Chapter 23 - Cracks in the Glass

"I need to look pretty for the game then after that I can bug you all night." Will shoved Bryan into the guest bedroom and told him to shower and get dressed for dinner.

Both boys were showered, dressed, and downstairs within twenty minutes. They inspected each other and nodded. Both had opted for dark blue trousers. Bryan had selected a dark blue shirt and powder blue cardigan while Will had chosen a white shirt under a navy blue cardigan.

"I swear we have the same mom sometimes." Will mused. He had almost picked up his cardigan that had blue and white stripes in the same shade as Bryan's pullover.

They heard footsteps coming down the stairs and Will grabbed the bouquet from the basin he'd kept them in when he got home. The sparkle in her eyes when she saw the flowers gave him a heady feeling. She thanked him and hugged him.

She was dressed in a navy blue dress that changed color as she walked. The boys felt underdressed. They hadn't worn ties and their open collars were on the casual side.

"You both look very handsome. Shall we?" She put the bouquet in a vase and grabbed her matching clutch.

"We can change..."

"Nonsense! Let's go." She walked out first. Her back was bare almost down to her waist.

Bryan's eyes widened and he stared at Will before pretending to faint. Will hit him on the head before grabbing her coat and his; he draped her coat over her shoulders as they waited for Bryan. Bryan unlocked his car and stared when Will lifted Thoko and placed her in the back seat before sitting in the front.

"Bryan, do you know where Giuseppe's is?"

Bryan nodded. 'They had reservations at Giuseppe's?' It was probably the top restaurant in the city. He wanted to kick Will but Will was sitting with his eyes closed.

"Billy, are you okay?" Bryan asked.

Will nodded, he shuddered as Thoko put a hand on his shoulder assuring him that they could go back if he wasn't feeling well. Will turned back and smiled. "I'm okay. I was just resting my eyes."

Bryan knew better but he kept quiet. He drove quickly into the city marveling at the light banter between his two passengers. When they got to Giuseppe's Will helped her out and she walked them to the maître d' who smiled at them and led them to a table without checking the reservations list.

She had her hand on Will's forearm and the maître d' himself took their coats. There was a slight gasp from a few of the women who had been watching their walk to their table. Minutes later Giuseppe himself came to their table.

Both boys were awestruck. No one met Giuseppe, ever. Will was pretty sure that only his uncle had ever had dinner with Giuseppe since the restaurant opened. Giuseppe was a cool guy though so it was lots of fun.

They laughed throughout the meal. Every once in a while Giuseppe would touch Thoko's hand and sigh until finally, he said, 'Cara, you broka 'is 'eart. 'e love you that fool." He held up his hand. "I speaka no more of 'im. Isa your birthday anda I hava surprise for you."

Bryan gasped audibly. He shook his head. "Tonight has been so amazing, no one at school will believe this tomorrow."

"No problem!" Giuseppe waved over a man and instructed him to take photographs of him and the boys. When the photographer was done Giuseppe assured them that they would be tagged on all the social networks.

A stunning woman wearing a golden sheath that pooled at her feet walked into the room. She glided gracefully across the floor. When she stopped at their table the boys grinned. When she saw Thoko she squealed and hugged her for a very long time.

When they separated the woman kissed Giuseppe and thanked him profusely in Italian. Giuseppe blushed and shrugged. Another chair appeared magically and she sat with as much grace.

As the women caught up Giuseppe nodded at them. "You see boys, the best jewels come from Africa. Look at them; beautiful."

Bryan looked, they were both gorgeous. Their makeup wasn't too light or too dark for their complexions. Both were dark women and they wore it proudly.

They had poise and elegance. Their dresses were stylish yet not revealing. He looked around the restaurant and a lot of the men were openly appreciating the two women. A surge of pride went through him. He remembered wishing he wasn't such a yellow-bone and more brown like his father when he was little and was proud of his African heritage.

