“Right. Speaking of time I’m on my way to work.”

“You should be on the beach today, doing something nice.”

I was doing something nice this morning, I think. Something so nice I can feel it aching in my thighs. “I’m going out later.”

“Great. With who?”

“Shane. I think it’s just Shane. If she’s planned a surprise party, I’ll kill her.”

“That’s great. Navi and I were worried about her. In our culture men get very violent when they even suspect their women have strayed.”

I bite my lip, and my mood crashes. “Luckily I don’t think Mr. Jaffee isn’t Jordanian.”

“What do you know about this man? What do you think he is capable of?”

“I dunno, Mommy. I can’t stand to even think about it. I’m pretty sure he was just trying to scare her.”

“And she seems scared.”

Seemed. She didn’t seem scared this morning. This morning she seemed full of light, calm and beautiful. Whole and perfect and gorgeous as she came, grinding her body against mine.

“Yeah. I think I did a pretty good job at taking her mind off of it.”

“That girl loves you, Habibi. No matter what you say.”

“Why? Why do you think so?”

“I can just tell by the way she looks at you. She’s terrified of you.”

“Greaaaat.” Just the reaction I want to inspire in a woman.

“It is great. It means she cares.”

“Yeah. Mommy, I have to go to work now, okay?”

“Okay darling. Have a happy birthday.”

“Thank you. Love you.”

“Me too darling.”

When I get to work there is a huge bouquet of white lilies and blue iris at the nurses’ station. Louise and Darrell are leaning against the counter, bullshitting. She is apparently just getting off and he is coming on.

“Hey folks.”

“Hey Darah.”

“Who got flowers?”

“You did.” Darrell says. He’s looking at me expectantly.

“You’re shitting me.”

“Nope.”

But I walk over and pluck the card out anyway. “Aw, you guys are totally shitting me.”

And sure enough, that ***** says “DARAH”, clearly scrawled. I don’t know the handwriting.

Mom and Navi. They shouldn’t have. Or- No. No way. No use hoping that.

I bite my lip and turn away from them, knowing the nosy ***** are watching for my reaction.