THE COVEN’S BRIDE
CHAPTER 24
NALEDI
“Aunty!” I call as soon as I walk into the house. The front door was open, so I decided to let myself in. It’s 8 am and I am here to cook and make sure everything is in order. Steven is coming at noon. I brought all the ingredients I would need when cooking. Knowing my aunt, I know she will say she doesn’t have everything I want to use.
“I am in the kitchen, Naledi, no need to yell.”
I am not even yelling for Christ’s sake. I take a deep breath and walk into the kitchen. “Good morning, Aunty!”
“You are late, you should have been here by 6 am so you get everything done quickly.”
“I will be quick,” I answer. “Where can I put what I brought?”
“I see you brought your own things. You think that we don’t have food in this house.”
“Where is Uncle? Did he go to work today?” I decide to change the subject.
“How can he go to work when you asked to see us? What is wrong with you? I swear sometimes you don’t use your brain.”
I am not even surprised, this is how my aunt is. I just hope she doesn’t say anything crazy in front of Sibusiso. I tell her that I am going to get started. I start by cleaning the house, it’s clear it was waiting for me. I put the laundry in the machine while I wash the dishes and neatly pack them away. I make sure the kitchen is clean and do the chopping, I am making beef stew first. While the meat cooks, I clean the other rooms including the bathroom. I only leave my aunt’s room because my uncle is in there.
“Are you done?” Aunty asks when she finds me in the kitchen. It’s just after 11.
“Yes, I just need to finish up cooking.”
She says, “I saw you cleaned everything. There was no need, the house was clean.”
“I wanted to help you. Please help me hang the clothes in the machine.”
“What is wrong with you children? Don’t you know you don’t send adults to do things? Is this what you are going to do when you get married?” she shakes her head leaving the room. I hope she is going to hang those clothes because I don’t think I will go to the laundry room, and I might leave them there.
“Naledi whose car is that? Are they here already?” Aunty asks.
“No, that is my car.”
“You have a car? Since when do you have a car?” she asks with her arms folded.
“My boyfriend bought it for me a while ago.”
“And you didn’t think of telling us? Did you think we would bewitch you if we found out you have a car?” she asks, and it takes everything in me not to roll my eyes.
“Aunty can you please stop, not today.”
“How old is this boyfriend of yours that can afford such a nice-looking car? I hope he is not a blesser, I know you girls these days,” she says.
“He is my age.”
He looks at me with a curious look. “What does he do for a living, this boyfriend of yours?”
“He manages his family hotel.”
“I see,” she says. I don’t like the look she is giving me. “Which explains why you have forgotten us, you are living nice with this boyfriend of yours.”
“Aunty I send you money all the time.”
My phone vibrates and it’s Sibusiso telling me that he is on the way. I tell my aunt that our guests are on their way. Sibusiso is coming with Jules.
My aunt says, “Let me go change and look good so you don’t go around saying I embarrassed you.”
I am not going to reply to that. I focus on cooking. She leaves the room to go change. I guess she has forgotten about the laundry.
“I am here!” Tshidi walks into the room. I am so mad at her. She was supposed to help me cook. My aunt also knows that she will be present. I need my girl by my side.
“You are late.”
“I know and I am sorry. Today is Maxwell’s birthday and I had forgotten about it, but I fixed it, and I am here. What do you need help with?” she asks.
“You can hang the laundry.”
“You know I don’t do that, you handle the laundry, and I will watch the pots,” she says. I take off the apron I am wearing and hand it to her. She doesn’t want it but when I tell her she might ruin her dress, she puts it on.
“It looks good on you.”
Tshidi shakes her head. “No, it doesn’t, now go do your things and come back.”
I go to hang the laundry and call Sibusiso while at it.
Me: Mr. Gumbi.
Sibusiso: Hey gorgeous.
Me: How do you feel?
Sibusiso: Very nervous but I know I will feel better after seeing you.
