We’ve been called in by the bishop to make our way to one of the church’s warehouses that is located at the Tholoana Kingdom female prison. Yes, the church has – what we call – execution warehouses in every prison. Every member of the church who is arrested goes there for any meetings the bishops or the pope sets up and has to involve them. But those who turn on us when inside die inside those very warehouses. 

I left Tlali fast asleep at home to attend this meeting. Just to keep her off my trail, I bought her a massive bunch of roses and a card that reminds her how much I love her. I told her I had urgent club business to attend to, but I’ll phone her to check in as soon as I can. I have an extremely curious wife. I know that if I do not distract her with something, she will snoop around until she finds something.

I arrive at the prison and find the Mohale twins waiting outside and smoking. I hope they are not waiting for me. I am not even close to being late. Discipline is crucial in the church.  

“Sho“, I greet them. 

“Sho!” They both greet me. 

“Congratulations on the new bride and the baby on the way”, Ona says. 

“Thank you”, I say.

“You ready to head inside?” Khotso asks me. 

I nod my head and we walk in. 

This guy is sleeping with my sister. I asked Nothile about it because it really is disturbing. She told me that they are just having fun and it’s good for Khotso as it’s helping him get over Fikile. What about Gcina? What’s her role in all of this? I know that Nothile is catching feelings because she gets extremely upset when Gcina is around. And I don’t know what to make of Khotso’s feelings because he bought Nothile a BMW X6. It’s a stunning car! It’s the kind of car you buy for your wife! They even bought a love nest together. Apparently, Khotso didn’t want to sleep where Nothile’s dead husband slept. So they bought a house in some estate that they own together. I’m tired of asking. I don’t approve, but these are two consenting adults and it would be a cold day in hell before I stopped supporting Nothile – no matter how fucked up her decisions are. She’s my sister and for as long as I’m alive, she will never be or feel alone. 

We walk into the warehouse and Zandile is tied up on a chair – an electric chair at that. She is already crying and she looks like she has already been electrocuted a few times. She is also wet, so she also had water poured on her before being electrocuted. 

“Gentlemen”, bishop greets us. Pope is not here today. 

We nod our heads to acknowledge him. 

He puts his focus on Zandile again. 

“Zandile, stop crying. I don’t like the sight of a woman in tears”, bishop says and the twins and I laugh. 

“Why are you doing this to me?” Zandile asks. 

“You used the church to solve your daughter’s playground issues! Do you have any idea how much heat you’ve put on us? The commandments are very clear about any of us taking out hits for personal gain. This organization is to protect the constitution and running of this country. You used our resources to wipe your daughter’s tears! Now, you even killed a woman that Ona and Khotso consider another mother. You still wondering why you are about to die?” 

Zandile looks at bishop and breathes heavily. She doesn’t reply to what has just been said. I need clarity on why this woman is about to die. Is it because she compromised the church? Because that I can live with. But if it’s because she murdered someone that the twins consider to be another mother, then punishing her for it is just as bad and against the commandments because it is also a personal score. 

“That nutcase you call a daughter has always been out of her mind – since we were kids. We always thought it was because you deserted her while worming your way out of poverty. But now I see that she just inherited your insanity!” Ona says. 

Khotso walks towards this woman with a black refuse bag in his hands. I know my next move, so I just grab the bucket next to her chair. She’s already crying. 

Ona continues, “How do you call out a hit at a wedding that you knew would have so many eyes on it just because your daughter got dumped? How do you call out a hit on a wedding where you knew my children would be there and could be in danger? I found my son, Khabane, carrying my son, Mohale, in his arms while hiding in a cupboard to dodge the bullets that you ordered out that day. Not only did you put the church at risk, but you put my son’s life and my wife’s life at risk! You are a fucken nutcase just like that little shit you pushed into the earth through your vagina!” 

Khotso wraps the black refuse bag around her neck, covering her face, and I hold the bucket while her head is shoved into the bucket full of water. She falls off her chair trying to fight for her life. This method both suffocates her and drowns her. We pull the face out and remove the black bag. She coughs for dear life, breathing as if it’s the last time she will be doing so. We all look at her.

“My… (heavy breath) … my… (cough)… my child is … my child is hurting!” Then she coughs aggressively. She takes a minute to gather herself and catch her breath, then she says, “My child is hurting! Maboko humiliated her because of that Teboho girl. The hit was not on Lydia Seete. It was on the problem that started all of this, Khabane.” 

