“Hello Mrs Mohale”, I hear Khotso say as I dress up and get ready for the day.
“Hey you”, I say to him.
He kisses me.
I kiss him back.
“You look nice. Where are you going?” He says to me.
I’m honestly just wearing jeans and a t-shirt. Nothing special.
“I have to face my father, my love. Kea hhaye to talk to my parents.” I say.
His face drops.
He sits on the edge of the bed and looks at me. We are still at Shaka’s and Fifi’s house.
“I’ll be okay, baby. I promise. Is there something you needed me for today?” Me.
“Nah. We are just meeting up with lawyers today. I would’ve wanted to go to your parents with you.” He says.
“I’ll be fine, Khotso. I’m worried about you, though. Are you going to go to jail? We just got married.” I say.
He smiles at me.
“And you know, I just started having sex. What am I supposed to do with myself should you leave?” I say.
He bursts into laughter.
I wear my sandals then sit next to him.
“So, what’s going to happen?” I ask him.
“Regodise… ai, she really really made sure that we don’t forget about her. Those people are sitting with evidence that could put us away for life. The police officers on the inside that we’ve been working with have been arrested. We don’t know if they’ll sing. They are all in isolation at a maximum prison with no rights to an attorney. It’s bad, Remo.” He tells me.
“What can I do?” I ask him.
He takes a deep breathe then says, “Promise me that you’ll look after my children. You’ll be both a mother and father to them. Thabi is present, but she’s not exactly a parent. And if we go away, she will grow even bigger to want to take over the country. She won’t have time for the kids. I need you to put them first.”
“Khotso, you are not going away. We will find another way and we will use it. I’m not ready to lose you.” I say.
“Baby, we have to be ready for anything.” He says.
“What if the evidence disappeared?” I suggest.
“It would have if we still had our people on the inside.” He says.
“Do you know who is prosecuting the case?” I ask him.
“Some guy… Reggie Lamola.”
I laugh.
“You know him?” He asks me.
“I do. He and I dated. And he broke up with me because I wouldn’t sleep with him. But my dad loved him because they both shared the same love and passion for the law. Actually, now that I think about it, Reggie was more my father’s boyfriend than he was mine.”
Khotso laughs.
“Maybe I can get the evidence for you guys?” I suggest.
“Remoletile Mohale? You?”
“I’m a princess first before I’m the daughter of Judge Sedibe, right?”
“You don’t have to do this, baby.”
“If you can find another way to stay out of prison, then fine. I’ll leave Reggie alone. But if you can’t, I have to get to Reggie and make this go away.”

We are at breakfast now. Everyone is extremely tense. The lawyer is here too.
“I can steal the evidence”, I announce.
Everyone stares at me as if I’m high.
“Reggie Lamola is an ex of mine. I know his weak spots. I know how to get the evidence.”
“You are not going to sleep with him for it, are you?” Ona says.
Khotso suddenly gets upset and says, “ey!”
“Focus!” Thabi aggressively says to them.
“What’s the plan?” Thabi asks me.
“Well, I don’t know. I haven’t thought about it.” I say.
“What are his weak spots? Professionally that is. I don’t care for the bedroom stuff.” Thabi says.
“Hai man!” Khotso.
“Khotso, you can kill him another day. But today, we are focused on ensuring that you don’t go to prison. We have to go all the way.” Thabi aggressively says. Does she have to be so rude?
“Remo, focus. Talk to us. What do you remember about the way he worked on cases?” The attorney, of all people, says to me.
“He didn’t trust the police. He says that the police always have a way of losing evidence. So, he would keep evidence of his cases in his house.”
“His house?”
“Yeah. He has a room and a safe that no one knows about. I found it because I once followed him in there without him even knowing about it. But, he also goes to my dad for everything. When he’s working on complex cases, my dad is his soundboard.” I say.
“Even now?” Khotso.
“Khotso! Be a jealous son-in-law another day.” Thabi.
“Can you draw the room on a map and tell us where to look should we break in?” Shaka.
“I have a key. He gave it to me when we were together. But yes, I can tell you where to go. I also know how to unlock the room itself and the safe.” I say.
“This man really loved you to not have been this aware of you”, Shaka says.
“Precisely why I have a problem with all of this”, Khotso.
“KHOTSO!” Everyone at the table now snaps.
Silence.
“I have a plan.” Letlali says.
We all look at her.
“Give me the keys and I make copies of it. Then, you go to him and return the key – just so you are not implicated at all should he find out that someone was in his house.” She says.
“Then, when you return the key, be distraught. Tell him you had no idea who Khotso was. Be a damsel in distress and let him take care of you.” Thabi.
“That’s it! Fok! You are not doing this!” Khotso.
“Ona! Take your brother for a walk”, Shaka says.
Ona giggles then says, “let’s go”.
“You don’t have to do this”, Khotso says to me much to Thabi’s annoyance, but Mme-mofomahadi smiles.
“I know. But remember what I told you this morning.” I say.
“Promise me that you won’t sleep with that man.” He says.
“I would never! And you know why.” Me.
“No kissing”, he says.
“This has to be believable”, Thabi.
“No kissing, Remoletile.”
“Cross my heart.” I say.
He kisses me then takes a walk with Ona.

