Tough decisions
“Hi Melissa, long time. It’s good to see you again” Julie says on the other side of the door gate at Melissa's house. She has come to see Lee-Ann who’s still staying here. It’s been about a week or so since Julie had bumped into Mlu at the mall. Melissa knows the story of Julie and Lee-Ann so she stands at the door without showing much emotion. Though you wouldn’t call them best friends with Julie but they got along well since she’s her best friend Lee-Ann’s cousin. She decides to open the gate and lets her in. She leads her to the lounge where Lee-Ann is. She really wasn’t expecting her. She probably would have chased her away if it was her who opened the door. Buts it’s too late for that now, isn’t it? So she looks at her not knowing how to react to this.“I will give you guys some time to talk” Melissa says as she goes upstairs leaving the girls to talk. Julie sits down and looks around the house walls that has pictures on them. All the while Lee-Ann is looking at her. It’s actually the first time they are face to face since she slapped her in the house few months ago. So she doesn’t know what to make of this reunion.
“I’m sorry to just show up unannounced like this” Julie says nervously. “I got your location from Derby. I really needed to come and see you. I…uhmm...” she’s desperately trying to find words but Lee-Ann is just looking at her with no emotion at all. “I’m trying to fix my mistakes” she says. “I messed up big time Lee” she gets emotional and teary eyed. “I was filled with rage, hate and blinded by my thirst for revenge I ended up hurting you so bad instead. But I hope one day you will believe me when I say I never really meant to hurt you, cousin” she says as tears starts to fall and Lee-Ann has tears too now and struggling to look at her cousin.
“I thought I was protecting you from harm but I ended up opening a can of worms. I am really sorry Lee” at this point she just breaks down and sobs deeply. “I hope one day you will forgive me” as she stands up to head towards the door.
But Lee-Ann, with tears on her face she calls out, “How’s the baby?” she asks as she wipes her tears. Julie didn’t expect that as she turns around and wipes her own tears as well. She looks to the ceiling and sighs heavily. “The baby is fine” she says as she looks and rubs on her tummy, which is starting to show a little bit. Lee-Ann comes over to her.
“And did you manage to tell Mlu and how did he take it?” she asks a Julie who has now found strength to stop crying. Her voice is still trembling though. She rubs her tummy again, “Uhmm, yeah I told him one time when I saw him at the Mall” she says. “uhmm, as expected he was shocked. Honestly I didn’t expect him to jump at the news you know. But I told him that I was keeping the baby and that I was going for scans the following day and if he wanted to come with me it wasn’t a problem. But he didn’t show up” at that she becomes teary and sad again. Lee-Ann starts to have teary eyes as well. She wants to hug her cousin but she thinks it’s too soon. But she gives her a rub on the shoulder without saying anything to her.
“Anyway, after what I did to him, to you and Simo I probably deserve that and I’m accepting it. But I’m committed to my baby and David says he will support me on this so yeah I’m going to be okay” as she smiles at Lee-Ann who now feels really sorry for her cousin.
“And what do aunt Stacey and uncle Ben think about all this?” Lee-Ann asks to which Julie's face changes and become even more sad. “Well you know how mom is like” she says. “When Mlu didn’t show up for the scan, she thought it was probably for the best. She doesn’t like Mlu. Neither does dad but at least he wants to meet him and discuss this, man to man with him” she rolls her eyes. “I really wanted Mlu to be part of this journey you know? Not as my partner or anything like that but…this is his child too. I don’t want to deprive him of this opportunity” she concludes as she leans on the fridge.
There’s a moment of silence a bit as both ladies look like they are thinking. “And, do you love Mlu?” Lee-Ann breaks the silence much to Julie’s shock. But she can’t say she didn’t really expect the question to come at some point. She looks at the ceiling again as if in search of a right answer.
