Make up
“Thank you for coming. I felt that it was time that you and I had a little chat” Morgan says to a nervously looking Simo who is sitting at the edge of the sofa. Morgan had invited him over and said he wanted to talk to him. It’s not like Simo doesn’t know why but he just didn’t expect it. He came as soon as he could, he wasn’t that far from the area.It’s been like a week or so since Mlu had come to see him and it’s been a while since he had set a foot in this house. His memories of the last time aren’t the fondest, so he can be forgiven for feeling some kind of way. He also knows that Morgan doesn’t really talk that much so it kind of intimidates him. So he keeps looking around.
“Can I pour your you some drink?” Morgan asks as he takes the bottle of whiskey. “Oh no, thank you Mr Stain. A glass of water would be okay?” Simo says nervously as he tries to avoid eye contact. “Oh no young man I insists” Morgan says with a smile. “Don’t worry I know you’re worried about Debra but she isn’t here right now. I sent her with Derby to the shop” he smiles again. “I just needed to have this talk with you nicely, man to man without being disturbed. If I could I’d have come to you but I’m a little old to be getting lost in areas I’m not familiar with. I hope you don’t mind that that I called you over here, I wasn’t trying to undermine you or anything like that” Morgan says as he pours a double for both of them. He gives to Simo who takes a sip, so does he.
“No sir, I didn’t mind. I was around the area” Simo says, still a nervous wreck. There’s a moment of awkward silence as both men sip on their glasses. “I must be honest, your call was rather unexpected, considering how things turned up the last time I was here” Simo says with a smile to which Morgan looks a little embarrassed with as he sighs a little bit.
“Oh yeah, I can totally understand that” Morgan says as he looks away. “But I thought it was time we had a chat about everything that has happened. Speaking of which, how are you feeling? Are you healing well?” he asks Simo who now looks much better than he did a few minutes ago, whiskey must be doing the things. “Yes I’m healing well thank you. Just a little pain in my leg from time to time but the physiotherapist tells me if I keep up with the work I will be doing full jogging soon. But thank you for asking.” Simo says as he finishes of whatever was left in the glass.
“That’s great news “Morgan says. “And I want to personally apologize for what happened to you and I know my niece was involved in all that. It was rather unfortunate and please accept our sincere apologies” he says with his face changes to being sad.
“Thank you sir” That’s all Simo could say as this is still shocking to him. “Which brings me to the real reason why I called you here Simo,” Morgan says. “I really wanted to discuss the issue of Lee-Ann with you” he says much to Simo’s curiosity who straightens up in order to pay attention to Morgan.
This sounds serious.
“I fear that we have lost our daughter and I’m afraid we may lose even Derby as well if we don’t try and fix all this. I assume you know she moved out and now staying somewhere with her friend, no?” Morgan says with a sad voice. “She hasn’t spoken to us since and on top of that she quit the family business which was doing so well under her, and to be quite honest I don’t think we can blame her for all this” he looks to the ceiling.
“We tried to prevent her from following her heart. All she wanted was to marry you. She loves you and when she felt like she was losing you, she left. Derby, out of support for her sister she has also created distance with us as well. Even though she has stepped in with the business part but here at home it’s like she’s a different person.” He now looks really sad.
After a little pause, seeing that Simo isn’t saying anything he continues, “I guess what I’m trying to say to you is that it was a mistake to stand between your love with Lee-Ann and between hers and yours. We should have just let you be happy. So today I’m saying that yes, I give you my blessing to marry my daughter” to that Simo is lost for words. He wants to say something but he can’t seem to find the words and Morgan can see that. So he tries to reassure him, “Look, before you ask, no I’m not doing this just so that I can have my daughter back, just so that she can forgive us. No. But because this whole ordeal has taught me many things, biggest of them all being that you must never ever stand between two people that love each other. So even if Lee-Ann doesn’t come back home, at least I’d know she is happy, because she is with you” he concludes as he downs whatever was left in his glass.
“Well, sir, I’m so glad to hear you say that” Simo says with a nervous smile. “And I thank you very much for giving us your blessing. And I just wanted to say that, sir I really love your daughter” he says looking at Morgan dead in the eyes. “And my intentions have always been to make her happy and I intend to keep that promise” he says to a Morgan who nods as a man who’s impressed.
“I know you will and that’s all I wanted to hear” he says. “Now young man, let’s drink because I’d love more about your family if you don’t mind” as he pours for both of them. Simo just smiles because he realises that it actually wasn’t as bad as he thought things would go.
So he decides to open up and tells Morgan all about his family background, to which Morgan does the same to Simo. They talk for a couple of hours where there were couple of laughs and couple of sad moments in both their stories. But the conversation is flowing smoothly, the two seem to understand each other very well.
