“Mind if I join you?” Kat knocked her glass over. Orange juice splattered all over her gold strapped stilettos. “Sorry, I didn’t mean to startle you.” He fumbled for her glass.

​

“It’s okay,” she wiped her shoes with a serviette. He handed her a refilled glass.

​

“Thank you.”

 

He was tall, slim with skin as smooth as caramel. His look finished off with a straight edged goatee.

​

“I hope you are not the hostess because I am gate crashing,” flashing a set of white teeth.

​

“No, it’s Ayanda’s, the beautiful lady in red,” she pointed at her, “she’s my best friend.”

​

“I came to drop off refreshments, now I have the perfect excuse to stay.”

​

Kat blushed.

​

“Let’s start over, my name is Jabulani,” he extended his hand.

​

She took it, “I’m Kat, are you in the catering business?”

​

“No, I am doing a favour for a friend.”

​

“You’re such a good friend.”

​

“I try,” he grinned.

​

A shriek of laughter came from the pool.

​

“Fancy a toe dip in the water?”

​

“My feet scream, yes sir,” she giggled. Leaning on his shoulder with one hand, she slipped off her heels. She caught a whiff of his cologne; it was intoxicating.

​

They sat on the far end of the pool. The sun rested on the suburban house tops. John Legend’s The Best You’ve Ever Had was playing in the background.

 

“Please tell me more about yourself.”

​

“Where should I start?  I am the eldest of three children.”

​

“Hmm…”

​

She flipped the water with her foot. Her scarlet toe nails glistened in the sun. She was glad she had made a quick decision to paint them. She told him about the burden of having to be an example for her siblings in every area of her life. She wanted to kick herself for divulging too much too soon, it was typical of her. She dug herself deeper by detailing how her job bored her to death. She told him she was studying towards a business administration degree in the hopes of getting better job opportunities. Every time she asked him a question, he reverted it back to her. It had been such a long time since a man had shown interest in her, she relished it.

​

“I guess this is goodbye then,” she said, in a mock curtsy, before they departed. She offered him her hand. He pulled her close, whispering in her ear, “It doesn’t have to be.” She her blood rushing through her whole body. He called her in the evening and every night afterward.

​

A few months into their relationship, she introduced him to Andile over dinner. They spoke later that evening.

​

“He’s cute, Kat. I’ll give you that.”

​

“Thanks, Andile,” she was beaming.

​

“Where did you meet him?”

​

Kat rolled her eyes. “At your 30th, I’ve told you a hundred times.”

​

“I’m wondering how I missed him.”

​

“Maybe it’s because nothing comes between you and a bottle of chardonnay,” they laughed.

​

 “He’s a smooth talker…. he says all the right things.”

​

“And the problem is?”

​

“I don’t know. I hope he’s genuine.”

​

 “What do you mean?” Kat’s grip tightened around her phone.

​

“Hear me out. He has class, he’s accomplished, handsome, drives a BMW….”

​

“You mean I can’t get a guy like him.”

​

“Not at all. You are a catch, wife material, unlike me. I still need to shake the crazy out of my system.” Andile chuckled.

​

“What are you saying, Andile?”

​

“A refined man, usually has a woman in his life. Are you sure he’s not married?”

​

“It’s late. I need to catch up on my studies. See you Sunday?”

​

“Kat, I didn’t mean to upset you. Remember, you are the prize.”

​

“I am not upset, but we have been on the phone for an hour,” she forced a laugh.

​

“Sweet dreams… if you know what I mean?”

​

*****

​

 She didn’t speak to Andile for two weeks.

​

“Let me see,” Andile snatched the pregnancy test out of her hand. “I thought you wanted to get married before having children.”

​

“I didn’t think I was going to meet Mr. Right at your party but I did. Sometimes the best things in life aren’t planned.” Kat moved from the bed to the window.

​

 “True, but I feel like we know too little about this guy, for you to have a child with him.”

​

Kat turned around.

 

“Andile, I need your support right now.”

 

She snatched the pregnancy test back.

​

Andile put her arms around her.

 

“You are going to make a wonderful mother. Congratulations, you are having a baby,” they jumped up and down in celebration.

​

When she told Jabulani he was surprised but supportive. However, he made excuses whenever they were to meet. It was either a work commitment, a family function or somebody’s funeral. He didn’t want them to attend these events together either. When she asked why, he got annoyed. In the end, he was unreachable. He exited her life as quickly as he had entered it.

​

When she went into labor, Andile drove her to the hospital. Everything was going well until her baby failed to breathe in the delivery room. It was cruel of fate to have her carry a child for nine months, only for him to die on his birthday. To go home empty when you were expecting the greatest gift of your life.

