Chapter 3 - Chapter 2

And then there's me.

Wrapped in all the trappings of a suburban housewife, except I'm no longer anybody's wife, and I run a thriving business with the man I always assumed I'd love forever.

"How are your kids, Naledi?" Charmaine asks, sipping the cosmopolitan the waiter set down after taking our orders. "Zinhle and Sphe okay tonight?"

"They're good. Eating at uPhuthu. Siyabonga's taking them to the house for homework once they're done."

"You two manage your—" Charmaine closes one eye and twists her lips, apparently searching for the right word. "Your dynamic so well."

"Dynamic?" Hlengiwe casts me a look I've fondly dubbed sly-slutty. "Is that what you call it when your fine as hell ex-husband is there 24/7 for the screwing and you do nothing about it?"

There was a time when Hlengiwe's brashness would have left me sputtering and spewing my drink, but I'm used to her now. She spent all her shock value on me months ago.

"It's called co-parenting," I say. "And running a business together. If we want to do both of those well, it's best to keep things simple and platonic."

"You don't even want the occasional dip into that yummy honeypot?" Hlengiwe asks, a knowing smile gracing her full lips. "Siyabonga is—"

"Fine as hell." I smile at the approaching waiter carrying our food. "I'm aware. I was married to him."

"So who's with the kids?" I cut in.

"I called Mrs Booysen's daughter." Charmaine fixes her gaze on the menu, avoiding the exasperation I'm sure is apparent in Hlengiwe's eyes and mine. "She's that Grade 9 girl from round the corner. Anke and Marlize love her. Nadia's old enough to stay home and they'd be fine, but her netball practice went late, so ..." She shrugs philosophically.