“Do I love him?” she says. “Well I think this pregnancy has made me to feel some kind of way about him. We’ve always had our moments in the past, with no strings attached and we both didn’t have a problem with it. But this” as she rubs and looks at her tummy. “It changed things a bit you know” she smiles. “I find myself thinking funny moments with him that we’ve had. He is smart and funny. Very mature in his thinking” as she looks to the ceiling with a smile but that moment is interrupted by Lee-Ann as she jumps in, “Cousin, you are in love with him” she says with a smile to which Julie is embarrassed.
“I don’t know about that cuz” Julie says. “Maybe I am. But well I went on and did the most unforgivable thing to him” she suddenly becomes sad. “So he probably hates me. But not as much as I hate myself” she looks away to avoid any eye contact. “look, this changes things for him too you know” Lee-Ann says. “Just give him time. He’ll come around okay” she brushes her cousin’s shoulder again to which Julie nods. “Let me go okay?” Julie says as Lee-Ann walks her out to the door.
***
JB is out to the Mall with is his sister, Thandeka. He’d decided to take her out for lunch since it’s her birthday. She’s 26, 5 years younger than him. His daughter is with them as well. They had done a little shopping, much to Thandeka's delight. She likes being spoilt with gifs. Even though she works well as a Data Analysts at a health NGO, she prefers that her brother buys things for her.
“Oh well, I hope you are still loving your special day so far” JB says as he looks impressed with himself. “Yes bhuti. Thank you very much. I couldn’t have asked for a better birthday gift than spending time with you are my beautiful niece” she says as she holds Nkanyezi, JB's 9-year-old daughter. “Well I’m glad that you do because now we will have lunch and then I will go see Mlu and Simo after. Is that cool with you guys?” JB says as he grabs his daughter’s hand.
They come to the food court yard and look around for a place. “Oh there you go” JB says. “This seems like a nice restaurant. Is it okay for you guys?” he asks, to which Thandeka and Nkanyezi nod. But just as they were turning to enter the restaurant, JB bumps into Derby. He didn’t expect that. “Okay you guys can you go in, find a nice place and order?” he says to his family as he gives his credit card to Thandeka. “Please order something nice for me too hey” he says with a smile. Thandeka looks at Derby a little puzzled. She knows her brother well. She knows that he’d never in a million years entertain white girls, so what the hell is this? She’s thinking to herself. But she ignores it as she takes Nkanyezi with her and enter the restaurant.
“Hey stranger” Derby says with some level of excitement. JB is not sure how to react to her. But one thing is for sure, he isn’t mad at seeing her. If anything he is pleased to see Derby, but he doesn’t want to show it. “hey back” he says. “Yeah it’s been a while. How have you been?” he asks as they move out the way so that people can come in and out of the restaurant. “yeah I’ve been good, thank you? How have you been?” Derby says as she takes of her shades. “How is Simo and Mlu?” she asks but JB seems a little distracted as he keeps looking inside the restaurant to check where his family is seated and Derby can see that,
“Look, it was great seeing you okay” she says. “Please send my regards to Mlu and Simo” she says as she turns around to leave but she is stopped by JB's sister, “please don’t leave, okay” Thandeka says. “Please join us. It’s my birthday today” she says, much to JB’s shock who gives Thandeka a certain look as if to say What the hell are you doing?
“Oh no, I couldn’t” Derby says. “I couldn’t intrude. You guys should enjoy your day” politely as she lets out a smile. “Oh please, nonsense” Thandeka is not taking no for an answer. “I’m Thandeka, JB's sister” she says as she extends a her hand, much to what looks like Derby’s relief as she smiles back at Thandeka. She probably thought she was a girlfriend or something. “I’m Derby” she says. “I’m…” she’s trying to find correct words to describe how she knows JB but Thandeka comes into her rescue, “Yeah, you are JB's friend, right?” she says is smile. “I recognize you from some of the pictures of Simo that are in the house” as she lets go of Derby’s hand, who doesn’t seem to know what to make of that.