 

She was inconsolable.

​

She named the baby Mandla, which meant strength, because it was what she would need to get through the pain. She cradled the doll in his cot every night and pretended she was speaking to him.

​

Hello my baby, did you miss me? I missed you too, Mandla. Look at what mommy got for you today. She brought out an army patterned hat. She couldn’t resist going to Ackermans or Edgars to look at baby clothes for every month Mandla had passed away. Do you like it? You look so much like your father. She sighed and put him down. Goodnight, my boy. She kissed him and wrapped him in his blanket.

​

Six months into her grief, she was involved in an accident. On the morning of the accident, she had woken up late. She didn’t bother to shower, she rushed down to the station, and waved down the approaching minibus. She often thought about how different the day would have been if she had showered.

​

They descended the Malangwane Hill in the minibus. The ruins of the old Swazi Inn peered through the morning mist. It looked like a scene from a horror movie. She thought about the Malangwane ghost. For a long time, people blamed the ghost for accidents on the road. The ghost had disappeared years ago with the frequency of accidents. Some said the ghost vanished because of prayers offered on the hill, others said it was because of modern development. The ghost had lost its’ bearings.

​

A black Toyota Fortuner caught her attention. It pulled back from overtaking them because they were speeding. She gazed with yearning at the silhouette of the couple inside. She wasn’t trying to be a movie star or come up with a cure for an epidemic disease. She wanted her own family. Was it too much to ask?

​

They winded down the road, the driver overtook a Chrysler Valiant. Kat had to stretch her neck to see the petite man, behind the wheel, he looked like he was in his eighties. The minibus came head to head with a truck. The driver swerved to avoid crashing into it. The sharp turn resulted in the driver losing control over the vehicle.

​

In recent months, Kat had no desire to live. Her doctor had prescribed antidepressants. In that moment, she realised wanting to die and facing the actual prospect of death were two different realities. 

​

The minibus skidded off the road. They were propelled to the foot bridge. Brakes screeched, tires grazed the road, and the clutch puffed smoke. A terrified pedestrian was on the bridge; he was slammed against the concrete wall. It was too late for him, as it was for them.

​

She prayed for forgiveness, forgave Jabulani, and prayed for her family. She imagined touching Mandla’s beautiful face. They would be reunited.

​

A thud from the Toyota Fortuner gave them the final lift over the bridge. They plummeted to the ground. She surrendered. She was as ready as she could be. The minibus landed on its’ side.

​

*****

​

It was silent when she regained consciousness. She squeezed herself out of a window, scraping her leg on the broken glass. Her bag was hanging across her shoulders. She had taken out her wallet in preparation to pay her fare. She didn’t bother to find it. 

​

She crawled in the direction of a crying baby. It was in the black Toyota Fortuner. Hot fumes rose from the bonnet of the car. She got in through the boot. In one swift move she unbuckled him. She could make out the figures of the couple, through the smoke, his head on the dashboard, her body, held by her seatbelt, hung out of the open door. If she attempted to save them, they would all die. She grabbed the baby running to the top of the hill. After a long while, the car exploded behind her.

​

She dashed across the Malangwane road to hide the baby. She marched past her office. She went straight to the cascade.  It was a tranquil place she frequented during lunch hour to nurse her broken heart. She walked passed the bed of wild garlic, which were in full bloom, going upstream.

​

The baby was wearing the cutest blue onesie, Kat thought. He looked like he was about six months old, the same as Mandla. She stroked his cheeks. “Everything’s going to be alright, Mandla. You are safe now with mama.” She wrapped him in her jersey, kissed him, and laid him down in a curved rock. She should’ve stayed at the accident scene but she reasoned, no one had seen her. She would report in sick then come back to fetch him.

​

She raced to the office. A figure in a blue overall was sitting on the steps. It was Alfred. He was engrossed in the newspaper; his back was turned to her. She greeted him. He acknowledged her without looking up.

​

She unlocked the door with Alfred outside, and went straight to the bathroom to dress her wound, which wasn’t too deep. She kept her gym bag at the office, she changed into her gym wear. It would be an unusual outfit for a Monday morning, but no one really cared at this office. Her heart was racing. She leaned against the wall. Alfred went inside and glanced at her.

 

“What’s wrong with you? Had a rough weekend? Shake it off before the boss gets here.”

 

Her brain strained to connect the pieces of the morning together. When she got hold of one piece, it discarded the rest. The doctor had said grief was unpredictable, perhaps this was another aspect of it. She had forgotten about the baby. She sat at her desk, to begin the day’s work.

​

Alfred asked if he needed to deliver any stationary. The expression on his face threatened there better not be.  Kat smiled and shook her head. He disappeared into the kitchen to make a cup of coffee then picked up where he had left off with his newspaper.

