When the video call rings, I settle myself on my bed. “Mateen! I miss you so much,mon chou.What did you do today?”
“We walked forever. At least five kilometers! But then Mademoiselle Benoit fell and the ambulance came!”
I sit up, panic tightening my chest. “She fell? Is she all right?”
“She got her foot stuck in a drain. The police came too, and then the fire truck. They had this big saw and they had to cover her with a blanket and there were sparks everywhere. She’s okay now. But she can’t come to the observatory tonight.”
I have to steady the phone with both hands as my adrenaline fades. Only an accident. Mateen is safe, and all he will remember of today is an adventure—and maybe the big saw with sparks.
“Are you excited about the observatory? What are you going to do there?”
“Maman…” he rolls his eyes. “Look at stars and stuff.”
“And stuff?” I laugh. “I love you, Mateen. I cannot wait to hug you tomorrow.”
Amelie whispers something to my son, and he nods. “I miss you too, Maman.”
Tears burn my eyes. He may have needed prompting, but he speaks the truth. “Next time you have a school trip, maybe I can go with you.”
His whole face lights up. “Really?”
“Yes. Really. Be safe tonight. See lots of stars.”
“Love you, Maman.” Before Mateen can hang up, Amelie snatches the phone from his hand.
“Go put your shoes on,” she says. “Laurent? Get the boys’ coats.”
She looks exhausted—and frazzled—when she focuses on the screen. “The children were upset when Mademoiselle Benoit fell, but as soon as the fire brigade came, all they cared about was the big saw. She sprained her ankle, but was able to join us all for dinner tonight.”
“Oh, good. I am so glad you and Laurent were able to take off work to chaperone. One day, maybe I will not worry every time Mateen is out of my sight.”
“I do not think that ever goes away, Lisette. My niece is twenty-two and my sister still worries all the time.” She lowers her voice. “How areyou?”
“Better than I thought I would be. This is the first time we have ever been apart. I feared I would cry the whole time.”
I wish I could tell her the truth. That while I miss my son more than I thought possible, I am not alone.
“This weekend, you will come over for dinner and we will show you all the pictures we took of the boys. They have had a wonderful time. They even know some Spanish now.”
“Please tell me they learned more than swear words.”
Amelie’s cheeks flush pink. “They may have heard more than one of those from the firemen today.”
“Time to go,” Laurent calls.
Mateen waves at the phone. “Bye, Maman!”
“Bye! Have fun!”
Amelie blows me an air kiss and ends the call. The rest of the night is mine, and there is only one thing I want.
Nomar.
CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO
Lisette
I findhim on the sofa, staring at his phone.
