Sanity

Joy

Mavis hid the roses under the table at the sound Tina's raspy morning voice. 

"Mavis really, the parents and their spoiled brat are out of town and you still insist on making breakfast for all of us. Take a break, the slave master won't know."

She wolfed down her breakfast without another word. She was always kind but firm to Mavis like an older sister. When she'd first arrived for work Tina had been the only one to smile at her and show her how they expected her to keep the house in order. Sometimes she'd wake up before dawn and do Mavis' duties if she'd overworked the day before and actually woke her up to a hot breakfast that needed only to be served. She was definitely the closest thing she'd ever had to a sister but Mavis could never indulge Tina in her love affair with Mduduzi.

Mduduzi waltzed into the kitchen dramatically inhaling the feast awaiting to be devoured. 

"My sister is an amazing cook!" He beamed at Mavis.

"No actually, this is all Mavis' doing." She stood up and headed out the door but at the last minutes peeped her head through the door. " By the way, my friends sister is getting married tomorrow so I won't be home this weekend. Should I bring you back some wedding cake?"

"No!"

"Yes please Sisi!"

She smiled at Mavis " Promise me you will rest? My brothers are more than capable of making their own food and cleaning."

"I will rest."

"I will bring you the biggest slice." She winked as she strutted away.

At the sound of a taxi grumbling away in the distance the lovers breathed out giggles of relief. Mduduzi swooped Mavis into his arms and gently planted a kiss on her forehead. Butterflies flittered in her womb as the heat crept up her cheeks. She leaned her head back parting her lips for her love to enjoy but was startled by Nathi shiffling towards the kitchen. 

She struggled out of Mduduzi's arms and fled to the laundry sink. She let the icy waterfall erase her excitement and calm the rapid drum beat of almost being caught. 

"Mavis you can't bath outside." Nathi joked.

"Is there a law?"

"Mdu! She's asking if there's a law against bathing outside!"

"So when the cat's away the mice go out to play?" Mduduzi held up Nathi's overnight bag. "How long are planning to stay at the sister's house? You never take a bag with you."

"Long enough for you two to get past the honeymoon phase you seem to be stuck in. " He grinned." With Tina gone I imagine you'll be smooching all weekend and really, just the thought is quite revolting."

Mavis' mouth hung open.

"Yes. I know everything that goes on in this house!" He guffawed as he curtsied theoretically.

                  **********************

The house had been eerily silent all day but now the streets were bustling with people returning from work and getting ready to go out. Mavis had spring cleaned whatever dusty corners she'd missed when the madam required her to clean around her. The laundry was washed and ironed and the floors glimmered in the afternoon sun. Relief washed over her when she remembered that it was Burger Friday so she would have enough time to prepare for the suprise she had for Mduduzi.

As the sun dipped into its mother's arms the butterflies in her stomach raged and her idea started to sound more and more stupid. By the time it was 5:58pm she'd polished and repolished the kitchen table convincing herself that her lover would not consider her absurd. She worried that his rural upbringing might have changed how he would react or worse, how he felt about her. But she was sure as day that he loved her. It was 6:37pm now and she was anxious, Mduduzi was never this late.

"I'm sorry I'm so late, I ordered something different today. I hope you'll like it."

"I was worried sick!" Mavis shrieked slamming a cushion in his chest. 

His heart melted at her wild eyes. He couldn't remember the last time anyone had been genuinely interested in his well being, let alone showing him this much love. He pulled her in for a hug and a floral scent wafted from her thick cornrows reminiscent of his mother's geraniums in the summer. 

"I love you," he whispered as he kissed the crown of her head. "You're the warmth my heart has been longing to come home to. I know we haven't been together for long but I think you're the one. I didn't even know I was searching for the one or even believed in such things but when I first laid my eyes on you Mavis..... I just knew!  You are my destiny-"

She pressed her lips on his, savagely drinking of the fountain of his seduction. His lower lip was sweet and thick as she curled her tongue over it and into the abyss of escasty which was both near and far. His heart galloping against her fingers was enough to drive her into oblivious bliss. She didn't know when he'd hijacked her kiss but that was one of the things she loved about him. He was in control now and she could just melt under his authorotive passion. Just as her knees gave way he swooped her up to straddle his waist giving her back complete dominance. In the heat of it, it seemed as though the suprise she'd waited all day to give him would be served on the kitchen table.