Unmasked

The scent of Pasta in cheese is what wakes me up. I slowly open my eyes only to find Thando holding a bowl of Pasta in his hands.

‘Good morning sleeping beauty.’

‘Hey babe.’ I respond yawning.

‘What is the time?’ I ask looking at the blinds which are drawn.

He looks at his watch.

‘2:30.’

‘PM?’

‘AM?’

‘You are lying. You mean I have been sleeping from 3PM yesterday?’

‘I guess what the doctor said about being tired is true.’

I try to lift my body but I feel exhausted so I lay down for a few more seconds before gathering the energy to get up.

‘Babe why didn’t you wake me up?’

‘You looked peaceful, I didn’t want to disturb you.’

‘And so you disturb me at 2 in the morning?’

‘I just got back.’

‘From where?’

‘There was an emergency at the station so I had to go.’

I sigh deeply.

‘What now?’

‘Lona’s lawyer wants to plead insanity so that she is pardoned.’

I breathe out deeply.

‘I was only called because I was on the case and they wanted me to know what’s happening.’

‘Babe I didn’t say anything.’

‘I know you didn’t. but then you are my wife and I was investigating you, anything that has to do with Lona involves you and I will do everything in my powers to make sure that it doesn’t negatively affect you.’

‘Thando you are just doing your job.’

‘You are my wife, the Law ruled out that you didn’t kill Gabriel so what I need to do is protect you and little Zara at whatever cost.’

‘You really think it’s a girl don’t you?’

‘I believe it’s a girl. I can’t wait to have two of you in the house.’ He says with a huge smile.

I open my arms widely. He comes close and I hug him making sure to peck his cheeks.

‘I love you babe.’ He tells me.

‘I love you.’ I respond.

I move so that there is enough room for him to lay next to me.

‘You need to eat before the food gets cold.’

‘For what it’s worth, I hope I have a smooth pregnancy, I don’t want to stop eating my favorite foods.’

‘For my sake I hope you have a smooth one.’

‘Boy oh boy.’ I say after tasting the Pasta.

‘I know.’ He responds grinning.

I eat in silence for a few minutes.

‘Babe I am really sorry about mum.’

He begins.

‘I think sometimes she forgets about boundaries, I made sure to remind her that this is our home. Your home. Your garden and she has no right going in there to start doing whatever she was doing without your permission.’

I don’t know why I end up feeling bad. Maybe I shouldn’t have come straight to bed, maybe I should have just joined her in the garden.

‘Hey.’ He says lifting my head by the chin. I look into his eyes.

‘Boundaries are good, they not only help you but the people around you too and you shouldn’t be feeling bad for having them. She is my mother but you are my wife, my family and you come first.’

My eyes well, I don’t deserve this man and all that he does for me.

‘I don’t want you to cry.’

‘I cant help it when you say such things.’

‘Are you sure it’s not the pregnancy hormones?’

‘Really Thando? You want to ruin this perfect moment?’

He laughs and kisses my lips lightly.

‘Finish your food, we have a movie to watch.’

‘Babe at 2 in the morning?’

‘Well you have rested enough and I rented the movie for us.’

‘You need to sleep.’

‘I will sleep later.’

‘You need to stop making all these sacrifices for me. You need to do things for yourself too.’

‘I will be failing as a man and your husband if I put my needs before yours. As your head it is my duty to make sure that you are okay.’

‘You can not pour from an empty cup babe.’

‘My cup runneth over. You are my good thing.’

That makes the tears run down my cheeks, this is way too much for me to handle.

‘You are such a cry baby Zara.’ He says pulling me in

‘You are doing this to me, I have never been like this. You keep saying all these nice things.’

‘Well I mean them. And Zac made me promise to take care of you or he would cut off my balls.’

‘Trust my brother to say such things.’

‘He is protective of you, it’s a good thing.’

‘Yeah. He is all I ever had you know.’

‘I know. It’s a good thing that I am here now, and little Zara is on the way too.’

A message comes through his phone and he picks it up. I know it’s work because they always reach out to him at awkward times.

‘The judge has dismissed the claims of insanity.’

I breathe out deeply. At least we don’t have to start going back and forth.

…

Kwenje’s Girl

Winnie

🙇🏾‍♀️