“Oh yeah, I’m…Uhmm I’m Simo's fiancé, Lee-Ann’s sister” she says politely. All the while JB is quietly listening to the ladies talking and now he wishes they’d picked a different place. But they all go back inside the restaurant where Thandeka left her niece.
Couple of hours later, much to JB's surprise, the lunch actually went very well, Thandeka was a warm host of guest Derby who couldn’t stop laughing throughout the time. It seems like these girls will get along just fine much to JB's confusion. He really didn’t think this was a very good idea but here they are, being civil towards one another.
“Well, it was really lovely to know you Thandeka” Derby says as she gives JB's sister a hug. “And you too little Nkanyezi” as she hugs JB’s daughter. “It was lovely to meet you too Derby” Thandeka says as she smiles. “Now you have my number so we can do lunch anytime we are both free, deal?” she says.
“Look, why don’t you guys go home okay? I will take a cab” JB says looking at his sister and daughter. Thandeka looks at him and Derby and raises her eyebrow as if to say Oh I see; you need your time alone. Derby notices that and just blushes. “Oh don’t worry I will bring him home safe and sound, okay?” she says as she smiles. JB hugs his little daughter and his sister. They watch them go to the other side of the mall as he waved at them.
“Okay Mr, so what do we do now?” Derby says with a smiles to a nervously looking JB. He just smiles back at her. “Oh well, look” he says. “There is a bar, right there, let’s go in and have a few drinks as we try to figure out an answer to your question, shall we?” he smiles like a naughty boy.
They then go over to this nice bar. It’s a little dark in here, fancy and cozy but. The music is great too. They find a nice corner to sit and talk.
When they sit down, they look at each other in the eyes for a minute without saying anything. JB has that nervous look a bit but Derby has that curiosity look about her. “I have a question” she says as she leans her chin on her hands. “What happened to you?” she asks a rather puzzled JB. “I mean, a couple of months ago I could have described your feelings towards me as…” she thinks for a second, “I’m trying to find a better word but loathing should do” she bursts out laughing to a JB who can’t help but chuckle a little bit.
“I’m serious you know” Derby continues. “Did you have an out of body experience or what because JB wouldn’t have a conversation with me or any white woman, let alone invite her to lunch and for dinner…in one day I might add” she laughed loud again. But when JB is about to open his mouth he’s interrupted by a waiter who comes to take their orders,
“I’ll have a double whiskey for a start but please bring me a ice bucket of castle Lite 6 pack and…” as he looks at Derby, who is rather surprised at this but she doesn’t mind. This dude must be really nervous she thinks to herself. But she cuts him of, “I will have 6 pack of Hunters dry please” she says.
To that the waiter tales the order and goes.
“Well look,” JB says. “Firstly the lunch thing is on your new bestie” he bursts out laughing. “But for this here, I’ll share the blame” to that they burst out laughing. “But on a serious note,” as his face changes. You remember the conversation we had at the hospital a couple months ago?” he says.
Derby tries to recall but JB continues. “Yeah. You said things that were compelling. Things that I can’t ignore. Yes, I’ve had a very bad experience but I can’t paint everyone with the same brush. I just have to try and learn to deal with this. Everyone goes through things and at the same time I can’t blame people who are angry over what happened to them. We are all just dealing with this in our own different ways I guess” he concludes as Derby is listening to him attentively.
They are interrupted by the waiter who brings their ice bucket. They thank him as he goes away. JB opens for the lady and then pours for her in a glass, then for himself. They smile as they take huge sips. It looks like they are really thirsty or it could just be that they are just trying to calm their nerves down so that they can enjoy themselves.
They then talk openly about what has happened for a few hours while they enjoy their drinks. They talk about Julie and what she did to Mlu and then they talk about Simo and Lee-Ann. The difference now is that they aren’t shouting at each other over it. Who would have thought that JB would do
this? Clearly he’s now seeing things a little different now than before.
