ZAYNI blocked the doctor"s way. "How is she?"
Sweat clung to her forehead, and the smile she gave me was tired. I guess a six-hour operation did that to someone.
"We had to do a C-section, so she"s as fine as one can be. Right now, she"s anaesthetized so that"s a relief."
I heaved a sigh. She was fine. Leia was okay. "And the baby?"
This time, she grinned. "Oh, your son is perfect, Masha Allah."
Her words were like a blow to the heart. I stumbled back a step.
"Oh. Okay, thank you."
She left after giving me another smile.
I fell into the chair and ran an aggravated hand through my hair.
A son.
My Leia was now a mother.
After she got divorced, she would need someone to support her. Someone who could offer her and the baby safety. Would she accept me?
G.o.d, I hoped so.
After collecting myself, I pulled out Leia"s phone from my pocket, knowing I had to let her family know. But there lay my first hurdle; guessing her pa.s.scode.
Like the crazy person I was, I tried my name.
Yeah, well, I knew I was stretching it too far.
Ten minutes later, I finally got it. 123456.
Seriously. Who could"ve guessed.
I cleared my throat, shifting in my chair and called her Dad.
"Leia!" A throaty voice sounded from the other end. Well, I guess he must be worried. "Where have you been? Leia!"
"Uhm. a.s.salaamualaik.u.m,"
I swear the silence was so loud, I heard the crickets outside the solid walls. "Who are you? Where is Leia?"
I guess I didn"t need to shift to Urdu. He was British, after all. "I"m sorry I called so late, Uncle. I had to take Leia to the hospital and the past few hours have been very stressful."
"What happened to her?" His otherwise weak voice rose an octave with alarm.
I should"ve called sooner. "She gave birth,"
"What?"
I repeated myself, relating the whole situation to him.
"But I don"t understand why she called you," he droned. "Who are you?"
Was there a way to put this? "Leia and I . . . we knew each other way back." I had no other words. Nothing to describe our relationship. What the h.e.l.l were we anyway?
"I think we have some things to discuss, young man," His voice took over a protectiveness I didn"t understand because my father had never cared about me. "But at the moment, tell me which hospital you took her to."
I opened my mouth to say something when he started speaking to someone. His wife, most likely.
"No no, she"s fine," His m.u.f.fled voice said. "All right, son, where are you?"
I rattled off the name and he thanked me, saying he"d be here in no time.
I wished Ammar wouldn"t come.
I didn"t want to see him again.
And I really did need to talk to Leia about what she wanted to do next.
Fine.
Maybe I was curious about the kid too.