Lulu bit into her carrot stick with a snap. “I’m not super surprised Ali didn’t leave you the house, since he never told you about it in the first place.”
We sat at my kitchen island nibbling mixed nuts and hummus with raw vegetables and pita bread. Feeling antsy, I got up and paced the wood kitchen floor, treading over nicks and dents from sixteen years of family living. I used to catch the kids rolling through the kitchen on their wheeled tennis shoes.
“I need to find out if that woman got the house,” I told them. “Ihaveto talk to her.”
“Are you sure that’s smart?” Nasser asked.
“I want to hear it from her mouth why Ali was paying for that house.”
He winced. “I still don’t believe Ali cheated on you.”
“You’re a lawyer,” Lulu said sharply to him. “Shouldn’t you consider all the evidence and reach the most logical conclusion?”
“I’m thinking like his best friend,” Nasser returned. “Ali loved Amira. He wouldn’t cheat on her.” Just a few days ago I’d believed the same thing. But now? I didn’t know what to think.
Lulu silently replenished our iced tea. Over the years, the extended family had come to appreciate Ali’s tea recipe. Nasser gulped it down his throat, his biceps bulging in the short-sleeved button-down shirt he wore over jeans. His hair was wet. He’d just come from the gym.
“What we know so far doesn’t look good, I’ll give you that.” He set the empty glass down. “But we don’t have enough facts to reach any conclusions.”
“That house is a pretty unassailable truth,” I finally said.
Compassion filled Lulu’s face. “The facts do seem to point to a pretty ugly reality.”
Tears stung my eyes. “I was married to the man for more than two decades. I knew who he was, didn’t I?”
“But you didn’t know about the secret house in North Carolina,” she gently reminded me.
“Yes, Ali lied. That’s for sure.” I took a breath, still holding on to hope. “But maybe there’s another explanation for why he did that.”Please, God, let there be.
Lulu dipped celery into the hummus. “I hope you’re right. But I just want you to be prepared for the worst.”
I would never be ready for that. “What if I sue her?”
Nasser poured himself more iced tea. “Who?”
“Carol Darius.”
Doubt crossed Nasser’s face. “You don’t even know if Carol Darius got the house.”
“Then I’ll sue the LLC. I’d learn what I need to know during discovery, right?” I warmed to the idea. “Wouldn’t they have to show me the operating agreement?”
“They might,” Nasser admitted. “It could work, actually.”
My phone buzzed. It was a text from Julia, Ali’s sister.??Salam. Mama was wondering if you’ve ordered the headstone yet? Sorry to bother you but she keeps asking.??
I exhaled long and loud. “As if I don’t have enough to worry about.”
Lulu strained to see my phone screen. “What is it?”
“Ali’s mom wants to know if I’ve ordered the headstone. The kids and I haven’t decided what writing to put on it.”
Nasser poured himself more tea. “You could just order the stone itself. And decide the writing later. That’s what we did withSidiwhen he died. It takes months for the stone to come in.”
“I just can’t deal with that at the moment.” How could I know what headstone to order? A grand one fit for a loving husband and father? Or some cheap crap that was more appropriate for a cheating liar who kept a mistress? I also had to consider what the kids would want, how they’d want to honor their father. Fortunately, they hadn’t asked about the tombstone yet.
“Don’t let anyone rush you,” Lulu advised.
I set my phone down, making a mental note to respond to Julia later. “What about it?” I said to Nasser. “Are you still my lawyer too? Or were you only Ali’s attorney?”
