Zah has asked me to have a breakfast date with her today. She keeps saying we just need a minute away from our responsibilities and just date each other. I get what she means. Our kids are a handful. Zah has been emotional about one of her friends – Ruri – who just left and the entire friend group just didn’t take it well at all. They also haven’t seen Mapho since she gave birth, understandably so. I think she’s also just feeling like she needs me to take care of her. 

So here we are arriving at The Rooftop restaurant – the restaurant that our friends did a surprise wedding for us. It takes forever to get a reservation here. It’s always full. I asked for a private room where they make it look nice so my wife feels loved and appreciated. They made me pay R25 000. So this better be good! 

“Mr and Mrs Maphosa, welcome”, a waitress welcomes us at the door as we arrive. 

Zah looks at me as if enquiring what all the formality is about. I paid R25 000. I don’t expect anything less. Lol!

I just kiss her, hold her hand, then we follow the waitress to the private room she leads us to.

We walk in and there’s an artist here singing Major’s “Why I love you“. The room is covered in red roses spelling out her name: ZANOLWAZI.

I ask her for a dance to the song. She blushes before she gives in, and we slow dance to this beautiful melody. I find myself getting emotional when the artist sings “this is why I love you, because you love me.” It’s so true. Zah loves me so much. She loves me as I am – even when she doesn’t want to. I’ve seen how she tries her best to not show me that that is her weakness when we get into arguments. But she just loves me and her love for me healed me in places that I didn’t even realise were hurt inside of me. 

We finally sit at our designated table and there’s a massive bunch of roses waiting for her. It’s those massive arrangements you cannot help but wonder how many roses are actually in there. 

I notice now that Zah is crying.

“Come here”, I say to her, holding her hand and leading her to sit on my lap.

She settles on my lap.

“I just wanted to show you that you are loved and appreciated. Thank you for holding our home down… for taking care of us… and for giving me my kids.” I say. 

“Thank you for letting Molemo live with us.” She says.

She’s got such a beautiful heart. 

We kiss. 

“Did you talk to him about…?” 

I start laughing then say, “are you asking me if I spoke to him about sex?” 

She nods her head. 

I laugh. 

“I’m taking him to that NFR Legends dad-and-son day. We will talk then. I promise.” I say.

“I’m proud of you. You are an amazing father”, she says. 

It means a lot coming from her. And I know it’s not entirely true. I haven’t been there for any of my kids from day one. I came in in their grown years. She’s their ace in every sense of the word – even Molemo. 

“I cloned Molemo’s cellphone”, she says. 

Hai!

“Why?” I ask her.

“I’m worried about him, Mo. It sounds like his mother exposed him to a lot. She didn’t shield him from anything. And now he refuses to see a psychologist. I’m worried that he might find problematic ways to deal with what he was exposed to. I want to see who he’s speaking to, what he’s saying, how he’s healing”, she says.

“Baby, you are going to need to let go and trust that we have created a space safe enough for him to come to us. We can’t protect him from everything. And he’s not the only child we have. You can’t split yourself three times between the kids, then still be my wife, then still be a student focused on your future. You need to give yourself a break. And you are perfect!” I tell her. 

She hesitantly smiles at me.

The waiter finally comes to take our food order.

–

As we eat, I tell her, “listen my love… I know that you didn’t take Ruri leaving too well. But I want you to know that I’m here for you. And for as long as God permits me, I’ll always be here for you. We can gossip all you want. But I won’t go on a period with you. I don’t have hair for you to braid. But I have unlimited love for you”. 

She’s laughing. That’s good. Very good. I smile at her. 

“Love, thank you for this. Seriously. I really appreciate this”, she says. 

I brush her hand. 

“So… I’m going to need you to take some leave”, she says. 

I look at her, waiting for her to elaborate. 

“The kids and I are kidnapping you for your birthday”, she says. 