“Why don’t you go to him, return his key and need a shoulder to cry on. Then ask him to go with you to your dad to apologise for what has happened, explaining that he isn’t the man you thought he was. When you leave with him to go home, you stall him. That way, Letlali and Teboho get into the house. They get to where they need to be and take what needs to be taken.” Fifi says.
“My dad? Please don’t involve my parents in this.”
“REMO –
“No, Thabi. No! My father has nothing to do with this. Hai! What the hell!”
Thabi and I stare at each other.
“Nothing is going to happen to your dad. We will replace the evidence in there with other stuff. Just so we throw him off and when he realizes it, he will think he just took the wrong things from the police station. He won’t suspect a break-in or let alone that you had anything to do with it”, Shaka says.
I breathe heavily.
“He has cameras around his house. He is a bit paranoid.” I say.
“I’ll give you something to put there that will jam the signal. He won’t pick it up. We will also wear gloves and PPEs so that none of our DNA is found in there.” Tlali says.
Wow! What a circle of crime.
“Does he make copies of documents?” The attorney asks me.
“Yeah. He keeps the copies in his study. He has another hidden safe in there.” I say.
“Kea, you and Thabi will have to go in too.” Shaka says.
“Someone needs to stay here for camera work”, Tlali says.
“Camera work?” I ask.
“We will give you some slight cameras to jam his cameras and use ours so we can keep our eyes on the coast in case it gets too hot for you and you won’t be able to give us a heads up on anything. You’ll also be wired, so we can hear your movements and questions. It’s to keep you safe too.” Tlali says.
“Damn! You are all too good at this.” The attorney. I’m just as shocked.
“We will be on camera watch. We can’t go anywhere anyhow”, Zithulele says.
“Qwabe and I will do it.” Shaka says.
I’m getting nervous now.
“Remo, we need this.” Teboho says to me.
I nod my head, taking a deep breath. God help me not to mess this up.

…

I arrive at Reggie’s house. He is reading in his garden.
He is so happy to see me. I am his weakness. I always have been. I’ve always been the girl who was too perfect and too fragile for anything in his eyes. He doesn’t even suspect that I’m here to save my husband’s freedom by ending his career and ruining his life. I’ve already put devices that Tlali gave me at his gate. I still have to put more inside the house.
“Hey”, he says as he immediately hugs me.
I’m already fake crying.
“Hey”, I say. So sad.
“I know. I’m sorry. I’m here for you, my love. You know that I’m always here for you.” He keeps saying.
We hug for a while then we come out of the hug.
“Come. Let’s go have some hot milk so we can talk”, he says. Yes, he still offers me hot milk to calm my nerves.
I follow him inside, remaining behind him and plug these devices on his walls and door as I walk in. The devices are so small. If you are not looking for them, you won’t find them.

“How are things?” He asks me as I drink my hot milk while he drinks orange juice.
“I don’t why papa would marry me off to –
I cry.
He puts his hand around me.
“Reg, please come with me to talk to him? Please? I’m so scared to even face him and it’s not like I chose this for myself. Papa just –
“Hey! Hey hey hey… come here.” Reggie says then hugs me.
“This was never supposed to me my life. Why did you have to break up with me?!”
“Sssshhhhh… I’m sorry, my love. But don’t worry, I’m going to see to it myself that they get locked up for ever! Then I’ll help you divorce him and we can get married and start our family.” He says.
WTF?!
But I just sniff and remain Damsel in distress.

…

Tlali and mofomahadi have gone into the guy’s study. Thabi and I are in his hidden evidence room.
“OH MY GOD!” Thabi and I say together.
“What?” Khotso is talking too much over these pieces. We have earpieces so we could talk to each other and we get out of here clean.
“This guy has been researching you for years. Your entire family and all church members are on his walls. There are pictures of us in Miami, in the Tsakane houses. What the fuck?! This guys is obsessed with us.” Thabi says.
Silence…
The men are stressed.
“Guys, stay focused. Take what needs to be taken.” Maboko says.
“We need to burn this room down. Everything in here is –
“Thabi, what are you doing?” Me.
“It’s a chemical. Steal what you can. I’m going to clean this wall. I’m going to use this chemical to turn everything on this wall into blank paper where everything on it cannot be retrieved.”

We work in here. After about two hours, mofomahadi and Tlali walk in. I’m still pulling the evidence. Dise’s cellphone and consent for the cellphone to be used is also here.
“You will need to do that chemical thing in his study as well. He has a wall-to-wall wallpaper of Remo.” Tlali says.
“WHAT?!” Khotso yells in our ears.
“Why is Khotso there? Why?” Thabi.
“I’m not going anywhere!” Khotso is annoying all of us now.
Mofomahadi is helping me finish up packing.

We take another hour.
“Guys, how far are Remo and Reggie?” Tlali asks the guys..
They can hear the conversations.
“Still with Remo’s parents. Keep going there. She texted us and asked how much time we still need.”
“Mofomahadi and I will start taking these boxes of evidence to the car. Tlali and Thabi will start replacing the evidence. We need another three hours.” I say.
“Cool.”