Khotso puts her head back in the black bag and this time, when I put her head in the bucket filled with water, Ona electrocutes her. Even if she survives this, she will not be the same woman after this. This torture is too painful to just recover from. Bishop lights a cigarette as he watches this. To think that my sister sleeps with one of these guys. Yerrr! 

Zandile’s head is pulled out again and now she cries. She is fighting for breath and crying and coughing. When she is done, bishop says to her, “You are going down alone for this. This is not on the church.”

“Bishop, please”, Zandile pleads. 

“You lack discipline, Zandile. You get us into so much shit because your child’s feelings are hurt? You are going down for this alone with no protection from inside of this prison. If you do or say anything stupid, it’s your daughter’s and son’s funeral – before we hand you over to Qaphela to deal with you and leave you alive so you dream about the consequences of your decisions for the rest of your lonely life. Your salary from the church will pay for the medical bills of that Kabelo boy who is fighting for his life in hospital”.

“But bishop, how will I live?” 

“Not our problem anymore. Pope wants you expelled from the church. I’m being very kind right now with the option that I’m giving you.” 

Zandile just cries her eyes out. Ona shoots both her knees before the three of us walk out of the warehouse. 

Zandile is not taken away immediately. As we step out, we see Kabila. I look at the twins. They look at me and use their eyes to tell me to relax. 

“My gift?” He says with a very thick accent. 

“Inside.” Bishop says.

“It’s a pleasure doing business with you”, Kabila. 

Bishop walks on. We follow him. We just hear Zandile screaming and everyone gets into their car and drives off. 

… 

Today is my first day at work at the government offices. I was supposed to start before Christmas, but my mother-in-law passed away and I have now decided to start in the New Year just before the graduates begin. I feel bad about leaving Maboko alone at home with Gwen. Don’t get me wrong, Khabane and I needed the fresh air. Things are tense at that house. Maboko and Gwen continuously push each other’s buttons and see how far the other can go. I just want my house to be ready so Maboko, Khabane and I can just move out and leave Gwen with that house. 

“TEBOHO SEETE” that’s what the name tag on my office door reads. Just underneath my name is my title, “DIRECTING EXECUTIVE: BRAND, COMMUNICATIONS AND MEDIA“.

I feel so proud of myself. The first thing that I do when I into my office is do a happy dance. I’m dressed up in a power suit and high heels, but I dance! I run from one end of my office to the other end, throwing myself on my couch and shaking my feet! I became everything that I promised myself I would become! I went from being the scholarship girl who went to a school that was going to give me the best connections to set me up for life to being the connection everyone at that school talks about knowing. I’m so fricken proud of myself and I cannot wait to tell my son about the legacy that I have built for him. 

I stand up from the couch and walk to my desk. I do another happy dance because I honestly cannot believe this. 

“Go Tebza, you are the girl that you think you are!” I sing to myself as I hang my bags and suit jacket on the hanger-stands provided for me in my office. 

I.T has already set up my laptop and three monitors. I sit behind my desk and simply start up my machine. 

There is a knock on my door as I am about to send a text to Maboko. 

“Come in”, I say. 

Aunt Nosi and Aunt Kea walk in. 

“This office is just your size”, Aunt Kea says. 

I smile and get up to greet them. 

We settle at the meeting round table that’s in my office. Uncle Shaka walks in too. I guess this is a meeting. 

“They said I’d find you here”, Uncle Shaka tells Aunt Nosi. 

“What’s up? Is everything okay?” Aunt Nosi enquires. 

“Yeah. I need some numbers that your PA said I’d find with Teboho. It’s some stuff that Zandile was working on before she –

There’s an awkward silence. They all look at me apologetically. Lydia was my mother-in-law. If they are like this around me, how are they around Maboko? 

“Sure thing, Mr Maphumulo. I have a meeting with Mrs Maphumulo and Mrs Mohale now to take them through the numbers. You are welcome to join us if you wish”, I say just to intervene in the awkwardness. 

I’ve been working from home to try to catch up and just be on top of my game. Zandile’s portfolio also falls under me now and I just want to make sure that no one regrets hiring me. 

“I’ve been asking you to call me Shaka for the longest time, especially at work. If you call me Mr Maphumulo, I will call you Mrs Seete”, he says to me.

“It does have a nice ring to it”, I say and everyone laughs. Shaka walks in and settles on a vacant chair. 

