Mending bridges
“So, are you well rested? How was your flight?” Lee-Ann asks Jason as he comes to join her and Melissa for a branch in the lounge. He arrived back home last night. It’s a weekend and they had decided that they’d chill and watch movies. Lee-Ann hasn’t felt like going out since she moved out of Simo’s apartment. Since she quit her job at her father’s business she spends most of her time in the house. She said she just needs a break to figure out what she wants to do with her life.“uhmm I’m still a little bit jet legged but I’m tired of sleeping. It’s already noon” Jason says as he sits down on the table and pours himself juice. “business trip good?” Lee-Ann probes as she sips on her cup of coffee. “Oh yeah, it went very well. Networking was excellent” answers Jason.
“And I hope you didn’t make any woman pregnant over there, did you?” Melissa asks jokingly. “Hahaha no ways man. I was there for work. I was in my hotel room most of the time, that place is super cold. And then I went to see mom and dad after just before I came back”
“Oh, oh how’s mom and dad?” Melissa asks as she sips on her juice. “Did they give you any message for me?” she asks.
“They are okay” Jason says as he butters the bread. “Oh and they said they hope you are not busy getting pregnant over here hahaha” he bursts out laughing to which Melissa and Lee-Ann join. But that moment is interrupted by a phone ringing. It’s Melissa's. “Hello, Melissa speaking” she answers. “Oh I’m sorry guys its work, I’m going to have to take this” she says as she goes upstairs.
“So, how are you?” Jason says looking at Lee-Ann. “Mel told me you will be staying with us for a little bit. Are you okay?” as he pours himself another glass of juice. “You have just come back Jason but you are already tired of me? Wow, hahaha” Lee-Ann jokes and Jason gets it. “No man. I’m actually glad that you are here. Have you ever been out since being here at all?” he asks curiously but Lee- Ann looks to the ceiling as if to think for a second. “Oh no, I haven’t. I actually don’t feel like being out at all” Lee-Ann says as she takes a bite at her meal. “Well that’s about to change hey” Jason says. “You need to go out a little bit. Live and love you know. You can’t be holding on to that guy. If he broke up with you then maybe you should think about moving on”
But this topic makes Lee-Ann a little uncomfortable, “Nah I’m okay hey” she says. “And by the way who said Simo and I broke up? We just needed space from each other a bit but I love him, he loves me back, so” but Jason cuts her of, “Slow down tiger okay” he says. “all I was saying is that during your 'break' from each other, maybe it’s not such a bad thing to go out a bit, you know to reset. So can we go out for a movie later today?” he says much to Lee-Ann’s puzzlement. She really doesn’t know what to say but just before she could answer, a door bell interrupts them.
“I’ll get it” Lee-Ann says as she heads to the door. She opens it and it’s Simo at the door. She freezes for a moment not knowing what to do. She seems to have run out of words to utter.
“Hi Lee” Simo snaps her out of it. “Can I please talk to you for a minute?” he says looking at a shocked Lee-Ann on the other side of the door gate. Lee-Ann opens the gate and leads him to the living room where Jason is, which is something Simo didn’t expect. There’s a bit of awkward moment there. Simo goes over to sit down on the sofa, albeit uncomfortably.
“Oh, you remember Jason, right? Melissa’s brother?” Lee-Ann says to Simo nervously. But before he could answer, Melissa comes from down from upstairs. “Hey Simo, it’s good to see you. It’s been such a very long time hey” she says as she hugs him, much to Jason’s displeasure.
“Yeah, it’s good to see you too Melissa” Simo says as he hugs back. “Well, I hope you guys don’t mind if I attended to some urgent work stuff upstairs hey” Melissa says looking at Jason as if she is trying to say something with her eyes. She goes to the side table and grabs her laptop and looks at Jason again, “It was good to see you again Simo” she smiles as she goes upstairs. Lee-Ann looks at Jason as if to say Don’t you have somewhere to go? There’s awkward silence for a moment.
“Well uhmm, I need to head to the shop to buy something, are you guys going to be okay alone?” Jason says sarcastically but Lee-Ann isn’t amused at all by the silly joke. “Oh so I suppose, Lee, we can do the movie thing some other time then” he says looking at Simo who seems to have figured out what he’s trying to do. Jason walks out of the house leaving Simo and Lee-Ann to have time to talk. They sit down on the couch.
There is that awkwardness as Simo looks around the place and the walls of this house. “Wow, this is a very beautiful home” he says to Lee-Ann who is a little unsure if she must be happy of not about this visit. So she decides to keep a straight face for now, at least until she knows what’s this about.