Indeed, we work as planned and after two hours and thirty minutes, the house is as it was before – just with different and fake evidence. We even planted fake phones and fake laptops. I honestly cannot believe Regodise. Yerrr! We quickly remove all the pieces of devices that were here as well and we drive off.

We get to Shaka’s house and the men come help us offload these boxes. As we offload into Shaka’s study, Remo also drives in.
Khotso grabs her into a hug.
“Are you okay?” Shaka asks her.
“Yeah, I’m good. He doesn’t suspect a thing.” Remo says.
“How did you leave him?” I ask.
“Thabi gave me something to put in his drink or water. He was passed out when I left. I left a panty there just so he thinks we had sex.”
We all giggle.
The guys and their attorneys head to Shaka’s office with the evidence boxes.
Now, we are here, chilling together.
Remo seems stressed.
“You did good, nana. Rea leboha.” Mme-mofomahadi says.
Remo nods her head.
“Why are you so down?” I ask.
“My dad wants me to divorce Khotso”, Remo says.
Hectic!
We are all so shocked.
“Then he said he’d help Reggie with the case.” Remo says.
Yoh hai!
“I don’t want to divorce Khotso. And I don’t want my father to die.” She says.
“The attorneys got to the police that are arrested for this. They appear before a judge tomorrow. They let them know that we found a way to get them out. We just going to treat your dad like a judge here. We will get rid of every evidence there is and tirelessly prove that none of these things are true.” Mme-mofomahadi says.
Remo is not convinced.

…

This morning, we are all headed to court. We are the wives who are headed to support their husbands in court. They were told that they have to be at the courthouse today. So, we are all going. I feel better knowing that we have stolen the evidence. I’m still slightly nervous though.
Remoletile volunteered to stay behind with the kids. I think it’s also because we still need Reggie to believe that she’s not on our side. Appearing with us at court is not a clear sign of that.

“Ushup?” I check in with Maboko.
“Ke shup. I’m just thinking about how you guys saved our asses.” He says.
“We love you guys. You are not going down. Not if we have anything to do with it. What are we supposed to do with this squad of children that you have made us birth?” I say.
He laughs.
He looks so handsome in that suit.
If there’s one thing this squad of men know how to do, it is to wear a damn suit.
“The evidence… what did you do with it?” I ask him.
“Lulu’s duplex. It’s there. We will go sleep over there for a few days to work through it. Maybe if we work through what this idiot has, we might even find who is not to be trusted in this church.”
I nod my head.
“Yeah. Even if they break into our houses, they won’t think to go there. Before he died, morena dug a basement at that place. We put the information in that basement, closed the trap door, put a rug over it and the office furniture.” He says.
I start laughing.
He looks at me.
“My poor friend… she didn’t even know her duplex had become a house of the church behind her back.” I say and we both laugh.
“She was okay with not knowing shit, so we didn’t bother her with information unless she needed to know.” He says.
“Ja. Remo is thug wife. She’s just not ready to admit it. Part of it may be to rebel against being raised by judges, advocates and hectic rules… then she dated a prosecutor. She studied the rules and learned how to break them in the process. The way she’s just moving and literally saving our asses. Ke le pantsula that one”, I say and he agrees with me, laughing.
“Khotso also thinks so. She has an innocence that guards her thug style that he absolutely loves.” Maboko tells me.
“I’m happy for him. I’m really happy for him. He deserves the craziness of love again.”
Maboko nods his head.
“Thank you, T. Thank you for not making it difficult for him. We know how close Lulu was to your heart.”
“She was my sister. But she’d want him to be happy. She loved him with her all.” I say.
Maboko hugs me then kisses me.

We get to breakfast and find the kids and Remo getting along like a house on fire. They are actually so happy that she’s babysitting them today.
We quickly eat then it’s time to go.

…

Court is weird.
Judge Sedibe is here, but he isn’t presiding over the case. Ona is the king, so any case that concerns him in any way is not open to the public. Judge Sedibe might not like us, but I’m sure he played the “my daughter is married into this family” card just to get in. He didn’t greet us or even acknowledge us. I wonder.

Reggie Lamola is extremely unprepared and our attorneys are pulling him apart. He is presenting weird evidence that have nothing to do with the case. The parts that actually have something to do with the case are just phone sex conversations between random couples. The judge is PISSED and our attorneys are not making this easy for Lamola.
He then says he has cellphones and laptops to submit into discovery. Not porn playing on all devices, Chile!
The guys are giggling under their breaths. Lamola is mortified! I cannot believe he still hasn’t put the pieces together.
The judge calls the attorneys into his chambers and calls the court for recess.

We are sitting together and waiting to hear what the judge has to say.
“Satan!” Judge Sedibe says to us.
“Excuse me!” Mme-mofomahadi.
“What did you do to that poor boy? I know this has you written all over it!” He says.
“Ntate Sedibe! You are in the presence of a royal family! You are in the presence of a queen. You are in the presence of a queen-mother. And you are in the presence of a king! Stay within your limits and watch your tone when you speak to us. I don’t have to tell you what happens to people such as yourself who don’t know how to behave in the presence of a royal family!” Mme-mofomahadi pulled that card honey! It must be because this man who believes he is holier than thou told Remo to divorce one of Mme-mofomahadi’s greatest treasures.
The attorneys come back to tell us that we are done for the day. We have to come back tomorrow. Then he also tells us that the officers who were arrested are being released pending the finalization of this matter.

