Chapter 43
Three Weeks Later
It’s been about ten days since my mother started her chemotherapy sessions.
She and the German specialist seem to get along very well—perhaps a little too well, though I don’t want to speculate.
“How are you feeling today, Mom?”
“The day after is always worse, but Konrad said I’m responding well to the treatment. We’ll only know for sure after the next exams.”
Konrad, not Doctor Konrad.
I suppress a smile, remembering how protective he’s been with her.
She told him about the scorpion incident, though I’m not sure if she mentioned her troubles with my father. Either way, the German doctor has become her shadow, following her everywhere through the palace.
“When will you have your exam?” she asks.
“It’s scheduled for next week. Jazmina will come with me.”
“Promise me you’ll always take your health seriously. I’ll pray every day that you never have to go through this, but we can’t ignore that breast cancer carries a hereditary risk.”
I nod, though the topic makes me uneasy.
“Please, don’t make that face. Every woman feels uncomfortable getting a mammogram. It’s like living with a sword hanging over your head until the results come out.”
“It was such luck that your tumor was found early. I mean, you didn’t have health insurance, and Kaled explained how bad things are in the U.S. if you can’t afford one.”
“They are, indeed. Practically a death sentence. If you don’t die from the illness, you die after seeing the hospital bill.”
Once again, I’m amazed at how she manages to handle something so serious with such lightness.
“There was a businessman whose wife died of breast cancer,” she continues.
“Once a year, he would set up a mobile clinic in his company’s parking lot for preliminary screenings.
If anything suspicious was found, he paid for the mammogram.
There were only a limited number of slots, but I never skipped a year.
I would almost sleep in line to make sure I got examined. ”
“That man must be extraordinary. I mean, he couldn’t pay for everyone’s treatment, of course, but in your case, the early diagnosis saved your life.”
“My life was saved by your husband, dear. A diagnosis without proper treatment wouldn’t have helped much. You have a good man in your home.”
Ten days later
“Are you sure about this? If it’s only because the course you want doesn’t exist in our country yet, you should know your brother is planning to build at least five universities in the next two years.”
“I know. He told me that too,” she says thoughtfully. “I just thought you’d support me.”
“You know I will, as long as you’re not trying to hurt yourself, which you’re not. I just worry about you living alone in England.”
“You’ve always known this was my plan,” Jazmina replies.
“I’m sorry, but I can’t believe your brother will let you go without setting a dozen rules first.”
“You know him too well,” she laughs. “Of course, he’ll assign bodyguards and probably get daily reports, but that’s still better than feeling trapped here forever.”
“Is that how you feel? Trapped?”
“Yes. We’ve always been different, and you know that. Don’t get me wrong, I love my country, but there’s an entire world out there waiting to be discovered.”
“A dangerous world.”
“Adeela, danger exists everywhere. Maybe after a few months I’ll regret it and want to come home, but I need to give myself the chance to try.”
“What do you expect to find?”
“I don’t know. Haven’t you ever dreamed of a different life?”
“Away from my father and his family, yes. But from my country? Honestly, no. My father isn’t a reflection of our people—he’s the exception, with his twisted mind.”
“He’s not the only one. There are many elders who still think the same way and don’t value women as they should.”
“I know, and that’s why we’re working to change it, but it takes time.
With the creation of the Women’s Committee, we’ll start acting on multiple fronts: adult education, especially for women, who make up most of the illiterate population.
The goal is to gradually ease social restrictions until there’s no longer a distinction between citizens, men or women.
It’s no use forcing change down people’s throats.
First, women need to be educated to recognize their own rights, or they won’t know how to fight for them. ”
She smiles and shakes her head.
“What?”
“You’ve matured since you married Kaled.”
“We talk a lot about the country’s problems. My husband spent so long away that he didn’t have a real sense of what had happened to the emirate over the past two years.”
“He’s a natural leader, isn’t he?”
“Yes. Leadership comes to your brother as naturally as breathing. But more than that, he’s a good man. He never planned to rule Rheadur, but as the honorable son he is, he returned to his people when they needed him. He’s never once complained to me, you know? Never said he misses life in Europe.”
“You love him.”
I look down at my hands. “Yes. I suppose it’s rather obvious. I didn’t expect it, to be honest, but I fell in love with him.”
“And that’s a bad thing?”
“Only if he doesn’t love me back.”
“Adeela, he’s crazy about you. Anyone with eyes can see he worships the ground you walk on.”
“You think so?”
“When someone says ‘I think,’ it means they are not sure about it. Remember the kind of life he had in Paris? Those parties filled with models and—”
I lift a hand, cutting her off before she can finish, because just thinking about that Ingrid makes my blood boil.
“You thought of that lunatic, didn’t you?”
“I did. And I still want to make her swallow every word she said about me in the press.”
“I love this new Adeela. I’ve always loved you, but seeing you stand up for yourself, refusing to take anyone’s nonsense, makes me so proud.”
“You’re ridiculous.”
“But I love you.”
“I love you too.”
“And speaking of love, why haven’t you given Kaled his wedding gift yet? Sofia rushed to finish it in time, and he still doesn’t know about the painting.”
“I lost my nerve. I ordered it on impulse, then felt like I might be crossing a sensitive line. He barely talks about her, you know?”
“Because I think it still hurts. No one really recovers from losing their mother. Mom and I have our issues, but even so, I can’t imagine my life without her.”
“More than anyone, I understand that.”
That night
“I have a surprise for you,” I say, lying on the carpet of my closet.
We never made it to the bed. He opened the door while I was fresh out of the shower, wrapped in a robe, trying to decide what to wear, and within seconds, I was naked in his arms.
“I like your surprises. Last time, you danced for me in the desert,” he says with a teasing grin.
“Not that kind of surprise.” I laugh, hiding my face behind my hands. “It’s a gift. Your wedding gift, actually.”
“A bit late, don’t you think, my wife?”
“I know, but I was too embarrassed to give it to you.”
“Why?”
“It’s about your mother.”
“I don’t understand.” His posture changes, and for a second I worry I’ve gone too far, but it’s too late now.
“I asked Jazmina to find me a photograph of her. Then I gave it to Sofia, the painter, to create a portrait. When I thought my mother was dying, I wanted to have one too, something that would help me never forget her face. I didn’t want you to experience that same kind of loss.”
“Show me.”
I stand up and pull the robe around me. He remains on the floor, watching me for a moment before putting on his tunic and following.
We walk into an adjoining room, and I point to the canvas leaning against the wall.
“I already unwrapped it. I’m sorry, but I wanted to make sure it turned out well. She was so beautiful.”
Kaled steps closer and stands silently before the painting, his back to me, staring at it.
Gathering courage, I take a step forward. “I didn’t mean to intrude.”
“You didn’t.” His voice is low, almost reverent. “I miss her so much. And now I’m wondering why I didn’t think of this myself.”
“Because men don’t always know how to deal with their emotions. My mother told me that once.”
He turns to me, his dark eyes searching my face as if trying to solve a riddle he doesn’t yet understand. “Your mother,” he murmurs, “is a wise woman.”