It is so weird to have a baby in the house. Shaka and I are rabbits when it comes to being sexually free in our house. Now, Wande wakes up and we know there’s no sex until he takes a nap or until Tebza comes to take him for the day.
I have just spent a good hour in bed and underneath my husband. Now, I’m in the kitchen, making breakfast and humming about. I’m in such a good mood. It’s a beautiful day. It’s raining, but it’s a beautiful day. The air smells great and life is just good.
Shaka comes down the stairs with Wande in his arms. Did I mention that Wande is his twin? Yep, he betrayed me. I don’t know what men eat and perhaps as women, we just need to find out. What do these men eat that makes them put children in us that will come out looking like they baked for nine months in their balls as opposed to our tummies?

“Good morning, Nandi Maphumulo.” Shaka says as he kisses me.
“Hello babakhe”, I say, kissing him back.
Wande starts grabbing on our faces, so clearly, this is not going any further. He dives towards me and I pick him up.
Shaka pulls out his phone and leans against our kitchen island.
“I was speaking to Luhle this morning”, I say.
Luhle moved out three months ago saying that she needed her space and independence. We were not exactly jumping for joy because Luhle does come across as someone who is a bit unstable. We both felt better knowing that she’s with us all the time. Her depression seemed to be triggered by Nompumelelo’s passing. She gained weight and went into a funk. We had to take her back to the wellness centre for about three months so she could go through a programme that they call ‘the lifesaving program.’
When she came back, she stayed with us for about a month, then she left. She’s gone to LA. I also don’t know why she chose LA. I was pregnant at the time and couldn’t travel… Shaka didn’t want to leave me alone. So, she went up alone and settled in. Shaka bought her a car and a house that side. We are yet to fly to LA and check in on her.
“How is she doing?” Shaka asks me.
“She’s fine. She seems happy. She says she found a job”. I tell him.
“A job? As what?” Why does he seem so surprised? Was Luhle never meant to work?
“A boutique assistant. The boutique apparently sells exclusive clothes. But she’s a junior assistant. So, she said we must buy from the shop using her name as the assistant who helped us. And if she makes good sales, she will be promoted.” I say.
“Now we are buying promotions for her too?” Shaka is a bit annoyed. I thought we both loved the sex this morning. Why is he so cranky?
“They are nice clothes, baby.” I say.
He shakes his head.
“What’s wrong, Shaka?” I ask him.
“I feel like I failed as a father.”
Hawu?!
He also sees the shock on my face.
He continues, “How is it that none of my kids turned out okay? I have one in prison, one that died in prison, and one that will crack and kill herself if she wakes up on the wrong side of bed. Now she’s even asking us to buy promotions for her at work? After it took her years to get some sort of employment because she was too fragile to have any responsibilities. I worked so hard to make sure that these kids have everything. How did they fail to just be people who could benefit off the money and use it as a head start in life? A head start that most people don’t have?”
“Lalela… Shaka, look at me!”
He looks at me.
“You are not a bad father. You did what you were supposed to do as a father. You loved your children. You served them. You made sure that they never lacked anything. But we need to appreciate that kids are their own people with their own decisions and personalities. They are individuals that make up who they want to become no matter how much we try to groom them into what we want them to become.”
He shakes his head and says, “You teach kids values and equip them with tools to survive. I told Kenosi that she’s too soft on these kids. She always told me that the way that I grew up and how the kids were growing up was different. She always said there was no need for us to make them suffer if I had done all the groundwork. But she never appreciated that the reason why her and I could survive just about anything was because we understood the value of surviving. The money wasn’t supposed to change that. Those children needed to understand life. We needed to equip them with surviving without us on this earth. The money was just something they’d use to give them a head start where necessary. But all three of them made money their escape and the one thing they never believed they’d never lose in life.”
I don’t know what to say. Surely, it’s not my place to comment on how his deceased wife raised their children.
“Now, Ntuthuko has this child with a sex worker. Hai! Umhlolo phela lo.” Shaka is deeply disturbed this morning.
Mbali, Ntuthuko’s baby-mama, is a sex worker. Unfortunately for MaTango, her daughter came out looking like Ntuthuko a lot. We did DNA tests to confirm the paternity of the child and they came back positive. Ntuthuko’s possibility of being the father of the girl is 99,9%. Mbali took her child and left her with her parents in Mtubatuba. We send them money every month to help raise the child, but Shaka refuses to do more than that. I was prepared to live with the child, but he flatly refused. He, according to his words, is done over-extending himself to his grown kids. He’s even said he’s prepared for whatever that will come with.

