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Dialing in his nuainst hope that this wasn’t what he feared it was

“Hello? Bahan? God, this is Rose I haven’t been able to get Jennifer, and et an international SIM card I don’t know I tried the hotel, too, but they said you were out, and I don’t knohat to do It’s Sydney She had been doing fine with the dialysis and her kidneys are alright, but for soh They’re afraid she’s going to fall into a co as hard as they can I know you were supposed to come home on Tuesday, but if you could hurry back… Please, Bahan, she needs to be here in case”

Bahan dropped the phone even as it beeped to yet another frantic e from Rose

“Dear Allah, no”

He leapt back fro there at the threshold, he gave his bride one last moment to enjoy her peaceful slumber, to feel the relaxation her life had lacked for so very long She’d kill him if he didn’t tell her soon, but she deserved just a few extra seconds of sleep She’d had so little since Sydney had been ad to have so little from now on

But time was of the essence

Reaching over, he shook her shoulder “Beloved, you have to wake up”

She snored once more and then rolled onto her back “I don’t care if you’ve ordered the greatest croissant spread in the world and all the crepes and so to sleep until ten, and you’re going to let ht

Oh Allah did he hate to shove reality in her face like this, but her sister needed her

“It’s Sydney”

Those words had the effect of pouring ice over her body Jennifer snapped out of bed and was rushing for her suitcase “What’s going on?”

“Rose called We had our phones off but I checkedfine with the dialysis, but her blood sugar keeps cli it They…”

“She needs me, and this is all your fault”

Bahan blinked at her, and then he held up his hands in a placating gesture “I don’t understand I’ my best to help you and to help your family How is this my fault?”

Her back stiffened a bit, but Jennifer kept rushing for her toiletries in the other roo about faster than a jackrabbit When she spoke, she focused on shoving her bottles into the suitcase “It’s not your fault that she’s hopefully going to get better if we can get past this spike, and I do appreciate that”