CHAPTER FIVE
Next afternoon, Paula took Sylvie out to lunch, to make up for neglecting her. They were walking to their table, when Sylvie heard her name called. She froze.
“What's the matter?” asked Paula.
“Sylvia. Sylvia. Sylvia, come here,” the voice shouted.
“Sylvie?” said Paula.
“That's my father,” said Sylvie.
“Why does he sound angry?”
“I didn't tell him when I left Durban, and I haven't been in touch since I came here.”
“What do you want to do?”
“I'll go and talk to him. Sit down, things will be ugly,” said Sylvie. She felt cold, and weak in the knees. She was startled to feel a hand holding hers.
“I'm coming with you,” said Paula. Sylvie looked at her, and nodded, then she led the way to her father. Be brave, for once in your life, be brave, and stand up for yourself, she said to herself.
Baba was seated with Ma, and other bishops, and pastors, with their wives. Sylvie smiled thinly. She gave a general greeting to the bishops, pastors, and mothers.
“Sylvia, how could you leave in the middle of the night like a thief, and then divorce your husband? You know the church doesn’t allow, or recognise divorce,” said Baba. Sylvie could not think of a thing to say.
“Where’s your head scarf? I taught you never to greet your elders bare-headed,” said Ma.
“When I left home, I was coming to a restaurant, I didn’t know I’d meet the elders,” said Sylvie.
“You see how insolent she is now. Johannesburg is a bad influence on everyone. Sylvia, you're coming home with us after the conference. We'll pray for you, and you'll go and make up with that young man whose heart you broke.
“Do you know how embarrassed we were when our in-laws came to demand that we return amalobolo because you’d abandoned your husband? We couldn’t even tell them where to look for you, because we didn’t know where you were. You’ll go home with us, and we’ll return you to your husband,” said Baba.
“I can't go with you,” said Sylvie.
“Oh, yes, you can. Why haven't we seen you at the conference?”
“I'm no longer a member of your church.”
“Of course you are.” Sylvie took a deep breath.
“Paula, these are my parents, Bishop and Mrs Mthombeni. Everyone, this is Paula, my wife,” she said.
“What?” said Ma and Baba.
“Paula and I are married,” said Sylvie.
“Married? Married to a woman? What abomination is this? Bishops, pastors, she refused us the chance to pray for her, and now, here she is, saying she married a woman. How will she face God when the time comes? Did you think of that, Sylvia, before indulging in this act of depravity?” demanded Baba.
“Excuse us,” said Sylvie. She turned and walked away, drawing Paula with her.
“Sylvia. Sylvia! Get back here! Get back here, unless you want me to disown you,” shouted Baba. He was on his feet, his voice getting louder and louder.
Sylvie's heart was pounding. She was afraid that the pastors would come after her. They did not follow her, and she heard them calming Baba.
“I disown you! You are no longer my child, you ingrate. You have disrespected our culture and God. If I’d had a son, none of this would be happening,” shouted Baba.
Sylvie and Paula sat down at their table. Sylvie closed her eyes, and breathed deeply. She opened her eyes, and looked at Paula. She gasped in excitement. Paula was looking at her as if she wanted to strip her, and make mad love to her.
“Let's go home,” said Paula. Sylvie stood, Paula took her hand, and led her out of the restaurant. Outside her car, Paula kissed Sylvie senseless. Sylvie leaned on the car, her knees had given out on her. One arm round Sylvie's waist, Paula used her other hand to open the car door for Sylvie. Sylvie sank gratefully into her seat, and closed her eyes.
She opened them when Paula started driving. She used the backs of her fingers to caress Paula's cheek, then she sat watching her. Paula glanced at her as she drove, then she parked the car outside their front door.
They climbed out of the car quickly, and rushed into the house. Sylvie undid Paula's top, as Paula locked the front door. Sylvie gazed at Paula's breasts, then she put a hand on each one, and stroked gently. Impatient to touch her skin, she undid Paula's bra, then she touched her bare breasts. She caressed them, then she played with the nipples, before sucking on one of them.
She felt Paula's hands raising her head, then Paula kissed her. They stripped each other, kissing the skin that they had exposed. Sylvie kissed Paula deeply, then she started leading her to their bedroom, stopping frequently to kiss Paula.
In their bedroom, they sat on the bed, kissing.
“Okay?” panted Paula. Sylvie nodded.
“I won't stop today,” said Paula.
“I'm glad,” said Sylvie. Paula caressed her breasts, then she kissed them in turn. Sylvie closed her eyes, excited beyond measure. She opened her eyes, and caressed Paula's hair, nape, back, then she raised her head, and kissed her. She caressed her breasts, and lowered her hands to Paula's belly.
She gasped as Paula sucked harder on her breast, and lowered a hand down her belly, and past it, to stop between her legs. Sylvie gave an excited cry and lay back. She made room for Paula's hand, which was caressing her in a way that made her heart pound with excitement, and her body fill with pleasure. She writhed on the bed, enjoying the caresses, but also feeling that she was being deprived of something.