He takes Wande from me and I watch him hold Wande. Wande smiles at him. Shaka’s heart melts and he smiles at him. Then he says to Wande, “Akwand’impumelelo Maphumulo… Mashimane, Lubheleni, Dibandlela, Mangcingci, Jeqe, Zulu, Doncabe, Zukuzela, Mgun’omkhulu, Masiyane! Ngithembe kuwe ndodana yami… thunjane lami… Akwand’impumelelo kwaMaphumulo ngawe, ndodana yami. Akuhluke ngawe, Mashimane. Akukhanye ngawe lapho kumnyama khona. Akuvuleke iminyango evaliwe ngawe, Mgun’omkhulu.”
Why is this making me so emotional?
I put my arm around his waist.
He kisses my forehead.
“We have to be different with him, Fifi. Please… let’s love him with all our hearts… but let’s also create a man will bring isthunzi back into our home… back to our name.”
“Love, that’s a lot of pressure to put on one individual. Plus, we are both doing this together for the first time. We don’t want to smother him.” I say.
“Let’s be there for each other. Let’s be a team. Let’s do our best.”
“And let’s be driven by loving him.”
He nods his head.
“He’s not ending up in prison. And he’s not going to be useless. He is my heir. He will be the one that will step into my shoes when the time for him to do so arrives.”
I’m definitely not comfortable with this statement.
Wande makes a gooey sound and he smiles at us. We both look at him and we chuckle.
He is perfect. That much I will admit.
“Ngiyabonga Nandi Maphumulo. Thank you for my son. Thank you for inkosana yami.” He says.
I kiss him.
Wande uses the power of his little foot to kick Shaka’s chest.
We laugh.

…

Teboho organised a family photoshoot for us. I was against it because I felt like Ntuthuko and Luhle should also be here for the shoot. But Shaka was beyond excited for it, saying he’s never done it before and he definitely wants to do it with Wande and me.
So, the photographers have arrived and have created a studio in our home.
The first part of the shoot is in our dining room. I’m wearing a blood-red evening dress, Shaka and Wande are in matching Italian suits. They look so HANDSOME!
I have someone fixing my wig and doing my makeup. I look like a snack, if I do say so myself. Teboho is here and she is directing the creativity of the shoot.
We are just taking orders and shooting throughout the hour.
When we are done in the dining room, we go to our bedroom. In here, I wear a lacey sleepwear piece and Shaka is in long sleepwear pants, but is topless. Jaws are dropped. I know. My man is a snack. But he’s my snack! Let that be known. We take directions in here and take pictures. Wande is bouncing about in his sleeping onesie.
The next shoot is the playroom – Wande’s playroom. It’s a nursery and playroom in one. I’m now in denim pants and a simple t-shirt. Shaka is in Adidas tracksuit pants and a white vest. Wande is in shorts and a playful white t-shirt. This is so nice. It is so playful. It is so beautiful.
Finally, the last part…
Which is Shaka’s favourite part…
And Teboho’s favourite part…
We are shooting outside for the Golden hour – catching the sun as it is about to set.
Shaka and Wande are in ibheshu and they look OUT OF THIS WORLD.
I am dressed in the exact same outfit that I was dressed in on my wedding day. My isiqholo is bigger though and it’s covered in beads and beads alone.
We have an isiZulu family shoot in our garden. They have set up so nicely.
One of the shots, we are in the swimming pool… in these outfits. Shaka has Wande in his arms, cradling him. And I’m holding ihhawu nomkhonto next to them, coming back from the war of protecting my lions.
It is so powerful.
I love it!
I feel like Nandi.

