.
Stefan: okay. if I win, you give me a third baby when I turn 31.
Me: that is so specific.
Stefan: I know. I live by timelines.
Me: clearly. if I win, I am only carrying one child for you.
Stefan: deal.
Me: deal.
He gets up from the bed with a chuckle and attempts to walk out of the room but I stop him.
Me: are you going to carry my suitcase, you idiot?
Stefan: ask nicely.
Me: please, Mr Petrov?
Stefan: I will carry it because you have asked so politely, Mrs Petrov.
Me: I am going to miss you.
Stefan: exactly what I said!
Me: make sure that your uncles arrive early so that we can see each other before noon.
Stefan: if it were up to me, we would already be back home.
Me: oh my. be happy because we are going to return as an officially engaged couple.
Stefan: I like the sound of that.
Me: so do I. now, let us get going.
SATURDAY, 13 JULY
It is done! I am now engaged to Stefan Petrov. Oh, I love this for me.
Mom: we sent you to Russia to study and you came back with a husband.
My aunts laugh.
Me: ma!
Mom: leave me alone. did Tebe know?
Tebe: please do not involve.
Mom: and now that boy is on his way here to take you from me.
She says as tears fall from her eyes. Stefan is on his way here and not to fetch me but to sit with my family for a while. We are going to eat, relax and enjoy the festivities of the day.
Me: I am not leaving yet, mama.
Mom: but you are engaged now.
Me: mama, stop.
Tebe is holding back his laugh and so is everyone else in the room. I get a text from Stef asking me to come outside.
Me: he is here.
I say with a smile plastered on my face. My whole family gets up and we go outside to welcome Stefan and Ivy. He walks in, holding Ivy who is wearing a Sotho dress like I am. My Ivy is going to be Sotho and Russian. She is also wearing black stockings underneath, a white fur jacket and she is wearing cute boots.
Mom: is that my grandchild?
Me: mama.
She goes to Stefan and takes Ivy while everyone else is excited for Stefan.
Me: thank you for dressing her as instructed this time.
19:00
My mom has been with Ivy since she and Stefan got here. She has not spoken or interacted with anyone else.
Stefan: it seems you have been replaced.
Me: no, Ivy would never.
Stefan: okay.
I hear them both giggling and I get up and sit next to them.
Mom: mama is jealous, Ivy.
Me: I am not jealous.
Mom: so why are you sulking?
Me: Ivy did not take her nap today so let me go put her to bed.
Mom: she is 4 years old now, she will cope.
Me: mama, please do not change our routine.
Mom: okay, I will put her to bed.
Me: yoh.
Mom: we will put her to bed together so please do not cry, Angel.
Tebe: Angel is so quick to cry.
Nikki: leave my friend alone.
My mom and I stand up to go put Ivy to sleep after I run to the car to get her bag which has her sweatpants, vest, socks, long sleeve top and hoodie. My mom changes her while we speak.
Mom: why are you so jealous? I will barely get to see her because you are going back to Russia.
Me: but still.
Mom: you are so greedy.
Me: I know.
Mom: when are you leaving?
Me: next week.
Mom: I hope that you and Ivy will be staying here until you leave.
I look down and she claps her hands once. She is now finished so Ivy lies down and my mom covers her with a thick and warm novelty Winne The Pooh blanket.
Mom: you and Stefan can leave but Ivy is staying. Ivy is going to be a part of our lives now as much as Stefan will be so I need to learn and understand her. if you are uncomfortable with leaving for a few days then you can leave her for tonight only but just now that I will be at your rental house everyday after that.
Me: okay, deal.
Mom: deal. you are so stingy with Ivy.
Me: Ivy is mine. also, I do not remember having this blanket while growing up.
Mom: that is because I bought it for Ivy a few days ago.
Me: you are so serious about being a grandmother.
We both giggle lightly.
Mom: I cannot believe that my baby is all grown up now and married but I am happy that Ivy is here and I can start over again. I have a chance to fix the wrongs I did with you and things I wish I did.
Me: ma, you were perfect and I have no doubt that you are going to be more than that for your grandchildren.
Mom: I think that I am only going to get them from you though.
Me: what makes you say that?
Mom: it seems your brother does not want kids.
Me: but Nikki wants them so you will have little rascals running around this house so be worry free, mother.
Mom: Nikki?
Me: yes.
Mom: yes! I knew it! Tebe tried to spin me some story that they are just talking and I could tell that he was lying because I carried that boy for nine months in my very own belly.
Me: Tebe is so sly.
Mom: as a fox. I will speak to him, he has to get married now.
Me: don't put pressure on him because of me being married now, ma.
Mom: Angel, it is not about you. Tebe is old and must settle down now.
Me: and Nikki is young.
Mom: and so are you.
Me: can we just return to our guests?
Mom: you can go. I am still admiring my grandchild.
I get up and head back to the living room where everyone is. I then sit next to Stefan.
Tebe: where is your mother?
Me: admiring sleeping beauty.
The whole room bursts out laughing.
Nikki: she is obsessed.
Me: I know.