“Paula!” she panted. She opened her eyes, as Paula caressed a place that seemed to zap her body into a more excited state.
“Paula!” she said, as Paula's finger-caress increased the pleasure in her body. She panted and writhed in excitement. Paula straddled her hips, to keep her in place, and continued to caress that excitable bundle of nerves. Sylvie stiffened, then her body shuddered with joy and excitement.
When she had stopped shuddering, she opened her eyes. Paula was lying beside her, leaning on an elbow, smiling at her. Sylvie drew her head towards her and kissed her. The kiss heated, Sylvie pushed, Paula rolled onto her back. Sylvie broke the kiss, and caressed Paula's breasts. She licked and sucked them in turn, then she kissed her way down Paula's body. She caressed her belly, then she caressed her between the legs. She felt the wetness between the petals, and became excited to be exciting Paula. She caressed Paula the way that she had caressed her, and Paula shuddered and shivered in pleasure. Sylvie held her, then she kissed her cheek.
Paula stilled and put her arms round Sylvie. Sylvie lay beside her.
“That's a smug look,” said Paula. Sylvie smiled.
“I pleased you! I didn't think I could do it first time round,” she said. Paula kissed her.
“Are you alright?” she asked.
“Fabulous, and you?”
“Great. Let's get cleaned up, I'm starving.”
They ate after freshening up.
“Are you upset about what happened with your parents?” asked Paula.
“No, it was bound to happen at some stage,” said Sylvie. She and Paula went to sleep afterwards.
“I want us to go on a honeymoon,” said Paula at breakfast. Sylvie smiled.
“I've never been on one,” she said.
“You were married.”
“The honeymoon was me cleaning my mother-in-law's home.”
“Oh.”
“That's our culture.”
“Where was your husband?”
“Having the time of his life, I think, but I don't know.”
“Oh. That sounds odd.”
“I hope Mom doesn't expect me to clean her home.”
“If she does, we'll hire cleaners.”
“Paula! It has to be the bride's sweat.”
“Then we're not doing it. Where would you like to go? I'm thinking of the Victoria Falls. Have you been there?”
“No.”
“It's close, it's said to be beautiful, and I know someone who can
get us a great deal on it.”
“Sounds good to me. Are they homophobic in that country?”
“Yes.”
“Maybe we should go someplace else.”
“We'll be fine and it will be fun, you'll see.”
“Have you ever been there?”
“No, but Joan went, and she raves about it. I'll look into it tomorrow.”
Next evening at dinner, Sylvie was playing with her food.
“Is everything alright?” asked Paula.
“I got a call from Thuba.”
“What did he want?” demanded Paula.
“To meet.”
“Is that right?”
“There's nothing to get mad about.”
“I'm not mad!”
“Then why did you throw your eating utensils? I've never seen you do that before.”
“Are you going to meet him?”
“Yes.” Paula stood, and took her half full plate of food off the table.
“Paula!” called Sylvie, as Paula left the room. Sylvie followed her.
“You can come with me,” she said. Paula stopped walking and looked at her.
“Really?”
“Of course. He needs to see that I've moved on. Okay?” said Sylvie.
“Okay.”
“Don't be mad, I'm not interested in him.” Paula kissed Sylvie deeply.
Sylvie arrived first for her meeting with Thuba. He joined her shortly afterwards. They sat watching each other.
“How are you?” asked Sylvie.
“Lonely.”
“I'm sorry.”
“I miss you. I want my wife back,” said Thuba.
“I can't come back.”
“Let's try again.”
“No.”
“It might work this time.”
“It won't. I haven't changed, Thuba,” said Sylvie. Her eyes left Thuba, and she smiled, watching Paula approaching. Paula kissed her cheek, and sat down beside her.
“Paula, this is Thuba, my ex-husband. Thuba, this is Paula, my wife,” said Sylvie. Thuba looked from Paula to Sylvie in surprise.
“Your what?” he said.
“My wife,” said Sylvie.
“You can't have a wife! You're a woman, only men have wives,” Thuba said in consternation.
“Paula and I are legally married.”
“Don't talk rubbish. That can’t be legal anywhere. Come back to me and stop this nonsense.”
“I won't do that, Thuba. You and I are finished, for good.” Thuba stared at her.
“You look so normal,” he said.
“I am normal.”
“Then how can you talk such rubbish?”
“It's the truth. I'm sorry for hurting you. Find someone else. I'll never be what you need.”
“Why did you meet me?”
“You're my friend.”
“I don't want to be your friend!”
“Friendship is all I can offer you.”
“Then keep it!” said Thuba, getting to his feet. He glared from Sylvie to Paula, then he stormed off.
Sylvie looked at Paula.
“Are you alright?” asked Paula.
“Yes, thanks. Let's go home.”