Chapter 16- Unresolved matters
Tanya halts the car momentarily before parking on the side of the road. She knows she needs to look into Dylan’s eyes for this conversation.
“Dylan what are you saying?”
“You know exactly what I’m saying Tanya, the slightest sign of trouble and you look for the easiest way out, you don’t even care that someone has to clean up after you.”
Dylan is breathing heavily, all the while his eyes only getting more bloodshot. An expression Tanya can not read, because honestly she is not sure she has seen it before. Whatever it is, it scares her.
“Dylan I am trying okay, but what did you expect me to do?” she defends herself.
“I expected you to stay and try and work things out with your parents. I was right there by your side but now you are acting like you’re the most unfortunate person. How can you be so impatient with your own parents?”
Dylan stops to stare into her eyes, a challenge. Tanya is caught in a web, confused but sure of her pain, what Dylan is saying holds some bitter truth.
She is now a mother and being called impatient is not a good sign. Her heart sinks some, is she going to make a terrible mother? She tightens her jaw, holding the tears.
“Dee, i…..” she stammers.
“No don’t.” Dylan raises his hand to stop her. Then as he shifts his eyes to look outside the window a flicker of pain flashes in his eyes.
“Your parents might not be perfect, but you aren’t too. You’ve done things that don’t deserve forgiveness. But in your worst they still stuck around. But you…”
“Are you bringing my abortions into this? Really!”
Tanya is shocked.
“Maybe it’s time you learnt to face every demon that comes your way.” He says in a most calm voice. A clear sign that he does not want to continue talking.
Tanya does not know which feeling to feel. Hurt or disgust. Disgust at her own husband who would kick her at her lowest.
She starts the car and gets back on the road. A little hope is in her heart that this would be lighter when they wake up in the morning.
As they pull up at the house they both notice the lights in the living room are still on.
Rudo, the maid informs them they have visitors before they even close the doors. Both of them quickly look at each other, hearts heavy because they are pretty sure nothing good can come out of them right now.
Tanya frowns, she just wants to curl up in bed.
“Are the children in bed?” Tanya asks Rudo.
“Yes, varara.”
“Annie, Tapiwa hi.” Tanya greets her visitors with a forced smile. Dylan follows behind greeting them too but anyone could tell that he was not in a good mood.
Tanya silently prays this goes well. She makes a mental note to make it as short as possible.
“Sorry to come unannounced its just that your phones were unreachable and we needed some help.” Annie explains.
“Sure, what happened?”
Tanya only responds because Dylan seems to be indifferent about whats happening at the moment.
“Well, you see Tapiwa’s family called him yesterday asking when I would be welcomed in the family, they were referring to the whole kuperekwa process. Tapiwa insists on having me do it but I was honestly hoping for a honeymoon soon after the wedding and I don’t feel its necessary.”
Annie quickly replies.
“Babe, you’re honestly being inconsiderate, this is my family.” Tapiwa starts talking to Annie. Dylan scoffs from the corner of the sofa he had placed himself.
Tanya is stuck for words. This seems like a familiar argument.
“Please tell him its not necessary.” Annie looks at Tanya, begging her for support.
“Annie it seems really important for him that you do it.” Tanya finds what seems to be a suitable reply but soon after that Dylan scoffs again.
“Dylan, what do you think?” Tanya asks Dylan in her softest voice. Dylan looks at her through his eyelashes, his face unimpressed.
“People tend to get really selfish in relationships. They forget that your needs are just as important as the other’s needs. That we all want to be heard when we talk. But its about meeting each other halfway…. Some learn that more than others.” As he trails off the last statement he looks at Tanya, who immediately knows this was nothing to do with the couple in front of them but rather about them.
“Maybe you should both explain to each other why you want things the way you do, start from there.” he continues.
Somehow the world had drifted further away from Tanya. What the couple said next she has no idea. She just cant stop thinking about what Dylan had insinuated about people being selfish and all of us wanting to be heard when we talk. Is he unhappy? Is he unhappy with her? But what keeps hitting her is if she isn’t good enough anymore. She feels her heart break in tiny little pieces.