“So, how have you been?” Simo asks Lee-Ann as he looks at her in the eyes. She is looking right back at him. “Uhmm, I’ve been good, thank you” Lee-Ann says, still not really sure how to react. “I’ve had time to myself to reflect on things. So yeah I’m in a good space you might say” now she lets out a little smile. “How have you been? Are you healing well?” she says, to which Simo takes a moment to think about, but still looking at Lee-Ann. “Yeah, yeah I’m healing well thank you” he says. “Yeah I myself have had time to think and reflect on a lot of things after all that has happened you know” he suddenly breaks the eye contact.
“So yeah I guess I’m okay” he smiles to Lee-Ann who returns it. “So I heard that you went to see my dad” Lee-Ann says with eyes of curiosity. “But anyways I guess that’s not my business. So what brings you here today?” she says curiously. Simo takes a moment to think as he looks away. It’s like he’s desperate to find words. He then looks at Lee-Ann as he takes her hands which surprises her.
“uhmm, I don’t know where to begin with this” Simo says as he sighs deeply. “You and I have been through it, haven’t we? There have been times before where I thought to myself this is it but we have always managed to work it out the best way we know how. But this last time it’s been on another level, we went to the lowest of our point” his voice is changing to be sad. “and I know that it wasn’t your fault at all. You wouldn’t do anything to deliberately hurt me” to this Lee-Ann starts to smile with a tear on her face as she listens to Simo who continues, “But in all the things we have been through, I have always been sure about one thing, one thing at all. That you love me. And on top of that I’ve also been sure about this, that I love you with all my heart. And I would love it if we tried to work it out again Lee” now he hears tears on his eyes.
All the while Lee-Ann is just listening to Simo without saying a word but her are filled with tears of joy. She smiles at him as she wipes her tears. “I love you too Simo, with all my heart and I’d never love another person besides you” Lee-Ann says with an emotional voice. Without a moment’s they were kissing each other passionately, while tears roll from both their cheeks
***
“sweetheart, how are the babies?” Stacey asks Julie who is sitting on the swinging sofa that David bought for her. If she had things her way it would be in her room because she feels being alone keeps her calm and stress free. But unfortunately the sofa is here downstairs where parents are always sitting watching TV, so what else can she really do?
“The babies are okay mom thank you” Julie says without looking at Stacey and she can see that her daughter isn’t interested in talking. She comes and sits in the sofa next to hers. “Baby, uhmm, can we talk for a minute, please?” she says with a low voice and a begging face as Ben switched of the TV. This seems all serious Julie thinks to herself as she looks at David who is just as puzzled at the far sofa. There is moment of silence in the room as the mood changes. “Oh okay. What is it mom?” she asks with some level of curiosity. But Stacey first looks at Ben who is looking at her as if to say you go first darling, this was your idea. Stacey takes Julie’s hands.
“I know that things haven’t easy for you the past couple of months and you have had to make tough decisions about everything, and…” she pauses to think for second, “And we haven’t given you the support that you needed. I’m really sorry about that sweetheart. It’s just that this hasn’t been easy for us you know. How this pregnancy happened…”
But Julie decides to cut her mother of “Why don’t you come out with it already mom?” she says in frustration. “You mean, you weren’t supportive of my pregnancy because the father is black, right? That’s the reason, so why don’t you come out and say it?” as she raises her voice but Ben jumps into the rescue, “Whoa sweetheart, can you please give your mother a chance to explain, alright?” he pleads as he looks at his wife. So Stacey continues, “Yes darling” she says. “Yes we were struggling with that fact. We couldn’t understand how this could happen. I mean you knew how we feel about all of this” her voice starts to shake a little bit as she looks at Ben who comes and sits next to her and takes her hand to show support.
“But we are no longer there now” Stacey says. “You are our daughter and we love you. And these are our grandchildren, we want to be part of their lives sweetheart. And even if that boy doesn’t want to be part of them, don’t you worry about it because…” she doesn’t finish as Julie cuts her off again, “Mom, first of all his name is Mlu and yes he is actually part of these babies' lives. He wants to be part of their lives. He is the father and I can’t just deny him that...” she too is cut off by her father, “But sweetheart why can’t you deny him? You are not even in a relationship with him. What are his intentions with you?” Ben says.
