Anniversary, Love Ignited

CHAPTER ONE

“You are not coming, are you?” Dimpho asked in a resigned sigh.
“I am sorry but we are very busy here today and I can’t just leave,” answered Themba. “I will make it up to you baby, I promise.”
Dimpho didn’t remember the rest of the conversation they had after that, Themba made promises he couldn’t keep lately. His job has taken presidency to everything else, including his family.
“Can I bring you anything else ma’am?” A young waiter who was serving her earlier, appeared distracting her from thoughts.  “We have some lovely seafood platter on special today, two per sharing,”

“No, thank you,” Dimpho said pushing away half-finished mocha. “I think I will just have the bill and go, the person I was waiting for isn’t coming.”
The waiter nodded and left to do her bidding. She watched absently, the light afternoon traffic outside the window of a new café in Wandell, Zanies Café in Witbank. It was placed at the right place on the main road leading right to the freeway. It was afternoon but it was brimming with plenty of customers. Dimpho didn’t know so many people where coffee lovers as she was. She should probably go back to the house. It was clear that there was no anniversary lunch or dinner happening.

She checked for her purse that she slung on the side of her chair but didn’t make any movement to stand up, once she located her salmon pink, purse with its golden chain. It matched her dress and pointy heels. It was still early. Both her daughters were secure under the care of her housekeeper. At least that part was taken care of including; her nails and hair, although that didn’t erase her disappointment that Themba didn’t show up for their anniversary.  What was going on with him lately?

 “Dimpho Sedibe?” She was startled and looked up to be greeted by a familiar face and matching matured, cultured voice. It brought some delightful memories to Dimpho that with a great smile, she stood up. “Still as beautiful as I remember,”
“Sizweni Khoza?” She said and she was enveloped in a hug. A citrusy male cologne, permitted the air around her that she stepped back. “Still a flirt I see,”
“Let me look at you properly,” Sizweni said staring down at her in her body-hugging dress and heels. “Gorgeous as ever.”
Dimpho fought the blush with a grin. Sizweni has always been a flirt and always knew what to say to turn a woman’s head.
“Please stop,” she said laughing. “I haven’t changed that much.”
Its been eight years since they parted ways and not in favourable terms, her smile dimmed a bit she remembered that. But it was all history now, water under the bridge. They were both older now – married with kids not two young teenagers, who vowed they will be parted by death. How they used to dream Dimpho thought with nostalgia.  

“Oh sit down, are you here alone?” She looked around to see if his gorgeous wife was behind him but she saw no one. “Where is Marona?”
“At work,” Sizweni said conversationally, pulling a chair for her and sitting opposite her. “She is shooting for some local television nearby.”
It delighted Dimpho that as much as Sizweni had changed in terms of body and clothing, he was still the same type of guy she knew all those years ago, sweet and charming. He was now trim fit to the skinny guy she knew who wore baggy pants, sneakers and t-shirts. Now, he wore a lovely tan blazer, slim pants, trainers –  casual smart. And Dimpho realised that probably Marona had much influence to what he wore, beautiful and talented Marona. The girl who stole Sizweni’s heart in high school.

She never cared one way or another how Sizweni dressed himself it was his style, although the new getup suited him, the sneakers was the touch of old Sizweni.
“How is the hubby and the kids?” He asked once the waiter had taken his order and Dimpho asked for glass of water. “Heard he is some mining hotshot?”
Dimpho looked at him wondering if there was some envy in his voice when she spoke of Themba but he simply sounded curious. And she wondered at the pang in her stomach, but ignored that feeling – it was ridiculous.
“Everyone is fine,” Dimpho expressed smiling as she went on. “The kids are keeping me busy most of the time. The youngest Thembelihle is the young version of me as a child, quite naughty.”

“A young version of yourself?” Sizweni asked laughing. “That I will like to see, you were always getting us in trouble. . .”
“Don’t remind me, I was horrid in those days. Thank God, I had you to save me Robin.” Dimpho smiled remembering those days.
They used to think they were both invisible as Batwoman and Robin. Her, Batwoman and Sizweni, Robin. He hated being Robin but accepted because she didn’t want to be anything else, until they became teenagers and things changed.
“I hope she has her Robin to help her as well,” Sizweni said staring at her for the first time with seriousness. “Is everything okay, Batwoman?”

