Battles in the shadows

RETURN THE FAVOUR

Things got worse from that point forward for Laura. As she got home, she met Ma. Dikobe seated in her living room looking totally distraught. Upon her arrival, the older woman stood up and in tears rushed towards Laura, embracing her in a tight hug.

"My child, I am so sorry,"

Laura broke into tears and began to wail. Seeing her first mother...a mother to all the children in her care made her emotions out of control.

"My poor baby, we will get through this okay."

They broke apart and sat down.

"I am so sorry about this madness. We had no idea that Mama Joe was having such an intense hatred for your family. We were not aware about the abuses...Latoya didn't even suspect anything so nobody could protect you. Please take heart my baby, we are all very sorry."

"You have nothing to be sorry about Ma. You gave me a chance to live and have a family. All you did was in my best interest and today you are a proud mother of hundreds of children around Botswana and abroad. This could have happened to anyone Ma, please don't beat yourself up about it."

Ma. Dikobe hugged her once again and smiled through her tears.

"Brandon told me you went to see your father's family, how did it go?"

Laura sighed lightly and filled her in on what happened.

Brandon who had been getting some things together in their room came out just in time to hear his wife's experience at the hands of her father's family.

"But why are they being so cold? None of this is your fault?" He was deeply upset about the injustice his wife suffered.

"It's okay Brandon, thy are hurting and grief stricken. They will come around eventually."

"So they didn't tell you about the funeral arrangements?" Ma. Dikobe asked.

"No, they didn't." She replied artlessly.

"I nearly missed your husband. He just came back from the police station to give his statement."

"I hope you passed by the hospital to check Papa and Mr. Robertson." Laura said expectantly.

"I couldn't. We will go together in the afternoon. You need to get some rest."

"Thanks Brand." She replied and went inside their bedroom.

Laura had not spent five minutes in the bedroom when another visitor came in. It was her mother Latoya.

"Lato, good morning."

Latoya sat down with an intense sigh and buried her head in her hands. Guilt and shame wouldn't allow her to look Janet in the eye. Her friend entrusted Lauretta into her hands and she couldn't do a good job of it. Phillip's vitals had normalised but she knew the legal battle that would follow after their recoveries scares her but they have no choice in the matter.

"Latoya, crying will not help us in this matter. Laura needs you more than ever especially now that the news has spread all over the radio stations about the shootings. Many things are at stake including her health and even maybe her job."

"Janet, I am in bigger trouble. Phillip and Mompati will get prosecuted. My son and husband will go to prison." She broke into a wail and began to weep.

Brandon quickly exited the scene and walked to their bedroom to inform his wife of what was happening.

Laura was already dozing off on the bed after taking some pain killers to combat the feverish feel of her body and the headache that was slowly dropping in.

Brandon didn't want to disturb her sleep but she was needed at the moment. He walked up to her and gently nudged her to wake up.

"Brandon, what is it?" She asked gently.

"Your Mum is here and she is in a bad state,"

She got up frantically and asked, "Mum? Mrs. Robertson? Is Dad okay?"

"Not Mrs. Robertson, Mama Rakwela." He replied in a whisper.

He quickly filled her in on what was said and together joined the women in the living room.

"Mama, what is happening? Why are you crying so much? Dad and Phillip will be alright."

Latoya didn't wait another second and immediately went on her knees before her daughter.

"Latoya! What are you doing?" Janet Dikobe asked in shock.

"Mama, get up please."

"Lauretta, we tried to be the best parents we could. We gave you all we could so please it is your turn to help us now. Phillip is married with a child so please don't let him go to jail. Your father too will tell us his side of the story once he wakes up so please return the favour and save us from shame and destruction."

Janet could not believe her friend's words. This was not the time to be asking for favours. The poor girl just lost her biological father and has three men in the hospital fighting for their lives. Latoya had no right imposing such a heavy burden on Lauretta.

"Latoya, don't do this to your daughter."

Latoya stood up abruptly.

"What do yo expect me to do Janet? How can my son and husband go to prison?"

"Phillip committed these crimes as a teenager so hopefully we can get a more lenient sentence from the court." Laura interjected.

"And your father? How do you plan to save him?"

"Ma, I know this is a lot to take in but please Laura is in mourning and she had a rough morning too with her father's family. Please let me take you home so you could rest. We will find a way out." Brandon replied gently.

"Save us Lauretta. Please save us."

Laura could not believe her mother's insensitivity to her pain and confusion. She excused herself and went back to their bedroom.

"Latoya, contain yourself! I will take you to David's house so don't worry. Everything will be sorted."

"You think so?" Latoya asked weakly.

"I know so Latoya. Let us leave Brandon to console his wife and I will be with you too."

Latoya agreed and they left after bidding Brandon goodbye.

The latter watched their retreating figures and shook his head at the dramatic turn of events. He silently prayed that God makes a way out because already, the Rakwela family was falling apart bit by bit.

He locked the main door and went inside their bedroom to be with his wife.