Me: Everything will go well, let’s stay positive.
Sibusiso: Okay baby, see you soon. I love you!
Me: I love you too.
I hang the clothes, change into my outfit of the day, and then join Tshidi. Tshidi takes off the apron as soon as I walk into the kitchen. She says she doesn’t like it, and it doesn’t match her dress.
“How do I look?” I ask and then twirl so Tshidi can see my outfit.
“Like a bride-to-be. The dress is long and boring, but we know you make everything look good.”
I say, “Leave my dress alone. I love it.”
“Where is this boyfriend of yours, I thought he said noon,” Aunty walks into the kitchen. It takes her a second to recognize Tshidi. “I see you are here too, looking like those girls in music videos. Didn’t your friend tell you we have visitors? Look at Naledi she is dressed modestly.”
“Aunty this is a long dress and it’s modest,” Tshidi says to her defence. Indeed, it’s a long dress and it looks good on her.
Aunty shakes her head and says, “It’s showing where your bum starts and ends. What if Sibusiso ends up looking at you and not wanting Naledi?”
I chuckle and say, “Aunty that is not going to happen and the dress is appropriate.”
“Continue saying that until you lose your man to your friend. And where are your people?” Aunty asks.
Tshidi says, “Aunty it’s 13 minutes before 12 meaning they are not late.”
Aunty answers, “They say being on time is being late. They are very late”
My phone vibrates and I say, “They are here.”
“Let me call Albert,” Aunty leaves the room.
Tshidi holds my hands and says, “Everything will go well.”
I nod. “Everything will go well.”
I take a deep breath and head out to open the gate for Sibusiso. I am wearing a long-flared dress that has lacy sleeves. I came here wearing a matching tracking suit set since I had to clean. I welcome Sibusiso and Jules, steal a kiss from Sibusiso before my aunt ruins his day. I lead them into the house, show them where to sit, and call my aunt and uncle.
Sibusiso and his brother greet respectfully, and they hand over the gifts they brought. I didn’t even realize Jules was carrying gift bags. My aunt and uncle are smiling which is a good sign. Uncle opens his gift right away and grins widely at the expensive bottle of whiskey. Tshidi shares a look with me. She is seeing what I am seeing. The gifts seem to have softened everything up, when I do the introductions my aunt and uncle are smiling and happy to meet my man.
Aunty shoots a stare at me, and I quickly excuse myself. I forgot I need to serve everyone. I dish up for everyone and wash their hands, kneeling. Sibusiso and Jules probably don’t do this at their house, but we do it here. The way Sibusiso is looking at me as I wash everyone’s hands – it’s like he is going to kiss me in front of everyone.
Tshidi serves the food and unlike me, she doesn’t kneel. Thank God my aunty doesn’t share her thoughts. She just shakes her head. Everyone eats. Jules and Sibusiso wipe their plates clean. They are used to fancy food, but I made pap with beef stew and collared veggies.
After eating, Sibusiso asks to speak to my uncle on the side. I am sure he is mentioning wanting to marry me. Tshidi and I go to the kitchen to do the dishes. Well, I am doing the dishes, and Tshidi is watching me.
Aunty walks into the kitchen and says, “Don’t leave the guest alone, please. Julius is alone.”
“His name is Jules,” Tshidi corrects and then goes to Jules. I think Sibusiso and Uncle are still talking. An hour later we are walking Sibusiso and Jules out. My aunt didn’t make any nasty comments – thank God.
“Before we go, we brought you something. It’s not much but we got uncle and aunt something.” Sibusiso opens the car boot and there are plastic bags of groceries. This is a lot of groceries – which explains why they didn’t bring their normal car. My aunt and uncle are very happy aunty is ululating, and uncle is whistling one would swear they scored a jackpot. Later in the day before I leave for my apartment my aunt tells me that she likes my boyfriend and that she wishes us well in our relationship.