UNCONDITIONAL

FOURTEEN

Percy walked up to Khanyi's front door knocking three times before it was finally answered. In her hands she had a bouquet of yellow and red roses,covering her face to surprise Khanyi ,who was not expecting her. But instead Percy was the one to be surprised.

'Mommy delivery--hi'

Percy removes the flowers to find a girl of about 13/14 playing on her smartphone. She remembers her from when she first met Khanyi.

'Hi,you must be Simphiwe'

'And you must be one of my mom's friends'

Before Percy can respond Khanyi comes to the door with a little girl in hand and two young man right behind her.

'Percy?!'

'Surprise beautiful'

Percy smiles showing her the roses. Khanyi hugs and pecks her on the lips as her youngest scrunches up her nose in disgust.

'Now you have cooties mommy'

Khanyi laughs, handing the roses to the oldest,telling him to place them in a vase and place them on a table in the living area.

'thanks for the flowers,you caught us a bad time. We were just heading out to your shop to get the girls hair done'

'Oh--- if you guys don't mind,you can ride with me. I was going to head there after leaving here'

Khanyi's second son answers before she can refuse.

'Hi,I am Sphiwe twin brother to Simphiwe and second son to Khanyi here and we do not mind'

He shakes Percy's hand before walking off to her jeep,while also typing away on his phone.

'I am Bongani,thanks for the ride mom's car can at times get a little crowded,no offence mom'

Khanyi watches her older kids get into Percy's all black jeep. They seem to have forgotten what she taught them about stranger danger. At the same time she is amazed at how they are welcoming to Percy. She locks up grabbing her youngest daughters hand but she too runs off towards Percy and the car. She stops next to her pulling at her chinos for attention. Percy squats down to her level.

'Hi my name is Faith and I have my eyes on you young lady.'

Percy smiles as she helps her into the car. She finds it interesting and cute how Khanyi's youngest is so protective of her mother. After helping Faith into her car seat which her sister brought over,she jogs to the other side to open Khanyi's door,who is patiently waiting on Percy as she knows good and well not to open her own doors when Percy is around,any type of door.

'Sorry for coming unannounced,just wanted to surprise you.__ I know you were not yet ready for your kids and I to meet-'

She is cut off by Khanyi with a peck on her lips.

'It is fine. You were going to meet eventually,better sooner than later. You had no way of knowing that they were here since I never mentioned it,so I am not mad at you. I met your crew and now you met mine,we are even'

'Yeah and I also got threatened by little miss bodyguard'

'I heard, she is so protective of me. You would swear she knows what I have been through'

As much as Khanyi was happy that her children liked Percy and as much as she was falling daily for her. She feared having a relationship with her because she knew she had to come clean before things got deeper.

Sphiwe and Simphiwe means gift/we are gifted. One is for males while the latter is female

Bongani is for males and means give thanks all names are Zulu