…ONE YEAR LATER…

My son, Banathi, is ten months old. He is the spitting image of his father and my husband is the happiest I have ever seen him. He loves being a family man and that is very special to me. With Banathi in our lives, I see different sides to him that make me fall in love with him more. 
My mother gave my son a second name – Mohau. He is an absolute favourite everywhere he goes. My mom has retired from being a domestic worker at the royal house. My father put her through the most yet again and this time, Zithulele asked my mother to come and live with us. We told her that we would like her to help us with Banathi. But really, we could have hired a nanny for that. My dad was going to end up killing my mother and that would have ended me. So, she stays with us now and helps us out a lot with Banathi and the house. I keep hiring domestic workers and mama keeps firing them when Zee and I are at work. She says they do not clean properly and she could do a better job. It doesn’t sit right with me that my mom insists on cleaning up after my husband, child and me. But I don’t know how else to keep her away from doing it. I have even invited her to interview domestic workers, but none of them were good enough. Zee told me to let her be. When she gets tired, she will tell us and we will get someone. I’m still not okay with this, but hey, what can be done? 

Work has become interesting. I work closely with the royal couple, Regodise and the Maphumulos. We break the law and have lawyers as well as systems that protect us. I am extra careful with everything I do because I have a son to think about. I don’t want to go to jail or to die. I have created an anonymous unhackable folder on a hard drive that I bought. I save information on it and I hide it in a place only known by myself. I do not even trust Zee with it. This is what will save me should anything go pear-shaped. I also put money away. Lots of money. I currently have three bags hidden that nobody knows about – not even Zithulele.  
Each bag is secured with money and some memory sticks which are again, my safety net. I need to remain clinical. Plus, our house gets strip-searched for bugs and cameras weekly. 

My phone rings. I have been so glued to my laptop screens since I arrived this morning at the office. I arrived at 5am because I need to present a few things to Mohato and Shaka Maphumulo. 
“Love”, I answer my phone. 
“Kunjani, sthandwa sami?” He asks me. 
“I’m okay. I’m almost ready for my meeting”, I tell him. 
“Okay baby. I just got to the club. Banathi was moody today. I think we should consider taking him to a crèche.” He says. 
“Baby, I’ve been saying that Nathi has to go to a crèche. That child is old. Kids start crèche at three months.” I say. I’ve been singing this song. He and my mother have been shutting me down.
“Baby, three months was too young”, he says. 
“Okay love. I will try to find something good and he will start possibly next week. Thank God for mama because if need be, mama can stay with him at crèche until he gets used to it.” I say. 
“Yeah, I suppose. Anyway, I was checking in. I miss you. I hate that we don’t share a car anymore”, he says. 
Oh ja, he bought a BMW M4 and gave me the Velar. I am loving it. He keeps saying we need to change the Velar before it starts giving me problems. 
“I could always fix that problem, you know?” I say. 
“I’m listening”, he says. 
“Well…” I rest on my chair in my office. Yes, I have an office now. Apparently when you are a criminal, you get treated like royalty around here. 
“I could come over to the club for a quick blow job to take care of my man”, I say, seductively. 
“I would love that. Make sure you arrive with absolutely nothing underneath that sleeveless dress-like coat you bought the other day. I liked it.” He says. 
“Then, I could lie you down on your office desk, allowing your fingers access to your dick’s home while I take care of the dick.” I continue my seductive call. 
“Baby, I’m horny already”. He says.
“Slip your hands onto your penis”, me. 
“What?” Him. 
“Do it baby”, me. 
“Wow. My hands are covering him now. Put your finger inside your vagina.” He says.
“They are already in there. I’m sliding them in and out but it’s not as good as when you slide yours in”, me. 
“Baby, you are killing me.”
“Rub it baby. Imagine it inside of me right this minute, making me come in a way that my fingers can’t”. 
He starts moaning over the phone. 
“Mrs Khuzwayo, you are killing me”, he says in his moans. 
“Keep going”, I say.
Then I start moaning in pleasure while I also help myself. 
We both moan together over the phone. 

He hangs up. 
I open my eyes and look at my phone. I see I have also made a slight mess on my dress with my cum. 
I receive a message from him. 
It is a picture of his penis with cum coming out of it. I send him a picture of my current state too. 

“I’m coming to your office to finish the job“, he texts me. 

