“Why do you care?” Muhammad prodded.
He’d backed her into a corner and they both knew it. She stubbornly refused to speak.
“Why?” he murmured.
Her jaw tightened. “Because I love my husband,” she bit out.
His smile was so wide it caused a bit of pain at the sides of his lips. “Was that so difficult to admit?” He waved his hand. “Never mind. Of course it was.”
Viviana did her cute little snort-laugh. “Well it’s out there now.”
“You must tell me this every day.”
“Then you must stay here, far away from Syria.”
His expression grew solemn. “Vivi, the more I think on it the more I realize I have to. You were right—Americans do deserve to know. The whole world deserves to know for that matter.”
Her expression was desperate. “I changed my mind.”
Muhammad reached out and gently placed his hand over hers. “For your safety. For my mother and sister’s safety. For the safety of any child you give me—inshallah.”God willing.“I must.”
It took Viviana a long moment to succumb, but she did. “You better come back here alive and you better not be gone long.” She removed her hand from under his, picked up her fork, and resumed eating. “And just so you know? I have a feeling the child you want is already a done deal.”
If his smile was huge before, it was over the moon now. “Really?”
“Wallah.”I swear to God.
Thinking clearly, Muhammad frowned thoughtfully. “No more wine then.”
Viviana’s head shot up. “Oh shit! What if I’ve caused something bad—”
“You haven’t.” He shook his head and smiled. “We have never drank more than a glass maybe twice a week. Sometimes not that much.”
“Are you quitting while I have to?”
“Of course.”
“Are you coming back to us alive?”
“Of course.”
“Promise?”
Muhammad’s eyes sparkled. Nothing in this world or any other could keep him away. He hadn’t known true love and complete fulfillment until he’d known Viviana. “Wallah.”