“I want my daughter home by the end of today!” Judge Sedibe says.
“Your daughter is a married woman. A grown woman. That decision will only be respected if it comes from her.” Khotso says with his chest.
Nna, I don’t want to see an old man and a young man fistfight each other hle.
“What did you say?” Judge Sedibe says.
“My wife is not going anywhere until she tells me that she wants to leave and go back home. So right now, I’m going home. I’m going to hold my wife in my arms, possibly climb on top of her –
“Khotso!” Mme-mofomahadi calls him to order.
What’s wrong with Khotso? Is he still pissed off about judge Sedibe loving Reggie more?
Judge Sedibe tries to physically attack Khotso, but it’s Shaka who holds the man back.
“I’ll phone Remoletile. She will tell us what she wants.” Shaka says.
Shaka dials her number. He puts her on speaker. I hope she doesn’t slip up and lands us in greater shit.

“Hi Shaka.” Remo answers her phone.
“Remoletile, we are with your father. He wants us to return you to him by the end of today”, Shaka says.
“Why?” Remo says.
“Because I made it very clear that you should divorce Khotso. Your mother and I made that very clear to you”.
“Khotso is my husband, papa. I don’t want to divorce him.”
“Reggie Lamola –
“Papa! I’m not divorcing Khotso!”
“Remoletile! Since when do you defy me like this? I’m your father! When I speak –
“HAI!” Then she hangs up.
Ey!
“What have you done to my child?!” The father yells at us.
“Eh baba, we phoned Remo. She doesn’t want to go home to you. Now stop insulting us. Khuzeka njalo!” Shaka is not having it.
“Or what?!” The judge.
“Old man! That heart will stop beating prematurely. Don’t you dare test me!” Shaka.
“Are you threatening me?” The judge.
“I don’t make threats.” Shaka.
“Shaka, let’s go.” Mme-mofomahadi says and pulls Shaka away.

…

Today is Nomagugu’s 3rd birthday party and Ranwedzi has been invited. But obviously, we have to go with Ranwedzi to the party so that will be our entire day.
Ranwedzi has already bathed. I made sure of it. The girls have also bathed.
Thomas and I have just finished showering, but we have decided to have some sex before we get dressed and leave.

As we lie next to each other, he says to me, “I don’t trust Richard.”
I look at him.
“I think he’s come to turn our company – probably steal our company – for the family. That’s what Kenneth did to one of our dad’s brothers who was successfully running a company. When Kenneth stole it, we all jumped in and branded it Ramaru Group Holdings. Kenneth wouldn’t be the one to come and do this to us because he knows we’d all be suspicious. I think Richard is here on his behalf.”
“Thomas, why are you suspicious?” I ask him.
“I checked his reference of where he said he was working. It didn’t check out. Mthunzi knows a few people he claims to have worked with. They had drinks and he casually asked questions. None of them know Richard.”
Now I’m panicking.
I climb off the bed and pace up and down the room naked.
“Thomas, he is my Managing Director. Do you have ANY IDEA what kind of information he has been exposed to? And Kim is my PA.”
He sits up on the bed. He is also still naked.
“Yoh, Nkosi yami.” I am panicking, trying to get my phone so I can do something about this.
“Mfundo picked up some questionable payments from Richard’s cost centre and he brought it to our attention”, Thomas says.
I’m going to kill this guy!
Thomas can see that I’m more than pissed off now.
“So, we got forensics to launch a full on investigation on him. They’ve called us into the office for an hour this morning to get the results.” He says.
“Thomas, why wouldn’t you tell me this? You don’t think I deserved to know?” I ask him.
“I wasn’t sure. And I didn’t want to plant doubt in your mind because if he turned out to be genuine, you still wouldn’t trust him.”
“I never trusted them from the beginning. I agreed to this because it meant something to you. You asked me to trust them. Every time I’d give them limited access to things, you barged into my office and gave me hell about it. Now that they’ve been exposed to everything and my suspicions are true, you don’t think I needed to know that I needed to stop trusting this guy?!”
He is quiet.
“You are full of shit, Thomas. How dare you! And if he succeeds in stealing this company, I will never forgive you!”
I charge into my closet and find a suit. I’m clearly going into the office now.

When I reach downstairs, Thomas is also in a suit.
“I thought we were going to Nomagugu’s party”, Khanyisa says.
“We are, nana. Sbo is coming to take you guys there. We will meet you there.” I say.
I phoned Sbo and asked him to take them to the party. His one-year-old daughter was also invited, so I asked if he could take all the kids.
“Fikile –
I just walk past Thomas and go to my car. I’m not impressed with this guy right now. I’m actually very pissed off.

We are driving together in one car. He is driving and I’m just pissed off in the passenger seat.
Kim tries to call me. Thomas sees it. I’m so angry! I decide not to take the call. Thomas doesn’t say anything. It’s a silent thirty-minute drive to the office.

