Chapter 3

After my parents woke up before the sun even rose, which is the time that they always wake up whenever they are home. They sleep at 18:30 and are awake by 05:30, and when I open my eyes an hour later my mum's already cooked an entire buffet for breakfast. She prefers to cook for us instead of having a chef because we were once poisoned by a chef that my father hired. It turned the chef had an affair with my father at some point and because he didn’t want to be with her anymore, she tried to kill the whole family. It was a long time ago, I believe I was three at that time, and my mother has long since forgotten about that incident so I didn’t dwell on it either. 

During breakfast, my parents promised to spend the day with me and forced me to call into work sick. Which is why four hours later I'm all dressed up for the mini birthday celebration. I had on one of my new wigs because I wanted to try a new look. It was a shiny black bodywave of rich and luscious hair that reached until my lower back. I had on minimal make up, which was just a touch of foundation, mascara and lip gloss and, I had on a rose gold sequins long mermaid off the shoulder formal sexy gown that hugged my hourglass figure like second skin. 

I did all of this for the lunch that my parents had set up in our backyard where everything was perfectly set up. 

I smiled as I walked through the open sliding doors and met the gorgeous sight of the back of my family home. The pool deck was made of concrete, with design furnishings to create a modern laidback poolside feel, if that makes any sense. My mother was standing by the bar, dressed in a one shoulder ruched designer party dress as she danced to the loud amapiano music that was coming from the outdoor sound system.

My father was standing along the poolside with a glass filled with his favourite whisky as he looked out at the view that could be seen from here. The home was situated at the very top of a mountain and for that reason we could see the skyline of the city of gold. It was a marvellous sight during the night I can guarantee.

My mother was the first to notice me and when she did, she grinned proudly at me, encouraging me to dance to the beat as I made my entrance. I didn’t need to be told twice. I loved to dance but I am horrible at it and the painful thing is everyone in my family can dance. I was the only one with two left feet. That still doesn’t mean that I don’t dance because I very well do no matter how hard people laugh around me. That was another thing that I loved about my parents was the way that no matter how bad I was at anything, they always cheered me on and supported me. 

I nodded, "you two are so evil in making me believe that I can dance," I said as I walked to the table, laughing uncontrollably as I sat down by the bar and looked around, "thank you," I said to them. 

My father nodded, "I know you've been very busy with the butcher and taking care of the home. It's a little something to show our appreciation." 

"Well, it means a lot," I said with a smile.

It was like good old times because it was just the three of us. This is how it used to be everyday four years ago and right now it feels like things are starting to fall into my old routine and there's nothing that I love more than a routine.

"Well," my dad cleared his throat, "I bought you a birthday present. I know I'm a bit late but I was saving it for today because I couldn't give it to you on your actual birthday." 

I smiled wide as he handed me a big box, "open it," he encouraged and my smile faltered when I held the box and it felt...light. I opened it eagerly because my father doesn’t disappoint when it comes to birthday presents, and my eyes widened as I looked at the set of keys placed right in the centre of the box, on top of a picture. 

"What?" I gasped as I took the keys along with the picture into my hands and scanned my eyes over the photograph of a Porsche.

My mother clapped excitedly, "those are the keys..." she paused doing a dramatic drum roll, "to your brand new-"   

"Porsche Panamera!" They finished off together and at the end we were all screaming and celebrating together. 

"Thank you!" I kept repeating as I jumped up and down, eager to go check it out but it seemed they stayed put. 

"You're welcome, baby," my father responded as he held my hand, "but there's something your mother and I need to tell you..." 

They went from happy to scared and quiet, "what's wrong?" I looked between the two of them, "what? You didn't actually buy me the car?" I asked them, thinking that maybe this was all some kind of sick joke.

"No, the car is there," my father corrected, "but it's something else..." 

"Ok...well then please say what it is that you need to say," I urged, getting nervous as well. 

"Baby," my mother began as she turned to face me, "you know that we love you, right?" I nodded. 

"I love you too." 

They smiled awkwardly, "so...as you can see, we have been able to buy you everything that your heart desires," she continued, pointing at the house and the car keys I was holding, "we got here because of the success of our business. You know that, right?" 

I nodded, pausing, "are we broke?" I asked them, frowning because it sounded like they were going to say that. 

"No, Celeste, listen," she stopped me, forcing me to listen instead of coming to my own conclusions, "do you remember how tough life used to be, especially financially? And in order to start the business, we needed money which we didn't have.  We tried everything, we went to banks and they wouldn't give us anything more than R20 000 which literally would do nothing. So...we needed help, and we found someone that could help us. And now, we're here."  

I nodded, "ok..." 

"We've been able to start this business because of this family that we got start-up capital from." 

I nodded, understanding the situation. 

"And we met for the first time when we went to Switzerland," my mother continued when she saw that my dad wasn’t going to help her say whatever it is she was going to say.

"Why does it sound like I'm getting fired?" I asked with furrowed brows and angry eyes. 

"No, actually..." my mother paused as she looked at my father, "that family was wonderful. Absolutely amazing," she said and my father nodded, "so amazing in fact," she laughed nervously and my father cut in. 

"We found you a husband." 

I laughed, looking at their solemn and nervous faces, "you? Found me? Me? A husband?" I laughed throwing my head back, "what the hell are you thinking?" I snapped as my laughter cut right in the middle and they jumped in surprise. 

"We're here celebrating me having turned 32 and you come with this nonsense?" I snapped as I gripped the car keys in my hands, "some sick joke." 

"It's not a joke, Celeste. He's a wonderful man!" My mother argued. 

"Mama, Baba, I pray for your sake that you're kidding," I said seriously as I looked at the two of them and then shot up from my chair and it flew backwards, "I am not for sale!" 

"Celeste, please," My mother pleaded. 

"You went to travel the world to sell me to some man?" I spat out in disgust, "my own parents? No," I laughed in disbelief, shaking my head, "no, that's it," I said as I started to walk away. 

I stopped at the doors and whipped around, "and you tell that man, that I, Celeste Khoza am never-and will never- get married."