The bell chimes out starkly against the silence as I walk into the diner. Inaya and Abbas are no where to be seen amongst the darkness. Without much thought, my body goes on alert and I drop my weight into my knees. I ease under the nearest table whilst reaching for the daggers sheathed within my combat boots.
"Inaya" I call lightly, moving forward slightly whilst staying low to the ground, "Abbas".
No response.
The light switch is to the left of the kitchen beside the staircase leading up the small apartment that the couple and her mother reside in. Ten steps straight forward from the door and then six steps left. If I could just get to the lights then I will have more options rather than just standing around waiting for something to happen.
I manage all of three steps before the lights flicker back on, unveiling a group of people stood by the kitchen, massive grins on most of their faces as they all simultaneously cheer, "surprise!"
Aerin, Fariz, Inaya, Abbas, and Layla. Even Naz has made an appearance. The diner is laden with pink and blue decorations and I spot a pile of presents in the right corner.
"A baby shower" I realise in a whisper as I scan my surroundings again. I inhale softly and calm my erratic heart rate. Adrenaline still lingering in my veins.
I force a smile on my face as Aerin and Inaya waltz over to me with wide grins. Inaya pulls me into a crushing hug and rocks side to side whilst chattering excitedly in my ear about how hard it was to keep from me. Whereas Aerin keeps a few steps back as she searches my face. She had been more protective and aware since my recent upsurge of panic attacks.
Keeping my eyes locked in hers, I give a quick, decisive nod to assure her I'm okay which she returns with a gentle smile. I sometimes think that she is far too good for Naz. He lucked out big time.
"Thank you" I say, "I didn't even think of a baby shower".
"Neither did we to be honest" Aerin admits, "Zeke brought it up a few weeks ago. He didn't want you to miss out on such a tradition from home especially as you haven't told your family yet".
"Zeke did this? Where is he?".
He had been avoiding me since our argument in the shower. I had woken up curled in his bed a hour or so later with no one in sight. My head was pounding, eyes stinging and my throat raw. The side effects of such an epic panic attack and the reminders of my weakness and embarrassment.
"He's on a mission but I'm sure he is wishing that he was here" Aerin tries to reassure but I can't quite find it in myself to believe her. I bet that he is joyous that he doesn't have to pretend that everything is fine between us when it is clearly not. We have always bickered but it was almost as if he was wounded by the thought of me going back to Enzo. Almost as if the thought was driving him to near insanity. Though I know that in no reality was that the case, was it? It was just my damn pregnancy hormones.
The appearance of Layla in front of me brings a genuine smile to my face, or did before she uttered the six most horrendous words I could think to say to a pregnant women.
"I hope your child is ugly".
I rear back in absolute shock and my mouth open and closes but nothing comes out. Would it be so bad to murder my friends mother?
"Mama, you can't say things like that with no context especially here. It is not a Syrian tradition" Inaya scolds, a harsh frown marring her beautiful, delicate features.
Aerin is quick to rush out, "in Serbia, when the baby is born the family and friends are required to say that the baby is ugly. It is thought to prevent the baby from being vulnerable to the evil eye. Layla just jumped the gun a little bit there".
I nod as my brain tries to process the fact that she didn't actually insult my child and was instead trying to... protect it?
"A Serbian tradition?" I question after a moment.
"Mama grow up in Serbia, she fell in love with my papa who was Syrian and moved here a few years before I was born. She has accumulated in every other way but her love for the traditions and culture she grew it with is in ingrained" Inaya explains, shooting glares at her mama every now and then.
"Ah your papa was such a good man. A perfect, intelligent gentleman. I always hoped that you would meet such a man and instead you ended up with that fool" Layla grumbles with a pointed look at Abbas who has been stood in complete silence next to Naz and Fariz, both of which are supporting grumpy frowns though I bet for different reasons.
"Ignore my husband and come eat. Aerin and I have been working all day on making your favourite meals" Inaya exclaims, simultaneously grabbing my hand and pulling me towards the wide buffet spread that takes up the entire ledge that separates the kitchen to seating area.
Kibbeh, pita breads, muhammara, Syrian kawaj, Jaj Bl Hamed W Tum. The best of all Inaya's falafel, fool and hummus board to eat alongside the pita bread. My stomach growls as my eyes roam over the feast laid out.
"I love you" I whisper to nobody in particular before grabbing one of the fancy china plates off the side and digging into what arguably the best food ever made. Everyone follows suite.
The rest of the evening is filled with more food, gossip, laughter and gifts. I don't think I have ever felt more content.
However, the whole night Zeke's absence plagues me and it isn't until I'm at home, tucked into my bed that I realise what was bothering me.
I missed him.
YOU ARE READING
Precious Sins
Romance"You act like you're indestructible, but you're not". "Guess you'd know best, huh?" - - - Elisia regina Thomas had a hard life growing up. Always in the spotlight because of her family but no one really knew her. She was just seen as another spoil...