As we drive into the village, we see the team practicing and working out on the grounds. Mfundo and Mthunzi are here. They arrived using one car.
“Why wouldn’t you tell me? Why?!” I ask all three of them.
I’m so hurt. I feel betrayed. This is my company. But obviously, I can’t say that out loud.
I then see a police van drive onto our premises. We all look at each other.
My chief of legal and chief of forensics arrive then we all make our way to Mthunzi’s boardroom. I don’t know why, we just all decide to meet there.

The forensics team basically tells us that our IP has been hacked. Our finances are compromised. And there have been funds that amount of over ten million rands that have been transferred to a Ramaru Holdings fund.
I’m literally shaking. I feel like I’m about to burst.
“Have them arrested. Each and every one of them”, I make the call.
Everybody nods their head.
“And I want my money back. Each and every cent. I want Ramaru Holdings to pay me back every cent that was illegally taken from my company.” I say.
Thomas and Mthunzi look at each other.
“Can I have a minute with my wife, please.” Thomas says.
I get up and leave with Thomas.
“You can use my office”, Mthunzi offers.

We are now in Mthunzi’s office.
“Ramaru Holdings will go under if we make them pay back that kind of money.” Thomas says to me.
“I don’t give a shit!”
“Fikile! They are already getting arrested. What is going to happen to their children and the elders that the company looks after if people get arrested and the company goes under?”
“I don’t give a shit! Zero! None! They came for us! They came for our company and they didn’t give a shit about what would happen to our children and the people that we look after.”
“Fikile! I don’t want to have the kind of relationship that you have with your family with my family!”
Did he really go there? Really?!
“I’m sorry.” He says.
“No, don’t apologise. You mean it. And it’s okay. I’ll own it. I know what my relationship is with my family. I’m not delusional about it. I don’t like it, but I’ve accepted it. I know that when my sisters call me, they need to use me and not be grateful for what I do for them. I know that they are naturally entitled to my achievements even though they’d sabotage me the minute they had the chance and have enough resources. That’s why Nelisile will never be more than an administrator in this company, reporting into someone who will filter the bullshit before it even starts. You don’t want to see your family for who and what they are. You are delusional about your relationship with your brothers. They don’t give a fuck about you or your family. They don’t! They couldn’t care less about what will happen to you and they know that all they have to do to get you to feel sorry for them and get them off the hook. We could lose EVERYTHING that we have worked so hard for, Thomas. Everything! Just because you don’t want to have the relationship that I have with my siblings with your siblings? Do you ever think about the people who rely on what these people have stolen from us? About Mthunzi, Mfundo and their families? Fuck your family, Thomas! Fuck them all! And I want my money back. They can even hand me Ramaru Holdings on a fucken platter for all I care. But I want my money!”

I leave him there and go to my own office. I’m pacing up and down my office space. I’m shaking off the feeling of doing something that could end my marriage. But what choice do I have? Thomas is compromised. I can’t go to him and ask him to make cut-throat and calculated decision on this kind of matter. His brothers are on the line and he would never make them suffer… not if he can help it. I can’t trust him with this. Family means too much to him.
I guess this is the first secret I have to keep from my husband and I’m praying with my all that it’s the last.
I make the phone call.
“Hello”, he answers.
“Khotso, hi. It’s Fikile.”
He takes a deep breath.
I take one too.
I’m not proud of this, but I need help and he’s the only person I could think of.
“How are you doing, Fiks?”
“I’m okay. I’ve been following what’s happening with you. I’m sorry about morena and I’m sorry about your wife. In the same breath, congratulations on your new wife.”
“Thank you. And congratulations to you too with your marriage and on being a mother.”
I breathe. He breathes.
“I need your help, Khotso”, I say.
“After the way I treated you, Fiks, I’m forever indebted to you. So, anything.”
I don’t know why that makes me emotional, it just does.
“My company is in trouble. My husband’s family has stolen over ten million rands from my company and have hacked our IP. Any day, Khotso, any flippen day, I could wake up and those people would have stolen my company from me. My husband is a bit compromised. His brothers are to him what Ona is to you, so he’s not going to make the call that needs to be made.”
“What do you want to see happen, Fiks?”
“I want to come to the office on Monday and find my ten million rands back in my company’s account. I want to come to work and not be threatened by my threatened systems. And I don’t want those men to ever be a pain in my life ever again.”
“Do you want them to still breathe?”
“Yeah, they can breathe. I just want one breathless… the one who came to my house and played my husband. The one who hurt him the most. His name is Richard Ramaru. Then there’s one that just needs to be taught a lesson. He and his wife are the ring leaders of this nonsense. He can live, but I want him traumatized. His name is Kenneth Ramaru.”
“Consider it done.” He says.
“Thank you, Khotso. I’ll never forget this. I promise you.”
“I know. All the best, Fiks.”
“Take care, Khotso.”

