40.

A few days later

“Mama, can you please stop doing that?”




My mother smacks her teeth and wipes my jacket with her handkerchief.




“Can’t have my daughter looking like she came from the township,” she says and pinches my cheek.




I huff, “Mama, it’s just a doctor’s appointment,”




“I know but you know what I’ve always told you,”




“Cleanliness is next to Godliness,” I say to her mother.




I sigh, for the life of me I don’t understand why my mama has to be like this, I’m grown as hell.




We are waiting outside my doctor’s office and I’m nervous as hell, I haven’t had one of these in a while, I barely get sick and if I do, I use home remedies. I feel my mother’s hand on my thigh, and I look down and it’s bouncing up and down.




“Everything is going to be okay,”




I nod.




From the corner of my eye, I see Xander coming in with my food, these pregnancy cravings were something else, I had him go across town to get me some meat from a restaurant that I went to with Chantel, two years ago, Kasi Chisanyma, that place has the best-braaied meat anyone could have.




Xander sits beside me and hands me the black plastic bag, I smile and open the bag, the smell of seasoned steak, chicken and sausage fills my nostrils and I groan.




Xander chuckles, “You are welcome baby.”




I open the container and pick up a sausage and eat it, and I slowly devour my food by the time I get to the steak, it’s time for us to go inside the doctor’s office.




“Doctor Chauke,” my mother greets, “How are you?”




“Mme Mthethwa, I am good and yourself,” he smiles shyly.




My mother and my doctor have been friends since high school and I know my mother has a crush on him and he has a crush on her, that’s the only reason she came with me to my appointment.




“Ntate Chauke, thank you for taking the time to see me,” I say.




Xander holds out his hand, “Good morning, sir,”




The men shake hands, and we all sit down.




“So, you are here for your first ultrasound?”




“Yes, I am,”




Dr Chauke gets up from his chair and dials his office phone, “If you don’t mind, lay on that bed over that and lift your shirt up for me, I’m going to call the nurse so she can help me,”




Xander and I get up from our chairs and make our way to the bed, Xander helps me lie down and lifts my shirt, a nurse walks in and greets but her eyes linger a little too long on Xander but he’s too busy staring at me to notice.




The nurse pulls the ultrasound machine closer to the bed and puts on some rubber gloves. She pours the cold gel on my stomach and starts pressing buttons on the machine.




“I’m so excited,” Xander says with a smile, “When will we be able to tell the gender of the baby?”




“During the second trimester but if you’re impatient, tomorrow,” the nurse laughs.




“We’ll wait for the traditional time,” I say, Xander looks at me with a frown, “I’m being a serious baby.”




He huffs, “Fine.”




“Alright ma’am, you ready?” the nurse asks.




I nod, she gently places the scanner on my belly and moves it around slowly, while looking at the screen, she moves lower down my stomach and her face lights up.




“There we go,” she says and points to a blob on the screen.




Xander squeezes my hand, and his eyes are twinkling with joy, and that’s enough to make my heart melt.




“Baby, there is our baby,” he says




I giggle, “I see it, Andy.”




And then we hear a heartbeat, and that’s when the tears start flowing, my biggest fear was not being able to hear a heartbeat or any sign of life.




“Oh, my baby,” my mother coos, “I know, I told you that everything was going to be okay.”




Xander kisses my forehead, “It’s okay, we healthy baby and you are good, we will hold our baby in our arms.”




I sniff, “Thank you,”




The nurse prints the pictures and turns off the machine, Xander helps wipe the gel off my stomach and then I sit up on the bed.




“Looks like everything is good with the baby, now it’s time we check your vitals.”




The doctor checks my heart rate, weight, and general emotional and mental well-being.




Doctor Chauke claps his hands together and smiles at me, “Looks like you are a healthy mama, your blood pressure is normal, and your weight is good. I don’t have to put you on any vitamins or medication for now.”

“Thank you, Doctor,” I smile.




“So, I’ll make your next appointment for next month but if you have any concerns, you can call me, and I will make time to see you.”




“Thank you so much, Doctor Chauke,” my mother says, “I would like to take you out to lunch, just to show my gratitude.”




Xander and I look at each other in disbelief.




“Uhm, of course.” Doctor Chauke says shyly.




My mother gives the man a cheeky smile and she gives him her number on a sticky note.




“Oh my gosh,” I whisper, “Ma, let’s get going.”




We leave the doctor's office and Xander’s phone rings.




“Hello?” he puts the phone on loudspeaker.




“Is everything ready for tonight?” Damien asks.




“Yeah, we just have to go check the venue and then we are good to go buddy,” Xander replies.




“Are we invited?” I ask.




Damien chuckles, “Yes you are.”




I grin, “Awesome, I can’t wait to witness the magic.”




Damien laughs, “Thank you guys, I am so grateful for your support.”




“Anything for my baby’s godfathers,” Xander replies.




“I’ll see you guys tonight, love you,”




“Love you too Damien,” we reply and hang up the phone.




I turn around and look for my mother, but I can’t see her, I walk to the doctor’s door and knock before opening the door.




“Mama!” I gasped.




My mom is kissing my doctor, this woman has zero chills.