After the five of them enjoy a late dinner at the hotel, with Rosalina occupying herself contentedly with various toys while the four adults eat, Betty and Matt spend an hour in Kristin, Kelly, and Rosalina's suite playing with their daughter. Betty nurses Rosalina and then they head next door to their suite, with all of them hoping that Rosalina will sleep until the morning.
Sitting down on their bed and emitting a deep sigh, Betty motions to Matt as she tells him, "Please come here and hold me for a few minutes."
"Of course, I would never turn down an opportunity to be close to you," replies Matt.
Unable to stop herself from smiling at Matt's comment, Betty rests her head on his shoulder and softly states, "I'm glad that closeness has not been a problem since we've been back together."
"Care to share what is bothering you?" asks Matt as he continues to hold Betty against him as he rubs her back.
After 10 minutes, Betty says, "Thank you. I needed that. My interview with Kagiso went very well, but was heart-wrenching in many ways. The losses that these people have experienced from natural events, such as drought, and the HIV/AIDS pandemic are so enormous."
"Very true," responds Matt, "They have been through a lot in the last decade or so in particular. They are also very resilient people and remind all of us to be thankful for even the seemingly smallest things."
"Yes, you are right, but there is a part of me that feels guilty about all that we have, including our health, that we can sometimes unintentionally take for granted," comments Betty.
Gently cupping her face with his hands, Matt reminds her, "Your pity will not help them, but telling their stories in our magazine can."
"Yes, Sir," retorts Betty, initially sounding slightly irritated with what Matt just told her, primarily because she knows that it is the truth.
She continues, "I'm sorry. Being here is Botswana will likely prove to be one of the biggest reality checks I've ever gotten. It makes me even that much more thankful for our love, our health, and our family."
"Nothing to forgive," responds Matt.
He adds, "If the situation of these people did not touch us, then I'd be very concerned. Our magazine will undoubtedly put us in similar circumstances again where we count our blessings, but I think it will be well worth it."
"Let me show you how much I love you, as that will certainly make me feel better," Betty seductively murmurs into Matt's ear.
"No argument from me," replies an already slightly breathless Matt as they lie back onto the bed.
With their need for each other flowing through their kisses and the lightest of touches, Betty lays across Matt with her mouth avid on his. Their mouths fit together perfectly, with deep kisses that both soothe and entice them. The amazing combination of sensations they experience from joining together lead them to feel both cherished and desired. Content and secure, they drift off to sleep in each other's arms.
At 6:50am the following morning, Betty and Matt are startled out of a deep sleep by an increasingly loud knocking at their door.
"Betty, Matt, it is Kristin," she calls as she continues knocking, "I tried to call you because Rosalina is awake and hungry, but your phone is on do not disturb."
Betty manages to reply, "Be there in under ten minutes. We were talking about the magazine and must have hit DND accidentally."
"Talking?" teases Matt as he stares adoringly at Betty while she pulls on her nightgown and fastens her robe, "That kind of talking is limited to us only."
"Matt!" exclaims Betty, "Speak softer please or they'll hear you."
Raising her eyebrows and eying Matt while he throws on some sweats and a t-shirt, Betty can't stop herself from smiling as she adds, "Technically, we did start out talking. We just ended the evening in a much more pleasant and private manner that I agree is just for us, as husband and wife."
Betty and Matt go into the next suite together, where Rosalina smiles immediately upon seeing both of them, but most especially at Betty, as she is eager for her breakfast. Once Rosalina finishes nursing, the adults quickly shower and change into work clothes. The group arrives at the village just after 9am.
Kagiso and Mothusi are among the first to greet them with, "Dumela, Direle lona robala sentle?" (Good Day, Did you sleep well?).
"Rona kae sentle," (We are well) reply the group, with Rosalina's happy gurgles making most everyone smile.
Mothusi informs them, "We are very close to completing the current portion of the waterway. If we had some extra hands, I believe we could finish it today. It would then be cause for a celebration and make me a much more interesting person to interview."
Kagiso adds, "My arthritis doesn't make me much help with the construction, but I'd be glad to watch Rosalina for you."
Betty whispers to Matt, "It would allow me to speak with more of the villagers while gaining a better appreciation for the hard work of the villagers and volunteers alike."
Nodding at Mothusi, Matt answers, "Agreed. Bereka (work) first, followed by Betty's questions."
"Ke itumetse," (Thank you) says Kagiso, with Rosalina happily playing with her beads while Kagiso helps her wave goodbye to her parents.
"Tlaa kwano, twsee, tswee," (Come here, please) directs Mothusi as he points to where their assistance is most needed.
"Wait just a moment," announces Matt as he hands out lightweight, yet sturdy gloves to all three women.