“Well, let me say thank you Simo for coming over. I can’t thank you enough for this and I’m glad we got to talk things over you and I” Morgan says as he walks Simo to the door. “Thank you sir, likewise” Simo says graciously. But as Morgan opens the door for Simo to walk out, there Debra and Derby are standing on the other side of the gate.
Debra didn’t expect to see this. But Derby looks quiet pleased. There’s an awkward silence as everyone is looking at the other person. But Morgan opens gate and Derby goes in first before Simo could get out.
“Hey Simo, it’s good to see you” Derby says as she gives Simo a warm hug. He hugs her back, “hey Derby. It’s good to see you too” he says as they break the hug. Next to follow is Debra who’s looking at Simo in the eyes. There’s obvious tension between the two. No one knows what to say to the other but Debra breaks the ice, “Hi Simo” she says with a half-smile. Simo notices that but ignores it as he says, “Hi Mrs Stain” without hugging or shaking her hand. He walks towards to the door but then turns around, “Thank you once again sir for inviting me” he says much to Derby and Debra’s confusion. He walks out and closes the door behind him leaving them puzzled as they look at Morgan who turns around to go sit at the lounge and continues to drink his whiskey.
***
“Once, again can I just say thank you for coming today” Julie says to a nervously looking Mlu who sits in the chair next to the bed where Julie is sleeping, in the consultation room at the Hospital. Today is the day for the scan. They are now waiting for the doctor to come and attend to them. After the talk he had with Simo the other day Mlu decided to come and be with Julie. It must have played in his head what he said that day.
“When you didn’t come the last time I assumed you didn’t want to be part of this or you just wanted nothing to do with me. So what made you change your mind?” Julie asks with a nervous smile. But Mlu takes a minute to find better words. “Look it’s a long story alright” he says. “But I really want to be part of this journey, be part of this baby. There’s still quite a lot to figure out with all that has happened in the past but first things first, let’s focus on our baby’s health okay?” he says.
When Julie hears that part of our baby she can’t help but smile. She knows best not to push it, but as she attempts to say something, they are interrupted by the doctor who comes to the room.
“Hey Julie” Jessica Seago says as she comes in and closes the door. “I’m sorry for keeping you guys waiting. And this must be the lucky daddy” she says with a smile as she looks at Mlu who blushes. “Oh yes” Julie says smiling back. “Uhmm, Mlu this is Jessica Seago, family doctor. Remember from aunt Debra and Uncle Morgan’s anniversary party?” she asks but Mlu is trying to recall but he just smiles and extends a hand, “It’s nice to meet you” he says.
“So how is your mom, dad and your brother?” Jessica asks as she wears her gloves. “oh they are all fine thank you for asking” she smiles nervously. “And Debra and Morgan?” asks Jessica but that is met with some awkward moment of silence. “I haven’t spoken to them in a while but last time I checked they were okay” she smiles reluctantly.
Now there’s a little awkwardness building in the room and Jessica can sense that so she breaks the ice as she comes to the bed where Julie is sleeping, “Okay so shall we begin?” she says. She rubs a jelly like stuff on Julie’s tummy. She finches as this is cold. The doctor then moves the scan around as both Mlu and Julie watch the monitor anxiously. But then the doctor breaks the rather tense moment, “Well, well, well…what do we have here?” Jessica says much to Mlu’s anxiousness. “What is it, doctor?” he asks. But Jessica, without responding to him she takes a closer look, which only makes Julie more anxious now too, “What is it Jessica?” she asks as her heart begins to race in panic.
“Do you see here and there?” Jessica says as she points to the scan but Mlu doesn’t seem to know what the heck she is talking about. But Jessica continues, “Well, I’ll be damned” she says. “Julie, it looks like you are not going to be the mother of just one but of two. Yes, you are pregnant with twins” she says much to Mlu’s shock who looks at Julie who is just as stunned by that. Mlu, maybe out of shock didn’t even realize that he had taken Julie’s hand. Julie looks at it and smiles. She doesn’t really mind at all.
“Congratulations” Jessica breaks the silence. “I will give you guys a moment okay?” she says as she brushes Julie on the shoulder and then moving out of the room, leaving the two still speechless.
“Am I too late?” Someone interrupt this moment of shock coming through the door. It’s Mlu’s sister, Jabu. Mlu had called her earlier and told her he will be coming with Julie for this. But it is not what Julie expected. Julie looks at Mlu in confusion, which makes him feel a little embarrassed.
“Yes, you are a little late actually” he says looking at Julie who is still looking at him waiting for explanation?” Oh I’m sorry, Julie this is my sister Jabu Mkhonza and sis this is Julie Smart” he says nervously, looking at both women. “I hope you don’t mind; I had asked Jabu to pass by” he says to which Julie smiles “Oh no it’s okay. She’s the aunt anyways, right” she tries to ease the awkward moment with a joke but Jabu doesn’t smile as she extends a hand to greet her.
