10

The sound of a vehicle coming down the long drive shattered the late-night silence. Basir tensed as memories from his homeland flooded his mind, but then reason kicked in. The vehicle was probably Ryan’s car. Still, as the only man currently in the house, he was responsible for Meghan’s safety.

With that thought in mind, he left his bed, taking care not to disturb the kitten slumbering in the box beside it. As he headed downstairs, he heard the front door open and close. Despite his certainty that it was just Ryan arriving home, every fiber of his being prepared to defend Meghan with his life, if necessary.

He reached the first floor at the same time Ryan stepped into view. His friend’s eyes widened and his step faltered, but then he relaxed and smiled.

“Hey, man. I didn’t expect anyone to still be awake.”

“I heard your car on the driveway and wanted to make sure it really was you.” Basir studied him but saw no sign of his earlier anger. “I felt it was my responsibility to protect your sister in your absence.”

“I’m glad to know you’re looking out for her.” Ryan shifted his weight and sighed. “I’m sorry for the way I left earlier, but you guys shocked me.”

“Forgive me.” Basir placed his hand over his heart.

“There’s nothing to forgive.” Ryan glanced up the stairs and met Basir’s gaze. “Let’s go to the kitchen to talk. I don’t want to disturb Meghan.”

Once they were seated at the kitchen table, Ryan spoke again.

“I’ve had plenty of time to think about you guys liking each other, and I still don’t know how I missed it for so long. Thinking back, I should have seen the signs weeks ago. Out of curiosity, just how long have you been interested in my sister?”

Basir dreaded answering, but he couldn’t lie to the man. “Do you remember the photograph you showed me while we were still in Afghanistan? The one of Meghan with her hair loose?”

Ryan’s eyebrows headed for his hairline. “You’ve liked her that long?”

“She is a beautiful woman.” He shrugged, hoping his friend wouldn’t be offended by the blunt statement. “When you showed me her picture, I only wished I would have the chance to meet her someday. Then, when you brought me here and I did meet her...I think that is when the attraction truly started.”

“I see.” Ryan looked away, his expression impossible to decipher. “I want you to know I think the two of you are perfect for each other. My problem earlier was all me. It wasn’t anything you or Meghan said or did.”

“Will you tell me what the problem was?”

“My two worlds collided, and I wasn’t prepared for it.” The intensity in Ryan’s haunted gaze was unsettling. “I’ve always tried to shield Meghan from knowing what my life was really like during my deployments. You were a part of those deployments, so you know everything. The two of you getting together is like having two different parts of me getting together, and it’s hard. Don’t get me wrong. I’m happy for you guys. I just need to figure out how to handle having my life as a marine becoming a part of my life as Meghan’s brother.”

Basir leaned forward. “You know I will do everything I can to take care of Meghan and protect her.”

“I know, and that’s one of the reasons I approve of you for her. You’re a good man, and you’ll treat her right.” Ryan shook his head and leaned back. “It’s like I said, this is my problem alone and really doesn’t have a lot to do with you guys. It’s just the weird stuff going on in my head that’s causing the issue. I plan to talk to my counselor about it the next time I see him.”

“I am not the only who needs help adjusting to a new way of life?” Basir smiled, enjoying evidence that someone else struggled with changes.

Ryan chuckled. “No, I need help with that too from time to time. Speaking of a new way of life...I know casual dating is a no-go where you come from. Have you decided to give it a shot now that you’re integrating into American society, or do you have something more permanent in mind for my sister?”

Heat infused Basir from head to toe. How could he admit to the depth of his feelings so soon after admitting he had the feelings in the first place? “I would like to get to know Meghan and develop a relationship with her.”

Ryan scrutinized him and leaned forward. “What kind of relationship?”

“Whatever kind she is willing to have with me.”

“Marriage?”

“Perhaps someday, if she is willing.” Basir wished Ryan didn’t know him and Afghan culture so well.

“Does she know how strongly you feel?”

“I don’t know. I haven’t told her yet. It is too soon for that.”

“Are you sure?”

“No. I am still learning about romantic relationships in America. If we were in Afghanistan, I would have my father talk to your father.”

