CHAPTER 28
KATHERINE MOLOTSI

“No, Kat. I’m not meeting with Mongezi,”
Naledi says and I heave a sigh. It has been a
couple of days since I met with Mongezi for
breakfast and he told me what happened. I
told him that what he did was wrong and
selfish and that I’m on Naledi’s side on this
one. But because I love them both I’ll try to
get them in the same room and get them to
talk. “He knew exactly what he was doing.
Maswabi didn’t have a gun to his head, he
chose to go behind my back and hustle my
mother. If he can do that Kat, he can do
worse,” Eish, this one is really tough. We have
had a couple of fights and tense moments in
this friendship, but this one is the hardest we
have ever faced.
“Please think about it babe. He is really sorry,”
I don’t want to push her too much, but I also
can’t sit back and watch my best friends fall
out this way.
“I love you, Kat. I’d do anything for you but
this one is out of the question. I don’t want
Mongezi in my life, our friendship is over. He
didn’t betray you, I won’t ask you to cut him
off but respect my decision to cut him out of
my life,” she’s serious, there’s no changing her
mind on this issue.
“I hope you change your mind someday but for
now I’m respecting your decision and I’ll tell
Mongezi,” he’s going to be so heartbroken.
Yes, he fucked up but he never meant to hurt
Naledi.
“Thank you. Now, when are you back from the
in-laws?” she asks and I groan in frustration.
“We are coming back tomorrow after church
and that feels like a life time away,” I say and
she laughs.
“Cooking three times a day and cleaning the
house all by yourself?” she knows my mother
in-law very well.
“I swear she cums by seeing an independent
woman like me being domesticated and
taking orders from her. Can you believe she
made me wash tripe?” Naledi is thrown into a
fit of laughter.
“Sorry babe. Next time you visit take a helper
with you,” she says and I smile.
“I might just consider it. Otherwise, wena how
are things at baby daddy’s?” I ask and she
heaves a sigh.
“I’m 100% percent comfortable now that I
spoke to the girlfriend and reassured her that
nothing is going on between her boo and I,”
she explains and it’s my turn to laugh.
“Home girl has every right to feel some type
of way. I mean those thighs of yours are
salivating; I’d also be jealous if you lived with
my man all day everyday and I wasn’t there.
Plus, you guys have done the nasty, raw even.
I mean, Bassie is proof of that,” my best friend
is a very beautiful woman, big and sexy as
fuck. I don’t think I’ve ever seen a size 40 that
insanely breathtaking.
“Don’t let Karabo hear you say that, you’ll
take us a thousand steps back. We made
progress, we are going to her house in a few
minutes,” that’s nice. Her relationship wasn’t
going to work if she didn’t accept that Bassie
and Naledi are a part of Vhutshilo’s life.
Everyone close to the parents know how
deeply they care for each other. I wish people
who share a child and aren’t together could
have a relationship close to theirs. It benefits
the child more than people think; Princess
Basetsana is proof of this.
A knock comes through the door, “Babe, we
have to go,” my husband says and I look at my
wrist watch. Our appointment with the
pastor is in 30 minutes.
“Friend, I have to go. I’ll call you during the
week to do lunch,” I say hurriedly.
“Okay, love you, bye,”
“Love you too, bye.” I hang up the phone and
quickly get up and grab my shoes, I step into
the high heels and fix my dress. I make sure
to dress up each time I’m here, my chores
outfits are also cute. No one must see me
slacking over here.
I walk out of the bedroom and there’s
laughter in the lounge, they better not be
laughing at my expense. I get to the lounge
and raise an eyebrow at the sight of my
husband hugging Mabatho, his ex. The witch
sees me and tightens the hug, I keep a
straight face. I’m not intimidated by ex
girlfriends, there’s a reason why they are in
the past and I’m his wife.
She doesn’t like me and that’s a waste of time
because I didn’t owe her any loyalty. She’s
directing her anger at the wrong person here,
she should be mad at Thabo. He is the one
who left her here with promises, only to meet
me in Johannesburg and fall head over heels
in love. I can imagine how hurt she must have
been to find out that the person she was
waiting for was happy with another girl. Even
so, I’m not the one who broke her heart. Hell, I
didn’t even know about her until I came here
for Thabo’s graduation party.
“Babe, I’m all done,” my husband quickly
breaks the hug and steps back.
He clears his throat, “You look gorgeous my
love,” he kisses my cheek.
“Thank you,” I say softly.
We have been doing really good since we
agreed on meeting the pastor and sharing our
marital struggles with him.
“Makoti, you remember Mabatho?” I nod
vigorously with a smile on my face.
My mother in-law is a lot of things, but she
has never tried pinning me against my
husband’s ex. Yes, she likes her but she
doesn’t rub it in my face or make me
uncomfortable in her presence.
“Yes, I do ma. How are you ousi?” I ask and she
makes that white people smile.
“All good. What about you? What’s the
occasion?” she asks, looking at me from head
to toe.
“Oh, we have a meeting,” she doesn’t have to
know our business.
“One we are going to be late for if we don’t
leave now,” Thabo says, linking our hands.
“Yes, we better get going,” I add.
“Before you leave, Thabo did you hear that
Mojalefa is bringing his wife home tomorrow?”
Mabatho asks and my husband shakes his
head. “We were all so close, we thought we’d
be the two it couples of our area. Would you
like to go with me to support them?” she asks
and I raise an eyebrow. Is she really asking my
husband out infront of me?
“I wish we could but we are driving back to
Johannesburg tomorrow after church and you
know it’s a long way…”
I quickly interject, “We can show face for an
hour or two babe. They were your friends and
I’m sure they’d appreciate your presence,”
Mabatho’s face falls. She was hoping it would
be just them, o nyele shame!
“Makoti is right, Thabo. A few hours won’t
hurt, it will make them happy,” my mother
in-law backs me up.
“Okay, we will go but do you have anything to
wear mme Molotsi?” he asks, brushing my
knuckles with his thumb. I have a cute dress
in my bag. I always overpack because I want
to be ready for anything.
“I have it babe and no, I won’t upstage the
bride,” he chuckles.
“Good, phela I know you love.”
“So, what time are we leaving Batho?” I ask
and she is trying so hard to keep that fake
smile on her face.
“1pm should be good,”
“We will see you tomorrow then,” my husband
says, “Ma later,” he adds and we leave to go
meet with the pastor.