The day is done and as the team wraps up and packs up, we bath and get warm. It is a rainy day and all of this felt like work. But I’m looking forward to the swimming pool pictures because that in the rain must look top class.

“I actually enjoyed today. We must do it again.” He says as we get dressed.
We have the heater on in the bedroom and Wande has way too much energy. I really don’t understand how he’s not tired.
“Really? I didn’t like being bossed around like that”, I say.
He laughs aloud at me.
“But it was a beautiful gift from Teboho. I must go and thank her with some flowers and a good bottle of wine.” I say.
“They really are supportive. I appreciate them.” He says.
“Those pictures are going to be stunning though, hey.” I say.
“I already have plans of where I’m going to put most of them.” He says.
“Really?”
We both laugh.
“Nandi!” Wande says and we both stop speaking and stare at him. Wande just said his first word and his first word is “Nandi.”
“What did you say, papa?” I say.
“Nandi!” He says and he goes back to being busy.
Shaka smiles. He laughs. He’s so happy.
“You call me Nandi so much that it is our son’s first word? Now I’m not even going to be mommy.” I say to Shaka and he laughs aloud.
He pulls me into a hug and we kiss before I rest my head on his chest.

Today, I’m pitching to Ona, Khotso, Kea, Lulu and some other people. Ona asked me to head up education-based programmes under his leadership. The key thing that he wants to do is head up standard schooling for people who cannot access private education that sets them up for life after matric. I’ve had to work with universities, organisations and the private schools themselves to put this pitch together. I’ve had to explicitly identify the gaps… understand why businesses would take a matriculant from Connie College over Tholoana Secondary school. Money set aside, what is the curriculum in that school that sets the students up for life that doesn’t exist in former model c schools or township schools? We’ve evaluated, with the universities, how ready students are for university based on the high schools that they matriculate from and what is actually lacking?
With our findings, we’ve put together a plan that I will be presenting at The Sip & Read – where Ona has set up office and has most of his meetings.
The Sip & Read has actually become an office space for the royal house. They should have offices at the government and they probably do, but they seem to like The Sip & Read most. So, us close family friends and staff meet with them there. Anyone else goes to meet with them at the government offices.

“Good luck for your presentation, my love. Make me proud.” Shaka says as I get into my car.
“Thank you, baby. Are you sure you don’t want me to take Wande to creche?”
“Stop stressing. I’m sure I’m capable of taking my kid to creche and helping him settle in. I’m his father, woman!” He says.
“Okay.” I say and laugh.
“You look hot. Those men better not try funny shit. I’ll kill them”. He says and I laugh.
I’m wearing a black power suit with a white shirt and nude heels.
I love this look and feeling. I love having a career again – in education. Now, I can do something about the things that piss me off about the system. I’ve got the right people’s ears close to me. I actually feel like I’m impacting people through education. I’m not just a teacher anymore. I’m a policy changer. I’m a game changer. I’m the woman that I have always wanted to be, but most systems wouldn’t let me because my job was just to teach and go home.

