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“I … you didn’t arrive for dinner and I …” was worried. She cringed at the admission, for it said too much about her heart.
“I saw my brother today,” he said quietly, returning his gaze to the twinkling vision of Manhattan.
“Zahir?” She prompted with surprise. Her heart turned over in her chest at all the possibilities this could lead to.
“Yes, najin.” He expelled a sigh.
“Is it your father?” She stood, wrapping her arms around his waist, sending strength into his body with her own. “Is he okay?”
Syed’s laugh lacked humour. “Only you could care so deeply for me even now,” he said with a small shake of his head. “My father’s condition is unchanged.”
“Oh, I’m glad.” She stroked his back gently. “So what is it? Is this because of us?”
“Us?” Syed reached down and detached her hands from his body and then he looked at her with a chilling degree of remoteness. “How can there be an ‘us’?”
Sarah froze, every bone in her body warning her of impending danger. “Well, we’re married, remember…”
“Yes. A marriage that should never have happened.” It was a bleak statement. He let the words hang in the air a moment and when he next spoke it was with an air of businesslike efficiency. “Tell me something, Sarah.”
Her frown showed the indecision that was wrapping around her, but she nodded, waiting, knowing she would tell him anything.
“You have no money.”
Her cheeks coloured at his brutal description of her situation.
“And yet your rent is low and you work long hours. Why can you not make ends meet?”
“Oh.” Sarah’s eyes swept shut and when she opened them, a ghost of a smile passed her lips. But it was not a smile of happiness, so much as recognition. “I… it’s a long story.”
“And yet, I think it is one I should have heard sooner. Tell me.”
She nodded jerkily, her eyes following his, chasing the lights of the city, far beneath them. After a moment, she nodded. “It’s not a secret.”
“Tell me,” he said again, his body as still as steel.
“My sister, Cameron,” Sarah said, so softly it was almost a whisper. “We had a credit card – a joint credit card. I stopped using it years ago; in truth, I forgot we even had the account. But she used it. And he used it. And, when they died, I was signed up for a heap of debt.”
He nodded, a muscle jerking in his cheek. “How much?”
Sarah’s face blushed. “Ten thousand dollars. I know that probably seems like a pittance to you…”
“But to you it was the world,” he expelled softly. “And you would do anything to clear the debt, yes?”
“I… what do you mean?”
His eyes slid to hers for a moment, and something strong and heavy pulsed between them, before he shook his head and spoke, the words almost totally devoid of emotion.
“I realise how unfair it is to Lexi for me to change your circumstances again. I will return to Kalastan and leave this apartment to you. It will be transferred to your name and I’ll continue to care for the running of the household expenses. You’ll have credit cards you may use. You will never have to worry about money.”
His throat bobbed as he swallowed, but he didn’t look at her. “You may continue to use my name and your title – to ensure Lexi gets into the best schools in Manhattan. I am … sorry for the disruption I’ve caused you.”
Sarah was silent. Not out of choice but because none of it made any sense. “What the hell,” she muttered after several heavy, confused moments had passed. “What the hell are you talking about?”
He stepped away from her, moving towards the kitchen. He lifted the lid off a crystal decanter and sloshed some scotch into a tumbler then threw it back, and recharged his glass.
“Syed? What’s happened? Is this because of your brother?”
“Yes,” he said simply. And now his eyes did meet hers.