​

Anna’s short, round figure took time to make its’ way through the door. Three khonzekhaya bags dropped from her head to the floor. Kat wondered what she kept in those bags. She looked at her watch. It was half past eight. Anna had better have a good excuse for why she was behind on cleaning. Kat waited.

​

“There was a terrible accident on the Malangwane road,” she was out of breath. “A minibus collided with a truck. The minibus flew over the bridge,” motioning with her hands. Alfred looked up from his newspaper.

​

Anna positioned herself in the center of the room.

 

“A Toyota Fortuner followed the minibus. The Toyota Fortuner went up in flames. When I left, the police were still trying to make an account of all the people in the accident. It is believed a baby was inside the Toyota Fortuner when it went up in flames.”

​

“How terrible,” Kat flinched.

​

“The baby’s parents were rescued in time, but suffered horrendous injuries.” Anna pulled up a chair. “Let’s hope there won’t be any more deaths.”

​

Alfred groaned. “It’s bad enough being in an accident, but to lose your child as well, is unimaginable,”

​

“Please make me a cup of coffee my dear,” Anna put on a pained face.

​

Unbelievable, Kat thought but Anna was shaken. So, she obliged.

​

Themba, the manager, came racing down in the van. The sound of the tires grating the rocks on the road as he applied brakes, coming to a halt outside the office, caused the memories of the morning to flood back to Kat. Her body crumbled beneath her.

 

Anna jumped to her aid.

​

When Themba entered the room Anna was resuscitating Kat. It didn’t look right to him. He wasn’t going to be of much use either.

​

Anna instructed him to get a glass of water. She snatched the newspaper from Alfred to fan her. Kat’s face was serene, it was hard to believe she was in distress.

​

Kat lifted her eyelids and spoke. Anna couldn’t make out her words. She repeated herself, “Anna,” she brushed her arm. “Please, check on my baby.”

​

Anna looked up at Themba. She held her down, “Lie down and rest dear. You hit your head on the floor, don’t push yourself.”

​

Kat shoved Anna’s hand aside to get up but her head was pounding. She took a sip of the water Anna was offering.

​

“I need to feed him, he must be hungry,” Anna gestured to Alfred for assistance. They sat her on her chair.

​

Themba drew Anna aside. “Do we need to take her to the hospital?”

​

“I don’t know, she seems a bit confused. She’s talking about her dead baby. Let’s give it a few minutes.”

​

“Let me know soon. I have to go back to town anyway.”

​

They were interrupted by a knock at the door. Two policemen stepped in. The older gentleman took off his hat. “Good morning, I am Detective Simelane. This is my partner Khumalo. We are looking for Kat Zulu.”

 

He pulled out an ID card from a blood-stained wallet.

 

“I am sure you are aware of the accident on the Malangwane road this morning. Two people are missing. We believe one of them is Ms. Kat Zulu.” He paused. “We were able to get information from her business card, leading us to this office.”

​

“She is the administrator, please come this way.” Themba led them through the office.

​

Kat sat upright in her chair. Her heart felt like it would explode. She wiped her moist palms on her tracksuit.

​

“Hello, Ms. Zulu,” Detective Simelane greeted her.

​

“Good morning, officers,” Kat struggled to keep her voice even.

​

“We believe you were in an accident this morning?”

​

“Yes, I was,” she shifted in her chair.

​

“Can you recall the events that led to the accident?”

 

She told them what she remembered.

​

“On arriving at the office, I forgot the whole incident, I must have been in shock.”

​

“It’s true, we had no idea she was in the accident, officer,” Anna sympathized.

​

“There is another issue Ms. Zulu, a baby is missing.” His enormous figure towered above her.

​

“A baby…” she shrugged.

​

“There were witnesses.”

​

“I saved the baby... I.. uh... I heard his cries coming from the Toyota Fortuner.  I crawled through the back of the car and got him,” she whispered.

​

“Where is he now?”

​

“I don’t know,” her voice was hoarse. She couldn’t maintain eye contact with the officer.

​

He held the arms of her chair, leaning into her face. His breath was overpowering, she let out a nervous laugh.

 

“Do you think this is funny? You will go to jail for the abduction of a minor.”

​

“I wasn’t laughing…I ...the baby was in danger.”

​

“So why didn’t you wait, until help came?”

​

“I was disoriented, I thought the baby was mine…”

​

“Why would you think the baby was yours? Did you have a baby with you in the minibus?” Detective Khumalo spoke for the first time. “No,” Khumalo flung his hands in the air.

​

“I lost my baby about six months ago and….”

