CHAPTER FOUR
Buti phoned Sylvie.
“Are you alright?” he asked.
“I'm fine, how are you?”
“Fine. I was home for a month.” Sylvie's heart seemed to stop.
“How is everyone?” she asked hollowly.
“I want to see you,” said Buti. Sylvie was relieved that he did not answer her question. They arranged a time and place to meet that evening.
When they met, Buti evaded her hug. Her heart quailed with fear. He sat down, and she followed suit.
“Where do you live? I've been to the place where you lived, and that house mate of yours spits when she utters your name,” he said.
“I moved.”
“You didn't tell me.”
“Sorry,” said Sylvie, feeling guilty for not having kept in touch. She had soothed her conscience by putting money in Buti's bank account every month.
“Do you live in a safe place?” he asked.
“Yes.”
“Good. You lied to me.”
“About what?” asked Sylvie, as her heart pounded with fear.
“You said you never married. I met your parents.”
“Oh!” said Sylvie. Her throat felt dry.
“They didn't know that you were in Joburg,” said Buti.
“Oh.”
“They told me you disappeared in the middle of the night, abandoning your husband, then you divorced him, without informing his, or your parents.”
“Oh.”
“They blame me for giving you shelter, and the money to get a divorce.”
“You didn't!”
“I had to work hard to convince them that I hadn't. Why didn't you tell me the truth?”
“I was afraid you'd have made me go back.”
“I would never have done that.”
“I'm glad. Please forgive me.”
“There's nothing to forgive.”
“Then why didn't you want me hugging you? Buti?”
“I met someone.”
“Someone?”
“A woman. We moved in together.”
“Oh! What about the mother-of-Lindiwe?”
“She's far away, this one is here, and I hate being alone. She's on a call, she'll join us soon. She's very jealous. She'd try to scratch your eyes out if you hugged me.”
“I'm your sister!” Buti shrugged.
“I hope you're using condoms,” said Sylvie. Buti choked on his drink.
“I don't want you dying any time soon,” said Sylvie. Buti looked away from her.
“Go and get tested for HIV/Aids, and then use condoms. It's really dumb to die because of sex, even if it is good sex,” continued Sylvie.
“She'll leave if I say we should get tested. She'll think I don't trust her, or that I'm seeing someone else.”
“If she leaves, you'll have another forty years of life, instead of being dead in five.” They shared another long look.
A woman joined them. She sat beside Buti, a possessive hand on his forearm. Buti introduced her as his friend, Tumi. They all had dinner, then Sylvie invited them to her home, to meet her wife.
“To meet your what?” asked Buti.
“My wife,” said Sylvie. Buti looked at Tumi in disbelief. Tumi giggled.
“Your wife?” said Buti to Sylvie.
“I got married, to a woman,” said Sylvie.
“That is disgusting! What made you do something like that? Sis man! It's creatures who do that who make for broken homes by taking on cultures they know nothing about. You were married to a man, what was wrong with that?”
“I can't be married to a man.”
“I'm not sitting here listening to this nonsense. Let's go, Tumi,” said Buti, getting to his feet. He put money on the table, and left. Tumi looked at Sylvie, then she followed Buti. Sylvie went home.
“Are you alright?” asked Paula.
“Yes.”
“You seem preoccupied.”
“We need to go for HIV/Aids testing, I don't want to make you sick.”
“You're a virgin, and I'm healthy, there's no need to...”
“My cousin that I went to meet is going to catch a disease or diseases, and be dead in a short time. I don't plan on joining him, nor do I plan on being without you. We are going for testing!” shouted Sylvie.
“Alright! Alright,” said Paula. Sylvie subsided. Paula approached her, and kissed her. The kiss heated quickly. Sylvie gasped, feeling a hand between her legs. She and Paula were startled by a ringing phone. Paula broke the kiss, and cursed.
“I have to take that,” she said. She kissed Sylvie hard, and left. Sylvie smiled, dazed. She showered, and joined Paula in bed. Paula looked at her as if she had stripped her.
“We have to get tested,” panted an excited Sylvie. Paula nodded, and looked away. Sylvie climbed into bed beside her, kissed her, and lay down. They had to get tested soon, she could not wait to get intimate with her wife.
Two days later, they went for testing. They were both healthy. They drove home in silence. Sylvie was driving, Paula had a hand on her knee. As soon as they closed the front door, they started kissing, and taking off each other's clothes. Sylvie stood back from Paula, admiring her.
“You are magnificent,” she said.
“You are a gorgeous flatterer, come here,” said Paula, drawing Sylvie towards her. She kissed her, took her hand, and led the way to the bedroom. She kissed her again, and they stood beside the bed.