My machines are all started and ready to function, so I take my three seniors in front of me through the numbers that they’ve asked for. This meeting takes about four hours because as I go through stuff, more people get called in to sit in the meeting. I then take them through a press and comms release that we will be releasing to support the numbers presented. People paid tax for transparency, so we have no choice but to release the numbers. I just have to control the narrative. 

Finally, the meeting is done and everyone is getting the hell out of my office. I just want to phone my man and tell him how awesome my office is. 

“Are you coping?” Shaka asks me. 

I look at him. Everyone has left my office. It’s just him and I now. 

“You are a new wife. You are a mother. You have your role and you’ve taken on Zandile’s entire portfolio and team. People with less going on in their lives don’t have half the pressure that you do. I just need to make sure that you are okay”, he says.

“I’m eating the elephant one bite at a time. I’m glad to hear that you are happy with my work.” I say.

“We are very happy with your work, Mrs Seete. We just don’t want Mr Seete coming here and accusing us of overworking you. We do still do business with him and he is a good friend around here”, he says.

I laugh and say, “Fortunately, Regodise starts soon as well so she will help me with a few laughs and lunch dates just to breathe.”

He smiles at me then leaves. 

I throw myself on my office chair. I close my eyes and take a deep breath. I need to phone my husband and check up on my child. I open my eyes and I’m distracted by the emails streaming into my inbox. As I’m about to start tackling the emails, Maboko and Tiisetso walk into my office. 

“Nice digs”, Maboko says. 

I stand up and make my way to go hug him. I greet them both saying, “Hello, you two”. 

“Hello Mrs Seete”, Maboko greets me then kisses me as I come out of our hug. 

“I’m here too, hello!” Tiisetso. 

We both smile at her. 

“Anyway, I’m here to collect my car.” Tiisetso says. 

“Your car?” Me.

“Yep. I’ll just collect it then I’ll be out of your way”, she says.

“I’m confused”, I say.

“You are about to collect yours at a dealership. So please hand me the keys to my car.”

She sticks out her hand at me and expects me to just handover my keys. Maboko hands her my spare key. He then takes my handbag and packs my laptop.

“Shall we, Mrs Seete?” He says. 

“I’m still at work.” 

“One of your bosses owe me a favour and I called in my favour. Now, can we please go?” 

I honestly just submit to the moment and follow him out of my office. 

We picked up Khabane from school then the three of us drove to a Range Rover/ Land Rover dealership together. I look at Maboko as we climb out of his car. Did this guy really just buy me a car? 

When we walk into the store, we are welcomed by a ream of sales people with champagne and excitement. I am handed flowers after I have downed my champagne because honestly, I just want to see my car now. Khabane is enjoying his juice and not paying the moment any mind. His hand is stuck in his father’s hand. The other one holds his juice as he drinks it. One of the other sales people – he looks like the manager – he shakes Maboko’s hand. 

Maboko looks at me then says, “This was supposed to arrive at our wedding. But what the hell? This is my wedding gift to you, my wife.” 

I honestly cannot hide my excitement now. I’m trying my best because I didn’t even get him a pair of socks as a wedding gift. But I just cannot hold back the scream roaring inside my stomach. 

“This way please, Mrs Seete”, one of the sales people says to me. I follow him to wherever he is taking me. Khabane and Maboko are right behind me. I am led to a car that is covered with a large black cloth and a huge red bow located on top of the black cloth.

“Is that a present for me, daddy?” Khabane enquires. 

“This one is for mommy, my boy. I’m buying yours soon.” Maboko tells him. 

I run to the wrapped gift and I start unveiling it. 

Heavenly Father have mercy! 

It is a grey Range Rover Evogue with black rims. The number plates read “T SEETE TK”. 

I am just running around my car and screaming at the top of my lungs in excitement. The sales people and Maboko are taking pictures and videos. I sprint back to Maboko and I jump on top of him, screaming. Maboko spins me around and my lips land on his. 

I run back to my car and open it. The interior of my car is red. The car seats have “TS” engraved on them and the car has a panoramic sunroof.

“Maboko, what the hell?!” I say and now I’m overwhelmed with tears of pure euphoria. 

“Mommy, are we going to share this car?” Khabane asks me. 

“We are, my baby.”

“So why are you crying? It’s a nice car”, Khabane says. 

I just laugh because I’m extremely overwhelmed with joy. I don’t even know what to say. I don’t even know how to thank my husband. This is just perfect. 

