Page 49 of Wild Card (The Trident Trilogy 3)

Sarajevo, Bosnia, 1995

Nejra finished feeding Yasmine and laid her down on her chest for a nap. Yasmine was not even a week old, but she already had an enormous appetite. Nejra fed her at least once an hour. It was exhausting, but Nejra loved the alone time with her baby. Sayid and Amar would, of course, leave the room during feeding time. Nejra pretended it took longer than it did, so she could be alone with Yasmine.

Since Nejra married Amar, she didn’t want to look at him. The thought of spending the rest of her life with him was almost crushing. She didn’t love him—not like that. He had been her best friend since she was a little girl, but she didn’t desire him at all. She hadn’t wanted to marry him, but she knew it was the only way. Mack hadn’t responded to her letter. She didn’t understand why. Even in the short time they spent together, she thought she knew him deeply. She was disappointed, but she knew she had to move on. Despite her best efforts, she still thought about Mack every second of every day, especially when she looked at Yasmine’s red hair.

“Nejra,” Amar said, knocking lightly on the door. “Are you done? Mrs. Hadzic is here to see you.”

Nejra shook her head gently to get back it back to reality. “Yes, the baby is sleeping,” she said softly.

Amar opened the door and peeked in. He smiled broadly as he walked in with Mrs. Hadzic following him.

“Nejra,” Mrs. Hadzic said, passing by Amar. “I’ve made you some lemongrass tea. I know it was your favorite when your mother was alive. She always made it best, but I hope I’ve gotten close. Please drink the entire pot. It will help you heal more quickly.”

Mrs. Hadzic had been at her side since she helped Nejra deliver the baby. She visited several times a day. Knowing how conservative her family was, it surprised Nejra that she would want anything to do with her and the baby. Nejra wondered if she told her husband or son about the baby. She hid it successfully from them the entire pregnancy. If she hadn’t had a problem delivering the baby, even Mrs. Hadzic wouldn’t have known until they were already in Italy. Although she was officially married now, she knew they wouldn’t buy that Amar was the father, especially after looking at Yasmine.

“Thank you,” Nejra said, sitting up slightly as Mrs. Hadzic handed her a cup. She tried to take the baby from her, but Nejra resisted. “I can hold her and drink at the same time. I’m getting very good at it.”

“A baby shouldn’t be this reliant on its mother,” Mrs. Hadzic said. “She will have to learn to fend for herself.”

“She’s not even a week old. She can be attached to me for at least a month,” Nejra said, smiling.

Mrs. Hadzic looked away quickly. Nejra thought she looked sad and worried, but she couldn’t understand why.

“Mrs. Hadzic, are you feeling well?” Nejra said as she drained her cup of tea.

Mrs. Hadzic tried her best to smile at Nejra. “Yes, dear. Have one more cup of tea, and then I’ll leave you to rest.”

Nejra nodded, but she was already feeling sleepy. She wanted everyone to leave so she could rest with Yasmine. Mrs. Hadzic poured her another cup of tea. She touched Nejra’s face gently. “Bless you, child. Your mother looks down on you and waits anxiously to see you again.”

Nejra smiled as she watched her walk out of the room. She had been thinking about her mother all morning. She yearned to see her again—to introduce her to Yasmine.

Amar sat down on the couch next to her and stroked her arm. “Sayid said we should have enough money to get to Italy in another month. He’s already contacted his old teacher who lives there now. He and his wife have offered us a room until we can get settled there.”

Nejra nodded as she considered again whether to tell him of her intentions. “Amar,” she said slowly, “I must tell you something. I’ve decided to write to Yasmine’s father again. I know he leads a busy life. I think he might have missed the letter I sent him. I want to give him another chance. I know he would want to see her—”

“Nejra.” Amar’s voice raised a few octaves. “We’ve already discussed that he wanted nothing more than to be with you—in that way. He has no interest in this child.”

“I don’t believe that, even for a second. I know him. You don’t. He is a decent man. I don’t think he ever received the letter.”

Amar stood up and started pacing in the small room. “We are married now. What will you do if he does want to be with the child? You can’t go to America and he can’t stay here. It’s better that he doesn’t know.”

“What do you mean ‘that he doesn’t know’? You and Sayid have told me repeatedly that he does know and that he just doesn’t care.”

“I mean that there is no reason to send him another letter. If he hasn’t already ignored your first letter, he will likely ignore the second.”

Nejra got a sinking feeling in her stomach. “Amar, did you mail the letter I gave you?”

“He has no right to be a part of this child’s life. He took advantage of you and then abandoned you—”

“Amar! Please tell me you mailed the letter.”

Amar stopped pacing and sat down next to Nejra again. Tears started coming to his eyes as he saw the shock and betrayal on her face. “We will be so happy in Italy, Nejra—”

Nejra closed her eyes slowly. She pulled Yasmine closer to her. “Get out, Amar. Get out of my house. I am done with you.”

“Nejra, you are my wife—”

“Get out,” Nejra whispered. “Get out. I never want to see you again. When I am well enough, I will divorce you no matter what it takes. I will write to him again. He will come to get me and our baby.”

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