Dimpho laughed aloud that some of the people in the café stared at them, her laughter a little hallow. “I am not that person anymore, Zweni.” She only used that nickname only occasionally and it always managed to get the message across.
Sizweni nodded and Dimpho was glad the waiter came back because she could see there were more questions in his eyes, questions she wasn’t ready to answer or talk about. He knew her so well or at least he used to. She had changed a lot from the girl next door that Sizweni grew up with. She took her commitments seriously being a wife and mother. It took her long but she could say she finally got it right, her work as a social worker and children got her through it if nothing else.

“Let’s toast to meeting again after such a long time,” she said picking up her glass to lighten up the mood. “it is really good to see you.”
“Yeah, eight years it is a long time.” Sizweni said clinking his glass of beer to hers. “To us meeting again,”
“I never got to ask you though,” Dimpho said after a moment of silent. Some lights in the restaurant were turned on, in the approaching of sunset.  “Why did you just leave without saying goodbye?”

Sizweni took a quiet sip from his glass, looking to take his time before he answered. “I left to study Di you know that, you know Witbank has nothing much to offer in terms of varsities.”
“Was that the only reason?” Dimpho found herself asking because she had always had questions about the night they parted and the next morning, she heard that Sizweni had left town. It broke her heart that he didn’t have the guts to come to her house and tell her or at least to have told her that night, he was living for Johannesburg.
“Di, what do you want me to say?” Sizweni looked at her, his attractive eyebrows farrowed. “You knew about Marona,”
“And you knew about Calvin but. . .” Dimpho groaned, sighing and looking away from him. She thought she had let go of the past and closed the chapter but it seemed like meeting Sizweni was waking up things in her, she would have gladly buried and never let out in the light of day.
“Listen Di, it doesn’t matter it is all in the past, can we please let it go?” Sizweni expressed in a low voice.
Dimpho picked up her glass of water, nodding. He was right there was no use talking of the past, her cellphone started ringing. She was never too glad to see that it was Themba which if it was half an hour ago, she could have been annoyed especially after dropping her at the last minute on the day of their anniversary.

“Hi,” she answered after a few rings that Sizweni hailed the waiter for the bill. “Not yet but I am heading there now,”
Sizweni left the table to give her some privacy and to pay the bill then returned to the table.
Dimpho stood up, taking her purse from the table. “I have to head home now,”
“I have to be getting back as well,” Sizweni said slowly rocking on his heels, his hands around the back of the chair. “I will escort you out.”
“Its fine it was nice seeing you again, I have to go catch a taxi.” Dimpho said sounding embarrassed. She left her car at home believing that Themba will be there as he promised.
“Don’t be silly, I will give you a lift.” Sizweni said at leading her to a silver Range Rover parked along the road. “It is already getting dark,”

“It isn’t necessary,” Dimpho protested as he opened the door for her. “My house isn’t that far from here anyway.”
“I don’t remember Batman complaining being in my company this long in the past,” Sizweni joked easing the door wider. “humour me please,”
Dimpho shook her head but said nothing else as she hefted herself inside.  

CHAPTER TWO

“It was your anniversary today, wasn’t it?” Sizweni asked as he negotiated the Friday, late afternoon traffic. “Why wasn’t he there?”
“Oh, are we now talking personal matters now? Because I thought we weren’t supposed to talk about anything personal,” Dimpho said folding her arms on her chest. “I asked you a question earlier and you didn’t answer, once you answer that one I will answer yours.”
Sizweni’s lips tightened and so were the knuckles on the starring wheel. “Never mind.”
“Don’t never mind me Zweni, answer that question! What happened to you that night?”
“Di, you had a boyfriend remember,” Sizweni said defensively. “someone you supposing loved?”

“Don’t throw that in my face Zweni,” Dimpho’s shouted in anger not being able to maintain her composure anymore. “you knew I was using Calvin to make you jealous, and apparently you were lying about Marona as you are now married to her – and you used me.”
“I didn’t use you and you knew I was dating Marona all along,” Sizweni sighed as he sped through the freeway towards her suburban home. “Which one left or right?”
“Right. You can drop me off just about the ramp,” Dimpho said hoarsely, trying to contain her voice from shouting at him. “You took my virginity and ran Sizweni, like a coward you ran.”
Sizweni took the left turn.