The meeting goes really well and Ona gives the project a thumbs up. He told me from the beginning that budget is not an issue. So, I’ll be given an office and a team to execute this plan. Kea has asked to work with me and I honestly have no issues with that. She was the most impressed and she genuinely believes in my vision for education in Tholoana Kingdom. I will be working closely with her office – external affairs – and I have her unlimited support. Lulu loved it too. She wants in on the marketing and branding of the project. She wants to tell the story of the project – from its genesis right up to its success. She wants people to know that Tholoana Kingdom may be small, but it produces a difference in the world and leaves its footprint in the sand of time. Ona’s main comment was that he has a team of smart people that will make him look like the best leader there ever was. He is a leader that has made history – no doubt. His maternal grandfather – Maphodile’s father – was a king. He was overthrown by the Mohale family and they became the royal leaders of Tholoana Kingdom. Now Onaleruna Mohale, the son of the Tau royal family and the son of the Mohale royal family is now the king – the first twin in the history of Tholoana Kingdom to still have a living and breathing twin and be king. He is a miracle story. He is destined to only produce miracles in this country.

I get into my car – a gift that Shaka bought for me as a wedding gift. It’s a stunning red Lexus LC 500 convertible. The number plates are NANDI TK. When I am not driving around with Wande, I use this car. I absolutely love this car. It gives “Shaka’s wife” vibes.
I phone him as I drive off from The Sip & Read.
“Hey baby”, he answers his phone.
“Hey love. How are you?”
“I’m good. How did your meeting go?”
“It went really well. They approved it. So, they’ll give me a team and an office.”
“Congratulations, baby! I’m so proud of you. I’ll make sure your office is next to mine.” He says.
I laugh aloud.
He chuckles.
“I’m serious”, he says.
“I’d love it. But don’t worry baby, I’m still committed to you and Wande. You two will always come first”, I say.
“Thank you, my love. Thank you very much. I love you, baby.” He says.
“You sound down. What’s going on?” I ask him.
“One of the pictures that were sent to us for a preview from our photoshoot…”
“Yes?”
“I made it my profile picture on WhatsApp and Luhle phoned me.”
You know, I knew this shit would happen. I knew it and that’s why I was opposed to this photoshoot.
“Eish baby, utheni?” I ask.
“She’s upset. She says we’ve clearly started a family without her and we’ve made it clear that she and Ntuthuko are excluded from our family. Then she said even if we want nothing to do with her and Ntuthuko, it’s fine, but what did Ntuthuko’s daughter do to us?”
I take a deep breath.
“I’m coming to your office. Do you have a minute for me?” I say.
“For you… I have the whole day.”

I arrive at the government offices and make my way to Shaka’s office. I find Maboko in his office and they are chatting on one of his couches.
“Dumelang”, I greet them.
“Hello Nandi”, Maboko says.
I laugh.
Shaka walks up to me and kisses me.
“Excuse me! My virgin eyes! I’m a child, please.” Maboko says.
He’s so annoying today. We both just laugh at him.
“I’ll see you later, Shak.” Maboko says as he leaves Shaka’s office.
“Later, chief”, Shaka says.

“Are you okay?” I ask him.
“All the better for seeing you”, he says.
I smile at him.
“I’m not taking Ntuthuko’s child. I raised my kids. I didn’t go around making kids that I couldn’t raise or support. I’m already supporting his child for him. I’m not living with the child.”
I’m silent.
“And Luhle… it’s time she grew up.” He says.
“You don’t mean that.” I say.
“I didn’t mean it often enough and that’s why she’s the way that she is. You know what, Fifi… I’m tired, love. I’m exhausted. Honestly, I’ve done my part as their father and I’ve done it to the best of my ability. What they become after this is no longer my problem.” He says.
I just pull him into a hug. He lets me. He wraps himself around me too and we just hug each other.
“I love you, myeni wami.” I say.
“I love you, Nandi wami.”

