Epilogue
JASMINE
Seven months after we’d welcomed my niece into the world, I finally understood why Deja had kept saying that she felt like a ship that week we’d stayed with them.
I waddled out of the studio feeling exactly like the SS Jasmine, the Cairo heat blasting my skin like I’d walked into a furnace and my center of gravity no longer a center anymore so much as a suggestion.
“I’m done with this,” I declared to Rashid, not even caring how dramatic I sounded. “If I expand more than I already have, I’ll pop. When is she coming again?”
He chuckled, helping me into the backseat because I couldn’t even do that by myself anymore. “You’ve only got about another week left, Miss Saad. Patience.”
I groaned and leaned back against the seat, beyond grateful that he’d left the air-conditioning running in the car while he’d waited for me. “Patience is not a virtue I was blessed with.”
“I know,” he said, smiling fondly. “Perhaps you should consider taking it a little easier from here on out, hmm?”
I scoffed. “Pregnancy is not a disability. I’m fine.”
He chuckled. “Very well. Home?”
“Yes, please.”
My eyes drifted shut and my hand slid to my swollen belly of its own accord. Despite how bloated I felt or how much this last month had felt like it’d been four years long, I smiled when our daughter nudged my palm.
Logically, I knew she was probably just stretching. Space was definitely a limited commodity in there right now, but I was obsessed with feeling her kick, so in love with every movement that I honestly just couldn’t wait to hold her.
I would have spent the rest of my life feeling like a whale for this little girl, and I hadn’t even met her yet. Rashid possibly just had a point about taking it a bit easier for however much time I had left before she arrived.
On the other hand, I also only had that amount of time left for the photo shoots that included my baby bump, and Deja and I needed those pictures for our new line of baby and postpartum products.
Because naturally, we’d had a single conversation about it a few months ago and now, with our father’s blessing, we’d actually created a whole new line under the White Water Lily umbrella.
At least no one could accuse us of being lazy.
I smiled again as I stroked my belly, desperately looking forward to seeing my little niece again. After Violet’s surprise-but-not-surprise arrival on Christmas Day, Deja had been wanting to bring her back to Egypt, but they’d been waiting until she was a little older before they traveled with her.
Now, they were finally coming. In just a few days, I’d get to see my niece, my sister, and possibly even my own baby. Life was pretty darn good as far as I was concerned.
The only issue I had right now was that our daughter still didn’t have a name. As it turned out, actually naming a human being was surprisingly stressful. She would have to live with whatever we decided for the rest of her life. It seemed excessive.
I sighed and pulled out my phone, wishing Isaac was waiting at home instead of being stuck in Sharm for work. He answered on the first ring. “Hello?”
“Are you ever coming home?”
There was a brief pause. “I’m sorry, who is this?”
“Isaac.” I groaned. “Not now.”
“Ma’am, I’m afraid you’ve reached a terribly busy, terribly important engineer.”
I rolled my eyes. “Oh, okay. Well, I suppose that means I’ll just have to leave you for David, since you’re so important now and all.”
He exploded into laughter. “Seriously, that’s the threat you’re going with?”
I smiled. “It worked, didn’t it?”
“Are you really missing me that much? It’s only been four days.”
“I’m pregnant,” I grumbled. “I’m allowed to be needy. Deal with it. I don’t make the rules.”
When he laughed again, I closed my eyes and let myself bask in the warmth of him, even over the phone. “I’m on my way home now. I’ll be back in Cairo tonight.”
I sighed. “That’s still hours away.”
“I’ll get there as fast as I can,” he promised. “Do not let this baby come without me, okay?”
“I’ll do my best.”
“Jasmine.” He groaned. “I’m not kidding about this. How are you feeling?”
“Uncomfortable,” I said quietly. “Tired. Impatient.”
“In other words, the same as you have been the last month?”
“Yeah, don’t worry. Just get home. You’re cutting it very close with this trip.”
I could practically hear the grimace in his voice. “I know, but I’ve never had a baby before. I’m still learning. Besides, the doctor said probably next week, right?”
“Right, but she also said anytime from now until next week.” I rested my head back. “It’s been four days too long, so you better really be on your way.”
“I swear, we just got to the airstrip. I love you. I’ll see you soon, and remember?—”
“Don’t have the baby?” I finished for him.
He chuckled. “That’s my girl.”
We hung up just as Rashid pulled up to our house, a mansion right next door to my parents’ place in the same gated estate where I’d grown up.
Apparently, my father had mentioned this place to Isaac the night he’d given us his blessing, and then, when Isaac and I hadn’t called the very next day to put in an offer, Dad had decided not to take any chances that it would sell to someone else and bought it for us as a wedding gift.
There had been some back and forth with him about whether we were going to accept it, but in the end, it was just too perfect to let it slip through our fingers. I slid my phone into my handbag and carefully climbed out of the car with Rashid’s help, waddling to the door and tugging it open.
Inside, the house was quiet and I let out a breath I felt like I’d been holding all day. The photo shoots for Deja’s and my new line were fun, and I was genuinely proud of what we’d created, but they’d really been taking it out of me these last couple weeks.
As I dropped my bag on the kitchen counter, I noticed the mail and started sorting through the envelopes. There were some bills, a couple letters for Isaac from various contracting companies he and Joseph were working with, and finally, the invitation I’d been waiting for.
Zara and Joseph’s names were linked in embossed lettering on the heavy cream envelope and I squealed. “Finally!”
I tore it open and reached for my phone to let Isaac know that it had come. Our friends were getting married and I was so happy for them I could explode.
My stomach tightened and I felt a very distinct, internal pop before warm liquid started running down the insides of my thighs. For a second, I just froze, but then very slowly, I glanced down to see tiny rivulets of water sliding down my legs.
“Oh. Oh no.”
It took a second for the realization to sink in that my water had just broken. Evidently, our daughter had decided that waiting for her father was beneath her.
My hands shook slightly as I picked up my phone and called him, beyond relieved when he answered just as fast as he had before. “Okay, okay. I’ll admit it. I miss you too, love. So fucking much, but I’m on my?—”
“Isaac?” I said breathlessly. “You need to get home. Now. Baby is on her way. It seems she’s like me. She doesn’t like to wait.”
***