Chapter 07: Nobody has ever died from a heartbreak

By the time Noah and Grace were leaving the Nkhoma mansion; the sun had already set over the mining town of Mafinga. They had to walk almost two kilometers before they found a bus station. The two got on the bus and found seats in the back. Noah told the conductor their destination as he handed over their fare.

Heaving a sigh, he cast a sideward glance at his wife who was staring at the outside world mindlessly, her mouth straightened into a thin hard line. He opened his mouth to strike a conversation with her about what had gotten her upset but changed his mind and concentrated on his phone instead.

'Police?' the conductor queried, turning in his seat to ask his passengers, who were lost in their own thoughts, as the bus cruised along the brightly lit road.

'That's our stop,' Noah replied," You haven't yet given me my change," he politely reminded him.

"Hundred kwacha two right? Sure boss, let me get some change at the shop and I will sort you out." the conductor said going through his money. Noah nodded and turned to tap his wife on her shoulder. It was a while before she snapped out of her reverie but even then, the stare she cast in him was blank.

" We are here," Noah said to her. The bus had already come to a stop.

As soon as they disembarked, Grace marched towards their house with determined footsteps as Noah waited for his change from the conductor. Noah had to ran to catch up with her.

'Grace, wait,' he said reaching for her hand, halting her footsteps.

'What?'

'You are too upset, maybe this is not a good time to talk to Taz. Why don't you sleep over it and discuss this when you have calmed down, hmmm?'

'Stay out of this Noah,' she said freeing herself from his grip.

'Trust me I want to but I can't. I don't want you doing something that might end up completely ruining your already fragile relationship.'

Scoffing, she walked away from him, opened the gate and headed for the house.

The banging of the front door notified Taziona of her sister's arrival from work. Hurriedly closing the oven on the baked fish in foil with vegetables, she grabbed a small soup bowl, scooped a generous amount of the lumanda with impwa and walked out grabbing a spoon on the way out.

'Sis! I am glad you are home,' she said walking over to her and offered her the steaming bowl of vegetables.' I cooked lumanda with impwa just the way you like it. Try it and let me know your thoughts.'

The sight of Taziona's smiley face infuriated Grace. She raised her and slapped the bowl out of the younger woman's hands. The ceramic bowl crashed to the floor, shattering to pieces. Taziona looked from the shattered bowl on the floor to her sister confused.

'Sis? What's wrong?'

'You are. How long are you going to keep doing this? What is so special about that Leo that the whole family has to suffer for it?'

'What happened? Did something happen at the mansion to upset you?'

'You are so shameless Taz. How can you ask that when you know damn well all the awful things we have to be subjected to at Mrs. Elida's hands because of you!'

'Grace, enough!' Dalitso their father spoke from the doorway, of his bedroom, his wife, Beatrice, stood behind him carrying a laundry basket. The two had been in their room ironing, folding and hanging clothes when the commotion started.

' Enough nothing dad. We are in this mess because you tolerate her stupidity. If you had put your foot down a long time ago, none of this would have happened. I know you try to ease your guilt towards her by letting her do as she pleases but what about the rest of us dad?'

Noah tugged on her shirt but she ignored him.

' Am sorry sis. I never meant to hurt anyone of you.'

'Are you? Are you really? Then prove it.'

'What?'

Grace pulled out her phone and thrust it to her.' Call Leo. Call him and tell him it's over.'

The twenty-three-year-old who had not expected those words to come out of her sister's mouth stared at her wide-eyed and shook her head. She couldn't imagine life without Leonard by her side. Leo was her life support.

Beatrice scoffed and walked past her husband and the arguing siblings.' Oh, Grace. I don't know who is more deluded between the two of you. Her, who thinks she has a chance of being Mrs. Leonard Nkhoma or you who desperately wants to believe that a single plea from you would make her give up on this craziness she calls love.'

'Beatrice, don't fan the flames,' Dalitso cautioned her.

Beatrice who had just sat on the sofa, looked up at him and scoffed.' Fan the flames? I'm just telling the truth. That daughter of yours is too ambitions. I wonder who she takes after cause I sure know its not you.'

'Dad, she can only listen to you. You have to convince her to put an end to this nonsense. What more needs to happen for her to realize Mrs. Elida will never accept her as part of her family? Look Taz, everyone has been dragged into this mess of yours and this will continue as long as you don't give up on Leonard.'

'Sis, how can you ask me to give up on him so easily. I love him, I can't live without him.'

'No one has ever died from heartbreak. And if other people are going to get hurt by that so-called love of yours, then it is a wrong kind of love. It's not supposed to exist.'

Taz knelt down to pick up the broken pieces of the ceramic bowl and the mess made by the vegetables. She stared at the mess on the floor, wishing she had just stayed put in the kitchen. 'You can ask anything of me but that.'

