It had been three months since Tshepo and Naledi found the child, who was now in the final stages of recovery. They had also decided to adopt her since no one came to claim her.
“Nana, you know that I don’t care whether you can have children or not. My only wish is for you to be happy.”
A wave of guilt washed over Naledi. She sometimes felt like a dark cloud to Tshepo because she was infertile and unable to conceive. “I know.” No assurance could heal the wound. “I’ll take this as a sign that God is on my side. Maybe He, too, wanted me to be a mother.”
“If that is the case, then I’ll be the best father to her.” He took her hands into his and kissed them. “The only time I saw you cry with joy was six years ago on our wedding day, and never again. It brings me immense joy to see you delighted.”
The couple embraced being each other’s comfort and awaited their newfound bundle of joy. “Thank you for being with me even though you knew that I can’t give you children of your own. You still loved me.”
“Stop flattering me, hey…” Tshepo pulled Naledi’s shoulders back. “Don’t you think we should give her a name?”
“I agree. We can’t keep calling her ‘baby’.” She smiled wholeheartedly.
The doorbell rang, making Naledi’s heart beat faster than before. Her hands sweated due to the temporary anxiety of seeing her twin sister. Thoughts ran through her mind about how alike they were. Will she like her? How tall is she, making her restless?
Tshepo opened the door for Dinaledi, who shockingly looked like someone he knew but waved the thought away. “Hello, you must be Dinaledi. I’m Tshepo, Naledi’s husband. Please come inside,” he welcomed.
“Nice to meet you,” Dinaledi said, in awe as she saw the humongous house her twin sister lived in, a little bit of envy in her heart as she had been living in a shack. “I wasn’t sure if I was at the right house.”
Tshepo awkwardly laughed, feeling uneasy that the new acquaintance might not be a stranger to him.
“Hello, are you Naledi?” Dinaledi waved nervously with a smile.
“Hi, you must be Dinaledi. Please, have a seat.” Naledi pointed to the black leather sofa.
Dinaledi was wearing a black leather jacket that looked rather expensive. It accentuated her curves from her upper to lower body.
The twins looked similar, which answered Naledi’s questions. Dinaledi had a shorter afro compared to her sister, and she was a bit shorter.
Naledi awkwardly smiled. “Can I hug you?”
Undeniably, when the sisters hugged, they both felt as if their missing pieces were restored. Both of their hearts filled with joy as Naledi tightly held onto her older sister.
“Would you like something to drink? Cappuccino, tea, juice… I’m sorry, I didn’t know what you like, so I prepared everything.” Naledi asked.
Dinaledi chuckled. “I would like some wine.”
“Wine…” Naledi noted that her twin was outspoken and assertive compared to her.
“I’ll go get it for you,” Tshepo interrupted with a smile. “Nana, sit comfortably, and I’ll get you anything you need. You guys talk, and I’ll work,” he said, blowing a kiss to his wife.
Shy, Naledi looked down, her cheeks turning tomato red. “You never let me do any work except for the trash.”
“I forgot about it, but I promise, next week I’ll do it while you take care of Gotsididi.”
Naledi rolled her eyes. “Isn’t that what you said last week? Love, please get Dinaledi the wine Tymer bought in Italy.”
Tshepo’s eyes bulged. “The same wine you complained about being expensive?” Naledi stared at him. “I’ll go.”
“Your husband is loving,” Dinaledi complimented, but the only thing that caught her attention was the word “Italy.”
“He’s alright,” humbly Naledi answered.
“You have a big house too…” Dinaledi’s jealousy rose.
Naledi’s house was a double-storey, with white marble flooring, highlighting the money they had. The expensive furniture, from the double-door branded fridge to the dishwasher and the oak table.
“My dad—our dad—helped with the down payment, but it’s nothing grand.”
“Trust me, I live in a shack, I should know. I didn’t know our dad was this rich. Wow, Naledi, I envy you.”
Naledi only cared about having a baby, while Dinaledi wanted to have a life like Naledi’s, or maybe Naledi’s life?