​

Khumalo took over Detective Simelane’s interrogation position at the chair.

 

“You stole another woman’s child.”

​

 “No, I was protecting him.” She protested with tears. Anna offered her a tissue.

​

“You remember being in an accident but you don’t know what you did with the baby?”

​

“Yes... No.”

​

“Which one is it Ms. Zulu? Yes or no?”

​

“Yes, I remember being in the accident. I don’t remember where I left the baby.”

​

“We need to find the baby. Each second wasted puts his life in danger.”

​

“You’re a mother, aren’t you,” Detective Simelane intervened.

 

She nodded.

​

“So I am sure you put him in a safe place. Can you tell us where it is?”

​

“I’ve forgotten.”

​

“If the baby dies you will be charged with murder,” Khumalo fumed.

​

“I wanted to keep him safe.”

​

“Your tactics put the baby in more danger,” he raised his voice.

​

Kat ran to the door, she threw up before she reached it.

 

“Do you think you can outrun us?” Khumalo grabbed her.

​

“Can someone clean this up,” Detective Simelane wrinkled his nose.

​

Anna scurried for a mop. She didn’t want to miss anything.

​

“No, I want to show you where the baby is,” she lied.

​

“Where,” Khumalo enquired.

​

“At the river,” she said the first word that came to her mind. Anna gave her a bottle of water and tissue, patting her back.

​

“The river? Why would you put a baby at a river? Is that where the syndicate was to pick him up?”

​

“Syndicate? I don’t know of any syndicate.”

​

“How far is it from here,” Simelane enquired.

​

“About five minutes’ walk.”

​

“Let’s go.”

​

“Get into the back of the van,” Khumalo ordered.

​

She went over the events of the morning. She couldn’t remember what she did when she crossed the road.

​

The interrogation continued at the river.

​

“Where did you put the baby?” Khumalo jerked her arm.

​

“I am not sure of the exact spot, but I know it’s here somewhere.” She pulled away from him, she walked down stream. They were going to catch her out.

​

“Keep an eye on her,” Detective Simelane instructed, answering a call.

​

“Please God, please help me find the baby,” she begged ,but nothing came to her. She took a deep breath and inhaled the scent of the wild garlic. “Upstream.”

​

She saw the rock and ran to it. Khumalo was at her heels. She reached for the baby, her jersey was empty.

 

“He was here, I am sure I left him here.”.She looked up at Khumalo, puzzled. She searched the grass beneath.

​

“I laid him on my jersey this morning. I don’t understand what happened.”

​

“I am taking you to the police station.”

​

“It won’t solve the problem, the baby will still be missing. I will find him, please give me more time.”

​

Detective Simelane gestured to Khumalo to let her go.

​

“How do you know someone wasn’t following you when you came here?”

​

She looked under the rocks and around trees. Out of options, she offered her hands to Khumalo to be handcuffed. He waved her off. She followed him to the van, in the corner of her eye she caught a glimpse of blue cloth hidden under some leaves. She ran to the spot and brushed the leaves aside. He had somehow rolled down. When she touched him, he was cold but there was a pulse.

​

She held him up in triumph, “I’ve got him.”

​

He was rushed to the hospital. Khumalo locked Kat in the back of the van before she alighted. She prayed the baby would be alright.

​

They returned in two hours.

​

“Get down.”

​

“How is the baby?”

​

“Someone wants to meet you. You are fortunate,” he wagged his finger at her.

​

When they got to the lobby of the hospital, Detective Simelane was pushing a woman in a wheel-chair. Her head was wrapped in a bandage. One arm was in a sling, with the other she held a baby. She smiled at Kat.

​

“Hi, I’m Nelly. My husband and I were unconscious after the accident. We were helped out of our car by two strangers. They didn’t know we had a baby with us. We thought our baby had been burnt in the flames.” Her voice was full of emotion. “If it hadn’t been for you, our baby would have died. The officers told us how you risked your life to save our son. You are a hero, Kat. My husband and I are so grateful. Please come and meet him.”

​

“If you ladies would excuse me, I have urgent business to attend.”

​

“Thank you, Detective Simelane,” Kat said.

​

“Ms. Zulu, please be sure to see the doctor before you leave. All survivors are top priority. I am sure Detective Khumalo will be happy to take you home afterwards.”

​

“Don’t be long,” Khumalo scowled.

​

Kat pushed Nelly down the corridor, to the private wards. She opened room 312. Her husband was in a neck brace, he had broken both his legs. She could make out that posture from miles away. It was Jabulani. He smiled, thankful to the stranger who had rescued their son.

 

“I know you don’t know us at all,” Nelly looked up at her husband “but would you consider being our son’s Godmother?”

​