Khabane drives back with me in my new ride and Maboko follows us with his car. We drive into the yard at Lydia’s house and park the cars under the car port. 

We walk into the house hand-in-hand and find that Gwen is not home. It’s very quiet and my mind still cannot comprehend that I left this house this morning driving an Audi SQ5 and came back to this very house on the same day driving a Range Rover Evogue. Honestly, I love being Mrs Seete. 

“I’ll start with cooking dinner. Please get Khabane out of his uniform?” I say to Maboko. 

Before he can answer me, my parents walk in. 

“Are we at the right house? There is a stunning machine out there that I’ve never seen before”, my dad says. 

“Daddy bought me and mommy a new car.” Khabane explains. 

“That’s one hell of a car. Congratulations to all three of you. You did incredibly well, mkhwenyana.” My dad. 

“Thank you, ntate. Would you like to go for a spin?” Maboko offers my dad. 

“Yes please”, my dad. 

“We brought dinner. We thought we’d bring you some food. Teboho and I will warm the food in the meantime”, my mom. 

“Can I go with daddy and grandpa?” Bane. 

“Okay baby”, me. 

The gentlemen leave and now it’s just my mother and I. 

“How are things?” She asks me. 

“We are coping. I’m just worried about Maboko and Gwen. All they do is fight lately.” I tell her. 

“It’s family. It happens. Do you think this was a good time for you and Maboko to buy new cars? You are mourning, Teboho.” She tells me.

“Maboko bought the car for me. I didn’t ask for it. And people mourn in different ways, mama. What’s wrong with what Maboko did?” 

“Teboho, are you forgetting where you are? Well, let me remind you. You are the girl who is assumed to have married into money as an escape from the township. You are playing directly into the stereotype.”

“First of all, mama, I’m more famous for being the diamond of Tholoana Kingdom than I am for being Maboko’s wife. When you ask anyone about me, they’ll tell you that I’m the girl who reached mountains that not even those who were born rich did. And when you search a little deeper, you will find that I reached all those goals despite you not supporting me and you bringing me down every chance you got. Even now, mama, not once have I heard you tell me that you are proud of me. Not once have you even congratulated me for my achievements – achievements that I earned through merit. What is wrong with you? Why do you hate me so much? Why is Tiisetso the only child that you recognise as yours while I’m just a child you have, but seem to not want?” 

She is silent.

“Mama, what did I ever do to you?” I ask her. 

“You are the reason that my family loathes me. Every time I look at you, I am reminded of how my husband chose you over me and how my marriage remains broken – no matter how hard we try – because of you.”

“What are you talking about, mama?” 

Maboko walks in with Bane in his arms. My dad is next to Maboko. They look at my mother and me. 

My mother is crying as she says, “You were supposed to stay and grow up in Lesotho. We had an agreement that upon giving birth to you, I’d give you to my brother and his wife who couldn’t have children. I just couldn’t bring myself to telling your father because I knew that he wouldn’t agree. I disappeared to Lesotho and I was planning to stay there, birth you, give you away then come back to Tholoana Kingdom. Your father didn’t know that I was pregnant with you and he was never supposed to know.” 

My heart is shattering already. So she just never wanted me… even before I was born. 

“Then your father came to Lesotho without telling me and found me nine months pregnant and two days away from giving birth. He didn’t even want to hear my family and me out and he didn’t even want to understand why it was important for me to gift my brother and his wife the one thing they wanted with all their hearts, but couldn’t have. He waited for me to give birth, took you while you were a few hours old and left Lesotho with you. My family loathed me from then up to this day and as you have noticed, the Tlou family is not fond of me neither.” 

I find a chair closest to me and sit on it. I realise now that even I am crying. I cannot believe my ears. Maboko walks towards me and he starts soothing me. 

“My family sent me back and practically banished me from their yards. I came back to Tholoana Kingdom and found that your father had taken you and Tiisetso and found a new place to stay with you guys. I couldn’t reach him for three months. When I finally found him, Lydia Seete was helping him divorce me. She got him a helper that he ended up having an affair with and she introduced him to lawyers that were also driving that I be arrested for kidnapping an unborn child with the intention to sell it.” 

She looks at my father with so much disgust and tears in her eyes.

