“How was your day?” Wasim asked.
“Interesting,” Imani said with a little smile on her face, like she had a secret.
“Oh?” Wasim trailed her out to the balcony where a feast had already been set. Jugs of juice and covered dishes filled the table, stoking his appetite.
It was nice to have someone else take care of the details, look out for his well-being, and in general, welcome him home.
He now understood why his father had never fully recovered after his mother’s sudden death. When you love someone the way he had loved her, how could you possibly recover if you lost them? They weren’t only a part of your life, they were part ofyou. You could never be whole again when part of you was missing. And all the little things, the details, took on a more profound meaning.
“Have a seat,” Imani said, pointing to the chair at the head of the table.
“What are you up to?” Wasim asked as he sat down.
“You’ll see.” Imani sat down across his thighs with the secretive smile still on her face. “At first I was worried about what I have to tell you, but then I thought, why worry? We’re in a good place, right?”
“Of course. We have been for a while, and better than I expected.” He was now very curious to hear what she had to say.
Imani nodded. “Good.” She took a deep breath and then lifted the dome off one of the dishes. Instead of meat or rice or potatoes, there was an envelope inside.
Wasim frowned, watching as she removed it and took out a grainy photo. His mouth fell open.
All smiles, Imani beamed at him with glowing dark eyes.
“Is this what I think it is?” he asked in awe.
Imani nodded, her smile widening. “We’re going to have a baby in seven months.”
She barely got the words out before he clutched her face in his hands and gave her a sound kiss, devouring her lips as his heart filled with joy. When he finally released her, Imani laughed and bit her bottom lip.
“I guess you’re happy?”
“I couldn’t be happier. I…” Wasim was so overcome that for a moment he could barely speak. They were going to be parents. He rested his forehead against hers. “Imani…habibti,hayati,rohi.” She was the most important person in his life.
“Wasim,” she whispered, voice trembling, tears shimmering in her eyes.
He cradled her face in his hands. “You are my everything, and now you wish to give me even more. I love you.”
For so long he’d held in the words, knowing that his strong feelings for her might not be reciprocated because she’d told him that day when she finally agreed to marry him that she’d never love him. Those words echoed in his head at the most inopportune times, casting doubt in the middle of their happy union. But those words had been said in anger, and he believed her feelings had changed. Looking at her excitement at the prospect of them having a child together, he knew they had.
“Moni fey-eh,”she whispered back in Mbutu, her tribal tongue. She had told him that she loved him, too.
They indulged in a slow, sensual kiss and then she sighed and rested her head on his shoulder.
“Do you still have to leave?” he asked.
“I’m afraid so. The plans have been made, but I won’t be gone long. Less than a week.”
“A lifetime.” Wasim placed a hand on her flat belly and imagined the life growing there.
“I’ll miss you, too. It’ll be the longest time we’ve been apart since our ceremony. But I’ll be back before you know it.”
25
Imiss you already.
Imani sent the text to Wasim and sank her teeth into her bottom lip as she waited for his response. She didn’t have long to wait. Only a few minutes later, he texted back:Don’t make me come get you.
She let out a soft laugh and sent a quickI love youtext. He texted back the same, and then she slipped the phone into her bag.