…

I didn’t go to Venda and my mom still chose to stay in Soweto and support Noni.
I’m really irritated. Kenneth is upset with Thomas and I’m low-key blamed for it because Thomas was respecting my mother. My mom still didn’t show up. Now Kenneth is telling us that Ranwedzi cannot take part in the cleansing today because he’s not a Mbatha and Lethu passed away before he was even born so the black cloud is not on him.
I don’t like it when Thomas fights with his brothers because it stresses him out. That means I’m also stressed out.
So, while Thomas takes a shower, I decide to phone Penny – Kenneth’s wife.
“Hello?” She answers her phone.
“Hi Penny. It’s Fikile.” I say.
“I know. I pay for caller ID.”
Hai bo!
“Look, I need your help. I feel really bad about how things are between Thomas and Kenneth.” I say.
“As you should. Fikile, you and Ranwedzi are Ramarus. Not Mbathas. How did you think things would be by you not bringing Ranwedzi to Venda as requested?”
“And I’m sorry, Penny. I really am. Thomas was just trying to be sensitive to how my mom was feeling. I know that went against what we should have rightfully done, and I’m so sorry. I want to make this right. Please help me make this right. Surely, you are also not okay with things being this way.”
She’s silent.
“Penny?”
“Fikile, Kenneth is the head of this family. It would be a good idea for you to start respecting him accordingly”.
“How do I not respect him accordingly?”
“You think we don’t see you and Thomas running this family just because you are the best at managing the businesses? You think because you are at the top of the food chain with our businesses, you are the head of our family? You are not. And do you think we don’t know that you and Thomas are already plotting for Ranwedzi to lead the way to taking over Ramaru Holdings?”
“Hai ngiyahlolelwa ke manje!”
“Excuse me?”
“I was calling because I’m concerned about the family and the fact that two brothers are fighting. I’ve come to you for help as the women in this family to try and bring these brothers together. We don’t have a mother-in-law and it is up to us to make sure that this family stays together. I’m acknowledging that we are the ones who have messed up and I want us to make it right. Wena you are drunk on ego, shit and everything but the matter at hand. We are a family. Since when do we fight against each other?”
She’s quiet.
“Listen here, wena ntombazan’ engana nqondo! I thought we didn’t marry these brothers for their money and their businesses. Why are we fighting about Ramaru Holdings? I don’t even work there. I assist on a consultancy basis and the aim is to grow the business and make sure that our children have a better head start in life that what we and our fathers did. When did our marriages and fixing family problems become a business?”
She’s quiet.
“It’s fine. I was just trying to make things right. We are clearly not aligned on what this family is about.” I say.
“I’m sorry. You are right. I’m so sorry, Fikile. Please. Don’t hang up.” She says.
Now I’m the silent one.
“I didn’t mean it like-
“Whatever, Penny. Please help me fix this.”
“We are having a birthday party for our firstborn, Mulalo. He’s turning twenty-five years old. Kenneth has been very stressed about Thomas possibly not being here. Maybe you could make sure that you guys are here? I’ll text you the date and time. Then you and I can lock them up in a room and get them to talk.” She says.
“Fine. That will work. Anything particular that Mulalo was looking forward to as a gift that we could maybe get him?” I ask.
“Actually…”
“Yes?”
“Kenneth promised the kids that they’d get shares to the business when they turn twenty-five. But that’s obviously dependent upon all the brothers agreeing to it. Mulalo was also saying that he’d want to go work under Thomas at the Construction pillar. It obviously hurt Kenneth a lot, but I’ve made him see reason. Maybe Thomas could agree to the shares and taking him on.”
“A gift, Penny. A gift. Not an unfair life-changing decision that Thomas would need to sit with all the brothers and discuss at length.” I say.
“Mulalo has a right to all aspects of the business.”
“As I said, I don’t care about that. I married Thomas because I love him, not because of what he has. And I don’t get involved in Ramaru Holdings. I have a business of my own. I’m not going to start now just because you said so.”
“I thought you wanted to make things right.”
“I do. But I’m not going to use business to do that. As a business owner myself, I know how hard one works for a business. I don’t use it to bargain for nonsense. I don’t expect you to understand. You are the type that would rather be married to the business instead of start one yourself. I’ll think of decent gift. Don’t worry. Bye.”
I hang up.
This bitch!
Ranwedzi cries and I instantly make my way to him. This phone call honestly pissed me off.

