Page 113 of To Tango, with Desire

AMIRA

To say the next few days were strained was putting it mildly. I couldn’t shrug off our fight and pretend like it wasn’t a big deal. Even though I knew Zane wouldn’t be unfaithful, a very small part of me was still afraid. I wanted so desperately not to have a marriage like my parents and yet here I was, fighting to have my husband tell me the truth. To confide in me.

I saw what a loveless marriage could do. I refused to play pretend, to live under the same roof as my husband but lead separate lives. I’d thought, stupidly, that we would develop our relationship naturally. That it would progress organically just because we lived together.

Even though we made attempts to connect, there was still a chasm between us. What had happened with Chloe was proof of it. I wanted to believe it would change over time, but I wasn’t so sure.

I fell asleep Wednesday evening worried about the state of my marriage, but not knowing how to fix things.

The call came in the middle of the night.

I woke up to the sound of Zane’s phone ringing. Groggy, I shoved my hair out of my face as he answered.

Zane sat up immediately, shoulders stiff. “When? Okay, take a breath. Tell me exactly what happened.”

“Who is it?” I scrambled upright, dread settling in my chest.

“Don’t cry. It’ll be okay. Yes, I will. Which hospital? We’ll be there shortly. I promise you, he’ll be okay.”

“Zane?” I trembled.

He hung up and turned to me. The look on his face made me brace for impact. “What is it?”

He took my hands, squeezing them. “Amira . . . your mom just called. Your dad had a heart attack. It’s pretty bad. They’re in the hospital and they want us to come right away.”

“Oh my god. But—”

“It’s all I know. They’re getting in touch with a cardiothoracic surgeon. I’m gonna call his cardiologist, just to see what he has to say, but habibti, it’s not looking good.”

I flung myself off the bed, running to my walk-in closet. But when I got there, all I could do was stare at the clothes.

“Amira?”

I turned to Zane, dazed.

He grabbed a pair of sweatpants and a hoodie, helping me get dressed. He murmured words of encouragement, reminding me that my dad was receiving the highest level of care. That the hospital was the best place for him right now.

“Amira?” He tilted my chin. “We’ll get through this.”

I nodded, numb, as he led me to the car.

Everything passed in a blur, and it wasn’t until we were in the hospital that I was able to function.

Thanks to Zane’s connections, we were able to go through to the ward where my dad was, and according to the doctors, he would be prepped for emergency surgery.

“Mom!”

“Amira, thank God.” Nasrin stood. “He’s in there.”

“Can we see him?”

She nodded, dabbing at her eyes.

“Are you okay? What happened?”

“He said he wasn’t feeling good, but he went to sleep, thinking it was indigestion.”

“And?”