“You sure you okay?” LaLa was watching me with those sharp brown eyes. “You look pale. And you’re sweating.”
“It’s hot in here.”
“It’s actually kinda cold.”
I didn’t have energy to argue. Just laid back against my pillow and tried to breathe through the cramping. It would pass. It always passed. Just Braxton Hicks. Just my body practicing for the real thing.
“I thinkI’m going to go call my sister before I go to bed.”
The phone bank was crowded this time of night, but I found an empty spot near the end of the row. Dialed Mehar’s number and pressed the receiver to my ear, trying to ignore the way my hands were shaking.
It rang twice before she picked up.
“Zainab!” Her voice was bright. Happy. It made something in my chest crack. “Oh my God, I’ve been waiting for you to call. How was the visit with Prime?”
“It was good.” I forced a smile even though she couldn’t see me. “He looked good. Tired, but good. We didn’t have long, but… it helped. Seeing him helped.”
“I bet. I can’t even imagine how hard it must be being away from him.” A pause. “How are YOU doing? For real. Don’t lie to me.”
“I’m…” I hesitated. Thought about telling her about the cramps, the fatigue, the way everything hurt all the time. But she didn’t need that weight on her shoulders. She had enough to worry about. “I’m hanging in there. Tell me about you. I need to hear something good. Something that’s not about this place.”
“You sure?”
“Please, Mehar. I need it. Tell me all the good things happening in your life. Distract me.”
She laughed, and the sound was like medicine. “Okay, okay. Well, the bakery is doing AMAZING. We’re getting so much buzz from the news coverage—I know that sounds messed up, but apparently ‘bakery owner wrongfully accused’ is a sympathetic story. People are coming from all over to support Sweet Zin. We’re sold out of cinnamon rolls every day by like, well before closing.”
“Really?” Despite everything, that made me smile. “That’s incredible.”
“Right. I’m just so glad you trusted me to help you with your dream. I wanna make you proud.”
“You are Mehar. I’m so proud of you but tell me more. What else?” I asked. “What else is going on?”
“Oh! I’ve been training at the shooting range. Like, seriously training. There’s this instructor named Denise who’s been working with me, and she says I’m a natural. My groupings at twenty-five yards are getting super tight.”
I laughed for real this time. “Look at you, becoming a whole marksman. I’m scared of you.”
“You should be.” I could hear the grin in her voice. “I’ve been thinking… when things calm down, maybe Prime can coach me on some more advanced stuff. Like sniping or whatever. He’s a sharpshooter, right?”
“Girl, we should have never let you loose on Ahmad. You got a taste for blood now.”
“Maybe I do.” Her voice shifted, got a little harder around the edges. “I’m tired of men hurting me. Hurting us. A man hurt you, Z. A man killed Zahara. A man kept me prisoner for years pretending to be my husband. I’m done being a victim. I want to be able to protect myself. Protect the people I love.”
“I understand,” I said softly. “I really do.”
We were quiet for a moment. Then Mehar’s voice brightened again.
“Oh! Speaking of protection… I actually have someone looking out for me now. Like, romantically.”
“Oh word?” That made me smile through the pain. My baby sister, finally finding happiness after everything Ahmad put her through. “Tell me about him. What’s he like?”
“He’s amazing, Z. Patient. Attentive. He doesn’t push me to do anything I’m not ready for. He actually listens when I talk. Remembers things I tell him.” She laughed, sounding almost giddy. “He makes me feel safe. Like, actually safe. For the first time in my life.”
“That’s beautiful, Mehar. I’m so happy for you.” And I meant it. After eight years of hell with Ahmad, she deserved someone who treated her right. “So when do I get to meet this mystery man?”
“When you come home! Which is gonna be soon, I know it.” A pause. “His name is Thad. He’s actually Prime’s cousin—can you believe it? Small world, right? You’ll love him, Z. He’s?—”
Everything stopped.