Another awkward moment passes as no one seems to know what to say at this moment until Jabu breaks the silence, “Hey can you please go to the kiosk and grab something to drink for me, I’m really thirsty” she says as she takes money from her bag and gives it to Mlu, who first looks at Julie with worry and reluctance. He knows his sister just doesn’t approve of all this so he’s worried. But Jabu hurries him out.
Now she is left with Julie alone in the room. Julie has never met Mlu’s sister before even though she knew he had one. Since they weren’t in a formal relationship, there was never really a need to introduce her.
“So, how’s the baby?” Jabu asks Julie as she comes to sit in the chair next to the bed. “Well, I suppose the question is, how are the babies, now that we’ve just found out” Julie says with a nervous smile as she gets up from bed to dress up. This shocks Jabu who didn’t really expect this. She takes a moment to think about it and find words to say but Julie, seeing that she is in shock, she jumps in, “Oh yeah, the doctor just informed to us now. It’s twins” as she rubs her tummy that’s now starting to show. She’s a little nervous about how Jabu will take this.
“Well congratulations” Jabu says without showing any emotion. “Look, can I just be honest with you?” she continues. “I know about you and my brother. I know what you did to him okay?” as her face changes to being upset. “and I’m not going to lie to you and say I’m happy about all this. What you did was unforgivable in my books, accusing a black man of raping a white woman. You knew exactly how this would have reflected badly on him and left a stigma. But I suppose that was the whole idea, right?” she says looking at Julie right in the face. Julie is so embarrassed and doesn’t even know what to say. Words have escaped her.
“But, that’s a topic for another day” Jabu says as she breathes a sigh. “What I want to know is, what are your intentions with my brother Julie?” she asks with a serious face. Julie looks at her with teary eyes. “Uhmm, all I wanted was for Mlu to be part of this journey, if he so chooses. I wasn’t forcing him into anything, I promise” she says.
“Jabu, I know what I did to your brother is unforgivable. I hate myself for it every day. I can never say I’m sorry enough. I was angry and bent on vengeance, at the wrong person albeit. And I’m not saying that’s an excuse. There’s no excuse for what I did”
Now a tear is falling. “But then this happened” as she rubs her tummy. “I swear to you, I didn’t plan it at all. I wasn’t trying to trap him or anything like that. And I’m not asking him that we become an item or something but I just wanted him, if he chose to be part of this baby…these babies' lives. And I know that…” she doesn’t finish as Jabu cuts her off, “Do you love him?” she asks as she stands up to lean on the wall. This question caught Julie of guard as she stutters trying to find the answer.
She is embarrassed as she avoids eye contact. But she’s rescued by Mlu who interrupts them. When he comes in he can sense that the moment was really tense as he can see in Julie’s eyes. They are a little teary. He looks at her sister who looks like she’s guilty of it. “Alright baby brother” Jabu says as she takes her bag. “I've got to run okay? I will check on you later okay?” as she hugs Mlu. “Julie it was nice meeting you. Take good care of my babies in there. I’m sure I will see you around” she says to a nervous Julie who isn’t sure if she has to smile. Jabu goes out the door and leave the two in the room. Mlu knows something happened in here but he ignores it.
“Okay. Are you ready to go?” he asks. “Are you sure you can manage to drive alone? I should have taken the cab coming over here so that I'd…” but Julie cuts him of, “Seriously Mlu? I’m not sick I’m just pregnant okay? So relax about it. But thank you for the thought though” as she smiles.
They get to the parking lot, where their cars actually aren’t parked far from each other. Mlu walks Julie to her car and opens the door for her. But before she could get in, Mlu asks, “Are you okay? I mean, did anything happen in the room while I went out? I mean I know my sister can be a little bit spicy. I apologize for her if she said anything to offend you” he says to which Julie looks really pleased.
“Oh no, I’m fine really” she says. “Your sister didn’t say something I really didn’t expect and she was right. I am not expecting her or you for that matter, to trust me. I messed up big time” she says as she feels embarrassed by it as she gets into the car but Mlu is still holding the door.
“Look, give her some time okay. It’s not been easy for anyone to be honest. So it will take a while. I’m sure it’s hard for your folks to accept this as well, seeing who’s the father” he says as he breaks eye contact. And Julie doesn’t want to entertain this topic. She pulls the door and opens the window. She holds on to the wheel for a second. “Look, thank you for coming today” she says. “It means a lot to me. We will talk later okay?” she says as she drives of. Mlu gets in his car and drives off too.
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