A love like yours

Give thanks.

I took my ringing phone from under the pillow and answered in with a very sleepy voice.

"Hello."

"Hello miss Zulu, I'm sorry for calling so early. I called to inform you that we have space available and classes start on March the eighth.

"Oh thanks a lot, mam and it's not a problem."

"My pleasure. I wish you all the best and hope you have a lovely time with us. "

"Thank you," I say, now giggling because the poor lady didn't call me at the wrong time, I'm just too lazy to get my ass out of bed. It's already 11:30. I turn my body and realize that Rey's side of the bed is empty. Strange... I make my way to the bathroom and clean myself with my berry-scented body wash and hum my favorite jam while at it. I'm happy today for some reason. Maybe it's the fact that my parents were so warm towards me. I wonder where Rey is. I brush that thought off as I rinse my body and make my way to the basin. I brush my teeth and walk out when I'm done.

What to wear? what to wear? I think as I rummage through my untidy suitcase. I haven't unpacked anything, but I plan to ... When I get the time. Or when I stop being lazy lol.

I settled for a maroon strap-on jumpsuit and black snakeskin sandals. My toes looked good for once. I smiled at the thought. I took my best bottle of perfume and did the necessary, sprayed it all over my body.

I then went out and checked for Royalty. She had decided to spend the night in her grandparents' room. I didn't mind, it means that she feels as welcome as I do. I knocked three times to no response. I'm scared of entering my mom's room. Who knows what kinds of kinky things are in here. I shake my head and turn back. I don't want to be traumatized, who will I leave my husband for if I do? He's not a ladies' man, I've learned that over the time that I spent with him but still...

I open the fridge and see what I can eat. Ugh! All I see is eggs, a carton of milk, brussels sprouts? When did my mom start eating Brussel sprouts? weird! I decide that nothing in that fridge will satisfy my hunger. My mom's probably gone to get groceries but I can't wait any longer. My stomach's even grumbling now. I take my phone out of the phone of my pocket and search for food places near me, place an order for a seafood platter and patiently wait. A platter will of course take time but it's worth it. I'll have to rummage through the fridge again to find something that will hold my hunger off a bit. I tried calling Rey and his phone is is off.

Where are these people?

I find fruits and yogurt. Bingo! I take the fruits out and get chopping and slicing...

Once I'm done I add the yogurt and start eating. I used to crave fruit salad a lot when I was pregnant with Royalty.

I ate about three spoonfuls before hearing the car pull up in the driveway. I walk outside, ready to confront everyone, Royalty included.

"What did you buy a cow for?" I ask when I spot the big cow in a trailer at the back of my parents' van.

"We have to give thanks to our ancestors for bringing you back home."

I inwardly roll my eyes. ancestors, push.

"That's great mom, thank you so much, you to dad," I say, offering them a fake smile.

"You're welcome, baby." my dad responds. I see both parents are dressed in shorts and a tank top as well as flip-flops. Great to see that he's casually dressed today. What I do not get though is why it took him going to fetch a cow to finally do so.

"You look, good honey," I say to him when he finally gets near to me.

"You're happy, aren't you? " He says with a smirk.

"Over the moon!" I reply to get on his nerves a bit.

"Your dad is making me s*******r the cow." He says scratching his head. I laugh until my eyes roll back and little and a snort escapes my lips. "Really? I finally manage." He gives me a mean look and I try to suppress my laughter.

"I'm glad you're finding all this so funny." He says sarcastically.

"Slaughtering a cow is nothing I say, trying to make him better. It doesn't work though because he just glances at me, looking more irritated at me.

I throw my hands up in surrender.

"Well," I say. "I tried." I shrug and walk to my mom and dad.

I find royalty smiling. Her smile grows wider when she catches sight of me. She runs up to me, genuinely happy to see me. I pick her up bridal style and plant kisses on her neck. She laughs out loud that she even runs out of breath. I put her down and ask her how her day's been.

Her face changes instantly change and the smile is wiped off her face. "A duck chased me, mama. I was so scared. I thought it was going to bite me." She says, fears evident in her tone.

"Aww sorry my baby, come here. " I embrace her in a long hug.

"It's okay, Grandma says it because he likes me. She bought me my favorite ice cream too! "

This child knows that I don't want her eating ice cream and decided to ask Grandmother. Well played... But that was the last one. I don't need her teeth having cavities or anything like that.

I put her down next to her grandparents and went into the house. I found Rey taking a big gulp of whisky.

