The Perfect Man

Three

"Clarissa!" exclaimed my father as if he'd seen a ghost when Willem walked into our house with his mother.

"Siyabonga, long time no see," said Ms Grobbelaar.

Everyone was taken aback, I guess the expression small world was applicable here.

"Mommy, how do you know Kaitlyn's father?" Willem's mother reached for the nearest seat when she heard that question.

Everyone's attention was now on my father and Ms Grobbelaar. Why didn't she just tell us how they know each other instead of being such a drama queen?

When she started hyperventilating I thought she would faint so I brought her some water.

"Thank you," she said, taking a swig of the water.

"Could you all please excuse us," said my father shooting my mother a dismissive look as well.

Everyone scattered and I took Grobbies to my room.

"Wow, this is the first time I see the room you grew up in," he said as he pulled me in for a peck on the forehead.

My room at home was a little too childish for my liking. Although most of my stuff had been donated to charity when I moved to the Western Cape for university, I kept some of the teddy bears I had when I was a child. My bed was littered with pillows, two teddy bears and a giant colourful stuffed worm my friend got for me when I turned 13. My mum felt like my room was not girly enough so she bought me pink bedding to brighten the black paint I had chosen for myself. My room looked like a fairy had gagged all over it. I hated the pink but it worked with the black walls.

"Before you say anything, the pink was my mother's idea," we both chuckled before we settled on the beanbag chairs I convinced my dad to get me after I made it to the top 3 of my class.

Sharing this room with Grobbies made me feel so delighted. Soon we would be building our own home and we would decorate our first baby's room together. It all felt surreal, so exciting.

My euphoric state was short lived when Willem asked, "So what do you think our parents are talking about?"

"Who knows, my dad is such a secretive man. I wouldn't be surprised if he acted like nothing happened when we finally walk out of here."

He took me in his arms and he just held me until my bedroom door swung open. My dad walked in looking a bit distraught, something told me that my world was about to be turned upside down.

"Come to the living room," he said as he walked out to call the rest of the clan.