I can’t listen to this anymore. I get up from the chair and my mom grabs my arm. I look her in the eye and she looks me dead in mine. Then she says, “I will never forgive that woman! I spent five years in prison because I was charged with kidnapping you with the intention to sell you. Well I was inside, you and Tiisetso were raised by a helper that Lydia got for Sechaba. When I came out of prison, I had to fight for my husband while he was convinced that he was protecting you from me. Lydia and Sechaba never gave me an opportunity to love you or raise you or be your mother. And when you were old enough to let me in despite their efforts, Teboho, you shut me out, went against everything I ever asked of you and decided that you would be better than me. So here we are today. I resent you for bringing Lydia back into my life by dating her son. I worked hard to get rid of her odour in my husband’s life and you brought it right back. I resent you for the way that my husband looks at me when you are unhappy. And I resent you for the hatred that my family has for me. Every single painful part of my life started with you.” 

I cannot help but slap her across the face. Maboko instantly puts me behind him, thus standing between Mapula and I. I cannot even refer to her as my mother. Mapula tries to fight me over Maboko’s shoulder, then I see my father hold her by the wrist and says, “Don’t touch my child, Mapula. Don’t forget the conditions that you were released on in prison.” 

Her face shatters. I don’t even feel sorry for her. Not even in the slightest bit. 

Just as I am about to walk off, Gwen walks in with a group of friends and some guys. I’m not in the mood for this. Now the focus is on Gwen. 

“What the hell, Gwen?” Maboko. 

She’s about to have an entire party before we even cleanse the dark cloud of grief over us right now? We are still mourning. 

“This is my house. And I’m tired of asking you to leave. You want to live with me? You can live with me and accept my lifestyle. My friends have come over for a party and a sleep over.” Gwen says. 

“Get the fuck out! ALL OF YOU! GET THE FUCK OUT OF HERE!” Maboko yells in a very frightening command. 

“Who do you think you are? These are my guests!” Gwen. 

“We are mourning our mother, Gwen. How do you handle yourself like this while we haven’t even cleansed the dark mourning cloud over us? And these things you call friends… really? You allow them to disrespect your mother like this?” Maboko is so heart broken. 

“This is my house! I do what I want!” 

“This house belongs to mama’s children – all three of us!”

“Three?” 

“Yes three. Refiloe is our older sister. She’s mama’s first born. It was kept from you because apparently the only way that we can keep you sane is through keeping you in a bubble. But I’m exhausted, Gwen. You exhaust me. Your entitlement and you thinking that everything should be about you and if it isn’t, you threaten to take your life – I’m tired of it. I’m not your parent, so I don’t have to deal with you and nurse your mental health that I believe you use as an excuse to be an insolent brat. You want to be a bitch, I’ll treat you like one. I’ll phone Refiloe and tell her to bring her lawyers. I’ll bring mine. I’m sure you can organise your own. We are selling this house.” 

Yho! Even I didn’t expect that. Gwen looks like everything she knows to be life has just slapped her across the face. She just learned that Refiloe is her sister and not her cousin and Maboko is taking away her memory of her mother. 

“Maboko –

“I’m tired of you, Gwen. You’ve exhausted me to the core. You think you are the only person who is hurting? What makes you think that you’ve got the right to abuse my right to mourn my mother? Or even chasing Refiloe out before she can fully mourn her mother? Who do you think you are?” 

Maboko is emotional. Gwen is emotional. But this needs to happen. I don’t understand why Mapula is still here. I want her gone! 

“Tell your friends to get the hell out of here, or else I will call the police and have the lot of you arrested. Start making nice with Lebo, you will need her house with dad for accommodation as soon as this house is sold.” 

Maboko turns around, takes my hand and we make our way upstairs with our child, leaving behind those who have ruined our beautiful day by causing us unspeakable pain. 

… 

My run is a good one this morning. I’m so glad that Maboko let me have the house. I heard that he is building one for Teboho and at this point, I bitterly say “good for them”. My playlist inspired me to run a good 15km and I enjoyed every minute of it. Everything as I know it is crashing before me. In the space of a year, I got married, divorced and my ex-husband is already re-married. My mother decided to go on a shooting spree and now my ex-mother-in-law is dead. I have a new boyfriend, but I’m not sure if I really love him. I feel responsible for his current condition though. He is in hospital and is fighting for his life because of my mother. I go to the hospital and see him every day. I am told that he is getting better and he can wake up at any moment. I am relieved that he is going to live. 

