Chapter 4: With a family like this, who needs enemies?

Gloria sat on the polished veranda, chopping beetroots into cubes on a reed mat.

Sinikiwe’s seven-year-old daughter, who had been helping grate some beetroot, looked up and broke into an adorable smile.

“Mummy!” she cried, jumping to her feet and running to her.

“Hey, sweetie.” Shifting the box to the side, and opened her arms. She hugged her tightly-it was the hug she had needed all day.

“Mummy, what took you so long? I missed you,” the girl said, looking up with joy shining in her muddy brown eyes.

Sinikiwe kissed the top of her daughter’s head. “I missed you too, sweetie. Have you been back long from your playdate at Chishala’s place?”

The girl nodded, her small hands still wrapped tightly around her mother’s waist. “Aunt Gloria came to pick me up. We went to the supermarket and got some food for Chitontozo. She even took me to the salon. How do I look?”

Chimwemwe stepped back and showed off her stylish zig-zag hairstyle, colorful beads sparkling at the ends.

Sinikiwe glanced past her daughter to Gloria, who set the dish of beetroots aside and stood up.

Gloria gave a hesitant smile, reached for her phone, and turned down the music.There had to be an explanation, Sinikiwe thought, as the dark thoughts returned.She patted Chimwemwe’s head.

“You look beautiful, honey. Here, take this inside. I need to talk to your aunt Gloria.”Chimwemwe took the box and headed inside.

Gloria stepped off the veranda, joining Sinikiwe barefoot on the paved ground.“Ba Sinikiwe,” she greeted, using the respectful honorific for adults.

“Gloria,” Sinikiwe replied flatly, folding her arms across her chest.

“I hope you don’t mind,” Gloria said uneasily, “I saw there wasn’t much to eat in the fridge, so I did some shopping.”

Sinikiwe’s eyes skimmed the teenager from her feet to her hair.

Gloria wore a floor-length peach halter neck dress that matched perfectly with her Brazilian off-black pixie weave. Diamond chandelier earrings dangled from her ears, matched by a necklace around her neck. On her wrist, an expensive gold bracelet caught the light.

She looked stunning—and expensive. Gloria was always fashion conscious and dreamed of being a runway model. She had competed in local beauty pageants and fashion shows.

But it was the expense that unsettled Sinikiwe, stirring the dark, scary thoughts she’d had on the way home.

“You came back.”

“I… I can explain.”

“Really?” Sinikiwe asked, disbelief souring her voice. “What are you going to explain, Gloria? That the one time-the one time I needed you-you sold me out?”

“It wasn’t like that.”

“No? Fine. Go on-give me your side. Lie to my face.”

Gloria’s gaze dropped, her toes wriggling nervously.

“How much?” Sinikiwe asked.

“Sis…”

“Don’t ‘Sis’ me,” Sinikiwe hissed, fighting back tears. “You stopped being my sister the day you turned your back on me.”

“I’m sorry,” Gloria whispered, tears welling.

“Sorry?” Sinikiwe chuckled bitterly. “Sorry? What good’s that to me? To my son? To Chimwemwe? What good’ll it do my daughter who’s scarred for life? How do I undo what’s already been done?” Sinikiwe yelled. “Tell me! That,” she nodded toward the food on the mat, “and all this,” she waved down at the girl, “is this your payoff?”

Tears filled Gloria’s eyes. She couldn’t meet her sister’s gaze-every accusation was true.

Sinikiwe’s heart shattered upon seeing her sister so broken and confused. After all, Gloria was more than a sister-despite only six years apart, Sinikiwe had always been like a parent to her.

Not by choice, either.Her heart broke, but Gloria’s betrayal felt like a blade twisting in her chest.

“Did you even stop to think about me? How do you still call yourself my sister after what you did?”

“Oh, sis, forgive me. I just thought…since the two of you were lovers, what happened was consensual,” Gloria said, looking up.

Sinikiwe stumbled back, shocked. “What did you just say?”

Gloria’s hand flew to her mouth, as if trying to take back her words. Tears filled her eyes as she watched her sister’s face shift from shock to hurt, then cold indifference.

“No, Ba Sinikiwe, I didn’t mean that…”Gloria rushed forward and grabbed her hand. “Forgive me, Ba Sinikiwe. I’m sorry-I shouldn’t have said that.”

Sinikiwe yanked her hand free and slapped her hard across the cheek. Hearing the words ripped her heart apart.“He raped me, Gloria. He raped me in front of my daughter. How can you say…how could you?” She shook her head. “You better leave.”

Gloria fell to her knees, crying. She reached out, clutching her sister’s legs as Sinikiwe tried to walk past.“Ba Sinikiwe, I’m sorry. I’ll return everything. I’ll make it right…”Sinikiwe pushed her away roughly. “You should go. Pack and leave my house.”

Gloria stood and ran after her, wrapping her arms around her from behind, tears falling. “No, Ba Sinikiwe. I’m sorry. I will make this right-please forgive me just this once.”

Sinikiwe loosened the tight embrace and turned to face her. Tears ran down her smooth face. Growing up, all Gloria had to do was shed some tears and Sinikiwe would give in. She hated seeing her sad.

Gloria had been the light in her dark life.But now, genuine as the tears were, Sinikiwe felt only pure, unadulterated hatred.“Abel raped me, Gloria. How could that be consensual?” she asked between sobs. “You took me to hospital-you saw the bruises, the pain. I guess between loyalty and money, money won right? ”

Gloria had been her pillar that night and in the days after. But when the Njolombas started harassing her, Gloria disappeared. No one in the family told her where she went.

“Why are you looking for her?” Ruth Gwaba, her stepmother, had asked. “Do you want to ruin her reputation like you did yours? Don’t drag my daughter into your mess.”

No amount of pleading could convince them otherwise. To them, Sinikiwe had brought it on herself, and maybe she deserved it. For a while, she doubted herself-was there some truth to it?Had she not been dating one man while lusting after another?

And worse, they were brothers.

Gloria shook her head, looking down.

“Save your crocodile tears. Stay away from me and my family. The day you betrayed me was the day our relationship ended,” Sinikiwe declared, tears filling her eyes. She wiped them away, took a deep breath, and walked past her to open the gate.

Gloria sank to her knees, sobbing. Sinikiwe might as well have brought down the Spanish Executioners guillotine. She regretted it. If only she could do everything all over again. But alas, in life, there were no do overs, just a life time of regrets.

“I’m sorry. Forgive me.”

Sinikiwe scoffed softly and walked back into the house.