Later that day, I cooked spaghetti and meatballs for dinner at home. I was very tired, but I sat with Vuyo and helped him with his homework. He was very smart, and sometimes I thought he just asked for help because I always said he never got homework.

“Mom?” Vuyo said, looking up at me. He resembled me a lot, and I had never seen a boy who looked like his mother like him before.

“Yes boy?” I responded, looking at him.

“Who’s that lady daddy brought home yesterday?” Vuyo asked me, and for a minute I went quiet because he was not supposed to know. “I heard him arguing with you,” he continued.

“It’s a friend of his,” I said, smiling at him.

Vuyo nodded in response, but I could see he did not believe me.

“How would you feel about having a younger sister?” I asked him, and his face lit up.

“I’d be happy! I’d protect her, and make sure she doesn’t marry a man like daddy,” Vuyo said, managing to smile and frown at the same time.

“Daddy is a good man,” I said, patting his hand.

“I’ve never seen daddy being good to you,” Vuyo replied.

“He’s just stressed out,” I said, defending him.

“I still won’t let my sister marry a man like him,” Vuyo said, shrugging. Then he stood up, packed his books, and walked up the stairs.

**********

“Ah! My pregnant wife,” Lunga said, coming in as I started setting the table. I plastered a fake smile on my face and kissed his lips. He tasted like beer, but at least he was not drunk. “How was work?” he asked me.

“Good,” I responded, watching him sit down.

When Lunga and I were done greeting each other, I served him, but I only noticed the beer he had with him when he put it on the table. We then eat in silence, but I knew that, as soon as he finished the bottle of beer, all hell was going to break lose. So, I watched him drink until he took his last sip.

“How was work?” I asked.

Instead of responding, Lunga remained quiet, and his eyes dropped to the floor. I wondered what he was thinking, and when he looked up at me, I thought I saw tears in his eyes. I then waited for a while, because that was something I had to see. The last time I had ever seen him cry was when I gave birth to Owethu.

“I’m sorry, I shouldn’t have brought that … thing into our home! That was disrespectful to you and our kids,” Lunga said, crying, and he looked very ugly when he cried.

I almost roll my eyes at him, but, instead of doing that, I nodded and took his hand. “It’s okay baby, I understand,” I said to him.

Lunga nodded in response, then he stood up and stretched his arms out. While looking at him, I guessed I should hug him, so I hugged him, and he held me lovingly. But, even while I was in his arms, I knew that I would never forgive him for bringing another woman into our matrimonial home.

***

Tell us: What do you think Silindile should do next, now that she knows that she will never forgive Lunga for what he did?