Page 51 of A Festive Surprise

Chapter Seventeen

Farid

‘Marhaba, Mama.’ Farid’s eyes filled with tears as his mother’s face appeared on his phone screen.

‘Farid? I can see you.’

‘Ah, Nadda, you’re the best sister, getting this to work.’

‘Of course I am,’ she said off-screen. ‘Everyone knows that.’

‘Everyone except me,’ said Sadira.

Farid grinned as his youngest sister muscled her way into the picture. ‘You can both be the best for different things.’

‘Stop the fighting, girls,’ said a deep voice.

‘Baba.’ Tears leaked and Farid pressed his fingers to his lips. ‘You’re there too.’

‘Yes,’ said his mama, ‘we’re all here.’

‘Hello, son. I’m pleased to see you’re well.’ His father’s thick eyebrows rose in the middle and his lips twitched. ‘You understood before all of us the danger. We should have listened.’

Farid’s heart swelled. That was as good as an apology. ‘I never meant to hurt you, Baba. Any of you.’ He sniffed, swallowing salty water. ‘I miss you all terribly and I love you all so much.’

His mama bobbed her head slowly. ‘Farid. You’re a good boy and we miss you too. You’re ok though and safe, yes?’

‘Yes. I’m safe here. It’s very different.’

‘Is it cold?’ asked Sadira.

‘Very. There’s ice in the mornings but no snow yet. A man I work with says they don’t get much snowfall on the island so I might not see it. Not this year anyway. But I saw the aurora borealis a couple of nights ago. That was spectacular.’

They nodded with wide eyes, glancing at each other.

‘Are you all ok?’ he asked.

His mama pulled a face. ‘We get by. It’s not the same as our old home, but we’re lucky, I suppose. We got out in time. It makes me so sad when I think about what’s happened to the old country.’

‘I know, Mama.’

‘Yes. It is not easy for anyone. We make the most of what we can, but it’ll never be the same,’ said his father. ‘How is Archie?’

‘He’s good and always helpful.’

‘I remember he was a very well-mannered young man,’ said Khalif.

‘He’s married now. His wife’s lovely too.’

‘I’m happy to hear it.’

The front door clicked. ‘Farid.’ Holly’s voice called from the hall and Farid scrunched up his face.

‘Who’s that?’ asked his mama. Always sharp, she never missed a thing.

‘Holly, my neighbour.’

‘And she just walks in?’ Nadda shared a look with Sadira, her dark eyebrows high on her forehead.

---