A love like yours

The moment of truth

We finally arrived at KZN and stepped outside of the car. A pitbull charged toward us as soon as we were out and started barking at us. Royalty screamed at the top of her lungs as tears rolled down her cheeks.

My mother walked out of the house and slowly walked toward us trying to figure out who we were. Once she realized who we were, her eyes lit up with joy and she called my dad.

This has to be the best moment in my entire life! My mother forgave me. She lives me the same as before the whole situation.

Mom: Reece! Reece! Come out here! Oh, my baby! you're here." She grabbed the dog by its collar and went to the back of the house with it. She closed the gates once she was out and went into the house. She came back shortly after and opened the remote-controlled gate.

I dropped all the bags I had I'm my hands and lunged forward. I threw myself into her arms and started sobbing loudly. I'm sorry mama, I've disappointed you so much and I'm sorry. I never meant for things to turn out like that. " I said, still sobbing.

My dad came to see what all the ruckus is about and the look on his face when he spotted me just made me feel emotional. His features softened and he looked at me with so much joy.

Mom: We looked everywhere for you! We realized that the pregnancy was just as much of a shock to you as it was to us. I guess as parents, when a child is born, we want to guard and protect them with everything that we have for as long as we can. When you said you're pregnant it came as a shock to us. We knew you to be a good girl, a child who's always respected us. We felt like we failed to raise you properly but more than anything, we cared too much about what people would say. Forgive us, baby."

"We moved from here to Pretoria. After you said I should never set foot in your house again, I thought you meant it, I thought that you despised me, that you never wanted to see me again. o was so foolish."

"I was angry, both your father and I were angry. We let our emotions get the better of us. I can assure you that nothing of that sort will happen again. This is your home, our hearts and doors are always open for you."

She wiped my tears with her thumbs and led me inside.

Me: Oh wait! My... I turned to find that our bags were already inside.

My mother laughed a bit.

Come! I have this great recipe to give you. Your dad's been rambling about ever since I made the dish two months ago!"

We were about to pass the living room area when my dad complained, "Hey, what about me? Don't I get to see my daughter? "

"Awube kahle wena. " (Behave yourself)

"This is mother and daughter time." My mom reprimanded him.

We got to the kitchen and started getting the ingredients ready. I had to ask, "Hey mom, your kitchen looks nice with the marble tops and Tivoli taps you also got a mirror fridge. Where did the money to do all this come from? and it's way bigger than mine. This cutlery even feels heavy, really expensive. Tell me, do you use this dishwasher? because I lean closer to her so I can whisper, "Rey's family doesn't let me use theirs, I have to wash all the dishes by myself. "

She laughed out loud."Yes, we do. Your father bought a farm and still hasn't left his day job. He has people to watch the cattle for him while he's at work. That's how we can afford all this. "

I decided to ruffle her feathers a bit.

"You should be looking after his cattle Ma. "

Her: Maybe your man can do that for us."

Cancel, mission abort! She answered I wasn't thinking she's given me.

Mom: Do you remember how your friends turned their back on you when you upset your baby? Do you remember that they were standing there at the gate telling you how they just afford to have their parents think that they're condoning your behavior?

"Yeah, what about them? "

They've all grown to be the lost useless people around here. of you got the spams should two streets away, you"ll see that girl who was once your bestie. She's hooked on drugs. We lock our gates so that she cannot enter.

"You lie! " I say, mouth hanging open

Mom: On the Bible. we'll go there tomorrow so you can see it with your own eyes.

Her: So what have you been to? I've been judging people's children so much so that I've even forgotten to ask about you

I look down, too ashamed of myself to answer her.

Nothing. Rey doesn't want me going to school. He argues that I have to look after Royalty.

Her: Nonsense! I'll look after her. So you haven't been in school for three whole years? She asks clapping her hands.

These boy's parents are not good. How could they allow that to happen? It's because you're not theirs.

Me: No Ma even Rey hasn't gone to school.

Her: Ray, what kind of a name is that? Ray of sunshine?

Me: No Ma his name is spelled R-E-Y and it means "King." in Spanish.

I still don't agree with his stupid idea of keeping you at that house.

"We're supposed to be bonding. " I say, trying to take her mind off shattered I've just said.

The rest of the evening went smoothly, my dad and Rey got along like a house on fire, my mom was also civil towards him but I know for a fact that the conversation we had in the kitchen wasn't over. She was just waiting for the right time to confront him.

I sighed. All I wanted was to get her blessing. That's it...