I go to the restroom to pull myself together. I wash my hands and clean off the bit of cum on my dress. I freshen up then head back to my office. Mohato and Shaka are already seated around my meeting table, waiting for me. 

“Gentlemen”, I greet them. 
“Mam’Khuzwayo”, Shaka says. 
“Ready for us?” Mohato. 
I nod my head. Had I sat on that call a minute later, they would have walked in on me. The thought alone embarrasses me. 

…

When I get home, I prepare supper then give my attention to my child. He is getting big and my mom is getting old. Today though, she seems distant. I sit next to her as she watches these soapies of hers. 
“Is everything okay, mama?” I ask her. 
“I want to go and see your father this weekend”, she says. 
I am honestly defeated. 
“Why?” I ask her. She can sense the irritation in my voice. 
“Because he is my husband. Because I love him. Because that shack that he lives in is my house. And because Atisang told me that he is not well”, she says. 
Why would Atisang do that? Why? I don’t understand the people in my family. They need to just let this man die. I, for one, am sick of him. Aren’t they? 

I don’t say anything to my mom. I just look at Banathi and pray in my heart that in him I raise a man, not what I had for a father. 

“Tlali, you are here in your house with your husband and son. Don’t you think I deserve the same happiness? You are so happy, my child, and I am happy for you. You have a good marriage and your family is beautiful. I just want mine back too”, she says. 
I have a lot to say in response to that. But you know what? I’m just going to keep it all to myself. This conversation is beginning to piss me off, honestly. 

I hear a car parking in the garage and I know that my husband is home. 
“I’ll ask my son-in-law to drive me home this weekend”, she says. 
I’ll just ask my husband very nicely after having sex tonight to not take my mother there… or better yet, get his bosses to make that man disappear permanently.

…

“Good morning gorgeous”, my husband wakes me up. 

“Hello handsome”, I smile and say as I open my eyes. 

“Banathi is still fast asleep. How about mommy gives daddy a good round for the morning.” He says. 

I waste no time. I am on top of him completely naked, from last night, and I assume my control on top of him. He loves it. We try not to make a noise because Banathi is one hell of a light sleeper. But this is explosive. This is some real good sex. To think that this is the only man that I have ever been with. I could be bias because he is all I know. Maybe there is better in the male market, but I am happy. I orgasm. I cum. I make my man groan like I am his first. I am good. 

He has me on my hands and knees now, pounding into me from behind. He pulls my braids and hangs onto them as he spills himself inside of me, his body still rocking with echoes of pleasure right up until the last possible moment. I feel him twitch within me, riding out his release and encapsulates between the walls of my vagina. He kisses my back and I collapse onto my stomach. He rolls over and lies next to me.

“Baby”, I begin. 

“Hmmm?” He responds, still trying to catch his breath. 

“I need a favour”, I say. 

He turns his body towards me and gives me all his attention.

“Mama is going to ask you to take her to our old house today. She wants to go and see papa. Please say no”, I say. 

“Ah?! Baby?!” He is shocked. 

“I’m serious, babe. Papa messes up all the time. Have you forgotten how we sprinted out of our shack the last time we saw him?” Me. 

“Baby, I can’t say no. Papa is mama’s husband. That’s her person, man. She is not prepared to give up on him and we need to respect that. Come on, baby”, he says. 

“He is going to hurt her again.” I say. 

“Baby, do you have any idea how blessed you are to have both your parents still alive?” He says. 

“Our lives would be so much better if Papa wasn’t part of it”, I say. 

“Tlali, don’t say that. I’d give anything to have at least one of my parents back, even if they come back dead beat. And I don’t blame mama for not giving up on papa. Nobody is perfect, sthandwa sami. You wouldn’t like it if people forced you to give up on me just because of my flaws, right?” He says. 

“Your flaws are not like his. You are nothing like him”, I say. 

“Let he who is without sin cast the first stone. All sins are the same. No sin is greater than the other”, he says. 

“The Bible again?” Me, giggling this time. 

“I told you that the Lord has good game”, he says, laughing. 

I laugh too. 

He kisses my lips, brushes my cheek then says, “Baby, let me take mama. That way, I will be able to protect her should papa try to do anything. I will take her there and come back home with her. I promise.” He says. 

I smile at my husband. 

“I love you Mr Khuzwayo”, I say to him. 

“I love you Mrs Khuzwayo”, he says to me. 