Grace chuckled.'Wow! You Really are one selfish woman Taz.'

'Maybe I am. I am sorry that you all have to suffer cause of me but I am not going to give up on Leonard.'

Grace cast her a piercing glare through slit eyes.' Is that so?'

'I will be in the kitchen if you need me for anything.'

'I will ask you one more time Taz. Leave Leo or I will personally see to it that this stupidity comes to an end.'

'Supper is almost ready, you should go and freshen up,' Taz said instead and turned to head to the kitchen.

' You know, I wish dad never brought you home with him cause since you came into our lives, you have been nothing but a headache.'

Noah muttered a curse under his breath as Taziona's footsteps faltered and she slowly turned to face her eldest sister.

'Let it go,' Noah cautioned his wife as soon as he saw the hurt in Taziona's eyes even though she quickly masked it. He clamped his hand around Grace's upper arm and tried to pull his her away. She purposefully was trending on dangerous grounds.

'Grace, please stop it," Dalitso pleaded.

'Why dad? If mom was her birth mother, would she still go on with this relationship? Would she still stand by and let her own mother be humiliated and insulted by her boyfriend's mother? If she considered us as her family,  she would put us above her stupid relationship.'

'And you, when have you ever considered me as your family?' Taz asked her.

'Stop it both of you,' the ever calm Dalitso shouted.' Taziona you go back to the kitchen and you Noah, take your wife to your room.'

Both Taziona and Noah apologized at the same time while Grace turned on her heels and headed out.

As soon as they walked into their room, which was once a tool shed but had been turned into a house since they both unexpectedly lost their jobs, Grace threw her handbag on the bed.

'I told you to hold off talking to her until you were calm. Look what you just went and did. Now you can't take back the words you said in the heat of the moment.'

'And who said I want to take them back?'

'You should go and apologize to her. You know how sensitive Taz is about that topic .'

'What the hell do I care if she is hurt? And why do I have to be the one to apologize? I have already lost too much because of her. She is the one who owes me... us an apology.'

Noah thought otherwise and wanted to tell her so but bit his tongue. With his wife's explosive temper and the state she was in, he knew he couldn't risk it. He would just have to wait for a day when she was calm, if it ever came.

Even though he conquered with everyone else that Taziona should end her relationship with Leonard, a part of him understood and felt for a young girl.

In Leo, Taziona had found the love and affection she had always longed for but could never get from her family.

'This tension is not good for your relationship. No matter what, she is still your sister Grace.'

'No thanks to dads philandering ways,' she murmured quite vexed. Grace had never forgiven her father for cheating on her mother. And since she was young,  she had never hidden her hatred for Taziona. It hurt her that they had to live with the evidence of his infidelity every single day.

'You are impossible to talk to when you are like this. I will be in the shower, hopefully, you would have already calmed down by the time am done.'

Pacing the floor of their bedroom, Grace had already tuned him out as she killed over ideas to end her sister's relationship with Leo.

~~~~

The sight of his last-born child seated on the swing in the backyard, with a novel in her hands as the whole world slept took Dalitso by surprise.

Abandoning the glass of water he had come for after a coughing fit woke him up; he went into the sitting room, grabbed an afghan blanket and went out.

'Taz?'

'Dad? Why are you up?'

'Here, put this around you. It's much warmer than your chitenge,' he said and placed the woollen blanket around her shoulders.' Mind if I join you?'

Taziona scooted a seat over to create room for him.

'Seems like you have a lot to think about.'

'No. It's just that it's too hot and I couldn't sleep.'

Dalitso looked at the girls calm and serene face that she used to mask her pain. 'You shouldn't let what your sister said to get to you. She was just upset and tired. You will see tomorrow, she will be remorseful for her actions and apologize.'

'You must be very disappointed with me. I am sorry.'

Dalitso sighed.' The heart wants what it wants right? Love is neither rational or logical. I just hope you can hold on like this till the end because it will be a shame if you split years down the line after fighting for so long.'

'Don't worry dad. Leo and I are unbreakable. Haven't we proved that already?'

Unbreakable. Dalitso sadly mulled over the word. It was admirable what they had both put up but at times, he wondered if that was working for or against them.

'The family is just worried about your future. If Mrs. Nkhoma can treat you like this now, imagine how she will be like once you are married to her son.'

'I will be fine dad, I promise,' she told him.

He could only smile and nod at her confident reply. If it was only up to him, he would have already put an end to their relationship. It hurt him to see her hurting like this. But he knew she was much happier by Leo's side than with her family. The cold treatment and snide comments she received from his family members had driven her to seek for love elsewhere.

'It's getting chilly, we should go back in.'

'Go on in first. I am not yet sleepy.'

'Ok. Don't stay up late.'

Going back to bed, he stayed awake until he heard her safely get back in the house, a couple of hours later.