I’ve never celebrated my birthday. I’ve never even told her when my birthday is. But this is Zah! She probably paid attention to my ID number when we were signing things together. But let me actually ask her. 

“How do you know when my birthday is? I’ve never celebrated it”, I say. 

“I’m your wife. I make it my business to know”, she says. 

I don’t know how I feel about this. 

“Please let us do this for you. Please? And I’ll make the birthday sex even better. You know I’ve been taking pole fitness classes, right?” She says. 

My penis immediately gets excited. She sees it on my face and she bursts into laughter. I chuckle. 

“So, you’ll take leave?! It’s during the kids’ midterm break, so we will be gone for a week.” She says. 

I nod my head. 

She comes to me now, modelling almost… she asks for my hand… I give it to her. 

She initiates a slow dance now that this artist has started singing again. 

“When we get home, your penis will be my body’s playground”, she whispers to me. 

I penis gets hard. 

I wish this artist could finish and leave us. 

“I’m going to pull this t-shirt over your head while my lips make love your neck. Then I’m going to rest my hands on this fine body of yours as my vagina parties on your penis!” 

I throw her over my shoulder and we leave this place.

…

We didn’t even make it out of the parking lot of the restaurant. We literally had sex in the backseat of his C63, and I delivered on my promise HANDS DOWN. 

We are driving home now. 

I’m super sleepy. He’s a very happy man. 

“I love you”, he tells me. 

“I know”, I say. 

We laugh. 

“I need to get my injection when I get to campus”, I say. 

“Injection? Why the injection?” He asks me. By the way, he’s a gynae. 

“Because I forget to take the pill and with everyone getting pregnant and having babies, I’m not trying to catch it.” 

He laughs aloud. 

Then he says, “you promised me one more baby”.

“We already have three. You seriously want four kids?!” I’m actually shocked! 

He laughs and says, “Just one more. Please, baby.” 

“When exactly do you want this child?” I ask him. 

“You can get off contraception now. If you’ve been on the injection, it will take about two years to leave your system.” He says. 

“And school?” I ask him. 

He’s quiet. 

I’m secretly staying on contraception until he can answer that question.

…

We are busy packing the car for our trip. Molise still has no idea where we are going, but I helped him pack. The kids are super excited. Molemo even told me that he’s never been on holiday before. If we are being honest, neither have Phupho and Lelapa.

As Molise finishes packing the car and I finish locking up the house, my dad arrives. I see a car drop him off at our gate. Not in a bad way, but I really hope that he’s not here for a visit. Even Molise is weird because he doesn’t know how to be. 

“Baba?” I say, showing how confused I am about him being here. 

“Sanibonani. Don’t worry, I won’t delay you. I came to say happy birthday to umkhwenyana”, he says. 

This is so weird! 

My kids are now all over him, showering him with love and telling him all about going on holiday with us. 

“Are you throwing a party or something for me?” Molise asks me. 

“No”, me. 

My dad now greets Molise with a hug and a handshake, genuinely wishing him a happy birthday. This honestly could’ve been a phone call. 

A hooter at our gate disturbs us. It’s a car with a ribbon on it. A Mercedes Benz. 

A big Mercedes Benz. 

I open our gate because I’m already excited. 

The car drives in. 

It’s a V300. 

A red V300 AMG. 

I’m already screaming and the kids have joined me in being excited for the car. 

“Delivery for Mr Molise Maphosa”, the delivery guy says. 

My Molise bathung… he’s so overwhelmed. He’s speechless. 

“Son, this is just my small way of saying thank you for looking after my daughter and my grandchildren. I know that our relationship was rocky at first, but you’ve showed up and they are so happy. I also noticed that you love your Mercedes Benz. So I thought I’d spoil you a bit. You know I only have girls. So you are my chance at a son. Please let me do this for you”, my dad. 

He’s so sweet bathung! 

The kids are inside the car, checking it out. 

This is going to be so difficult to top.