Sylvie put her hands on Paula's cheeks, kissing her back. She ran a hand down Paula's cheek, to her neck, then towards her breast. She caressed and fondled it, then she broke the kiss, and kissed Paula's breast. She was pleased when Paula clutched her head closer. Her heart was pounding with excitement, and she could feel Paula's heart pounding as well.
She was startled by the ringing of the doorbell. She felt Paula clutch her closer. The doorbell rang again. Paula cursed, and released Sylvie's head. Sylvie looked round for something to wear. She threw on a dress, then she remembered that their clothes were lying all over the entrance hall.
She ran to pick them up, as the doorbell rang even more urgently. She threw them in the linen cupboard, then she went to open the door.
A slender, blonde-haired, beautiful woman was standing before her, carrying flowers, and a box of expensive chocolates. The woman had been smiling, her smile vanished when she saw Sylvie.
“I'm looking for Paula,” she said.
“Miranda? What brings you here?” asked Paula, from behind Sylvie. Miranda smiled, and focused on Paula.
“We need to talk,” she said.
“There's nothing to talk about.”
“Things didn't end right, I think I need to explain myself, then we'll take it from there.” There was a silence. Sylvie turned to look at Paula. She was looking at her with an unhappy expression on her face. Sylvie turned to the visitor.
“Hi, Miranda, come in. I'm Sylvie, Paula's wife,” she said. Miranda had been looking at her with distaste, now, the distate turned to shock.
“Paula's what?”
“I'm her wife.” Miranda looked from her, to Paula. Sylvie looked at Paula too. She looked as if she had been caught red-handed, doing something wrong.
“Can Miranda come in?” asked Sylvie.
“No! She and I were done quite some time ago. There's nothing to say, Miranda,” said Paula.
“I think there's plenty to talk about, such as a breach of contract,” said Miranda.
“Breach of contract?” parroted Sylvie.
“Paula and I were engaged.”
“Oh!” gasped Sylvie, looking at Paula.
“You left, Miranda, so who breached the contract, me, who is where I've always been, or you, who went gallivanting who knows where? Get out of here, and if you come anywhere near me, I swear I'll get a protection order against you. Go!” shouted Paula, then she banged the front door shut, and walked away, clearly furious.
Sylvie followed her to the bedroom, and found her crying.
“P
aula?” she said. She put her arms round her, and Paula went to the bathroom, and locked the door. Sylvie sat listening to her crying. The sound was too terrible to bear.
She decided to take a walk.
“What are you still doing here?” she asked Miranda, who was still standing outside the front door.
“She's crying, I can hear her. I should never have left. I never meant to break her heart. I'm here now, and I'll make her happy again. You can see for yourself, Sylvie, I'm the best person for her. Take your things and leave.”
“I'll call the police if you don't leave.”
“It's me she wants. You're just a rebound woman.”
“I am not!” shouted a distressed Sylvie.
“How long have you known her?”
“Long enough.”
“She and I were together for two and half years, then I got scared and left. I'm back now, and...” Sylvie started dialling on her cell phone.
“What do I need to charge someone who’s trespassing?” she asked the person on the other side of the phone. She gasped as Miranda took the phone from her, and cut the call.
“I'm going, but I'll be back. I'm the only one who can heal Paula's heart. Find someplace else to live, you won't be living with us when we get back together again,” she said.
“Go away!” said Sylvie menacingly. Miranda left. Sylvie took a brisk walk, furious with Paula for not telling her about Miranda, and furious with herself for being afraid of losing her.
No one is getting a divorce, she vowed, as she entered her home through the front door.
“Sylvie? Where did you go?” asked Paula, she had changed clothes, and her hair was wet.
“Who’s that woman? Do you want her back?” demanded Sylvie.
“No! I don't want her back.”
“She said you'd get rid of me and take her back.”
“I'd rather live with a crocodile than live with her.” Sylvie gave her a long look, and felt better, reading sincerity in Paula's eyes.
“Did she break your heart?” she asked.
“Yes.”
“Did you come to me on the rebound?”
“Where is all this coming from?” Sylvie felt cold in the pit of her stomach. She leaned back on the wall behind her.
“Do you want me to leave?” she asked hollowly.
“Of course not!”
“Are there other women I should know about?”
“No!” Sylvie slid down the wall and sat on the floor. Paula knelt beside her.
“What's the matter?” she asked.
“I'm not divorcing you. Even if you leave me, I won't divorce you,” Sylvie said fiercely.
“Good, because I don't want a divorce from you.”
“Tell Miranda to go to hell, and never come back, do I make myself clear?”
“Yes,” smiled Paula, then she kissed Sylvie. Sylvie kissed her hard. She held onto Paula's shoulders when Paula broke the kiss.
“I have to go,” she said.
“We just got here!” said Sylvie.
“There's something I have to do.” Sylvie watched as Paula stood, and fixed her clothes before the mirror. She stood too.