I walk into my house and find my helpers already hard at work. I make my way to my main bedroom. As I climb up the stairs, I am confronted by a portrait of Maboko and me. We placed this portrait at the top of our staircase. I stare at it for a good ten minutes. This portrait was taken at our engagement party. He is wearing a crisp white shirt with navy blue suit pants. What a handsome man he is. I am wearing an all-white dress with beaded finishing. We were so perfect together. We made sense. We could have run Tholoana Kingdom right under Kea and Mohato Mohale. Teboho should have never come back. She may love him, but she does not deserve him. She could never turn him into what I would have turned him into if only he gave our connection a chance. I wave goodbye to this portrait as I take it down from my wall. It is time. There is no more Linda and Maboko. I need to fully and unreservedly accept that. It is my struggle to accept this that has landed us in the mess that we are in today, resulting in the death of Maboko’s mother.

“Mathuso”, I yell for one of my helpers – the most effective one of them all. 

“Yes, Miss Khumalo?” She responds. She calls me Miss Khumalo and I almost break down because that is who I am again. I’ve lost all rights to the Seete name and what used to be Mrs Khumalo-Seete is now simply Miss Khumalo. 

I hand her the portrait in my hand and say, “Please destroy this portrait as well as any other picture in this house that has Maboko in it. Then please set up a meeting for me with Mr Hlatshwayo, the artist. Tell him to meet me here at the house tonight at 9pm because I need him to come view my empty walls and replace the emptiness with his artwork.” 

She accepts the portrait and says, “Right away, Miss Khumalo.” 

I am tempted to say that she should rather call me Linda, but I don’t want to blur the lines. Miss Khumalo it is. 

I have not been able to see my mother for the past three weeks. I come here every day and I am told that she is unable to see visitors. The attorney was told that my mom does not want to see anyone and she is refusing to exercise her right to an attorney. 

This is my daily routine: I come to the prison to see my mother and am turned away because she does not have visitation rights. We fight with the officials until we get thrown out of the prison and are threatened to be banned. Then I hop into my car and drive to see Kabelo in hospital. I sit there and work on my laptop while I am by his side, waiting for him to just wake up. When visiting hours are over, I get into my car and drive back home to watch a movie in bed, then I sleep. I have not been able to reach out to Maboko to check up on him. I phoned him once trying to defend my mother’s honour after the media splashed her across all platforms of communications for the murder of Lydia Seete and the attempted murder of Kabelo Tsilane. He blocked my number. He even blocked me on all social networks. I thought that we could still be cordial, but he is not for it. I tried to reach out to Khotso and check up on Maboko through him. Khotso told me to stop hurting myself then hung up. That was the last time I voiced out my concern about Maboko. He was very close to his mother, so I know that he is not coping with losing her. 

Today, we are told that we can finally see her. Zo, my father and I are in the waiting area waiting for my mother. 

“Baba, please be nice to her”, I ask my father. He and my mother do not have the best of relationships. I know that if it were my dad behind bars, my mother would not be nice or supportive – hell, she wouldn’t even be here. But that’s what makes my father the better person of the two. 

“I don’t enjoy seeing your mother in this position, Linda. Despite our differences, she is still the mother of my children and she is still my wife.” He says. 

“She’s your wife on paper, baba.” I remind him.

“She’s my wife. PERIOD! And I plan to be whatever it is that she needs to get through this. And as a family, MaKhumalo, we will get through this.” My dad says. 

“Mntungwa, are you okay?” My dad asks Zo. 

He is just high. 

“I’m fine, Mbulazi. I’m just nervous to be finally seeing her. I keep wondering how she is doing. I don’t understand how we have not been able to get her out yet.” Zo says. 

“She pissed off some very powerful people, Mntungwa. We hit dead-ends with every attempt we make to get her out. Even she has given up. She doesn’t even want to go to trial and she doesn’t even want a lawyer. How can we get someone like that out?” My dad. 

“There’s more to this, baba. I can just feel it. If we crack that, we can maybe connect with the right people who will have an interest in mama getting out.” I say. 

“MaKhumalo, let’s just see your mother first then we take it from there. Let’s hear what she has to say first then we can decide on our next move.” He tells me. 

“Do you think Maboko could help in –

“Maboko blocked me, Zo. I have no means of contacting him. I have to accept that he is no longer part of my life and stop expecting him to help me with anything. Teboho would never let him anyway.” I say.

“Lindamantungwa, forget about Maboko. All we have is each other. Let’s focus on that and utilise that”, my dad tells me. 

Now we wait for mama. 