I stay in my office for another hour just trying to view what Richard had access to. Mthunzi, Mfundo and Thomas walk into my office. I look at them. I’m pissed off at all of them. But, I feel better knowing that Khotso will take care of this.
“Baby”, Thomas starts.
“They’ve been arrested”, Mfundo says.
I’m still quiet.
“We apologise for not saying anything.” Mthunzi says.
I just shut down my laptop, grab my bags, walk past them saying, “I need to meet up with Koena. Please excuse me.”
I just leave them in my office, grabbing a key from Mfundo. I’ll drive back in Mthunzi’s Porsche. They’ll follow me in the car Thomas and I arrived in.

…

I started at home and changed my outfit. Now, I’ve just arrived at the birthday party. Mthunzi, Mfundo and Thomas are still not here. I find Nene sitting by herself in a corner and playing with her phone. Bontle, Nomagugu’s mother, is here. She is the one who is handling things and shining as Nomagugu’s mother.
I sit next to Nene.
“Hey”, I greet her.
She actually puts her phone away and seems excited to have someone to talk to.
“How are you, makaRanwedzi?” Wow, that felt so good. No one has ever called me that. Ever.
“I’m okay. How are you doing? Why are you sitting here alone?” Me.
“Yoh, umakaGugu wanted to beat me up in front of all of these kids. And I’m only here for Gugu. I’m not trying to replace her in Gugu’s life. I’m not Gugu’s mother and I’m very much aware of that. Why does she treat me like I’m the reason she and Mfundo broke up? Does she think I don’t have my own challenges with Mfundo?”
Ja no, she’s stressed. But I’m here for her.
“I’m sorry, babe. These mothers are like that. She’s probably also hurt that you get to be with Mfundo in a way she always wanted to be with him, but never got the chance to.” I say.
“I suppose. I even wanted to leave. I really did. But, I had to keep reminding myself of why I’m really here.” She says.
“Hey”, Mfundo is now in front of us, extending his arms to clearly receive Nene in a hug.
“Hey babe. How was your meeting?” Nene says, standing up to hug her.
“My boss is upset with me. I’m sorry, Aunt Fiks.” He says.
I just chuckle. This child is too smooth.
They come out of their hug.
Thomas sits next to me. Ranwedzi runs towards us, and he dives straight into his father’s arms. Thomas is greeting him and loving him here.
“Why are you guys sitting here? Let’s go find Gugu.” Mfundo says.
“Bontle has attacked me three times when I tried to help or be involved. I even had to change the tag on my gift for Gugu and said it’s from you. I was even contemplating leaving, but umakaRanwedzi changed my mind.”
Mfundo looks at me with thankfulness.
Then he looks at Nene and says, “Yaz uBontle neh-
“No Mfundo. This is not the place. Today is about Gugu. Don’t start anything that will make these kids scared and Gugu upset. Gugu knows who she is to me and that’s all it comes down to at the end of the day”, she says.
I love this girl. I really do.
“Thatha. Wear this t-shirt. It says you are the father of the birthday girl. Then please come and actually host your child’s birthday party.” Bontle says to Mfundo.
Mfundo just looks at her. He doesn’t even take that silly t-shirt. Then he holds Nene’s hand and disappears somewhere with her.

It’s just Thomas and I now. Ranwedzi has gone back to play with other kids.
“Love, I’m really sorry.” He says.
“What’s the plan, Thomas? What are we going to do?”
“Richard, Kim, Kenneth and Penny are all arrested.” He says.
“And the money that they stole from us?”
“I don’t know, baby. I don’t know what to do”, he says.
I nod my head.
“Mama Ranwedzi, I’m so sorry. Please help me fix this. Please, my angel.” He says.
“It’s fine, Thomas. I’ll think of something”, I say.
“Please stop being upset with me. Please baby.” He says.
“Thomas, this can never happen again. This is our business. You and Mthunzi cannot treat me like a random employee. This becomes my problem too. We are in this together, right?” I say.
He kisses me.
I laugh.
I kiss him too.
“Mama!” Ranwedzi comes running to me. Gugu is with him and they are running together towards us.
“What’s wrong, babies?” I ask them.
Ranwedzi climbs on top of Thomas and Gugu climbs on top of me.
Mthunzi and Koena approach us.
“Hey girl”, Koena greets me and we hug.
“How is the party going?” I ask.
“Bontle is driving all of us crazy.” Koena says.
“And poor Nene, hle –
“Leave Mfundo and his women. We are too old for this.” Mthunzi says.
We all laugh.
The kids are having fun, enjoying entertainment and eating. It’s a good day.
Until…

A call comes into Thomas’ cellphone.
“Hello?”
…
“This is Thomas Ramaru.”
…
“Excuse me?”
…
“I don’t understand.”
…
“Okay, I’m on my way.”

He hangs up.
Khotso really works fast.
Thomas is on his feet.
I’m on my feet too, searching his face for answers.
“Baby? What’s going on?”
“Richard… he’s been killed in prison. Kenneth is in a critical condition. He’s at the prison hospital.” He says.
“I’ll come with you. Let me get the kids.” I say.
“Go ahead. We will take care of them.” Koena says.
Thomas and I dash out.
Thank you, Khotso! Thank you!