We arrive at my parents’ house for the cleansing. The procedure is done quickly and now people are chilling and drinking.
I have to get Thomas and I on the road to Venda because according to the invitation that Penny sent me, the party is tomorrow.
Sbo is busy playing with Ranwedzi and my sisters are not talking to me.
“Baby, we have to leave”, I say to Thomas as he eats his plate of food.
“So early?”
“Yep. We have to go home and pack. We are going to Venda.”
He looks at me. Surprised.
“We have to go and keep Ranwedzi there for three months. The cleansing is over right?”
“Baby –
“Thomas, we are going to fix this. Things are not going to be like this between you and Kenneth forever. He is the head of our family and we need to apologise then follow his instructions. We have to respect him.”
He just looks at me.
“Plus, Penny sent me an invitation to Mulalo’s party. You have to be there. Your family needs you.” I say.
“Love –
“Please don’t say no.” I say.
“I was going to say thank you. I really appreciate you.” He says.
I smile at him then I say, “I’ll get the girls.”
We kiss.

…

We slept at the main house and now we have just arrived at Kenneth’s house. We are all dressed so nicely and I’m on time to help with some of the preparations. Rofhiwa and Khanyisa have already sprinted to their cousins.
“Should I take Ranwedzi?” I ask Thomas. We are awkwardly stuck at the gate.
“No baby, I’ll take him. Don’t worry”, he says.
“Is that my baby boy, Ranwedzi?” We hear a voice.
We look up and we see Kenneth and Penny walking towards us.
Kenneth gets to us and hugs Thomas. Penny and I just look at each other.
We don’t have to like each other and we are both okay with that, but Thomas and Kenneth must end their beef.
“Give me my boy”, Kenneth says as he takes Ranwedzi and plays with him, lifting him up and making him laugh and smile. Ranwedzi is so happy. Thomas is even smiling. He’s happy. I love seeing him so happy.
“You look so beautiful, Fikile. Thank you, guys, for coming”, Kenneth says to me.
“Thank you so much. Where is the birthday boy?” I ask.
“Inside. You can come with me.” Penny says.
I look at Thomas. He nods his head as if releasing me to leave. We kiss then I leave with Penny.
Wish me luck.

I’m cooking with Kim as we have juice. She’s on an alcohol strike with me because I’m still nursing. The rest of these women are drinking. Most of the women here are Penny’s friends. They are loud and think they are better than everyone.
Their comments… yhu!
And Penny is going on and on about how Mulalo will now be living with Thomas and I because he is the next CEO of Ramaru Construction. She hasn’t even discussed this with us. What’s wrong with this woman?
“Ushup?” Kim asks me.
“I think I need to go sit outside. I’m going to slap this woman if I spend one more minute in here.” I say.
“Well, everything else is done. Let’s go find the hubbies.” She says.
We stop what we are doing and we head outside.