Both boys presented her with gifts. She opened them and was happy to have both. Bryan got her a tablet with an app for lesson plans and keeping track of grades. Will got her a charm bracelet. The boys got hugs and promises to use both gifts.

At 9:30 pm Thoko insisted that she get the boys home, in bed in time for school the next day. They took dessert home. It was a chocolate cake boxed in a white box with a gold foil design and a "G" in red boldly in the middle. They also got a carton of ice cream made by Giuseppe, personally.

On the way home the boys were excited and thanked Thoko for taking them to dinner. "You're an absolute goddess! How do you even know Giuseppe and Wangene?" Bryan asked as he drove back to school. Thoko laughed.

"Thank you. I had the pleasure of being Wangene's roommate freshman year. We took a little trip to Italy where I told Giuseppe that 'love is love and any time we let it go bad things happen.' Now they are happily married and have a gorgeous son."

"So who is the guy whose heart you broke?" Bryan teased.

Thoko smiled sadly. "That's classified. I'm married now and I love my husband."

"Wow, I could have sworn when we met you in class you were no fun but… you're a matchmaker and you know how and when to have fun." Bryan gushed. "Flip, you're actually really cool.

"I hope I marry a woman like you. I don't even know why Ron didn't come out. Shit, I'd have told the boss, 'Not tonight, its wifey's birthday."

Silence lingered in the car for what felt like forever. "Ronald takes his work seriously. He footed the bill for tonight." Thoko spoke softly.

Bryan looked over at Will to see if he bought the story and Will was looking at him sadly. Bryan blinked. He looked at Thoko through the rearview mirror.

"I'm sorry. That came out wrong. I'm sure he has his reasons and I'm sorry he missed out on all the fun we had tonight."

Thoko patted Bryan's shoulder. "It's okay. Thank you, boys, for coming with me. I would have been a very lonely woman had Giuseppe and Wangene not been able to join us. I think they liked you two. Wangene wanted to know what you're doing for Christmas." She cheerfully changed the subject.

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The next morning Thoko slipped into her running gear deciding not to wake Will since they got home late. She got to the door and heard a sound. She spun around relieved it was just Ronald.

"Tuwana twako twupripi (where are your kids)?" He sneered.

"Varara (they're asleep)." She held her earbuds in her hands. Ronald pressed her against the wall. His arm crossed her neck.

"Three thousand dollars?" He growled.

"Yei (spent on what)?" She asked. He slammed his palm millimeters from her face.

"Makadya chikafu che (you ate food worth) $3000!" He shouted.

Her eyes widened. 'Oops?' Her menu hadn't had prices. "Thank you for the lovely birthday present. The boys and I enjoyed ourselves tremendously." Her voice didn't betray her fear.

She wasn't so sure what she was more afraid of Ronald's violence or the boys witnessing it. At that moment the boys walked in from the kitchen. In shorts and a t-shirt, Bryan looked huger than normal.

"Is everything okay here?" Bryan asked politely.

Thoko smiled and tried nodding. Ronald's arm stopped her. "Good morning boys! Yes, everything is fine. You guys joining me for a jog?"

"Yeah," Bryan answered glaring at Ron. Ronald glared back and dropped his arms.

Thoko headed for the door. Will followed her. Bryan stepped closer to Ron until their faces were almost touching.

"The day you lay a finger on her and she gets hurt…you better hope the cops get to you before Will and I do." He stepped back and laughed.

"You're a funny guy Mr. M! You have a great day! We'll make sure she eats a healthy breakfast. Bye!" He ran after Will and Thoko who had a fair head start.

Ron bared his teeth at the retreating back of the rude boy. How dare he? In his own house no less? He'd teach Thoko a lesson! $3000! He was not running a charity. Mapenzi evanhu (those fools)! Kundijairira (taking me for a ride)!

Thoko was practically sprinting. The jog to the track field was just meant to be a warm-up for the track field. Will was beyond worried. It had sounded like Ron wanted to hurt her intentionally. What was he supposed to do?