…

We are finally back at our own houses and this investigation is officially behind us. Letlali and I have been invited to have lunch with her father and Mme-Onica. But, Letlali is tired and I actually understand. I have never, in my entire life, wanted to just sit in my bed with my wife and kids and do absolutely nothing but just sit in bed all day with my wife and kids.

“Hey you”, I say as I creep in behind her, hugging her and kiss her.
She is busy sorting out the laundry in our laundry room while keeping her eye on our kids playing in the garden outside. Ntombi is reading a book. The boys are playing on the jungle gyms and trampolines in our garden.
“Love. Hey. You good?” She says to me.
“I’m good. I’m just hoping for a relaxing next couple of years.” I tell her.
She giggles and says, “The lives we chose have definitely put us in a position where we do nothing but attract drama.”
We both laugh.
“Maybe this lunch with papa, Mme-Onica and Mme-Onica’s kids is not a bad idea. We need moments like this – as uncomfortable as it may be – we need these kinds of moments to be reminded of what normal feels like and to create a perspective of normal for our kids. I’m worried about them. I’m worried that –
“I get you. I actually understand you more than you know.” I say.
She comes into my arms for comfort. I hold my beautiful wife. I kiss the top of her head.
“How’s Nothile doing?” She asks me.
“I don’t know.”
“Baby, don’t be like that. She’s still your sister.”
“She just… I knew this would happen and I told her that this would happen. I’m upset and disappointed in her decisions. She’s capable of doing better. I’ll never understand why that doesn’t apply in her decisions regarding men.”
“Lalela… look at me.”
I look at her.
“She’s still our sister. And we will still love the hell out of her. Besides, she’s pregnant again and I’ve been tasked with telling you to negotiate her inhlawulo.” She says then looks away from me.
“Excuse me?”
She tries to run away, then I catch her and say, “Yeyi, what’s going on?”
She starts behaving like Ruri when Ruri has to be the one that negotiates things on behalf of the kids.
“Nothile, Zama and I were on a virtual call, yabona. Zama is happily married –
I look at her and start laughing. I don’t know what’s fascinating me the most… her relationship with my sisters that I absolutely love watching, but clearly don’t know the depth of… or the fact that she can’t shit on me the way she always does when it comes to telling me things I clearly need to know. Lol! When she has to deliver things like this, she behaves like she’s my daughter reporting something and hoping to not get into trouble.
“She met someone, okay… and they did big people things. Now she’s pregnant.” She says.
I laugh.
I’m not happy that all she does is get pregnant, but I’m very happy to hear that she has moved on and living in Meadowlands is working out for her.
“I love you, sthandwa sami. You know that, right?” I tell her.
She smiles at me and says, “I love you too, Zithulele Khuzwayo wami.”
That makes me feel things a man probably shouldn’t feel. It must be those imaginary butterflies people talk about all the time.
Fuck! I love this woman.
Now, we are kissing.
I’m getting hard and she’s running her hands all over my body, showing me that she wants me as much as I want her right now.
“Baba! I told you to stop kissing my mom!” I don’t even know when these kids came inside the house. But I can’t wait for the day that I can tell Mnqobi to fuck off. He thinks this is our wife.
Tlali laughs at me. I need her. She knows it. She felt it. But this brat we call our child –
“Go wear your shoes, all of you. We are going to have lunch with grandpa and grandma.” Letlali says, keeping the kids focused on something else while I pull myself together and get my body to cooperate with me again.

…

We arrive at Ntate Thokoane’s house. There are three cars already parked here. One of these cars are Tumi’s cars.
Mnqobi finds his way to being picked up and placed on his mother’s hip, while Banathi and Ntombi walk in together. I am walking in from behind them.

We are greeted by everyone and it seems as if we are the last people to arrive. Ntate Thokoane is not even here. Mme-Onica is by herself entertaining a squad of us kids and grandkids. We say hi to everyone and the grandkids kind of warm up to each other very quickly.
Ntombi says hi to Tumi and Atisang, but not Suzi. Letlali saw that then she says, “Ntombi, say hi to Mama Suzi.”
“Hi”, Ntombi says and walks out of the room.
When did Ntombi grow such an attitude?
It’s those books she reads and those shows she watches. I’ve always told Tlali to make her read or watch something that was within the age restriction of five to twelve years old. But, even that content is problematic these days. The kids must just get spinning tops and marbles then play outside until they look like they bathed in dust.
I saw her putting on makeup the other day and I just know that our problems had started, therefore, Tumi needs to start getting his house in order so he could live with his daughter.

“Sho”, Tumi greets me.
“Sho. You good?’
“I’m good. Ntombi is looking well. Thank you.” He says.
Is this the right time to tell him to take his daughter because adolescence is knocking at our door?
“Where is the old man?” I ask instead.
“At the tavern, apparently. I was thinking I’d go and fetch him.” He says.
Tlali is going to show that man his mother if he comes back home drunk and starts swearing at everyone. That man – as old as he is – has no idea how to control his liquor. Disgusting!
“Sho, let’s go!” I say.