We kiss. 

Banathi cries. 

I guess our morning starts now. 

…

We just finished having breakfast. I’m tidying up with Banathi on my back because he is super fussy today. Mama and Zee prepare to leave to see papa and a knock on the door lingers upon us. Zithulele gets the door. The Mohales and the Maphumulos walk in. They fill my kitchen. Zee and I look at each other. Mama looks at all of us. She is in a hurry to get to her man. 

“Can we talk?” Mohato says. 

“We were actually on our way out. Can this wait?” I say. 

“It can’t wait. Please.” Shaka says. 

“Let me get a driver to take mama home. Please have a seat. We will be with you just now”, Zee says. 

Zee grabs his phone and makes a call. The two couples in our house find their seat. After a few minutes, Zee comes back and tells mama a driver is waiting for her outside. 

“Should I take Banathi with me?” My mom asks.

To that lunatic she is going to see? Oh hell no!

“No mama, it’s okay.” I say. 

“I think your dad will be happy to see his grandson.” She says. 

“Next time, mama”, me.

She is disappointed. I’m not even going to look at Zee because he will make me feel bad. Mama finally leaves. 

I sit next to Zithulele and cradle Banathi in my arms. He is playing with my braids and is nowhere near going to sleep. 

“We have a problem”, Shaka begins. 

Zee and I look at him to elaborate. 

“Khotso was arrested last night. When he called me, he told me that he was taken in for drunken driving. When I got to the station, they wouldn’t let me see him. We got lawyers involved but even they were not given access to him”, Mohato explains. 

“Is that even allowed?” Me. 

“They have international intelligence officers on the case. They have it on international law authority to keep him isolated.” Shaka. 

“For a drunk driving case?” Zee. 

“They are after you, aren’t they?” Me. 

Mohato looks at me. 

“We need to lock our systems at the government office”, me. 

I stand up and hand Banathi to Zee. I grab my laptop and start accessing our systems while the conversation continues. 

“Our internal connects, the cops we use, have been arrested”, Shaka. 

“Our system is frozen. They are trying to get in. I’m going to shut it down completely. We are going to lose data though. We need to shut down even back up information”, me. 

“Just shut it down”, Kea. 

“Wait”, Mohato.

“Wait for what, Mohato? I want my son back home. They are holding him hostage”, Kea. 

“There is crucial information in there regarding this kingdom, our government and the church”, Mohato argues. 

“FUCK THE CHURCH! Khotso is my son and I want him home. I want him back here with me. Don’t tell me about that church that put him in that prison in the first place”, Kea is yelling now. 

I don’t know what to do and time is not on our side. 

“Kearabetsoe –

“None of this would be happening if Reahile were still alive. He would have protected us and made sure that those kids are good people. Not the fucken gangsters that you’ve turned them into”, Kea says. 

We are all taken aback by this comment. Mohato is hurt. He walks out of the house. Shaka follows him. I take Banathi from Zee and he leaves with the men. 

“Delete that shit and shut down everything, Letlali. It’s an order”, Kea says to me. I do just that. 

The system is almost done being deleted when Zee comes in the house and says, “We need to go to the club. All of us. Come on.” 

Us ladies look at each other. 

“Now, come on.” He says in panic. 

I run to the nursery and get a packed bag of Banathi’s essentials. 

“Letlali!” Zithulele yells and I’m running downstairs with Banathi on my hip and his baby bag on my other arm.

We have been in this club for hours now. The driver brought my mom back and she is very upset with us. She and my dad were probably having sex or something, but who cares? She has Banathi on her lap, sitting next to Kea and Nosi. Suddenly Ona, Regodise and Mohale are here with us. 

I am on the laptop shutting down more systems I had no idea existed. I don’t know why Regodise isn’t helping me. Apparently she is brilliant at such things. The news are playing on the big screen in Zee’s office. Khotso’s arrest is all over the news now. But there is more… 

The murder of Morena Mohale. The murder of Reahile Mohale. The murder of Nthatisi Mohale. The murder of Kefentse Mohale. There’s a new one now that has Kea whaling on the floor – the murder of Pule Mohale. Zithulele and I look at each other. 

