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“What do you want to do?” I asked I popped a strawberry inthe moment

He stood across froainst the counter with folded arms I could have watched him stand like that all day The lean ainst his T-shirt

Honestly, he could have told o watch paint dry for the next twelve hours and I would have happily co enough that I wouldn’t want to do it with him My mind came up blank

“I’ve got a few ideas,” Jalaal said, then gestured toward y”

EIGHT

I needed the energy, all right

After taking a swi pool I’d ever been in—it hung off the side of a building that was dozens of stories tall, for crying out loud—Jalaal tookfor a new dress to wear for the day I told hirab one fro

After shopping, we spent the day wandering around soambled We drank We ate I couldn’t remember the last time I had so much fun

I felt a bit guilty for thinking that After all, shouldn’t anything I did with Jalaal pale in comparison to the time I spent with my son? But it felt a little more complicated than that The tiuy, taking on the world together But at the end of the day, I would always be looking after Sam Jalaal looked after me

I couldn’t remember the last time somebody took care of me Not even I had taken care of me recently

Soon, the sun’s journey across the sky reached its zenith and then continued on I dreaded the night, because I figured I would have to leave Jalaal I would be foolish to expect a two-night sleepover, even though he’d treated me like a queen all day

Then he surprised me with two tickets to the newest Cirque du Soleil show It was one the girls and I had thought about going to, but it had sold out months in advance And, of course, they were the best seats in the house, too

As the performers did their final bow, Jalaal revealed he had another surprise for me

“Did you enjoy the show?” he asked

My hands hurt fro I couldn’t hope to quantify in words just how eneral But I did my best