22
JASIM SIGHED WHEN Newt pulled through the gates at Benning Park.
“Good to be home?” Newt asked.
“After seven days in hospital? I was climbing the walls. Thanks for coming to get me. I appreciate it.”
“No problem, though I think you might have a pissed-off Ru to deal with. He wanted to be there when they let you out.”
Newt drove up to the house and switched off the engine.
“Want to come in and have a coffee?” Jasim hoped Newt would say no, but the switching off of the engine suggested he wouldn’t.
“Please.” Newt got out of the car, grabbed the bag of Jasim’s things from the back seat and came round to open the door on Jasim’s side.
Jasim had been warned to take it easy, but he was capable of getting out of a car… Maybe he wasn’t. His knees shook as he pushed to his feet. Once he was steady, he closed the car door and headed slowly up to the house.
“Why don’t you go into the drawing room and I’ll make us a drink?” Newt moved ahead of him in the hall. “Here, let me get the door for you.”
As Newt pushed open the door to the drawing room, Jasim felt as if he’d been hit by an explosion of colour and sound. The room was full of people, all clapping and cheering.
“We won!” Joaquin came up and pushed a glass of champagne into Jasim’s hand. “If you can’t drink it, I’ll have it.”
“One glass isn’t going to kill me.”
“We won because of you.” Marcelo stood in front of him. “An impossible shot and you made it.”
“Brilliant, Jasim. Just fucking brilliant.” Nicolás beamed at him. “We need to talk about who’s going to take your place until you’re fit.”
“Let him sit down,” Mary said. “Don’t jostle him.”
When Jasim saw where they were leading him, he laughed. They’d mocked up a dais and a throne, sprayed gold. He sat down, shocked that walking such a short distance had worn him out.
“Everyone wants to speak to you,” Paolo said. “We’ve waited to celebrate until now. I’ve given them the day off, and they’re not the only ones here.”
Jasim looked up to see The Stars team heading towards him and he choked up.
“We couldn’t congratulate you on the day,” said Fredrico, their number Three. “But that was the most amazing shot I’ve ever seen. My horse…”
Jasim put his hand on Fredrico’s arm. “It was bad luck. Don’t even think about it.” He held no grudges for what had happened.
“A close game but you won.” Fredrico shook his hand. “Congratulations.”
The other three members of the team stepped forward to shake Jasim’s hand too. He was more touched than he could say that the opposing team had turned up today.
Everyone wanted to speak to him, though the one person he wanted to see didn’t appear to be there. Almost as if Paolo knew when Jasim had had enough, he moved the party outside, and there was Ru in front of him with a tentative smile on his face.
“So this is why you didn’t make a fuss about coming to get me with Newt.”
“Nicolás wanted the press here as well, but I persuaded him that it would be too much. I didn’t know if you’d mind a surprise party, but then I thought, it’s not for you so much as it is for everyone else.”
Jasim smiled. “How did you get to be so wise?”
“I made myself a cup of coffee this morning and forgot to put the coffee in the cup first. Not so wise.”
“Let’s sit on the couch.” Jasim pushed to his feet. “I want you closer.”
Ru settled next to him and Jasim pulled him in tight. “I missed you so much.”