“I said right, what are you doing?” Dimpho said in a panic. “You taking the wrong direction,”
Sizweni kept on driving on the opposite direction towards the township they both grew up in. He drove to a new a park there that Dimpho didn’t know, but she hasn’t been around that neighbourhood in a long time, so it could have been there for some time. It was newly equipped with children’s swings and outside gym equipment.
As soon as the engine stopped running, Sizweni opened the door and got out. Dimpho alighted as well, thankful that it was getting really dark, she didn’t feel like meeting more familiar faces all in one day. The street lamps were on and a few kids were still playing around on the swings a distance away. It could have been her and Sizweni then pushing each other on the swings or running around, chasing each other.

“Sizweni, what is this about?” Dimpho asked checking her wrist watch, it was almost six which meant Themba if he hasn’t arrived was on his way home. “Can’t we do this some other time, I need to get home.”
He looked at her from the far distance that he had stumped to in his anger. It occurred to Dimpho that the old Sizweni was still there in more ways than one, looking at how impulsive he was doing things without thinking, when he always said she was the impulsive one.

“Hey Mighty Macho Man, get back here and take me home right this minute or I will start walking,” she threatened getting nervous as it was getting really dark, the sky was turning indigo.
Themba had a temper and he was stubborn, he will start putting three and five together, coming up with eleven and she didn’t want them to fight on their wedding anniversary.
Sizweni walked back slowly towards her after gazing at her for some time, a few feet away. His eyes were hooded and he rocked back and forth on his feet as he reached her. As if he was debating a question in his mind. He then reached out and touched her face, startling her that Dimpho felt breathe whoosh out of her lungs. She tried to take a step back but found the car behind her.

“You were trying to make me jealous and it worked,” Sizweni said softly. “what happened that night was close to heaven as I have ever felt in my entire life, it spooked me – you spooked me.”
Dimpho felt her limps tremble at his confession. She shook her head, trying to get the fog out of her brain because she couldn’t believe what she was hearing.
“Zweni, don’t go there,” she whispered it almost felt like she was back there, looking deeply in his warm eyes. “Didn’t you say that was the past?”
He looked at her then shook his head with confusion, taking a step back. He didn’t take his eyes from her. “You wanted to hear the truth.”
“Yes, but you also hurt me,” Dimpho stammered. “I didn’t think you of all people you will turn away from me, especially after I told you how I felt and doing what we did.”
“We were both young then Di,” Sizweni expressed softly. “and I am really sorry for leaving as I did.”

Dimpho didn’t say anything absorbing the words silently as some of the pain from the past was lifted from her heart. It felt like her heart has been cemented down on her chest since then, that she did everything in her power to get over it – including marrying the next best thing. She wanted Sizweni to know that she was no loser and that his abandonment after her first love making experience, didn’t break her. Although, her heart has been bleeding for a long time especially with the secret that she kept from him.
Sizweni walked towards the passenger’s side, opened the car door for her. “Come on, let me take you home, no use angering your husband who hasn’t even showed up for your anniversary.”

“What do you know about it? You are married to your high school sweetheart,” Dimpho said jumping back in the car. “Just drive me home and leave me alone.”
Sizweni didn’t start the car immediately after he jumped in the driver’s seat and closed the door. “Did I?” He whispered before he started the car.
Dimpho pushed at the start button to switch the engine off before he could gear the car into reverse from the park paving. “What did you say?” She felt blood pound hard in her head and his whispered words, poking him on the chest. “Tell me,”
He took hold of her hand and pulled it back from his chest. “Stop it! Your husband is waiting remember?”

“Sizweni, what is going on with you, where is Marona?” Dimpho asked warily. “Is everything alright in your marriage and why I haven’t heard your phone ring even once?”
“Like I told you she is working,” Sizweni said trying to start the car again but Dimpho opened the door and jumped out. “Damned Di, I thought you wanted to go home?”
“Not until you tell me the truth,” Dimpho shivered as the night air reminded her that she left home without any jacket, thinking she was going somewhere warm. It was early spring so the winter chill hasn’t left the air. It was supposed to be a night were she was supposed to be sharing dinner with her husband or at least putting some flame slowly back into their marriage.

“Marona is well and fine Di, she just works well too damn hard,” Sizweni complained leaning against the bonnet of the car. “Every project the station gives her is her baby project – more of her child than our own child.”
“So you are frustrated?” Dimpho asked leaning on the bonnet as well, close to him. “I am sure she loves you though,” She understood completely what he was going through.

