“Thanks.”
Ru fastened his helmet and climbed onto Shade’s back.
“Stirrups okay?” Poppy asked.
“Yes. You’ll make someone a good groom.”
Poppy laughed.
They headed down for the field where there were already people playing.Not Jasim.Ru hadn’t seen much of him, but it was rare that they didn’t end the night talking to each other on the phone, both of them whispering.
“Jasim’s family arrived this lunchtime,” Poppy said as she opened the gate into the field.
“Oh?”
“Really crap timing. Jasim needs to concentrate on the match. Well, he will. He won’t be distracted, but you’d think they could have come at a different time.”
“Is there room for them in the house?”
“No. I don’t know if this is just a flying visit or if they’ll come back.”
Poppy took a ball out of her pocket. “Ready?”
“Yes.”
She threw it and they both streaked up the field after it. Ru got there first and in an offside shot, where he had to reach over Shade’s neck, he whacked the ball further towards the goal.
Jasim had anticipated that his brother would arrive unannounced and he did, just as Jasim was eating lunch on the patio with his team members and Paolo.
After Mary had whispered about their arrival in his ear, Jasim pushed to his feet, apologised to the others and went back into the house.
“I took them into the drawing room,” Mary spoke in a low voice. “I’ve got their chauffeur in the kitchen. He says they’ve not eaten. The children will only eat fish fingers and chips. I’ve put some on, just in case.”
“We have fish fingers?”
“We do. Well, breaded goujons, but they’ll work.”
“Thanks, Mary.”
Jasim took a deep breath before he walked in. At a quick glance, he saw a little girl, who had to be Thana, playing with a shell on the coffee table. Ahsan and Makin, the boys, were sprawled on the couch on their phones and his brother was talking to his wife. Jasim made for Waqas.
“Assalaam ‘alaikum.” May peace be upon you. Jasim touched his heart, then held out his hand to his brother.
Wa ‘alaikum assalaam.”And peace be upon you. Waqas took Jasim’s hand and pulled him into his arms.
Though the hug didn’t last long.
“Ahsan, Makin, here,” Waqas ordered.
The two teenagers came up to Jasim, formally greeted him and shook his hand. Samira offered her greeting from afar and Jasim nodded. Thana came running up to Jasim with the shell and he scooped her into his arms.
“Assalaam ‘alaikum,”Jasim said. “Aren’t you gorgeous! And what a pretty dress.”
It was covered in unicorns. Waqas lifted her from Jasim’s arms.
Jasim kept the smile on his face. Just. “I was just in the middle of lunch with friends. Are you hungry? Would you like to join us?”
“Yes, we will, thank you,” Waqas said.
