Page 39 of Chasing the Past

She swallowed several times before nodding.

“I’ll get it. Why don’t you have a seat by the fire?”

She didn’t answer. After a minute, he left to prepare the coffee. Things were awkward between them. He’d made them awkward. He had to find a way to change that.

Chapter Eighteen

On the end table near the chair was the box that contained the watch that belonged to Sashi’s husband as well as the photos of their parents, including one of Tahir with Sashi.

She opened the box and removed the watch first. She turned it over. The inscription,For God nothing is impossible.

She closed her eyes. Something about that inscription and the scripture that it was based on seemed familiar. She’d heard it before. Was she a religious person? She had no idea.

She pulled out the photo of Sashi and Tahir and searched the image of the woman who looked just like her. She held the photo closer. Sashi wore a small heart-shaped locket. She closed her eyes. She recognized the locket. Inside there was a photo of their parents. How did she know that?

“Here you go.”

Asal started and clutched the picture to her chest. She hadn’t heard Eli approach.

“Sorry, I didn’t mean to startle you.” He sat the coffee cups down and slipped into the overstuffed chair beside her. “Is something wrong?”

Asal handed him the picture. “I recognize the locket my sister was wearing.”

He stared at her face. “Well, it would make sense you would. You were sisters and she probably had the locket for a long time.” He glanced down at the photo and swallowed several times. His attention was on the woman who had won his heart. As Asal watched, she realized what she felt was jealousy. She was jealous of her sister because Eli still loved her. He would always love her.

“I remember her wearing the locket. She wore it almost all the time.” He frowned. “But it wasn’t among the items I found in her apartment. Maybe she had it on her when she died, or maybe she packed it in her bag.”

“Didn’t Fatima say there was a pendant in Sashi’s belongings?”

Eli nodded. “It was different. A cameo that her grandmother had given her. She never told me where she got the locket. Maybe Tahir gave it to her.”

He placed the picture back into the box and handed her the coffee he’d fixed just as she liked.

Asal frowned. “How did you know I liked cream and sugar?”

He looked at her strangely. “You had some before at my house, remember?”

Her heart sank. Was she really still holding onto the possibility she might somehow be Sashi? Why? Because it might mean Eli was really looking at her with such love?

She sipped her coffee. Foolishness.

“Tell me about your life in Cairo,” Eli asked quietly.

She jerked his way and saw nothing but kindness there.

“I’m thinking maybe if you talk about it, something from before the attack might come out. What did Omar tell you about your parents?”

“That they were Egyptians like his family. Our families knew each other for years.” Eli frowned and she could tell something was wrong. “What is it?”

“Nothing, keep going.”

She didn’t believe it was the truth, but she pressed forward. “He told me I was in Kabul with my doctor friends and Rabia Bilal. I think they were there for humanitarian reasons and according to Omar they worked for an American business.” Something strange passed over Eli’s face. “Anyway, when the Taliban took over, we had to leave. I was injured in an explosion and according to Omar, Rabia was killed. My friends got me on board and to the hospital in Egypt where he was notified . . . Is there something you aren’t telling me?”

“Yes, but first, do you remember the friends’ names?” He looked intently at her.

Asal had tried to recall them many times. She’d even asked Omar but he’d never really answered.

She shook her head and told him about Omar’s evasiveness.

---