“Does she though? She has always put her career before us and our child,” Sizweni said with an aspirated sigh. “sometimes, it almost feels like I am the only person who is fighting too damn hard for this marriage to work.”
Dimpho said nothing but their problems were so similar that it was eerie knowing who Sizweni was and what he used to mean to her. She never really liked Marona. She has always thought she was too uppity for her own good because she grew up on the other side of the freeway.

“She will come around eventually,”
“Will she?” He questioned looking at her and she swallowed at the frustrated look in his eyes. “I am starting to suspect –  but well never mind.”
“Oh come on, Marona loves you.” Dimpho said with a catch in her voice doubt in her voice, the same thought entered her mind about Themba especially lately.
“Do you think your husband loves you?” he turned the question around towards her, that Dimpho looked away from his well too-seeing eyes. “Or is he also too busy for you?”
“Don’t make this about me, we are talking about your wife not my husband.”
“We are also talking about your husband,” Sizweni turned fully to face her making her take a step back nervously to the side of the car. “Do you love him?”

“That is a stupid question, of course I do.”
“Are you sure?” Sizweni asked softly, very softly. He moved closer, his finger touching her naked shoulder that she shivered. “You are cold. Let’s go back inside the car, so I can take you home.”
Dimpho found herself battling confusion once again as she returned to the car. She remembered how it always felt being around Sizweni, like a live wire full of electric heat ready to charge and electrocute.  
Before he could start the car, he turned from his seat as if he wanted to say something but before Dimpho can do anything, he covered her face with his hands and pulled her face towards him and kissed her. The kiss startled her that she responded in shock. It was long and deep that when they came apart, they were both struggling to breathe.

He started the car without another word and drove away from the park, towards the main road back to the freeway. Driving like a demon rushing to get rid of her possibly, after he messed with her mind the whole afternoon. She felt used again and that was how it always felt with Sizweni and only to be dumped and left behind.

CHAPTER THREE

“Stop the car,” Dimpho demanded when they passed the lined trees and were about to reach the freeway. “I think I am about to be sick,”
He looked at her with concern then eased of on the shoulder of the road without a word and she alighted and stepped out. She walked a little away from the car, ignoring the biting chill and stopped after gulping a few deep breaths to calm herself.
She tried to distract her mind by watching the freeway traffic at a distance. She stood there for a long time not moving, caught in her own thoughts, until she heard the grinding of shoes on the sand on the side of the road and tone of ringing phone. It was Sizweni carrying her purse.

“Here your phone is ringing in there,” he said a little apologetically and also handing her his jacket. “Put this on, its cold out here.”
Dimpho wondered what his motives were this time but stopped thinking of that while, she searched for her phone. But it stopped ringing and she looked up her caller ID and realised that she had missed a couple of calls from Themba.
“Your husband?” Sizweni asked rotating his shoulders blades to ward of the cold, hands in his pockets. “I will wait in the car.”
Dimpho didn’t answer she just let him walk away and she dialled Themba’s number.

“Where are you?” Themba answered after a few rings, aspirated. “I thought you will be here, I had a surprise for you only you are not here,”
“I left the car, so I had to find other alternatives of transportation.” Dimpho stated feeling a little guilty, she must be the worst wife in the world to be with another man on her wedding anniversary.
“Who is bringing you home?” He asked getting to the root of the matter. “Because I could come and fetch you wherever you are,”
Was it her imagination or was he playing nice? Dimpho thought. She imagined that he will be angry when he got home and found that she hadn’t arrived yet.

“Uh, don’t worry I met an old friend, he will drop me off there just now.” She said not volunteering any more information. Although, what Themba will think or was thinking wasn’t the issue on her mind at that time after the phone call, but having to go back in the car.

She slowly made her way back to the car, wishing it wasn’t night, perhaps she would have been able to walk the rest of the way. Her house was the first into the suburban area of Westview – which grew extensively through the years with town houses to accommodate more people, but the moneyed retained the big houses. And it suddenly dawned on her that Sizweni might be living around there as well, since his wife was from there anyways.