***
Over at Mlu's place Simo has come to check up on him. He hasn’t seen much of his friend lately. He seems a little distracted ever since he found out Julie is pregnant. They are chilling in the lounge having drinks since it’s a weekend. It’s in the afternoon now and they have been at it since noon and there’s no sign of slowing down.
“I can’t believe you will be the father man, to Julie’s kid even” Simo says as he sips on his beer. “So what did your sister say?” he asks as he looks at a dejected Mlu who looks like he’s in deep thoughts, or it could just be the beer into his head. Mlu sighs deeply, “Well, Jabu wasn’t impressed at all. She just can’t understand how I could let something like this happen. And since she says she will come to seem me in a week or so and bro, I’m not looking forward to it, Jabu can be a little too much sometimes. I thought getting married will make her stop interfering with my love life. She’s just never happy about anyone that I meet” he says with a worried look that just sends Simo out laughing.
“Hahaha, come on man all sisters are like that. She’s just trying to look after you okay. I don’t think she means bad. She’s just being a big sister that’s all” Simo says trying to comfort his friend. Mlu just smiles without saying anything. There is silence for a moment as they both sip on their beers.
“But man look. On a serious note now” Simo says. “I know you gave your reasons for not going for the scan with Julie last time. It was sudden. You were still in shock bro. But next week I think you should go” he says much to Mlu’s surprise. “I mean bro, that’s your baby man. I know a lot has happened. I know what Julie did to you and it can’t be dismissed that easily. But the truth is, that is your baby bro and the baby didn’t do anything wrong. It deserves to have it’s both parents present. And I’m not saying that you and Julie become an item but I’m just saying be present for your child man.”
All the while Mlu is keeping quiet listening to his friend's advice. He is playing everything in his head. But Simo continues, “Bro I know how living without parents is like. There are many things that can go wrong because you didn’t get proper parental advice from your folks. So it doesn’t have to happen to your child man, you hear me?” he says with a serious voice. Mlu looks at him and sips whatever was left from the bottle and quickly open the other one but as he is about to take a sip, he thinks for a second but then puts it down and looks at Simo.
“I hear you man. And I know that you’re right” he says as he lets out a sigh. “I have had a thought about what you are saying. It’s just that I didn’t know where to begin. Part of me is still angry about what she did and quite frankly I still don’t understand why, even though she gave her reasons. They make no sense to me. And part of me feels if I allow this I’ll be letting go of that anger I have and I’d be accepting that what she did” his face changes as he says. “but then part of me like you say doesn’t want to miss this opportunity” as he sips on his beer. But he continues, “Then there’s her parents. I don’t know where they stand with all this and quite frankly I don’t want to be dealing with that right now” he sighs.
“Trust me bro I know that very well” Simo says as he looks away. “But unfortunately for you my friend you don’t have a choice. This baby connects you for life. Add your sister to spice things up between your families too, hahaha” they both laugh to that.
“okay, enough about me. You? What’s going on?” Mlu asks much to Simo’s puzzlement. “What’s going with you and Lee-Ann? Are you guys fixing things or what?” he asks a Simo who looks uncomfortable with this but he reluctantly responds, “Uhmm, you know, she’s still at Melissa’s place. We haven’t had a chance to talk since she left.” He now looks sad. But Mlu jumps in, “Look man, may I ask you? Do you still love this woman? Not so long ago she was your fiancé. Love can’t just disappear” he says to which Simo takes a moment,
“Man I love her more than anything. And I miss her every day. When I think about our life together, we’ve gone through bad times and pulled through. And I honestly believe we will overcome this situation as well” as he smiles with eyes of love. “there you go,” Mlu says. “I’m so happy to hear you say that man. You and Lee-Ann belong together. There’s no better couple I know.” To that they toast and continue to enjoy their beers and talk for many hours on end.
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