She walks out and she looks like she’s five minutes away from her deathbed. What the hell have they done to her? I run to her. I try to hug her and she is the one who says, “Linda, I’m in pain. Please don’t squeeze me too hard.” 

I feel like crying. 

My dad holds her hand, guides her to a bench then helps her sit down. 

Zo is high, but he’s also sad. 

“Mah, what happened?” Zo asks. 

She just cries and doesn’t answer us. 

“We are going to get you out of here”, my dad says. 

“No, Stan. Please… just let me do my time.” My mom shocks us all. 

“What do you mean?” I ask. 

“Just let me do my time. Don’t fight this.” She says. 

“Why would you say that? Why would you ask that of us? Mah, you have connections everywhere. You are a senior government official. Someone in that Mohale royal house better lift a finger!” I’m getting extremely angry now. 

“Linda! Linda! Linda, please!” Everyone looks at us as she shouts my name in absolute panic. We look around and apologise for our noise. Then she says, softly, “Let it go! I targeted a close friend to the Mohale family and I have to pay the price.” 

“Are those twins doing this? Is this because of Maboko?” I’m furious now and if the answer is yes, I’ll finish what my mother started. 

“My baby, what is it going to take for you to let this go? These are powerful and dangerous people. Don’t bark up this tree. Please.” 

“Why did you do this, Zandi?” My dad asks her. 

“Linda was hurting, Stan. I wanted Maboko and Teboho to hurt like Linda was. The hit was not on Lydia. It was on their son.” 

The shock on my dad’s face is unmatched.

“You kill children now?” My dad asks her. 

“They hurt my child. They shattered her heart and killed her spirit. Now she’s running around with a lowlife who thinks he’s made it because he drives an entry level BMW. This is not what I want for my child.” 

“That’s the same boy you’ve managed to put in hospital while trying to kill a child, Zandile”. My dad. 

“I hope he dies. Because I’ll die in here if Linda pursues anything with that boy”, my mom. 

“I actually like Kabelo, mama. I love you and I’ll fight to get you out of here. But don’t disrespect Kabelo. He is in my life now and you need to respect that”, I say. 

She just looks at me. 

“You have a court appearance tomorrow. We managed to convince your attorney that you have changed your mind about –

“Lindamantungwa! Why are you not listening to me?!” 

“Because I don’t understand why you would want to stay in this place. Look at you! You look like you could die any minute from now. How is this a better place than your own damn house?!” 

“Linda, that’s enough!” 

“No mama, it’s not. It will be enough when I see you walk out of this place.” I say. 

“Who are you protecting, mama? Was it even you who organised that hit? Or are you going down to take the fall for someone else?” Zo asks a valid question. The Zandile Khumalo that I know would not be this reckless with her freedom. 

My mom does not answer us. 

“Is it the Mohales?” I ask. 

Her tears start streaming down her face. I have my answer. She takes one final look at me and says, “MaKhumalo, please let this go and let me do my time.” 

“If people truly paid for their crimes, the Mohales would be behind bars with you paying for the shitthat they’ve done to people. You better get the same immunity that they have, or I will come after them one by one and make sure that they pay!” I tell her. 

“Linda –

I walk out before she says anything further. 

Zolile and I are now driving to the hospital together. We left my dad with my mother. 

“You have to get mom out. She looks like she’s going to die in there.” Zo tells me. 

“You don’t think I don’t know that?”

“I’m just saying, Linda. You are connected to these people. That has, at the very minimum, earned you a conversation with someone who can help us get mom out of that place. Please! Do something.” 

“I don’t know what it is that you want me to do, Zo. But I’ll do my best.” 

“She’s not perfect, I know that. And I know that what she did is disgusting. But she doesn’t deserve this. She doesn’t deserve what is happening to her. She looks so – 

“Zo, I was there. I saw her. Please. I’ll try my best.” I say. 

We arrive at the hospital and make our way to Kabelo’s ward. There is a church service taking place here. His mother is here with her church people. Kabelo is an only child. His mother is a devoted Christian woman who has church services here every day to fight for her son’s life in prayer. He has elements about him that keep him human and you cannot help but want to stay close to that. 

“Dumelang“, I greet them. No one greets me back. Mxm!

I’ve met his mother before and I’ve been introduced as his girlfriend. I don’t know if she likes me or not and honestly, I don’t care. I’m just here for him and that’s that. 

