Page 57 of Twenty-Three Years of Longing

“She is still in surgery. Been in there for hours. They said it would take a long time. Just waiting and not being able to do anything is...”

“Is hard. I can’t imagine what you are feeling. And I wish I could be there for you,” she stated.

You are. She might not be physically here, but somehow, I could feel her support all the way from the other side of the world. Hopefully, she could feel mine as well.

“You are where you need to be right now, and so am I. How are you holding up?” I asked.

“Better than I thought I would,” she replied. “Despite the fact that I had to be in the courtroom early, I had to wait for hours before the judge called my name to speak to me.”

“How did it go when he did?” I asked. Is that bastard out of your life for good now?

“He had a lot of questions for me. Some very tough ones. I had never shared any details about why Joseph and I ended our marriage until I talked to you. That was hard enough but saying it in a courtroom even more so. I felt as though all eyes were on me, and my character was being called into question. Shaun wasn’t lying. Joseph portrayed me as a...bad parent,” she said, sounding a little defeated. “He had told the court that I had come to the US for a green card. And that I got pregnant on purpose and forced him to marry me so that I could get his money.”

That was ridiculous. From what I knew, she had supported herself and Joey the entire time, on her own. It was probably a good thing I wasn’t there. I might be spending time in a US jail cell if I had been. There was no wayI would have sat there and not knocked Joseph’s ass out. That wouldn’t have helped her case at all.

In the most encouraging tone I could muster, I said, “You are not a bad parent. If anything, you’re a role model for how a mother should be. Loving. Kind. Supportive. Understanding.”

“Thank you, Orion. All I could do was answer all the questions they had for me, honestly. There was only one time I felt as though they questioned my judgment. That was when I explained leaving Joey with Kathy for the job in Tabiq,” she said.

“What did they say?” I asked. No one outside of Tabiq knew our ue history. At least not that I knew of. If her ex did, and he had told the courts, that would be hard for her to explain.

“Mostly why I was taking Joey from his father and going to live in a -world country. All those hours you and I spent talking about the growth of Tabiq over the last decade, was what I needed to answer that question in court. Not that I should’ve done so, but I dropped the Henderson name. Told them about the beautiful resort they had built. How Logan Henderson had been the head of our hospital before Finn O’Connor. And even mentioned how Tabiq had entered into international trade and how it is now developing faster than many other countries.”

She almost sounded like a proud Tabiqian when she spoke.

“I’m glad all my chatter hadn’t been for nothing,” I said.

“Not at all. But it’s not over. I need to go back tomorrow,” she signed.

“Why? What else could they need to know?” I asked.

“The judge wants me, Joey, and Joseph in there. Not sure why but Shaun’s attorney told me not to be concerned. So, I’m trying not to be,” she stated. “Just so you know, it’s impossible. I’m a wreck,” she truthfully. “I just can’t wait for this to be all over.”

“It will be. You’re going to get through this, and Joseph will come out looking like the liar he is,” I stated.

“I hope so.” She changed the subject and asked, “How are you holding up?”

I’d rather talk about you. I wasn’t worried about myself. But like me, she needed to think of something other than what was going on in her life.

“I’m a wreck too,” I said, deciding to be honest. She was the one person with whom I always wanted to and always could be my true self.

“Understandable. She’s not even my grandmother, and I am worried sick about her too. But I’m glad you called. I am about to go to Kathy’s and spend the night with Joey. Otherwise, I’d love to be able to talk to you longer,” she said.

“Does he know you’re in the States?” I asked.

“No. It’s going to be a surprise,” she stated. “Hope he’s as excited to see me as I am to see him.”

I wasn’t so sure about that. At ten, he might be upset that she was interrupting his video game time.

“Show up with pizza and his favorite snack and you will be fine,” I said.

She chuckled. “You haven’t even met him yet, and you got him figured out.”

I hoped to learn a lot more about him when they got here.

“Let me know how it goes tomorrow. And enjoy your time tonight. Sweet dreams, Raya,” I said.

“Please keep me updated on your grandmother. And don’t forget to take care of yourself. Eat something and make sure to drink. You’re no good to her if you get sick. She is going to need you when she gets home,” she stated. “I’ll talk to you tomorrow. Hopefully, we will both have some good news to share.”

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