The media is insinuating that Mohato Mohale and Shaka Maphumulo had a lot to do with these deaths. Kefentse was a lawyer on a quest to find out, with the police, what happened to her father. She handed in damning evidence to an international intelligence police body that implicated Mohato Mohale and other powerful people in murders and other illegal activity. When she passed away, Pule continued the fight. His wife found him dead in their high-end penthouse. 

“What did you do, Mohato?” Kea keeps screaming. 

I am deleting things with Shaka breathing down my neck. I am trying to ignore the conversation between Kea and Mohato, but it is kind of difficult. 

“Kea, it wasn’t on purpose.” Mohato says. 

“You are talking shit! You are talking absolute shit. He was a child, Mohato. Reahile was Kefe’s and Pule’s father. What did you think would happen when you murdered their father? What do you think Ona and Khotso will do because they know the truth? Are you planning on killing all my children to save yourself and that hell you refer to as a church?” Kea says. 

The news report Nothile has been arrested. Zithulele wants to sprint out the door when Mohato and Shaka hold him back and assure him that they will get her out. 

“We need to get out of here, Maphumulo. We need to fetch our three kids from Sis’Nora. It’s getting bad”, Nosi says. 

“Baby, trust – 

“Don’t tell me to trust you. We need to go”, Nosi insists. 

Nosi does not wait for anything. She grabs her bag and walks out of the office. Shaka does not go after her. Instead, he stops Kea and Dise from following Nosi. Then, we hear a gunshot. 

“Baby!” Shaka exclaims. 

We look out the window and the police are gathered downstairs. The person who has shot Nosi, however, is looking up at us. It is Uncle Q. 

Banathi is crying. I grab him from my mom and his bag and we all run after Zee who is showing us an exit to leave from. 

“Kenosi”, Shaka keeps sobbing in disbelief. 

“Come on, Shaka. You need to stop crying. Let’s go”, Mohato says. 

I put a pacifier in Banathi’s mouth and hold him close to my boobs. He keeps quiet. Zithulele pulls me into some hidden room. He, my mom and I are in there. Banathi is against my boob. 

We hear the police looking for us. We hear them arrest Mohato, Shaka and Kea. We hear them mumble that Kenosi is dead. We hear them talk about going to look for Zithulele at our house. We stay in this room for about two hours. My mom is silent but not traumatized. I guess she saw these things when she was at the royal house. 

“What are we going to do?” Zithulele asks me. 

“I have a plan. I’ve been planning for this day since the day they turned me into a criminal at that government”, I say. 

…

We make our way to the car dealership that was holding the car that I have bought cash. Zee is beyond shocked that I made such moves secretly. Fact: Every woman has to have a plan. If you are a woman and you don’t have a plan, you are not worthy of the woman title. We get into the Ford Ranger I bought. Zee sits in the passenger seat, my mom sits with Nathi in the back seat. I drive. I go to my dad’s shack. He is not home. Good. It takes me five minutes to get the bags of money that I had stashed in hidden places in here. I put them in the back of the Ranger and I drive us to our hide away house. 

“Tlali? When? How?” Zithulele. 

If you are a woman and you have no plan, you are just…

…

“I need to get Nothile out. I know you have tons of information to negotiate with. Give me something to negotiate with for Nothile to be released”, he shouts at me while my mom and son find themselves asleep upstairs in the loft. I got Atisang, Reitumetsi and Susan to leave Tholoana Kingdom. I told them not to even tell me where they are. I don’t know where my father is. 

“I gathered this information to help us. To save us. You have been in this game for years! Years Zithulele! How did you not prepare a safety net? Especially because you know very well that you have people that you love”, I shout back. 

“I’m sorry that I’m not as thorough as you are! I’m sorry that I didn’t think things through and plan things like a fucken drill Sargent like you. But we are here now and you have what I need to get my sister out. I’m asking you to help me. Please.” He says. 

“The answer is no”, I say then make my way back to the loft to take a shower. 

…

“Thatha“, I give him a memory stick. 

He looks at me. 

“And then?” He asks me. He looks miserable. I’m wrapped up in my towel. 

“It’s information on the deacons. There are tape recordings of meetings, plans and involvements in international crimes that have killed major personnel for not approving illegal activity.” I say. 

“You think this will be enough to get my sister out?” He asks me, looking hopeful. 

“Get your negotiation skills out and do best with them. Be back here in two days and whatever you do, don’t even think about bringing your sister back here.” I say. 

“Where is she supposed to go?” 

Is he serious?

