Truth of the heart episode 59

#Truths_of_the_heart
59

 

Mwamba arrived at Tamara’s house a little after 18. He had called earlier to let her know he would be there to see her. Sighing de-eply, he knocked at the door.

“Come in.” Tamara sat facing the door. Normally she would receive him from the door. But today was different. The tone of his voice when he had called earlier told her everything the nee-ded know.

“Hi.” Mwamba bent down to k!ssher cheek.

“Hi.”

Mwamba sat on the only other seat available in the small livingroom. “How has been your day?”

“Its been ok.” She sat watching him intently.

Mwamba felt a bead of sweat from on his brow. He never anticipated how ha-rd it would be to have this conversation. “That’s good.”

“Mwamba st©p stalling and get to the point. We both know what you want to say, so just spit it out!”

Mwamba knelt down in front of Tamara and took his hands into hers. “This is ha-rd for me to say. A p@rt of me doesn’t even want to say it.” He looked down at his hands holding hers. She was stiff, holding back any emotion. “You have been an amazing friend. Heck you aren’t amazing woman with such a big heart. It’s ha-rd not to fall in love with you after connecting with you de-eply.”

Tamara’s felt her emotions betray her. Tears rolled down her face as she squee-zed her eyes closed I’m the hopes of st©pping them. “But you cant be with meand are going back to your wife.” She said in a crackled voice. Tamara tried to pu-ll her hands away but Mwamba held on to them firmly.

“Yes.” He said after a de-ep breath. “She hurt me to the core. Disrespected me. Cheated!” Mwamba paused as his voice trailed off. He cleared his throat before speaking again. “But I owe it to my children to atleast try to make it work before going ahead with the divorce.”

“Oh Mwamba cut the bull. Just admit that you still love her. St©p trying to use the children as justification.” Tamara managed to pu-ll her hands from him.

Mwamba stood up. “I loved her. I loved her so much that I did everything to make her happy. Even when she did all those things to me I still loved her. Until she broke me. She hurt me so bad that my love for her started to fizzle. I admit I still care for her. But love is not a word I would use to describe my feelings for Naomi.” Mwamba faced the livingroom as Tamara watched him in silence.

“I..” Mwamba sat back down across from Tamara. “I meant what I said when I told you that I had started to fall for you.”

“plea-se don’t. You knew I had developed feeling for you. And you used that to your advantage.”

“I know you don’t believe that! Tamara you know me! I would never take advantage of you like that.” He said sadly.

“I would like to be alone to wallow in my misery plea-se.”

Mwamba went to her and hvgged her. “No. I’m not leaving you alone. Tamara you are my closest friend despite everything. I’m not leaving you.”

Tamara tried to push him away but that only made him hvg her ti-ghtly. Eventually she broke down sobbing. Mwamba held her until she finally calmed down.

“I’m so sorry.” He whispered to her.

“I know.”

“I still want to be your friend. I’ll be here for you when you are re-ady to b my friend again.” He k!$$£d her forehead before leaving. He drove to his house where he poured a stiff drink as soon as he arrived. Sitting in the cool breeze of the night, Mwamba watched the stars praying he was ma-king the right decision.
**************

The day to move back in with Naomi and kids finally arrived. Mwamba made sure to get there in the evening. Milda and Peter sat outside waiting for him. The run to him excited as he parked.

“Daddy!” They both jumped up at him.

“Hi.” Naomi had come out to meet him.

“Hi.”

Mwamba took out his bags from the car. Naomi picked up one and carried it inside the house. Mwamba followed behind and met her in the master be-droom.

“It looks different.” Mwamba commented.

“Yeah. I had it painted a different color and changed the layout. I thought a new beginning nee-ded a different look to the house too.”

“So it’s not just the be-droom?”

Naomi shook her head. “Its the living room and the kids be-drooms as well. Eh, dont worry about your bags. I will pack everything properly tomorrow. Why dont you come join us in the living room the kids have been anxiously waiting all day for you.”

“Naomi. We have to get something straight first.” Mwamba sat at the edge if the be-d and motioned for her to do the same. “Dont expect for things to go back like they were because that is not possible. I’m here because I listen to all the plea-s and I’m willing to try and mend what we lost. I do not trust you right now. And I honestly dont know if things will ever be the same with us. But I’m hoping we can find p@rt of what we have lost.”

“I’m happy you are home.” Naomi sniffed. “I won’t make any promises. But show you instead that I have changed and learnt my lesson. I dont ever want to lose you again Mwamba. I love you and will do what it takes for you to learn to trust me again.”

“Ok. hvg?” Mwamba extended his arms. Naomi went and snuggled between them. “Atleast that re-moves the awkwardness of first physical contact.”

Naomi smiled. “Yes it does.”

#Truths_of_the_heart
60

Lwipa sat un-der a shade watching as LJ pla-yed on a nearby mat. LJ loved his monkey doll that pla-yed a song each time he shook it. The doll could entertain him the whole day.

“Here you go.” Tomaida handed him a steaming cu-p of coffee.

“Thank you.” He smiled as he took the cu-p and sipped on his coffee. “He has grown so much.” Lwipa motioned to LJ.

“Yeah, too much. And too fast.” Tomaida grinned in admiration of her son.

They watched LJ pla-ying, giggling each time a new song started to pl@yfrom the toy monkey. Lwipa closed his eyes and exhaled de-eply.

“Are you ok?” The concern heard in Tomaida’s tone.

“I’m fine. Just happy to be home.” Lwipa opened his eyes to find Tomaida looking at him. She looked very worried. “I promise you I’m fine!”

“Ok.”

“Thank you for taking care of me the past month.”