“Papa, you are my experience of a father. Thank you for guiding me and never giving up on me despite my mistakes. Kea leboha ka nnete, Ntate waka.” 

Hubby waka bathung! 

They hug. 

Nothing makes a girl’s heart dance more than to see her husband and father get along. 

“When will you guys be back?” My dad asks him.

“End of the week”, Molise says. 

“Okay. Please come to Diepkloof. I need you for something”, my dad. 

“No problem, Ntate.” Molise. 

“Good. Enjoy your trip. I need to head to the airport now. I can’t miss my flight to Germany. Your mom is already at OR Tambo waiting for me”, my dad says, rushing his goodbye to all of us then climbs in the car the Mercedes Benz people came in. The car takes off. 

My family and I look at each other. We scream in excitement! 

“Daddy, can we go in this car?” Phupho asks.

Molise is still emotional.

I hug him.

“You are the greatest blessing in my life”, he whispers to me.

I kiss him.

We spent a whole hour checking the car out. Then Molise called his older brother to just come and speak to their ancestors to protect this vehicle everywhere it goes. They were so excited for the car too. It’s so beautiful. It has black interior seats that face each other, and all seats have red stitching. 

We got Lelapa’s car seat in – and he was quite upset about this, telling us he’s old now, but I didn’t buy it – and now we are taking off to our holiday destination. I have to drive because Molise has no idea where I’m taking him. He’s just so happy.

I’m happy for him.

After a glorious three hour drive, we arrive at Morafe Resort. 

Molise starts laughing instantly and I know that he knows what I’ve done… a throwback for real. 

We were at the opening of this place when we first met, had sex and conceived Phupho. This is where it all started. 

He attacks me with a kiss. 

I hope this is his best birthday ever. 

“Daddy, why do you kiss mommy so much?” Phupho. 

“Because she’s my wife”, Molise says. 

“What’s a wife?” Lelapa. 

“Someone you are legally allowed to kiss and have babies with”, Phupho. 

“How do I get one?” Lelapa. 

“I’ll teach you, son.” Molise. 

I give him a look to indicate that I’m not happy with that, but he just laughs at me. 

We get to reception and we are welcomed so beautifully.

There are dancers that we are now taking videos of because their performance is so cool. They even pull in Phupho and Molemo to join them. Lelapa is tucked in my arms. Molise and I take videos of them. They have so much fun. Lelapa is so shy all of a sudden. 

We settle in our five-star chalet. Yoh, it’s beautiful! And it’s a family chalet. 

While each person gets to have their own room, Lelapa is already negotiating with us if he could sleep with us. Obviously, Molise does not want Lelapa in here with us so we can explore each other like adults.

“Please papa. I’ll sleep on the floor”, he begs. 

“What’s wrong with you sleeping on your own bed. You are a big boy now.” Molise.

“I can sleep alone at home, not in new places.” Lelapa says. 

Molise and I look at each other. 

“We will find a way to thank each other, baby”, I say to him. 

“Fine.” Molise says.

Lelapa is so happy that he even throws himself on our bed. 

Phupho and Molemo haven’t unpacked their bags, but they already want to go and swim. Lelapa is just shy. He’s taking a while to enjoy this place. He’s in his dad’s arms now. He’s still quite a baby. I don’t know why Molise wants another baby. 

“Can we at least go and eat first? You’ll swim when we come back from eating”, I say. We have a private pool. 

“But we are not hungry”, Phupho. 

“When was the last time you ate, Phupholethu?” Me. 

“At home and in the car”, she says. 

At home, we all had porridge only. In the car, it was snacks. That’s not food. We are going to eat”, I say. 

She’s getting upset now.

“Fine, we are all going back home because you guys don’t know how to behave on holiday”, I say. 

“NO! NO! NO!” The kids all say at the same time. 

“We will go eat, mommy”, Phupho says. 

Molise smiles.