“Uyahlanya or uyazenzisa? This is our hideout spot. Are you seriously going to sell us out to save your sister? Make sure that when you get her out, she can roam the streets of Tholoana Kingdom because she is not coming back here”, I say. 

He just snatches the stick from me and leaves the house.

It has been three days now and he is not back. My mom just went to sleep and Banathi is sleeping next to mom. 

I am packing two bags. I’m taking everything that I can. I’m shoving money in Nathi’s baby bag. I’m packing more money in the two bags that I have, stashing it under clothes, water, snacks and Nathi’s food. I stash more money in Nathi’s pram. It works as a car seat and a pram. I put Nathi in his pram and cover him with his blanket. 

You see, I know the man that I married. I love him with all my heart, but I know him. He has been dealing with dangerous criminals all his adult life and he still did not have a lifeline. As I pack the hard drives and sticks that I have left in Nathi’s bag, I realise that he took that stick and ran with it. He didn’t realize that the police and international agents don’t care about the small fry. They want the big guns like pope or at least the bishops. He didn’t realize it. He took it and hoped it would work for him. Now, I have to choose between running with my son or saving my mother. 

“I’m sorry, mama”, I whisper. 

I put the two bags on the bottom part of the pram and push it out the room. I leave the warehouse and start walking into the woods. The rain is pouring as we walk through the woods. Nathi is covered by his waterproof pram and the blankets that I have covered him with. I am the one who is being rained on, but it’s fine. While I was setting up place, I set up a second safety house. It is a tree house deep in the woods from here. I walk about twenty-five kilometres into the woods and I find the tree house. It is hidden in the trees. It has a cot for my kid and is proofed to keep out snakes and other insects and animals. It is small, but it will do. 

I take Nathi out and hold him on one side. I pull the bags up on my other side. I get into the tree house and put him down. I then go to fetch the pram and bring it up with me. My sweet baby boy sleeps. I take off my wet clothes and hang them on some string that is in here. I hold the string across the tree house then hang my wet clothes. I manage to sleep on the single bed in here – naked, but next to my son’s cot. For the first time in a very long time, I feel safe. 

…

I am up at 4am and look out the window. From here, I can actually see the house. I see that the warehouse is surrounded by cops. Others are inside the house and there are dogs sniffing around the house. I see my poor mother being dragged out the house by the police. 

I then see Zithulele being dragged into the house by cops. He is not looking good. I honestly cannot help him beyond this. 

The police, my mom and Zithulele leave the place after three hours. I see that some cops have stayed at the place, I suppose waiting for me to come back. 

I stayed at the tree house with Nathi for about a week. The police are not going to leave, so I’m going to leave and make my way out of here through the woods. I use wet wipes to clean myself and Nathi as I have been doing all this time. I pack bags again and shove them just beneath Nathi’s pram. 

It is 4am and the police are snoozing in their cars. The next shift starts at 5am. I have studied them. I climb down the treehouse and leave the pram down the treehouse. I go back up to get my son and his blankets. I climb down. I put him in the pram and I just start walking. I am dressed in workout tights that hug my body, running shoes, a gym t-shirt and a cap. Today is fairly hot, so Nathi is also in shorts and a short t-shirt. I have given him an iPad to watch his shows while we walk through the woods. I downloaded them all when we were still hidden in the warehouse because I knew that signal would be an issue once we started our walk. I have water. I pumped breast milk for Nathi and have it in the bottle cooler. I also have purity for him to eat when he gets hungry. I am just going to walk until I cannot walk anymore. 

I walk. For about twenty-five kilometres, I am walking through nature nje. I have my fears of something dangerous popping up but ke, I keep walking. 

I finally reach some civilisation after thirty-five kilometres. This is a different province, so I really hope that no one will recognize me. It is a small shopping complex. I quickly buy some food and eat at some deserted restaurant. I also pull my child out of his pram so he can get some air. This is one of those restaurants owned by people who look like they do not watch the news. But I eat as quickly as I can. I feel my feet swelling up, but this is not the time to let my guard down. 

I make my way to the taxi rank. 

“Uyaphi sisi?” The taxi Marshall asks me. 

“South Africa, bhuti. Johannesburg”, I say. 