He jokes, "I learned the hard way, there is no reason that you all have to do the same."
"Thanks, you wouldn't have wanted to have to listen to us complain about blisters so this benefits you too," respond Kristin and Kelly.
"Precisely," replies Matt.
He then softly says to Betty, "Except for you, of course, because I'd enjoy taking care of you."
Betty asks him, "So you wouldn't mind treating any aches or pains I might get?"
"Not at all, in fact, I will personally soothe any ailments to the best of my ability, with a massage if so desired," states a smiling Matt.
Betty responds, "Only if it is a full body massage with my being able to provide you with the same treatment."
Blushing, Matt gives Betty a kiss as he whispers, "An extremely tempting offer that neither of us will refuse."
George teasingly says, "Alright, you lovebirds, unless you are going to share out loud what made both of you turn a lovely shade of red, time to get to work."
After giving George mock salutes, Betty and Matt join the rest who have begun their various construction duties under the watchful eye of Mothusi.
About 2 hours later, Mmaabo approaches the group and says, "Intshwarele. Rosalina ke lela. Kagiso raya ene ke tshwerwe ke tlala." (Excuse me. Rosalina is crying. Kagiso says she is hungry.)
"Nna tla," (I'm coming) responds Betty.
They all decide that it is a good time to take a brief break. Rosalina has a hearty appetite, nursing for nearly 30 minutes. While burping Rosalina, Matt gives Betty an intense look until she finishes the food, and most importantly the water, that he brought to her.
"I'm hydrated, I promise," remarks Betty.
"Good, and lets keep it that way. Your health is important to our daughter, our family, and our magazine," replies Matt.
Several hours pass with the construction related activity and Betty's occasional questions to the villagers being the primary noises being heard. There is also the occasional click of Matt's camera, which he tries to do unobtrusively so as not to disturb the building process as well as to get a "real" feel for the village and its occupants. The villagers and volunteers alike are excited to see the section of the waterway approach completion.
"Your attention please," calls Mothusi at nearly 5pm.
He requests, "Leigh, please put in this last set of bolts, for it is your dedication that has given us so many people who are willing and able to help us."
"I'm honored to do so," responds Leigh as she follows Mothusi's directions.
Leigh continues, "The real credit goes to you and your people, as you make many of us think of what we have to be thankful for and how hard work can help one overcome very difficult circumstances."
"Now that this section is complete, we will have our feast and show our temporary visitors, who are hopefully also lifetime friends, along with the eventual readers of their magazine, some of our traditions," announces Mothusi.
There are loud cheers from the villagers and volunteers in regards to the status of the waterway and the upcoming festivities.
Kagiso brings Rosalina to Matt, whose bright smile and increase in babbling upon seeing her father leads Kagiso, Matt, and Betty to smile.
The guests sit down on specified mats and await the performers, who, dressed in ceremonial outfits, sing and dance in an almost mesmerizing fashion. At Kagiso's urging, Matt plays a guitar along with some of the village musicians. He continues to take pictures to complement Betty's stories.
Traditional food is served, including seswaa, a heavily salted mashed up meat, motogo, a soft porridge made from sorghum and mealie-meal, as well as assorted vegetables and fruits.
While not quite 8pm, many of the attendees look tired as the day's combination of physical labor and celebration have taken their toll.
Unable to stifle a yawn, Betty says, "Intshwarle (excuse me). This has been a long day. I usually have more energy but perhaps the time change has caught up with me."
"Don't worry about it, we've all had a lot of excitement in the past few days," states Mothusi.
"Would you still be able to do your interview tonight?" asks Betty.
Mothusi responds, "I think it is better if we wait until tomorrow. I want us both to be alert so that your questions and my answers are as good as possible, and that won't happen if one of us falls asleep while we are talking."
Matt who is at Betty's side says, "Well, we now know part of the reason you are a village elder, as you are right about the interview occurring when you are both at your best."
"Robala sentle," (Good night) states Mothusi as he walks with them to their van.
"Ke tla go bona kamoso," (See you tomorrow) adds Kagiso.
"Ee, (Yes), we will see you in the morning," reply Betty and Matt, who are holding hands as they emit sighs after sitting in their respective seats.
"And this way, I get more time with Rosalina while you talk with Mothusi, a definite plus for me," remarks Kagiso, with her comment making several of them chuckle regarding her obvious enjoyment of her time with Rosalina.
Matt, Betty, Rosalina, Kelly, and Kristin go back to the hotel, where they try to get to bed early. Matt manages to gently rouse Betty around 11pm so that she can give Rosalina, who is the most rested of the group, an additional feeding, thus avoiding a middle of the night wake up call from "the Princess."