When Tanya wakes up in the morning, Dylan is on the phone. She can hear him talk to Tapiwa’s uncle.
“Ndizvozvo Sekuru (It is well), mukaona Tapiwa please tell him to call me.”
He calls Annie’s father too to check up on her. She is doing better, speaking more. They had gone to the police first thing and one police officer has now come to take Annie’s statement. He tells Annie’s father that he hasn’t been able to locate Tapiwa.
Tanya serves breakfast in the dining area. Gogo Kupa is quieter than usual but no one checks what’s bothering her .
“Arisei Annie?(how is Annie) Have you heard anything?” she asks.
Dylan answers her,” I just talked to her father,she is recovering.”
“Tongotenda kuti vanga vasati varoorana. Zvaizonetsa kusiya murume..”
She says this more to herself. At that Tanya has nothing to say. She can see how Baba’s death has changed Mhamha and she doesn’t know how to take it.
After breakfast, Tanya checks on the children. They seem to be fine, unaffected by the scene they witnessed the night before. Kupa does look a bit curious and Tanya makes a mental note to talk about it with her. Kupa is growing into a woman and these issues must be addressed so she knows how to handle herself in the face of abuse. She doesn’t want her daughter one day riddled with the trauma of having faced abuse and keep it to herself.
She finds Dylan sitting in the home office. He looks preoccupied. She clears her throat and he looks up.
“ Can we talk?”
He nods absent mindedly. Tanya sits in the opposite and pauses for a moment.
“Okay Dee.. we need to talk about what happened at the funeral. I realize I should have told you about the money earlier. I opened the account years back when I first started working. Back then I was independent and unsure of our marriage. I thought for sure we would get a divorce. We didn’t and I’m so thankful. But then I would always delay telling you. I thought you would be angry, you wouldn’t understand why I save the money. Part of it I used for the twins birth and then I promised myself I’d tell you. But things got so hectic with the operation and bringing the twins home.
I’m sorry”
She has been wringing her hands all throughout her speech.
Dylan looks at her, trying to sort through his emotions.
“But you didn’t tell me Tanya, despite the fact that you wanted to. Was it that important to you to hide that money from me all these years? What did you think I was going to do, take it from you? Or were you still planning on leaving one day? Why do you keep hiding things from me Tanya? Why is it so important for you to do that? Am I, your husband, lacking somewhere?”
He said it so calmly but it hurt deep inside her, she deeply regretted keeping this from him.
“ No it’s not that Dylan! It’s not any of that. I don’t know why.. I’m sorry.”
She was crying now, she could see now how this whole thing could hurt her husband. She searched for words to explain to him.
“You’ve been nothing but a good husband..and father. I only wish I could do better.”
Dylan sighs and gets out his chair and takes her hands in his,
“You need to promise me that this is the last we will have a conversation about secrets, Tanya. I don’t think I can handle any more surprises. And I’m sorry too,for not telling you about the bills. I suppose I was trying to protect you..”
They hug and Tanya feels a load of her neck.
“ One more thing..”
Dylan looks at her like he’s about to explode.
She sniffles and smiles,” It’s not another secret..I was just going to suggest we use the rest of those savings to pay off the hospital bills. I don’t want that account open anymore.”
Dylan smiles; his wife can be a handful but she makes up for it quickly. She certainly puts in the effort.
“Alright,fair enough.. Let’s do that.”
They spend the rest of the day resting, playing with the kids and they also take time to pray for Annie. Being in a household with four kids is tiring so they decide to take an early dinner hoping for an early bedtime as well. Around 7,Dylan takes a call.
Soon after,he changes his clothes and takes his car keys in a rush.
“What is it?” Tanya asks, worried.
“ Tapiwa has been seen in his apartment. I’m going there now”
Tanya can see the change in her husband’s face,
“ Please don’t do anything stupid,Dylan. Just go talk to him or call the police on him.”
“I’ll call you later,” he says rushing out of the house.
Tanya is not scared for her husband,she’s more worried about what he will do to Tapiwa when he sees him.
At that she calls the police and gives them Tapiwa’s address.
All she can do now is wait….