“Ready to head home?” he asked after she secured the seatbelt around her.
“I have been ready to go home since we left town,” Dimpho said quietly. “Where are you staying?”
“Why, you think of coming over for a visit?” Sizweni asked with humour and saw no smile on her face as he started the car and eased back into the road. “Oh come on Di, I can’t even make jokes around you anymore, has marriage turned you into a sour puss?”
“Did marriage make you an arsehole?” Dimpho poked unnecessarily then shook her head, took a deep breath. “I am sorry,”
“Why? I don’t know but I can’t say I am the same person,” he said quietly. “six years, feels like a long time.”

Dimpho just looked straight ahead and said nothing, her thoughts mixed up as he drove towards her house. It was her fifth year anniversary; she was being driven home by her ex-friend/one nightstand instead of being somewhere beautiful celebrating it with her husband.
“Turn here and drop me by the corner,” they had reached the first line of houses, shielded by hedges but all distant apart, all big and impressive. “My house is the one by the corner but don’t drop me there, right here is fine even.”
But he kept on driving from the stop sign, passing three of the first houses towards the one by the corner that Dimpho panicked. “What the hell are you doing?”

“Dropping you off at home,” Sizweni stated firmly. “you said I should drop you off at home, that is what I am doing. And the road is a cul-de-sac, no turning until the end.”
“This is really fucked up Sizweni,” Dimpho complained before he stopped the car after turning. “you will not like it if I did this to you,”
“Did what?”
“Tried to destroy your marriage,” Dimpho whispered in a deadly tone. “I hate you for this,”
Sizweni looked like he wanted to say something but held himself back, they both turned when the main gate opened and a black slick Mercedes pulled out but only to stop near their car. A medium height man alighted in chinos and walked towards the car and before he can reach the car, Dimpho opened the passenger’s side door and stepped out.

CHAPTER FOUR

 “Thanks for the lift Sizweni, I don’t know what I could have done without your help,” Dimpho said staring at him, asking him with her eyes to hurry and leave, turning towards her husband. “Hi, baby.”
Themba strode towards the car after Dimpho brushed her lips against his before Sizweni can make any move to drive away. Dimpho held her breath wondering what was happening.
“Thanks for bringing my wife home,” Themba said to Sizweni who wind the window down, when he approached. “You name is Sizweni, do we perhaps know each other?”
“Perhaps,” Sizweni answered swiftly. “I am married to television producer and recently bought the small café in town,”

Dimpho found herself surprised by that small piece of information.
“Right, thanks again for bringing my wife home.” Themba said again bringing Dimpho into the circle of his arms and kissing her hard on the lips. She found herself surprised by his little odd behaviour of display of affection. “Did she tell you, it’s our wedding anniversary today?”
Sizweni’s eyes never left Themba’s, as his held his firmly without moving while he still held Dimpho tightly in his arms. Something was happening and she didn’t know what it was, but the tension in the air made her shiver with fear in her husband’s arms. She wondered if Themba knew who Sizweni was. She looked up at him and his face was inscrutable.

“Yes, I know, she told me.” Sizweni said slowly after a long tense silence. “Congratulations!”
“Thanks again,” Themba said stepping back from the car with her. “Please drive safe.”
Sizweni stared at Dimpho for a few minutes then back at Themba, before he nodded and started the car. “Thanks.”
“Come, get in the car we are leaving,” Themba instructed moving towards his car. “I have so much to make up for.”
Dimpho stared at him in confusion standing in the middle of the road.
“D,” Themba called at her that she slowly walked towards the car. “what’s wrong?”
She reached the car and got in, Themba also did the same. But instead of starting the car, he turned on the inner light, so he could see her face. Something about his demeanour had changed, he looked tired but his eyes glimmered with determination.

“Themba what is going on here?” Dimpho asked her voice husky, his behaviour was concerning. He was never the territorial type, since she had known him and she never needed him to be because she never caused him to doubt or think anything like that to cast any doubt.
Unlike now, does it show? She wondered if could sense that there was something different about her since meeting Sizweni.

