Love from A to Z(75)

Two pigeon towers stood in front of it. I couldn’t stop staring at the birds going in and out of the holes that ran up and down the tall, clay, conelike structures, with wooden perches sticking out in a pattern.

Auntie Nandy took my hand and led me to a bench, and we sat there for a long time, watching.

Something about it was like floating in the pool. So I let go.

? ? ?

We spent time wandering around the cultural village completely constructed to look like cities from another era, especially the cities of the Muslim golden ages in Baghdad, Timbuktu, and Spain, with small galleries and cafés and petite museums and restaurants and symmetrical gardens.

It was like we’d left our era.

It felt like a sanctuary.

“I love this,” I said to Auntie Nandy, indicating the water flowing in neat streams at the edges of the buildings, where the foundation met the paved stone path, the sound providing just the right amount of melody, soothing and calm. “Can we sit here, too?”

“Of course.” Auntie Nandy pointed at a bench. “We’ll need to be at the amphitheater in fifteen minutes, so we’ve got a bit of time.”

Once we sat, I leaned on Auntie Nandy, and she put her arm around me.

“You know you and I are alike, right?” Auntie Nandy asked. “You got your can’t-be-a-bystander genes from me.”

I nodded. “Yeah, I figured that.”

“That means I can be firm in what I’m about to say, Zayneb, and you have to listen to me like it’s you telling you. Okay?” She waited until I agreed before continuing, her voice solemn. “You need to have a way to take care of yourself. A way to recharge. Otherwise the world will get you down so fast, you won’t be able to hold your head up. I learned this the hard way.”

“I know how to take care of myself, Auntie Nandy. I’m about to go to college.”

“I mean, like this. Like sitting here listening to the water. Like looking at the birds earlier. Like sitting in a tub with fizzy bath bombs.”

I couldn’t stop myself. “But not like smoking, right? Or boozing? From the bin?”

She tilted her head to try to look at me. After catching that first glimpse of her expression, I kept my Slytherin head securely down against her and my mouth clenched tight in an attempt not to laugh.

“Zayneb. Did you go through my stuff? Without me?”

“It was an accident. I was trying to be a good host to the Emmas.”

“Oh no, did they see?” Auntie Nandy let go of me, and I looked up, worried she was angry at me.

“No, no, don’t worry—they didn’t,” I assured her quickly. “Nobody looked in the bin except me.”

She sighed and put her hands in the pockets of the dress she was wearing. “Actually, I’m glad you’re bringing that up. It goes with my point; you need to find healthy ways to center yourself. Otherwise, you’ll dip into the bin too much.”

“I’m sorry, Auntie Nandy, for looking too deeply into it, into the bin.” I hugged her to emphasize my apology. “I call it the bin of sin.”

She laughed. “True, that it is. I try to keep myself away from that bin of sin. Sometimes I lapse. But you’d better never.”

“My bin of sin would have a ton of macarons and cream puffs. Only French pastries.”

“Well, isn’t that snobby.” She stood up. “Let’s get going? It’s a bit of a walk to the amphitheater.”

As the sun descended, the sky turned yellowish-pinkish-purplish blue.

It was such a breathtaking walk to the open-air concert that I arrived with a bit of space opened in my heart.

? ? ?

We got spots directly across from the stage, not too high up, with Auntie Nandy’s friends, three teachers from DIS, just in front of us.

Auntie Nandy pointed out how we could see the water far off in the distance, behind the stage, as she put her purse on the bench beside her. “Can I borrow your bag too?”

“Why?” I passed it to her.

“Saving some seats for a few more friends coming.” She set my purse down. “They’re on the way over from the mosque. The one we saw when we first entered Katara. So it may take them a while.”

The friends arrived just as the orchestra began the second song, “Can You Feel the Love Tonight” from The Lion King.

I looked to my left and into the eyes of Adam, following his sister and his dad, as they made their way to their spots beside us.

? ? ?

As the song ended, I looked toward my purse, on the other side of Auntie Nandy, and when I glanced up, Adam smiled at me.

I’m not going to lie.

It set something fluttering in me.

Maybe it was because he was dressed differently. A black polo shirt and jeans.

A black polo shirt with a collar.

I reached over and brought my purse to me, brought my phone to me.

He’d already messaged me.

Now I’ll get to say sorry in person.

As “Let It Go” began, I tilted myself to make sure Auntie Nandy couldn’t see my phone.

Maybe I will too.

May I suggest something?

Yes?

Let it go.

I leaned back to look at him from behind Auntie Nandy’s and Hanna’s and his dad’s heads, to groan at his corniness.