“Is that what you did with Divya? Did youfightfor her?” It felt good to let off some of that frustration.
“As a matter of fact, I did,” Ben responded calmly as he sat back up to face Sam. “However,Iam not the Boy Scout you are, so by the time she came around, I had already screwed it up.” He turned to lie back down, shifting on the sofa getting comfortable. “Nice try, though.”
Silence again, during which Sam thought Ben had fallen asleep. He started to get up when Ben spoke with his eyes closed. “Listen, bhaiya.”
Ben hadn’t called him bhaiya in ages.
“The first thing you need to do is admit you still want her, and then go get her. If you don’t—trust me, you’ll find out just how great a hiding place Africa is.”
CHAPTER FORTY-FIVE
SAM
Maryland, 1996
HISMOTHERHADbeen diagnosed with cancer.
Sam leaned forward on his elbows with his face in his hands and winced from the pain. His nose was broken and his body was black-and-blue, but the pain grounded him. Right now, he’d give anything for Maya’s gentle touch or whispered assurance. But her comfort was gone to him forever.
His mother had collapsed that morning. Sam and his father had brought her to the hospital, where ten hours later, they’d gotten their answer. His father was currently consulting with colleagues about the best course of action.
He didn’t notice his father’s approach until he felt a hand on his shoulder. Sam looked up into the eyes of a much older man. The usual blue twinkle of amusement had given way to a darker worry, and Sam stood in an instant, ready for whatever his father had to say.
“Just tell me, Dad.”
His father nodded. “It’s CLL. Chronic lymphocytic leukemia.”
“What does that mean?”
“It means she has a treatable form of cancer. It means that she has to take a pill, but she can expect to beat it.”
“What kind of timeline?” Sam forced his voice into the same clinical, detached tone his father used.
“Hard to say. But it’s not too advanced, so we can be hopeful that she has many years to come.”
“I’ll transfer closer to home. Maybe defer this next semester.”
“Sammy, that’s not necessary.” He laid a hand on Sam’s shoulder. “Right now, you need a meal and some sleep. It’s been two days since you saw Maya...”
“Don’t.” Sam pulled his shoulder away from his father. “Can I see her?”
“Sure.” His father sighed and rested weary eyes on Sam. “She’s going to be fine. No need to make any rash decisions.”
Sam nodded and walked down the hall to his mother’s room. He knocked and let himself in. “Hey, Mom.”
His mother was five feet tall and all of a hundred pounds dripping wet, but he had never thought of her as frail. Machines beeped and burped, providing an eerie soundtrack. As he looked at her tiny frame being swallowed by the bed, a new pit grew in his stomach. Her brown skin, usually radiant with her inner fire, was ashen, and upon closer inspection, Sam could see how thin she had become. He hadn’t noticed because he had been preoccupied with Maya. Tears burned behind his eyes. He forced them away.
“Hi, son.” She smiled and her voice was weak.
“So, Dad tells me you’re attention-seeking again.” He forced a chuckle.
She waved a hand. “What about you? With that face?” She managed a crooked smile.
Sam rolled his eyes at her. “You had to one-up me.”
“Your father worries too much, and he exaggerates.”
“He does. But not this time.” Sam sat down and leaned his elbows on the bed as he took her frail hand in his. “I have a great idea.” He smiled hugely, as if his idea was earth-shattering. “I’ll transfer out of Columbia Law to UMD Law. That way, I’ll be closer to home. It’ll give me a chance to meet people and build clientele so when I start my practice, I’ll be ready to roll.”