Yes, I am going to a new country all together. I am in desperate need of something new so that I can settle in, build something very quickly that will secure my husband and I, then help to get him out of prison. I know that Johannesburg is a dark place for him, but we are no longer safe in Tholoana Kingdom. I’ll look for something nice that is far away from Soweto.

“Iza ngapha, sisi”, he says. 

“Lalela, bhuti wami. I need a taxi where I will be by myself. I am willing to pay for the whole taxi and add an extra thousand rand.” I say. 

My legs hurt so badly. 

“Why?” He asks me. 

“Please, bhuti. I am begging you.” I request. 

“I will take you wherever you need to be with my car. Just pour me i-full tank and pay me R1000.” He says. 

“Okay”, I say. 

He leads me to a Polo Vivo. We put Nathi’s pram in the boot. I sit with Nathi and our bags at the back seat. I give this guy R5000. He just smiles and drives. Nathi is a bit restless. I don’t blame him. It has been quite hectic for the past few days. I try to soothe him as best as I can to calm him down. 

After a seven hour drive, we arrive at Johannesburg, Park Station. It is dark because it is the early AMs, but Park Station is already busy. He parks next to some taxis as well as next to some people who look like they are about t mug people. In fact, we witness someone being robbed. The guy laughs. I take a deep breath. I feel sleep deprived and exhausted. My feet are swollen and I just need some sleep and a shower. A bath actually – with oils and lit scented candles all around me.  

Nathi is asleep. 

“Thank you, bhuti”, me. 

“It is still dark now, sisi. This place is unsafe. Do you have a relative that I can take you to?” He says. 

“No, thank you.” 

“Where are you going to stay? Let me at least take you to a hotel.” He says.  I cannot take the risk of anyone in Tholoana Kingdom knowing where I will be staying. 

“I know your husband. He is okay inside. I am sure he would appreciate it if I kept his wife and child safe for one night.”

Even more reason why I cannot trust this man. 

“I have a plan. Thanks.”

He helps me out. He takes out the pram and helps me load the bags. 

“God bless you, bhuti wami”, I say. 

I start my walk again. I am extremely aware of my surroundings while my child is fast asleep in his pram. It is dark but hey, I move. After about a ten-kilometre walk, I find a hotel that is decent enough for me to lay my head. It is a four-star hotel. 

“Hi”. I greet the lady who didn’t see me coming in. Maybe she did, but right now I am a mess and I probably look like I cannot afford a room at this place. 

“Hello miss. May I help you?” She says. She has a name tag that is written “Busisiwe.”  

 “Yes please. I am looking for a room for three nights please.” I say. 

“Ma’am, our rooms start from R3500 per night.” She says. 

I did say that I look like I cannot afford this place. 

“I know. I’d like a family room, please.” I say. 

The look she gives me! 

She does something on the computer in front of her then says, “That will be R15000 please.” 

I open my bag and put R15000 cash in front of her. She is surprised, but she smiles and nods her head.  

She finally gives me instructions of how to get to my room and tells me all about breakfast and nice things to do in Johannesburg. I really don’t care! 

…

I went to sleep at 7am and am now waking up at 4pm. I feel relaxed and Nathi looks very calm. I switch on the television while I order room service. I then get into the bathtub and bath myself and my child with the products that we find in here. I don’t have any clothes, but he does. I get back into the clothes I walked and travelled with. 

We eat our meals from room service, then I order an uber to take me to a mall. The first one I see is Eastgate and I opt for it to take me there. 

Eastgate is a nice mall. I manage to buy myself and my child some clothes at Ackermans. 

“Aren’t you a girlfriend to one of those Tholoana Kingdom men who are friends with Khotso Mohale?” some voice says to me. 

“Fikile? Is that you?” I say as I smile – super relieved to see someone that I know. 

“Yeah. You are –

“Letlali. Zithulele’s wife.” 

“Oh… lovely meeting you and seeing you in South Africa.” 

I sigh. 

“Trouble in paradise?” 

“We are all kinda on the run. I landed here. Zee is in prison. Khotso is in prison too. Mohato and Kea are also arrested.” 

She looks extremely shocked and sad.

“Are they okay?” 

“I don’t know. I just want to get settled here and see how I can go back and get him out.” I say. My child needs him and I am pregnant. 

“Where are you staying?” She asks me. 

I don’t know why I am trusting her so much, but I say, “At a hotel. I’ll go look for a house in the Eastrand tomorrow.” 

“Give me your number, I will help you.”