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“Really?” Zola looked at Zena as if this was a stretch.
Zena snapped back, “Yes, really.”
“See, I knew you’d work with the people,” Adan said, catching Zena’s eye and locking in. “That was your dream. It was our dream. Remember?”
Zena didn’t say anything. She was silent until the lull in the conversation was deafening.
Lisa announced that she had to get going. She was working the night shift at the airport. Adan volunteered to walk Lisa to her car, but she wouldn’t have it.
Zena tried to follow Lisa and Zola into the parking lot without saying goodbye to Adan, but he stopped her.
“Zena, hey, can I talk to you for a second?” he asked.
The question split the air. All three of the women stopped. Zola and Lisa looked at Zena, anticipating her response with nervous excitement.
“Me?” Zena looked as if maybe she’d heard him incorrectly or maybe there was another Zena within a hundred-mile radius.
“Yeah. You.”
Zena looked at Adan discerningly, but she didn’t respond.
After a few seconds of silence, Lisa said, “Of course you can, Adan,” while reaching out for Zena. “But first, let me chat with her and Zola. I just need to make sure the girls are ready for our family dinner party.”
“Dinner party?” Zola asked as Lisa pulled her and Zena to the side and forced them into a huddle.
“What dinner party, Mommy?” Zola repeated.
“Shut up, child. There ain’t no damn dinner party,” Lisa said bluntly. “I pulled you two here because I wanted to say something to you girls and I want to make sure I say it before I leave here. Now, I know I haven’t been the best mother—the best role model. I never really got over your daddy cheating on me and that divorce. But I don’t want you two to use that as a way to limit yourselves. Love is a beautiful thing. And you can’t be afraid of it. I haven’t found anyone. But that doesn’t mean you can’t.”
Lisa looked at Zola and said, “It doesn’t mean you can’t get married.” Lisa looked at Zena and said, “And it doesn’t mean you can’t fall in love.” She closed her eyes, and a tear rolled down each cheek. “I want you girls to support each other in love. To make sure you both find it. And keep it. And protect it. Even if I can’t help you, I can tell you the truth.” Lisa kissed Zola on the forehead, and then she went to kiss Zena, but before she did, she said sternly, ?
??Don’t mess this up. That man loves you.”
“Mommy—” Zena started, but Lisa stopped her.
“No excuses! Just listen to me,” Lisa ordered.
When Zola and Lisa left, Zena stood there facing the parking lot, watching them pull out in their cars, afraid to turn around to face Adan. She felt as if maybe he wasn’t really there. Maybe this wasn’t real. She’d imagined him walking into the shop. Imagined him walking out.
“I’m still here,” Adan said as if he had been reading her mind. “Right over here.” He waved jokingly.
At once, Zena felt Adan behind her. She could smell him. See his shadow above hers on the concrete. This only made it harder to turn around.
“You going to walk away or something?” Adan asked softly, and it might have been a joke but he sounded as if it was plausible.
Zena turned swiftly, ready for battle or confrontation. “No, Adan,” she said. “I’m not going to walk away—not yet. So what did you want to talk about?”
“Are you free? Maybe we could go somewhere to get a drink.”
“Why? What do you need to say to me over a drink that you can’t say right here?” Zena asked harshly.
“Dang, girl,” Adan said, responding to her gruffness. “I was just suggesting we go somewhere to get out of this heat. But I guess I do remember that you like being outside in the middle of the afternoon.”
“Look, I don’t have time for a drink. I need to get back to my office. I have work to do.”
“I thought Malak said your day was clear,” Adan said.
“Really? She told you that? I guess she’s also the person who told you I’d be here.”