“Did you get the answers you needed?” Themba asked his eyes not moving away from hers. “Did Sizweni answer all your unanswered, past questions?”
Dimpho felt immediately like she was hit with a slash hammer, she felt almost paralysed at the question that sipped all the air out of her lungs.
“I don’t understand,” she croaked then coughed a little to clear her voice. “What are you talking about?”
“Don’t act daft Di that is the petname he used to call you, isn’t it?” Themba moved back against the seat, switched off the light and then started the car. “he is your childhood bestfriend, this is a small town D,”

“Are you having me followed?” Dimpho asked floored, wondering how he knew of Sizweni that her head was spinning. Themba drove them towards the freeway. “Themba?”
“No,” he said quietly his hard male, hands grasping the starring wheel hard. “I have always known D, I was able to read you like a book the first time we met, and maybe because I have always loved you as long as you have loved Sizweni.”
“I am lost,” Dimpho was totally thrown now, she opened the window. “what are you saying to me?”
“Dimpho, Marona is my cousin. The night you were introduced to her, I was there but you didn’t notice me. You were so in love with Sizweni then maybe even now and you were not able to see anyone else, but I waited patiently because Sizweni although he loved you, he was stupid back then that is why he let you go.”

Dimpho didn’t care where they going anymore because it felt like everything she knew about her marriage and anything else was a lie, as her husband drove them silently into the night after delivering his heavy bomb on her shoulder. He could be taking her to the borders of Mozambique to murder her, throw her in the crocodile gorge or feed her to the lions at Kruger seeing the sign but she didn’t care enough at this point, her marriage and life in shambles.

She didn’t say a word until they reached their destination which was some nature reserve lounge in Kruger National Park, top billing nothing ghetto for Themba as always and now she understood why. After all he grew up in money, although he also worked too damned hard to look after them.

After being shown their chalet, big and impressive decorated in theme of lover; flower petals on the bed, the floor and the works… Chocolates and strawberries in a love decorated container of the centre bed. Champagne chilling in ice bucket on side table.
Themba brought in two of their night bags, he placed them near the wall wardrobe. Found space on the bottom of the bed, sat down and watched her.
Dimpho didn’t know what to do with herself, she felt the whole thing was a mockery with the recent events, as it felt like she was looking at a new Themba not the person she married.
There was some little resemblance between him and Marona now, his light skin and the shape of his nose. He was more handsome man than Sizweni, a bit short and muscular.
Dimpho never really cared, she just loved that he was there or came to her when she needed someone. It was a very bad time in her life after Sizweni left, and he seemed to sympathise and to be understanding, now she knew why.

“Did you date me because of Marona?” She wondered now remembering their conversation. “I mean maybe as some sort of revenge for your cousin,”
“No, didn’t you hear what I said?” he stood up, came towards her. “I love you Dimpho, from the first time I laid my eyes on you, I knew I wanted you for my wife. I guess I never thought after Sizweni hurt you as much as he did, you will still love him but I see it every day.”
“How do you mean?” Dimpho asked again in confusion. “I love you,”
“Yes you do but not the way you love him or loved him,” Themba said again, taking her to the bed to sit her down. “I know Thando is his child because you look at her with this wistful look that you never gave our last born, Lihle.”

Dimpho was glad she was sitting down as yet again, she was confronted with another secret she kept from Themba, all these years was revealed. She felt guilty that her eyes smattered with tears of shame.
“I am sorry,” she said feeling remorse and pained. “I didn’t know.”

Themba nodded but moved away to give her some space while he went to pour them drinks, he opened the champagne, the pop sounded flat as Dimpho felt listless but said strongly. “I love you Themba, I really do.”
Themba handed her, her drink and sat away from her on a chair, while he sipped his drink quietly.

“What happened in the past doesn’t matter anymore D, what matters now is what happens now. . .” Themba said with his eyes on the rim of his glass then he raised them with sadness. “What happens now it is up to both of us, if we want this marriage to work, we have to be open and honest.”
Dimpho nodded drowning her glass and walking towards her husband and kneeling in front of him, taking his hands in hers.
“I want to make our marriage work, what happened between Sizweni and I is all in the past,” She said looking deeply in his eyes. “I am committed to you Themba and I don’t want anything to come between that.”

Themba stared into her eyes trying draw the truth from them, they were unwavering that he nodded.
“We will take it one step at the time,” he said softly curving her cheekbones with his hands. “as long as you are sure?”
She nodded closing her eyes for him to kiss her and she kissed him back, finally feeling free to kiss him and return his kisses without any form of resistance, as for a long time Dimpho always felt like there was a part of hers that was holding back for Sizweni. But after meeting him that day and their rollercoaster drive around their old neighbourhood, their conversation, she was sure now of herself. And she was glad that Themba was willing to give their marriage a second chance. They will decide later, when their child was old enough whether to tell her the truth about her birth or simply let things be. . .

The end