After the church service is over. The church ladies leave and I sit next to Kabelo. I brush his head and just –

“What does your mother have to say for herself? She’s the one who did this. And now she thinks that paying for his medical bills will make it all better?” Kabelo’s mother says. 

I don’t have the energy required to deal with this woman. I really don’t. She’s a God-fearing woman who judges other people, so that alone has made her a hypocrite in my eyes. I have nothing to say to her. 

“I’m talking to you!” She yells. 

Kabelo starts twitching. I stand up and focus on him. He opens his eyes slowly and I make sure that I’m the first person that he sees. 

“Baby”, me. 

He looks at me. 

“Baby, hey! It’s me. You are awake. Finally.” Then I look at Zo and say, “Zo, please get a nurse.” 

Zo runs out to look for a nurse. 

“Kabelo, it’s your mother. How are you feeling, papa?” 

Kabelo just looks at us. 

The nurse walks in and asks us to give her space. 

“I’m his partner, sisi. Can I please stay with him?” 

“Hai wena! You are a divorcee to someone else. Don’t come here and be forward! Hai bo! I’m his mother”. 

“Could both of you please just get out”, the nurse says. 

“Linda…” 

Kabelo utters.

“Yes baby. I’m here. It’s me.” I respond. 

He holds onto my hand tightly.

The mother and I stare at each other. I want to smile, but I realise that this is not the time. 

Zo leads the way for her to get out. 

The nurse does some checks on Kabelo as I stand aside. When she is done, she gives us space. 

“How are you feeling?” 

“Linda, have they found out who did this?” He asks me. 

I don’t know if I should tell him the truth. But I know that if I don’t, his mother will. That cow will portray a far worse narrative than what actually happened. Kabelo is practically giving me the platform to control the narrative.  

“It wasn’t meant for you, baby. You were not the target.” I say. 

“That person must still pay”, he says.

“It was my mother, Kabelo. The target was someone else.”

I don’t like the look that he gives me. 

“She’s paying for all your medical bills and she is in prison. I’m trying to get her out though”, I say. 

“She almost killed me.” 

“She’s my mother. And she didn’t mean to”, I say. 

He is silent. 

“Baby, how about we focus on getting you better and getting you out of here?” I say. 

“Please leave”, he says. 

“Kabelo –

“Now, Linda. Please.” 

“Kabelo, she didn’t mean to hurt you. Please believe me.” 

He is just silent now. 

… 

“Thank you for meeting with me”, I say to them. 

We are in my car and are parked in the middle of a ditch. We cannot be seen. 

“What do you want?” Pule asks me. 

“I need my mother out of prison. Something tells me that the twins are the ones keeping her in there. They are not exactly known to be reasonable. So I need another negotiating strategy.” I explain. 

“Where do we fit in?” Kefentse enquires. 

“You have information. I have information. We can put our heads together and start seeing how we can get those brats to bow down to us for a change.” I say. 

“We don’t need your help. We are very close to putting an end to them. We are already five steps ahead”, Kefentse tells me. 

“Maybe I have your smoking gun. I’ve been around them since I was a child. I was married to their best friend.” 

“Yet you are still here needing our help. And you were only married to Maboko for five meaningful minutes. It doesn’t count.” Kefentse is a bitch. 

“I need my mother out.” 

“Your mother was part of an organization that can help us with the smoking gun we need. Get us a meeting with your mother and get her to open up and talk to us. If you can do that, we can talk about you joining forces with us for even bigger projects to bring down the royal house.” Kefentse says.

“What organisation?” I enquire. 

She laughs and says, “Are you sure that our smoking gun lies with you?”

What is this girl talking about? 

“Get us a meeting with your mother, then we can talk. Until then, don’t ever call us again. We are not part of your revenge club for the embarrassment that your marriage has caused you.” Kefentse says then both she and Pule leave my car. 

… 

Regodise is the best thing that is to happen to government in Tholoana Kingdom and she gives the church a lifeline that no one else could have given to them. But, it comes at an expense and between Linda, Kefentse and Pule, someone has to pay the price for that expense. Ona is cornered into bringing Regodise into the church. When it comes to Regodise, we already know that Ona is his most human. The husband in him does not allow for Regodise to be in the church even though Mohato insists that Regodise is an asset and is tougher than what Ona thinks. 

A peep into the royal walls gives us a greater peep into the church and its operations. Regodise’s role is growing as the wife of a deacon and we are all here for it every Wednesday. Let’s make our reading circle bigger by tagging and inviting friends to enjoy the drama with us.