“You’re welcome. Besides I’m your wife. I’ll always be here for you.”

Lwipa held her hand. “Why did you lie about the pregnancy? I just want to know.”

Tomaida hesitated, worried the conversation would bring back his insanity.

“I won’t go loony I swear.” He laughed re-ading her hesitation.

“I knew how much you wanted a child. And I also knew it was the only way you would leave your wife.” Tomaida admitted. “Even if you didn’t say it, you loved her. That’s why you never let her go despite believing that she was the reason you were not having children.”

“I was so mean to her.” Lwipa said with regret.

“No offense but you are a mean guy naturally.” Tomaida hit his hand pla-yfully, causing Lwipa to smile.

“I nee-d to do something very important. Will you do it with me?”

“What?” Tomaida asked.

“I nee-d to go and see Wezi’s mother.”

Tomaida looked at him like he had just said something crazy. “Are you mad? Why would you want to do that? Besides they won’t want to see you. Her brother made that very clear.”

Lwipa sighed. “I know. But I still nee-d to try.”
*******************
A day later Lwipa and Tomaida were standing outside the Chitalu residence. Lwipa lifted his hand up to knock on the door but hesitated mid air. He looked at Tomaida who gave him a nod of encouragement. Closing his eyes, Lwipa tapped the door. It took a few more taps before the door was finally opened.

“Hello?” Nyembezi’s face dropped instantly. He made to shut the door but Lwipa blocked it with his hand.

“plea-se Bezi, I nee-d to talk to you.”

“Dont you ever call me that!” Nyembezi pushed Lwipa backwards. “How dare you come here, with your who-re for that matter.”

Lwipa stumbled back but managed to regain his balance. “I know you hate me. You have every right to be. plea-se give me a minute. I want to say something to you and mum.”

“No!”

Nyembezi tried to close the door but Lwipa held it in place again.

“I’m sorry. Im so sorry. Wezi….”

Nyembezi opened the door wi-de and punched Lwipa in the face throwing him to the ground. “Do not ever mention her name. And do not ever come to this house again. If you do, I will kill you myself.”

“She was a good woman and I treated her badly. I will live with her death for the rest of my life.” Lwipa cried picking himself up. “She was perfect and I couldn’t even see it. I was blinded by my obse-ssion with having a baby that I failed her. I’m so sorry Wezi.”

Nyembezi punched him again. “Leave and never come back!” He walked back into the house ban-ging the door behind him.

“Let’s go.” Tomaida picked him up and led him out of the yard to where their car.
*********************

The next place Lwipa visited was Naomi and Mwamba’s house. Seated in the livingroom Lwipa nervously looked up at Naomi and Mwamba.

“I’m sorry I have to ask Naomi. plea-se dont take this the wrong way. Eh, are you sure Peter is my son?”

“Excuse me?” Naomi stood up, her hands akimbo.

“Naomi, calm down” Mwamba told her pu-lling on her hand to get her to sit back down. Naomi sat down fuming. “Lwipa, why would you ask such a question? A year ago you tried to take Peter away from us, but today you come doubting his paternity?”

Lwipa inhaled de-eply. “I will be honest with you. I recently learnt that I’m unable to… I .. uh.. I cant have children.”

“What?” Mwamba and Naomi asked at the same time.

“How is that possible? Peter is your child. You were the only boy I ever sle-pt with. You know that!” Naomi responded. “Plus didnt she just have your baby?” Naomi pointed at Tomaida.

Lwipa looked at Tomaida, who in turned faced the floor. “Yeah, eh that’s a long story all together.”

“Oh, I see.” Naomi said. “Lwipa what’s the point of all this?”

“Dont get upset plea-se. I just want to make sure. I dont want to do a paternity test. That’s why I’m asking. I want to be p@rt of his life.”

“Why? Because you have just realised you cant have any more children? You neglected him all year long. Since Wezi died you have not bothered to check on him and cancelled every scheduled visit.”

“Naomi!” Mwamba scolded.

“No, she’s right. I apologize for the way I behaved. I was a j£rk thinking I could have my way with disregard to everyone around me. It cost me dearly.” Lwipa looked up at Naomi. “I’m sorry Naomi. For everything. I truly am. From the get go I left you alone when pregnant then c@m£ back and tried to bulldoze myself in Peter’s life. I was so eager to be a father without really un-derstanding what it means to be one. Mwamba I’m sorry too man.”

“What are you pla-ying at?” Naomi asked. “No Mwamba I dont trust him. There is something he obviously wants.” She said as Mwamba tried to hold her back.

“I’m not pla-ying at anything.” Lwipa as-sured. “I just want to have a chance to get to know Peter that’s all. No more tricks. I want to do right by him. By Wezi. She had grown to love him. I could see it each time he would visit.”

“How do you want to do that?” Mwamba asked.

“If you can allow me to visit him for now. In time I hope you will allow that he visits my home.”

“That sounds fair.” Mwamba agreed.

“Thank you. I would also like to contribute financially to his upbringing. Allow me to cater for his school fees and requirements.”

Naomi was about to speak when Mwamba motioned her not to. Nodding at Mwamba, she closed her mouth.

“Ok. I’ll avail all the details to you including the account number to deposit in.”

“Thank you Mr Chiti.”

Naomi cli-cked her ton-gue. “I hope you are being sincere Lwipa.”

“He is!” Tomaida spoke for the first time since they arrived.

“Can I see him? Peter I mean?”

“He’s not home right now.” Naomi explained. “My husband will call you once we discuss it with Peter.”

“Ok. We’ll be on our way now. Thank you for your time.”

 

Tbc