"I didn't realize how stressed you are about the cow," I said to him.

"Yeah, you were too busy laughing to notice. " He says dismissively.

"I'm sorry," I say looking down, feeling so ashamed. "I should've tried to talk to my father, tried to make him understand how much this just goes against your beliefs.

He didn't say anything, he just stood up and walked away. I hate that but at this moment, I don't even feel like I have the right to complain. I just sigh and follow him. I feel like always I'm apologizing nowadays. Rey can't stand a simple joke. I mean, what harm can having a sense of humor do to a person? Would it kill him to just see things from a different point of view?

"Rey." I try.

"You look down on me as a man, that's one quality of yours that I don't like. I expect you to listen when I speak. I expect you to stand by me at all times. We won't always see eye to eye, I know that but you're just downright disrespectful."

"Where is all this coming from? I thought we were okay." I was puzzled by Rey's sudden outburst honestly speaking.

I just decided to let him be. Maybe if I give him space to cool down, we can have a decent conversation.

"Let's start making the salads." My mom says just as I'm about to walk right into a wall. Rey's behavior is stressing me out.

"What's on your plate?" She asks me from a place of concern.

"Nothing." Rey's mom taught me not to go running to her and Dimitri with my marital problems. It's become something I've become so accustomed to, that I wouldn't tell my mother about our problems.

"You may have had to leave home at a young age but I know you. I carried you for nine full months. Do you honestly think that you can fool me?

"Rey is stressing me out mom." I gave in so easily but this is my mom in front of me. I feel free enough to talk to her.

"What did he do?"

" He's becoming so demanding lately and he expects me to be something that I could never be. "

"What does he want from you? "

"He wants me to be submissive and don't get me wrong, I try mom, I do try to meet his demands and cater to him like a man deserves but he's been impossible. Even something like a simple joke causes fights between the of us."

"He hasn't even married you but he expects that much from you!" She claps her hands and stares at me for quite some time.

"Why are you allowing him to act like a mini God towards you? Seriously... why do you do that? I've spoiled you too much! You're too soft! "

"And I still have to talk to him about him allowing you to go to school. Oh what am I saying? allow.

"Sorry to interrupt you but I was thinking that we don't have the cow be sacrificed go the ancestors. I'd rather we just burn some sage or something as simple as that.

"It's okay, you're old enough to voice out your likes and dislikes. We can always take the cow back."

Out of the corner of my eye, I see Rey standing by the door, listening in our conversion. He points his head in the direction of the bedroom and I take it he wants me to follow him. I make my way to him, ready for any nonsense he plans to throw at me.

Rey: I heard you telling your mom to take the cow back.

"Yes," I reply, hoping that he'd realize his mistakes and apologize.

"Good. Keep this up and maybe we'll get married."

My mouth hung open as I processed what he just said. I can't believe I'm being disrespected like this in my own home! At least I do t have to beg this sucker for anything much longer. My parents have got my back now.

"Listen here."

He holds his hand up, signaling me to stop.

"Don't think that being in your parents' house gives you the right to talk to me like you wear the pants in the relationship. Remember who you're going back with.

"Well at this rate maybe I won't go back," I mumble.

"What was that? " He asks.

I keep quiet. This guy is something else!

I go out of the room and find my mother knitting in the lounge. I laugh at her.

"Old age is creeping in, I see. " I say to her.

"Who?" she asks being overdramatic. "Are you talking about this girl?" She asks pointing to herself. I'll never grow old! Never forget that! Growing old is for those who choose to grow old. My life had just begun and your father says I haven't lost my groove in the bedroom.

I laughed so hard that I couldn't stop. My mom should've been a comedian because the things she says always manage to have me in stitches! I can't and don't want to imagine what that looks like. I never thought that one day I'd be sitting with my biological mother.. . having a full conversation about men. This right here is called contentment No matter what that grumpy man of mine says, I won't allow him to turn this trip into a bad one.

A lot of banging of cupboards, laughter, playfulness, serious times, and ingredients later, we finished cooking and called them over so that they could eat.

I prepared a bowl with water with soap and gave it to the men so they could wash their hands. Rey did not deserve any of that but I chose that life. I blame myself for what is happening to me right now. I shouldn't have fallen pregnant. if I didn't, Rey wouldn't feel like disrespecting me every chance that he got.

I've got a very nasty surprise for him. He needs someone to tell him who I am.