I see Thomas and Kenneth talking. Ranwedzi is still in Kenneth’s arms. Mulalo is with them. Clearly, I’m taking on another child.
They see us staring at them. Thomas calls me.
“Go babe.” Kim says, then she heads to her man.
I walk towards them.
“Hi Auntie Fiks.” Mulalo greets me first.
I give them half a smile.
It’s not that I don’t want to live with Mulalo. But I do want to teach Penny a lesson. I’m going to punch her one day or feed her rat poison. She’s so frustrating.
“Love, are you alright?” Thomas asks me.
I nod my head with half a smile.
“We will give you some space. Do you mind if I take Ranwedzi?” Kenneth.
“Sure.” Thomas says to him. They leave us.
“What’s going on, baby?” Thomas asks me.
“So you are signing over shares to Mulalo?”
“What?”
“And he’s coming to stay with us so you can groom him to be the next CEO of Ramaru Construction?”
“Fikile, what are you talking about?”
I look at him.
“What shares and what CEO?” Him.
“I’m sorry. I just-
“Fikile, talk to me.” He says.
I tell him about the phone call I had with Penny when I called needing help to make things right.
He seems hurt, but he’s not surprised.
I then tell him about the things that Penny was saying in the kitchen to her friends today.
“He was just asking me to mentor Mulalo. This is not the version of the story that I heard.” He says.
“He may mean well, love. But the fact is, his wife wants what she wants and she may take his good intentions and turn them into what they shouldn’t be.”
He nods his head.
“You need to have your eyes wide open, Thomas. You need to think about people like Mthunzi who have given the best years of their careers to build the dreams and legacy of this family. He has operated like the fifth Ramaru brother and if we are handing out shares like it’s Christmas, he should be considered. In fact, his kids should probably also have a piece of the pie in the business because of their father’s contributions to Ramaru Holdings.”
“I have actually been thinking about that a lot.”
“What?”
“How to acknowledge and thank Mthunzi. He has done a lot of for the company. It would be ideal if I could give him shares, but my brothers would never allow it.” He says.
“Well, my company is about to be listed. I’m about to open it for to the market for shares. How about we give him some of those shares as a gift? Him and Mfundo? I’ve been meaning to get that finance genius in our team for some time now. Mfundo is brilliant and he is a hard worker.”
He smiles at me.
I kiss him.
“And…”
“Yes?”
“I want to start plotting my exit.”
“From Ramaru Holdings?”
He nods his head.
“Why?” I ask him.
“The fighting has already started. We are being accused of trying to take over the family when all we did was save the family financially. And let’s face the facts, baby: I am the better CEO. The branch of the company that I own is the money grab for the whole of Ramaru Holdings. All the other branches relied on my branch to save jobs and keep the operations running. And this is how they do me? In fact, they’ve been doing me this way for years now. When you went on maternity leave and asked me to take over your business, I studied everything about it. I want to add a technology element to it and head it. There is appetite in that industry, it links well to communications, branding and marketing, and the Ramaru brothers won’t sue me for restraint. The business I’ll start or be heading will have nothing to do with construction, insurance or financial services. When my restraint is over though, I will add a financial services element to the company that Mthunzi can be CEO of. That is a brilliant money-grab when done well. My brothers just don’t know how to make money as well as they spend it on nonsense. Maybe that will be our legacy. Once we are ready, I’ll ask my brothers to buy me out and they can have it all. It’s the only way I can still save our relationship.”
I’m so sad it’s come to this, but I am excited about the growth opportunity for my business.
I hold his hands and say, “You know, the past couple of months and the birth of Ranwedzi has taught me a lot about family. Yes, we love them and we respect them. But throughout everything we’ve been through, you and I are the only people that have our best interests at heart. We are always going to be okay. Always. You and I work hard and we are a power couple. So, we welcome you into our business, Mr R. And when we get back to GP, let’s call in lawyers and get your name on the business.”
“For real?”
I nod my head.
He hugs me.
“And, maybe you can help me think of a new name.”
He lets go of the hug. He looks at me.
“A name of the business that will incorporate the technology pillar then later the financial services pillar, and a name that captures what this is for you, me, Rofhiwa, Khanyisa and Ranwedzi. We are now building their legacy. Just me and you. I know we will be bigger than Ramaru Holdings.”
He hugs me again, getting emotional. Then he says, “I would have never done any of this without you – or even make the decision that I’ve just made. Thank you, Fikile. You are my strength. You truly do bring out the best in me.”
“I love you, T. It’s always going to be me and you and our babies. If it’s not about us, there’s no need for us to be hurt about it.”
Now we kiss.
“Excuse me, lovebirds. It’s time for speeches and lunch.” Penny says.
Thomas and I come out of our kiss and look at her. She’s smiling but it’s the smile that makes me want to slap her.
Thomas and I hold hands then make our way to the reception area.