“You didn’t sleep well, did you?”My mom furrows her forehead, looking worried, and I know I didn’t succeed in hiding my tiredness from her.“Were you thinking about him?”
“Of course I was.”A sudden swell of anger sharpens my voice.“He’s my husband, you know.”
She blinks, clearly taken aback, and I immediately regret my harsh tone.This situation is not my mom’s fault; if anyone is blameless in all this, it’s my parents.My temper is the last thing they deserve… particularly since my desperate plan will likely cause them even more anguish.
“I’m sorry, Mom,” I say, going over to give her a hug.“I didn’t mean it like that.”
“It’s okay, honey.”She strokes my hair, her touch so gentle and comforting that I want to weep.“I understand.”
I nod, even though I know she can’t possibly comprehend the extent of my stress.She can’t—because she doesn’t know that I’m waiting.
Waiting to be taken by the same monsters who have Julian.
Waiting for Al-Quadar to snap at the bait.
The morning drags by.It’s a Saturday, so both of my parents are home.They’re happy about that, but I’m not.I wish they were at work today.I want to be alone if—no,when—Majid’s goons come for me.It had been relatively safe to spend the night, since Al-Quadar would need time to put whatever plan they have into action, but now that it’s morning, I don’t want my parents near me.The security detail Julian put in place around my family would ensure their safety, but those same bodyguards may also interfere with my abduction—and that’s the last thing I want.
“Shopping?”My dad gives me a strange look when I announce my intention to hit the stores after breakfast.“Are you sure, honey?You just got home, and with everything going on—”
“Dad, I’ve been in the middle of nowhere for months.”I give him my best men-just-don’t-get-it look.“You have no idea what that’s like for a girl.”Seeing that he’s unconvinced, I add, “Seriously, Dad, I could use the distraction.”
“She’s got a point,” my mom chimes in.Turning toward me, she gives me a conspiratorial wink and tells my dad, “There’s nothing like shopping to take a woman’s mind off things.I’ll go with Nora—it’ll be just like the old times.”
My heart sinks.I can’t have my mom coming along if the point is to have my parents away from potential danger.“Oh, I’m sorry, Mom,” I say regretfully, “but I already promised Leah I’d meet her.It’s spring break, you know, and she’s home.”I had seen an update to that effect on Facebook earlier this morning, so I’m only partially lying.My friend is indeed in town—I just hadn’t made any plans to see her today.
“Oh, okay.”My mom looks hurt for a moment, but then she shakes it off and gives me a bright smile.“No worries, honey.We’ll see you after you catch up with your friends.I’m glad you’re distracting yourself like that.It’s for the best, really…”
My dad still looks suspicious, but there is nothing he can do.I’m an adult, and I’m not exactly asking for their permission.
As soon as breakfast is over, I give them each a kiss and a hug and walk over to the bus stop on 95th street to get on the bus going to the Chicago Ridge Mall.
Come on,take me already.Fucking take me already.
I have been wandering through the mall for hours, and to my frustration, there is still no sign of Al-Quadar.They either don’t know that I’m here, or they don’t care about me now that they have Julian.
I refuse to entertain the latter possibility because if it’s true, Julian is as good as dead.
The plan has to work.There is no other alternative.Majid simply needs more time.Time to sniff out that I’m here alone and unprotected—a convenient tool that they can use to force Julian to give them what they want.
“Nora?Holy shit, Nora, is that you?”A familiar voice yanks me out of my thoughts, and I turn around to see my friend Leah gaping at me with astonishment.
“Leah!”For a second, I forget all about the danger and rush forward to embrace the girl who had been my best friend for ages.“I had no idea you would be here!”And it’s true—despite my lie to my parents this morning, I had not expected to run into Leah like that.In hindsight, though, I probably should have, since we used to hang out at this mall nearly every weekend when we were younger.
“What are you doing here?”she asks when we get the hug out of the way.“I thought you were in Colombia!”
“I was—I mean, I am.”Now that the initial excitement is over, I’m realizing that running into Leah could be problematic.The last thing I want is for my friend to suffer because of me.“I’m just here for a brief visit,” I explain hurriedly, casting a worried look around.All seems to be normal, so I continue, “I’m sorry I didn’t tell you I was home, but things were kind of hectic and, well, you know how it is…”
“Right, you must be busy with your new husband and stuff,” she says slowly, and I can feel the distance between us growing even though we haven’t moved an inch.We haven’t spoken since I told her about my marriage—just exchanged a few brief emails—and I see now that she still questions my sanity… that she no longer understands the person I’ve become.
I don’t blame her for that.Sometimes I don’t understand that person either.
“Leah, babe, there you are!”A man’s voice interrupts our conversation, and my heart jumps as a familiar male figure approaches Leah from behind me.
It’s Jake—the boy I once had a crush on.
The boy Julian stole me from that fateful night in the park.
Only he’s not a boy anymore.His shoulders are heavier now; his face is leaner and harder.At some point in the past few months, he’s become a man—a man who only has eyes for Leah.Stopping next to her, he bends down to give her a kiss and says in a low, teasing voice, “Babe, I got you that present…”
