“Who’s that cheap lad?” David asked, as he and Joyce stood next to his car.
“Some boy who’s madly in love with me,” Joyce replied, leaning against the car.
“I hope you’re not sleeping with him, Joyce. I don’t want my son to be infected with diseases,” David glanced, handing Joyce ten thousand, hard cash.
“What’s this for?” Joyce asked, pocketing the money.
“I don’t know,” David replied sarcastically, and stood closer to Joyce.
“And don’t treat me like a cheap skirt! You go around sleeping with God knows who, and I don’t ever ask you about diseases you might bring me.” Joyce scowled.
“I just want my son to be healthy,” David said.
“Who said it’s a boy?” Joyce shouted. “You know what, David? This isn’t your child. I just wanted you to provide for my child ‘cause you’re rich! My baby’s father is that cheap lad!” Joyce took out the money and threw it at David.
“You little whore!” David shouted, pushing her.
“You wrinkled old man!” Joyce spat back.
“I’ll make you regret this. I’m pulling out of paying for your fees,” David threatened.
“You dare do that, I’ll find your wife, and tell her you’ve been sleeping with young girls who are half your age. And we’ll see if you’ll still have this flash and bling you brag about,” Joyce threatened, leaning in closer to him.
“You wouldn’t dare,” David said.
“Try me. We both know you don’t have a cent to your name, David. It is your accountant wife who provides you with all this gold you have. You’re a mere traffic cop.” Joyce smiled.
“Fine! I’ll keep paying. Just, stay away from my family,” David whispered.
“You call you and your wife a family? What a miserable family you are!” Joyce laughed.
David clicked his tongue, got in his car and drove away.
***
Joyce gave birth to a beautiful baby girl. She was so small, and she looked exactly like Mpilo. Mpilo was so happy, he was there for the birth.
“Thank you,” he said. He was carrying his daughter.
“You’ll make a wonderful father, and husband,” Joyce replied.
“You’ll marry me?” Mpilo asked.
“I don’t know how we’ll do this, but of course I’ll marry you.” Joyce nodded.
Mpilo kissed her on the lips. “I’ll dedicate my entire life to you and our daughter,” Mpilo paused, then continued, “and all the kids still to come.”
Joyce laughed. “I think she’s enough.”
Mpilo smiled down at his child. “What? I want a house full of kids!”
Joyce laughed. “I know. Me too.”
Mpilo held Joyce’s hand.
***
A year later, Joyce graduated. Mpilo sat holding their daughter, watching as his fiancee was getting her qualifications. Mpilo got a second job, saved up, and managed to open his own panel beaters. They got married when their daughter was two and Joyce was pregnant with their second child.
“I made the right choice,” Joyce said to her friend, Lihleza, as they sat in Joyce’s brand new house. She and Mpilo had bought it a few months back.
“I didn’t think you two would make it this far,” Lihleza admitted, as she sipped her wine.
“Me too. Imagine if I’d carried on and said Avethandwa was David’s daughter. I wouldn’t be married to this wonderful man.” Joyce caressed her stomach.
“What’re you hoping for?” Lihleza asked, as she pointed at Joyce’s stomach.
“I don’t care, a happy healthy baby is all we want.” Joyce smiled as she looked at her two- year-old daughter as she walked from room to room, looking for God knows what.
***
Tell us: What are your final thoughts about how things turned out between Joyce and Mpilo?