We are at the beach. The kids are playing and Tshidi is on the phone with her friends while my beautiful girlfriend is in a yellow bikini reading a book next to me. I am enjoying being next to her.
Her phone starts ringing and she answers. "Yebo, Baba?" [Translation: Yes, Dad.] "No, I will see you when I get back. Okay." she hangs up and looks at the sky before looking at the horizon.
"Was that your dad?"
"Yeah, he wanted to know when I am coming back." I nod and I let it go. After a while of silence "Why do you want to get married?"
"I want to be tied to you."
"Is that it?"
"I mean, marriage is a big deal, it means commitment and it is a promise to each other and I am committed to you so that means I am ready to make that promise to you. Plus, the tax benefits of marriage are amazing."
"Wow,"
"We do not have to get married, Angel, Many lesbians have done it before us."
"Yeah." I wonder what is going on in her head.
"What is it?"
"Nothing,"
"It does not sound like nothing, Angel."
"I do want to get married, I am just afraid."
"Of losing your parents?" she nods "Come here." she gets on my lap and lays her head on my chest. "It is okay to be afraid and we do not have to rush into this, we can take our time."
"I just..." a kiss on her temple "I do want to marry you, so bad."
"I know, Angel." I did not know that "I think maybe we should revisit the marriage conversation a while later because this is causing you unnecessary stress." she nods and I hold her as she calms down.
Given that was our last day in Bali, we headed back into the house to pack and make sure the kids did not leave anything behind. I did do a bit of work, unfortunately work always finds me even when I try to avoid it.
The plane ride back was smoother than the ride there. Everyone had their passports and the kids were less anxious about the journey ahead of them.
When we got back to my house, I realized that my house was smaller than I imagined. I thought it was huge, given how much space I had but for a family of six, the house is tiny.
"We can turn your office into a bedroom for Tshidi, then everyone can have their bedrooms." She suggests as she sits on the bed.
"Okay. Do you want to go buy a bed with her?" she nods and I hand her my card.
While I helped the kids settle in before going into my office and removing my laptops, papers and notes and placing them in the garage, they went out to buy the bed and anything else Tshidi would need.
"Lenka," her need to call me by my surname was annoying.
"Ma'Ndlovu, I need help getting my sister's kids enrolled in school."
"Boarding?"
"No. One is going to grade six and two are going to grade nine."
"Oh, I will see what I can do."
"Thanks, Prudence."
"Are you still with that girl?"
"Yes, why?"
"I am having a party next week, you two should come."
"A sex party?"
"No, not this time. I will send you a formal invitation tomorrow."
"Okay. We will be there, babes."
"Wait so are you guys serious?"
"Yeah. We are talking marriage seriously."
"So no more sex parties for you?"
"Yep, I don't think that is her scene and I would not want it to be her scene."
"Be careful your fangs are showing."
"Fuck off."
"So is she going to do the stay-at-home mom thing?"
"I don't think so, and I would not thrust that onto her."
"Bougie."
"Be careful, I might become your neighbour."
"For our friendship to work, you need to live far away."
"So stop teasing me."
"Fine. Do you need a realtor?"
"Oh, yeah. Do you know any good ones?"
"I will send you a few numbers, I have to go but I can not wait to see your boobs next week."
"Goodbye, Prudence." I hang up and make sure to lock my stuff away.
By the end of the week, the kids are all enrolled in a school and their uniforms, stationery and books are bought.
We have two weeks until they have to go back to school. Tshidi is helping us so much and I am grateful for her help.
I called Lindiwe to tell her of the new developments and we are planning to meet up soon, but I do not know when soon is, given her role and responsibilities, I doubt soon is actually soon.
*********