But Julie isn’t liking any of this. “Daddy are you even hearing yourself? Mlu is the father, I can’t just deny him a chance to be part of his children’s lives just because my parents are being racists about it” she is now upset but David, seeing how the situation can escalate he decides to jump in, “Whoa, whoa, whoa guys” he says. “I think, let everyone just calm down a little bit people. Remember this tension is good for the babies. Mom, dad, she can’t just shut Mlu out of his kids' lives. He has every right to do right by them…” Ben cuts him off, “Do right by them?” he raises his voice. “Will he also do right by my daughter that he impregnated? Babies, is that all he cares about? Does he even love my daughter or he just used her and left her just like that?” his voice is only going higher.
But Julie cuts him off, “Dad, Mlu didn’t use me okay?” she says. “I used him. We spoke about this so please stop looking for an excuse to shut him out of his children okay. All I want is…” but she is also cut off by Stacey, “Do you love him?” she asks to what is followed by a deafening silence in the room as everyone looks at Julie to reply. She looks away to avoid eye contact.
“Yes mom, I love him” she says much to her mom’s shock who says, “How do you know that? How do you know that you’re not just feeling obligated to this man since you are pregnant with his children? Not so long ago you were so hell bent on breaking up your cousin with this man’s friend and even used him to make sure that happens, so when did you find out that you love him, huh?” Stacey raises her voice.
At that Julie, trying to avoid more emotions going up, she stands up to leave but David stops her, “Come on sis, please don’t go I beg you. Can we just talk about this okay? I’m begging you” he says as he brushes his sister’s shoulder which seems to calm Julie as she goes back to sit down in the swinging sofa. There’s a moment of silence in the room.
“Look” Julie breaks it. “Yes I was angry, full of vengeance about what happened to you guys” as she looks at her parents. “I thought I was protecting Lee-Ann from a black man who hijacked my parents and shot my dad, only that Simo wasn’t the guy who hijacked you, was he? All I ended up doing was hurting my cousin bad, which ruined her relationship with her parents. Simo ended in hospital but it could have been worse. And then Mlu could have ended up in jail for a crime he didn’t commit and for what? What would all that have solved? Huh? The people who hijacked you are would still be out there and I couldn’t change that” she tries to calm herself down.
“And then when I found out I was pregnant, it changed everything” as she rubs her bump. “I started to see things differently. These babies are a new start for me, a second chance. They have helped me put the past behind me. And yes the pregnancy did invoke feelings for Mlu that I tried to bury when I was still clouded with anger. But they are irrelevant right now. What’s important for me right now is the wellbeing of my babies and I’m not going to let you of all people to cause me stress. How Mlu feels about me is not important right now but all I know is that he wants to be part of my babies’ lives and that’s good enough for me” she concludes.
“Okay darling” Ben jumps in, “We are here for you. I think you have made yourself perfectly clear. And can I just say that I’m proud of you sweetheart” he says with eyes of love, much to Julie’s puzzlement. She didn’t really expect that, but her dad continues, “I promise that we as your family are supporting you 100% and will always be there for you okay? Isn’t that right my love?” as he looks at Stacey who feels caught off guard but she nods as she says, “Of course darling. We will support you on every decision you take okay? If you want Mlu to be part of my grand children’s lives, then we will support you on that my baby. As long as you are happy, that’s all that matters to us” she concludes, much to Julie’s surprise as she lets out a smile.
Her mom goes over to her and gives her a hug. And then goes back to sit down. “Now, darling I need to meet Mlu okay?” Ben says. “Man to man we need to iron out a few things so can you please arrange with him to come over? The sooner the better darling okay?” he says looking at Julie who reluctantly says, “Okay daddy”
***
Over at JB's, Mlu has come to see him and chill. They are seated outside with camp chairs having cold beers. “Hey man, are you alone here today?” Mlu asks as he slips on his beer. “Oh yeah man Thandeka took Nkanyezi out to the park, she’s been crying about it so since Thandeka is free she offered to take her” JB says as he slips on his beer too.
“And, where is Simo today?” as he digs in the cooler box to find another cold one. “Oh when I called him in the morning he was planning to go see Lee-Ann at Melissa’s home” Mlu says as he receives another beer from his friend. “Oh is that so?” JB asks as he takes a sip. “I’m glad he’s trying to fix that situation man. Truth is, things haven’t been the same ever since they took a break from each other. We hardly ever see him; I think because he was missing her” he says looking away but then Mlu looks at him with curiosity. “What? Why are you looking at me like that?” JB asks as he notices that Mlu is staring at him right in the eyes with a bit of a smirk on his face.