We get to the tavern and this old man is dancing on a table, shit drunk and even singing to whatever music is playing out loud. Tumi and I actually start laughing. We know Tlali is going to blow a fucken gasket about this, but I wish I could take a video of this. People are even cheering him on. This man is funny! He’s actually hilarious.
He’s twerking for the drunk huns and the other drunk skhotheni men are trying to compete with him but shame, they have nothing on him! Zero. This man can get down. How is he not stiff every morning when he wakes up?

Now that he’s had a good dance and Tumi and I have had a good laugh, we go to him and tell him that we need to go.
“Hai man! We are still having fun! I don’t want to be running back to that uptight woman! Let me tell you something, mkhwenyana… I only have one wife! ONE WIFE! And she is six feet under the ground! One. Two. Three. Four. Five. Six. That one that is called Onica, she thinks she’s my wife. She will never be my wife. Never ever! And ever ever ever and ever!”
I honestly cannot stop laughing. Poor Onica, man.
“Even that house you bought for me, mkwenyana, it’s a house for me and my wife. But my wife is six feet underground. One. Two. Three. Four. Five. Six. Now Onica wants to move in and take over. No man! We don’t do that!”
Kanti, she doesn’t live with him?
I’m so confused.
But I’m also entertained.
Stru.
“Now, she brings her illegitimate brats to my house EVERY DAY! EVERY FUCKEN DAY, mkhwenyana! Nna, I have three kids. One. Two. Three. I have my big boy that makes babies everywhere and dates rich woman ONLY! My clever clever son who will never wake up broke – Reitumetsi. Then, I have my little gay. He could also make me Thokoane grandchildren, but, he wants to buy babies instead because he chooses to not fertilize eggs like the rest of us men. Oh, my Atisang. But we accept. Re tla reng?! And then, oooohhhh my princess… my Letlali. You know, we always knew that she was the one who was going to make our name shine. If she were a boy, myyyyyyyy Gooooooooood! My God. My God. My God. But, she hates me. But you know what, with their imperfections and perfections, they are mine. And my beautiful wife gave them to me before she went six feet underground. Those ones that Onica brings to mine and my wife’s house and they just eat my food and call me papa… those ones are not mine. I don’t want them!”
“Papa! Let’s go! Stop this, man! Stop it!” Tumi says.
I’m in stitches. I cannot help him.
But we pull him out the tavern and leave.

As we walk back to the house, Tumi turns into Letlali junior…
“Papa, what will Letlali do when she sees you this way?”
“Letlali hates me”, he insists.
“Do you think she will love you if she sees you like this?” Tumi says.
“Okay… I’ll be a good boy. I will brush my teeth, bath very nicely, and dress in my best Christmas clothes. Then I will love love love my baby girl.” He says.
I just giggle.

We get to the house.
“Grandpa!!!!” All the grandkids see him and sprint to the man.
He takes my kids and Tumi’s kids saying, “My grandchildren.”
Then he looks at the rest and says, “The rest of you I don’t know. Go home to your real grandparents.”
Those kids are sad. Very sad.
He turns back to “his grandchildren” and starts dancing for them. They are in stitches! Stitches, I tell you! I’ve never been more entertained in my life.
Tlali stands at the door and observes the scene before her. She’s so annoyed. Extremely annoyed.
Mme-Onica stands next to Tlali.
“Ey wena, Thokoane! What do you think you are doing?!” Mme-Onica yells.
“VOETSEK!” This man yells and gets back to dancing. Mnqobi even joins him, copying the dance moves while Ntombi laughs and takes videos with her cellphone.
“Let’s go”, Tlali says.
Ja no, ichayile!
“Mama, look at mkhulu! I’m dancing with him.” Mnqobi is too entertained.
“Mnqobi! Ntombi! Banathi! In the car, now! We are leaving!” Tlali says. Yoh, she’s pissed.
“Letlali, my baby. My angel. My baby girl! Come to papa. You know, wena –
“Voetsek, Thokoane! Fokof! Do you hear me? Fuck off!” Letlali is yelling now.
I tell the kids to get into the car. They follow each other to the car.
The man starts crying.
“Tlali doesn’t love me. She doesn’t love me at all! I didn’t kill your mother, Letlali!”
Yasuka indaba!
“Don’t talk about my mother, wena Thokoane! Don’t you ever talk about my mother!”
“She was my wife!”
“You clearly didn’t know what to do with a wife. The only thing you’ve ever been married to is that alcohol you now reek of! That’s the very thing that sent her to her grave!”
“Maka! She followed you! Akere you became the man in our house and you took my wife from as if you were the one sleeping with her?! Then, the police were after you and mkhwenyana because of all your money. That’s how your mother RESTED IN PEACE! Me and my bottle –
Letlali has now slapped her father and now the old man is on the ground.
We are all so shocked.
“Mme-Onica, this is the life you are really choosing for yourself? I hope you know what you are doing because if you don’t, you’ll follow my mother.”
From there, she charges to the car.
“Baby”, I try.
“Zithulele, asambe! MANJE!”
“Hawu! O buwa lesiZulu?! My girl!” The old man from the floor says after surviving words and a slap from Tlali.
Honestly, I need to burst into laughter. But faces are serious, so I must obviously go. Siphumile isiZulu!