“Are you going to see Miranda?” she asked. Paula looked at her.
“Yes.”
“No!” Paula looked surprised.
“You want to rekindle old flames, and I won't have it,” said Sylvie.
“I want nothing to do with her.”
“Then you don't need to see her.”
“You told me to tell her to go to hell, that's what I'm going to do.”
“Paula...”
“The sooner I go, the sooner I can be back,” said Paula. She kissed Sylvie's cheek, and left.
I won't sweat and make myself sick. I'll trust Paula not to fall in line with Miranda's wishes, Sylvie said to herself. She prepared supper, then she bathed. She ate, and waited late into the night, but there was no sign of Paula.
She had finished preparing for work next morning, when Paula returned.
“Why did you take all night with her? Are you leaving me?” demanded Sylvie.
“Joan was in a car accident,” said Paula. Sylvie gasped, and felt wicked.
“I am so sorry,” she said, going to put her arms round Paula. Paula leaned into her.
Sylvie kissed her cheek. Paula put her arms round her.
“How is she?” asked Sylvie.
“Fine. She was in shock, and Tim’s away, so I went to keep her company. She couldn't sleep. I left you a message. You must have been asleep.”
“I'm sorry I shouted at you.” Paula nodded.
“I'd better get ready for work,” she said, as she left Sylvie's arms. Sylvie made breakfast, and packed it for them both. She met Paula in the entrance hall.
“Let's go,” she said.
In the late afternoon, Paula phoned Sylvie, apologising for not being able to fetch her, as she had gone home to rest. Sylvie caught a taxi home.
She met Miranda at the gate.
“Pack your bags, Sylvie, I'm coming home soon,” said Miranda, then she left. Sylvie stared after her, her heart pounding. She went into the house, and found Paula asleep. She freshened up, dished up dinner, and invited Paula to eat with her.
Neither of them could eat.
“Is everything alright?” asked Sylvie. Paula looked at her as if she was surprised to hear her voice.
“Is everything alright?” repeated Sylvie.
“Yeah, sure.”
“You're distracted.”
“I'm worried about Joan.”
“Let's go and see her.”
“I'll go.”
“I want to come with you.”
“I'll be gone for several days.”
“Why?” asked Sylvie, with a pounding heart.
“She needs looking after.”
“What about us?”
“Us?” said Paula, looking at Sylvie as if she was mad.
“We need to work on our marriage.”
“I'll be back.”
“Maybe I'll be gone.” Paula left the room without a word. Sylvie felt fear grip her. She heard Paula open and close the front door, then she heard her drive off.
Over the rest of the week, Sylvie phoned Paula, and Paula did not pick up her phone. On Friday evening, Sylvie took a cab to Joan's home.
A party was in progress. There were many people. She looked for Paula all over the place. She eventually found her in a bedroom, seated on a bed, talking to Miranda.
“We're done, Miranda, I never want to see you again,” she said.
“You love me.”
“I love someone else now.”
“You can't have switched affections so quickly.”
“You've been gone two and a half years.”
“I'm back now.”
“I'm married, and I like it that way.”
“Give us another chance.” Paula stood.
“Stay away from me, Miranda, I mean it. If you don't, I'll be forced to talk to Greg about us.” Miranda gasped.
“You wouldn't do that,” she said.
“Greg is your husband, I don't know many husbands who like to be cheated on, as I don't know many wives who like that. Sylvie would be upset if I took up with you, and it would break my heart to be separated from her. Stay away from us,” said Paula firmly, then she turned towards the door. She stopped in her tracks, a surprised expression on her face.
“Hi,” said Sylvie.
“What are you doing here?” asked Paula.
“Looking for you. Can we go home now?”
“Yes,” said Paula. Sylvie glanced at Miranda, then she took Paula's hand, and led her away. She drove them home.
“I'm sorry I was gone so long,” said Paula.
“What was taking so long?”
“For a short while, I was confused by Miranda's arrival.”
“You said you weren't leaving me!”
“I'm not. I talked to Joan, and she helped me to confirm that it's you I want, not
Miranda. I'm sorry I didn't tell you what was going on.”
“Are you sure now that you want me for life?”
“Of course.”
“Good.”
At home, they lay awake in the dark, listening to each other breathe.
“She told me when we met, that she’d leave Greg. I held onto that, that's why we even got engaged, so when her divorce was finalised, we'd get married.
“She stood me up on one of our dates, and that was the last I heard of her. She wouldn’t take my calls, or see me at her offices. Eventually, I stopped trying to get in touch with her.
“When you came into my life, I’d decided to find someone available, and willing to be with me full time. I started falling in love with you, and the more I get to know you, the deeper I fall in love with you.”
“Then why were you confused?”
“We had no closure. I needed to talk to her, and understand, and get her to understand, that she did us both a favour when she left.”