“No man. I just think that you got to be honest with me about something” Mlu says to a confused JB who’s wondering what his friend is on about. “Look man,” Mlu continues. “I know we normally joke about this a lot but you used to hate the idea of Simo and Lee-Ann but the past couple of months you are the one always trying to push them back together. In fact, you want that more than they want it, hahaha” he laughs. “Seriously man, are you secretly dating a white chick somewhere that we don’t know about? What’s going on with you? Clearly there’s something or someone who is the
cause of this transformation in you. What it is? Or who is she? Because in that case man…” he doesn’t finish as his friend cuts him off, “Whoa, whoa, whoa. Slow down man” JB says. “What with all the questions? I told you before that I had a lot to think about okay and I realized a few things that gave me new perspective on certain issues” as he takes a sip. “But if you must know,” he takes a deep sigh. “Derby and I went out for drinks one time when I bumped into her at the mall” he says as he blushes, anticipating Mlu’s reaction.
“Hahaha…” Mlu bursts out laughing. “Oh, now it makes perfect sense yeah? You are dating Lee- Ann’s sister hahaha” he laughs again but JB is not amused as he takes a huge sip of his beer, “No man, I told you we bumped into each other at the mall okay and my sister invited her for lunch. After that we went out for drinks. So we are not dating. One time at the hospital me and her had a frank talk and I’m just trying to do things differently that’s all. So I’m trying to be friendly” he says. But Mlu just smiles as he shakes his head thinking about this. “Anyways enough about me” JB says.
“What’s going on with you, baby daddy?” as he shoves him with a bottle. But suddenly that changes a mood for Mlu.
“hey man. Tell me about it hey” Mlu looks down as if he is thinking about it. “I’m still trying to make sense of all this hey. Plus, Julie tells me that her father wants to see me next week” he says much to JB’s surprise. “Why does he wants to see you?” he asks curiously. “I hope he is not calling you over there to give you grief or blame you for his daughter being pregnant” he says as his face changes.
“Yeah man I hope so too man. I’m still as confused with this whole thing as it is. The last thing I need is her dad going racist on me because I’m going to lose it. But I have to hear what he wants to say” he has a worried face. “Don’t worry man. Simo and I are here for you and you have our support, always. If you need anything just say the word and we’ll make it happen okay?” JB says, to which Mlu smiles as he raises his bottle to toast to his friend in appreciation.
****
Thandeka is at the park with JB's daughter, Nkanyezi. It’s a very hot day and the place is very vibey, lots of people have brought their kids to come and play. Thandeka sits under a tree which provides a huge shade. They came prepared with picnic setting as they’d spend the whole day here. As she watches her niece play on the swing with other kids, not far away from her she decides to pull her tablet from her bag to check on social media.
Her moment is interrupted by a ball hitting her leg. But quickly a gentleman comes over to her, “Oh I’m really sorry, did it hurt you in anyway? I hope I didn’t break anything” the man says as he picks the ball up. Thandeka takes of her shades as she looks up to the man. She thinks to herself hmmm, this is some snack. “Oh no, don’t worry about it I’m fine thanks” she says with a smile.
“Yeah that’s the problem with coming to the park alone and think you’d kick the ball to yourself” the man says as he is embarrassed. “Why would you come to the park alone? Don’t you have friends?” Thandeka asks as she thought maybe it’s not a bad idea to engage this guy into a conversation. After all, Nkanyezi is still playing there and she has no one to talk to.
“Yeah my friends are all busy today and I fancied fresh air. Oh and I’m Jason by the way” the guy says as he sits down next to Thandeka while looking at the people. Thandeka looks at him and smiles, “I’m Thandeka” as she extends a hand to shake. “It’s nice to meet you Thandeka,” Jason says returning the hand and smile. They both look at where Nkanyezi is. “So you brought your kid out to play?” he asks as he drinks water from the water bottle he came with. “Oh no, that’s my niece” Thandeka says. “And you? Where is your girlfriend? If your friends were busy and your girlfriend didn’t come with you, you must be a terrible company, hahaha” she bursts out laughing. Jason joins her in the laughter.
“oh no” he says. “no girlfriend. Not really. The one that I have a crush on is in love with someone else and may even marry him” as he shrugs his shoulders. But Thandeka can’t help but giggle to hold laughter. “Ouch. I’m sorry man, I don’t mean to laugh hey. But it happens” she says to which Jason doesn’t respond to. They sit there and talk for a while.
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