MASWABI MOLETSANE

The only thing going well in my life is my job,
that’s the only area I have control over
things. My personal life is the total opposite,
everything is just a mess. I don’t know where
Naledi and Basetsana live, I’m not allowed to
call or come near either of them. My daughter
made it clear that one wrong move she will
expose me to the world, and I won’t say she’s
bluffing. I saw the look in her eyes when she
made that threat, she is fed up with me and
one more push from me will make her
explode.
I cannot afford my dirty laundry to be aired in
public, my political career would be tainted
forever. I will be known as a sugar mommy
and all that I’ve worked so hard for won’t be
remembered. That’s how the world works,
unfortunately. People are more interested in
what makes great gossip.
Dzunisani is still staying with me but it’s
obvious that she cannot wait to leave this
house. She has already started interviews to
find her replacement, she said she will choose
three people and call them back for a second
interview so I can ask them questions of my
own and choose the best for myself. There
will never be another best for me, she is it. No
one can ever take her place in this house and
my life.
I hate this whole situation, I don’t want to
lose Dzuni. I have tried talking her out of this
decision, but she says she chooses Basetsana
and Naledi over everyone. She made it clear
that the only way she will stay here with me
is if the girls come back home. She knows
that’s close to impossible, Naledi is very
stubborn, once her mind is made up there’s no
changing it. It would take a miracle to get
them back here.
This house hasn’t been the same without
them, it’s quiet and cold. Sometimes I imagine
hearing Basetsana laughing while watching
her favorite movie. It’s only now that I realize
how complete life was with them here, I wish
I did a lot of things differently with my
daughter. I could have been a straight parent
without alienating my child. I was a complete
monster to Naledi and because of what?
“Maswabi, you have a visitor,” Dzuni says and
I snap out of my train of thoughts.
I look up and there’s a gentleman with her,
he’s wearing a gray suit and tie, why so
formal on a Saturday afternoon? I take the
remote and mute the TV, “Hello, can I help
you?” I ask and he is just starring at me.
I look at Dzuni and her eyebrows are
furrowed. Bathong! Did this man come to my
house to stare at me? I know I don’t have legs
but I am not a freak, this is uncomfortable
and he’s pissing me off.
“Abuti,” I snap my fingers and he finally comes
back to the now. What nonsense.
“I’m sorry, forgive me. It’s just that I cannot
believe that I am finally in front of you,” he
says and I frown.
“Do I know you?” I ask and he quickly shakes
his head.
“No, I didn’t know about you too until
recently,” can he just get to the point already.
“Please sit down, I’ll get you something to
drink,” Dzuni says. She has more manners
than me, I know that.
“Thank you,” the man says to Dzunisani and
she walks out to the kitchen.
“I’m sorry for just showing up here. I couldn’t
stay away, I had to show my face. Even
though I was young and didn’t understand
anything I still want to apologize for how
things turned out on your side; I want to
apologize on their behalf,” I have never been
so confused in my life.
“I don’t understand any of the things you’re
saying. Who are you? Why are you here?” I ask
and Dzuni walks back in with a tray that has
a glass, a bottle of water and a box of juice.
She places everything on the side table and
the mysterious guest thanks her.
“Well, my name is Mohale Moletsane,” he says
and I narrow my eyes. Dzunisani stops in her
tracks and looks back at the man with the
same surname as me.
“Moletsane?” I ask with a shaking voice.
“Yes, I am your elder brother,” Jesus Christ!
A huge dry lump clogs my throat, “My… My
brother? How… What do you mean my
brother?” I ask and he shifts uncomfortably on
the couch.
“Me and you share parents, Maswabi. I
recently learned that they gave you away to a
white pastor, and he left with you and other
orphans when the mission house in our area
got destroyed by protestors back then,” I can’t
believe this.
I accepted that my own parents wanted
nothing to do with me because of my physical
state. Him showing up and talking about
people that gave me away just brings back
feelings I shoved far away. Feelings I don’t
want to deal with.
“Why did you come here?” I ask and he heaves
a sigh.
“Because you’re my sister, Maswabi. You have
lived life alone and I couldn’t stay away when
I knew you existed. I wasn’t going to leave
you out here like our parents did,” he says and
I sniff back my tears. This is all too much.
“Are you a con artist, a scammer? You came
here to try and swindle a minister? I’m not
dumb, you won’t get a cent out of me,” he
nods, he doesn’t seem to have taken offense.
“You’re right to think that way. A lot of
people are chance takers but I’m not one of
them, Maswabi. I have my own money and I’m
open to doing a DNA test at a facility of your
choice, I’ll pay the bill.” he says and I look at
Dzuni, her eyes are widened with shock.