“That’s pretty serious.” Ryan studied him a moment longer. “If at some point you decide you want to talk to our father about a future with Meghan, I’ll give you his phone number. But you’ll need to talk to Meghan first. We don’t do arranged marriages in my family.”

An arranged marriage would make things so much easier, but he understood that wouldn’t work. Thoughts of possible marriage at some point in the future brought out his doubts full force. “I don’t know if I am worthy of marrying your sister yet. There is still much from my past that must be laid to rest.”

Ryan heaved a sigh. “I’m too tired to argue with you again about your worthiness. Let’s both go get some sleep, and maybe by morning you’ll realize you’re worth as much as the rest of us, regardless of what happened in the past.”

They rose from their seats, but Basir stopped Ryan before they left the kitchen. “You will not tell Meghan how I strongly feel for her?”

“Nope. That’s up to you to tell her.” Ryan grinned and clapped a hand to his shoulder. “I may be her brother and your friend, but you guys are on your own for making this romance work.”

He headed into the hall, and Basir stared after him. Romance? Somewhere inside, he knew that’s precisely what it was, but hearing the word out loud was still intimidating. He knew nothing about romancing a woman. That could have been part of why Kashmala hadn’t liked him. He had tried to woo her after their wedding, but his attempts had been awkward at best.

“Father God, please grant me the wisdom to do this properly,” he whispered. “You know how I feel about Meghan and my hopes for the future. Please help me to let go of the past so I can move forward.”

Even though he didn’t suddenly gain any insight into how to handle the situation or have any instantaneous healing from all he had suffered, he felt better knowing the situation lay firmly in God’s hands. He headed for the stairs and hoped the next day would bring him the confidence he needed to build an American-style relationship.

~*~

Meghan didn’t see her brother until the middle of the morning. He walked into her workshop and dropped onto the bench by the wall as she boxed up a small order of yarn. She waited for him to speak, but he was still silent when she attached the label to the box and set it aside to take to the post office later.

She braced her hands on the table and studied him. “Are you over whatever was going on with you last night?”

“No, but that’s going to take a while to get over.” He looked away, and she was struck by how similar the gesture was to Basir.

“Come on, Ryan.” She blew out an exasperated breath and crossed her arms. “You knew I would fall for someone at some point, and I happen to know you like Basir. Why can’t you be happy he’s the one I’m interested in?”

“I am happy about that.” He met her gaze, and she couldn’t deny the sincerity she saw there. “Like I told him when I got home last night, I think you guys are perfect for each other.”

“So, why are you acting like the thought of us dating is torturing you?”

“Because it kind of is.” He rose and paced across the room. “Like I explained to Basir, I’ve worked so hard to keep my time in Afghanistan separate from my life here. I wanted to leave that time in the past where it belongs.”

“Then why did you want to bring Basir here in the first place?” She was suddenly glad the man in question was out doing something with the alpacas. With the way this conversation was going, poor Basir would likely assume it was against him somehow.

“He needed a place to stay, and I owed him a lot.” Ryan faced her again. “I knew it was a risk bringing him here, but I never expected the two of you to fall for each other. Now that you have...it’s like having both parts of my life slam together with no warning. I can’t pretend to keep them separate any longer. I know you can’t possibly understand that, but it’s unbelievably difficult for me right now.”

“I’m sorry, Ryan.” She walked over and gave him a hug. “Is there anything I can do to make the adjustment easier for you?”

He chuckled and stepped back. “It’s not as easy as changing the clothes you wear this time.”

Her face burned, and she ducked her head. “Basir told you about that?”

“Yes, but I’d pretty much figured it out on my own. After all, it was kind of obvious you suddenly stopped wearing shorts and tank tops.”

“Oh.” She should have realized that, but with as oblivious as he’d been to Basir liking her, she’d assumed he hadn’t notice the difference in her clothing choices either.

“That’s one of the reasons I think you and Basir are perfect for each other. Not many women would change what they wear on the off chance it would allow them to befriend a guy who’s painfully shy around them.”

“You know I like to help people if I can.”

“I do, but there’s really nothing you can do to help me adjust.” He held up his hand when she opened her mouth to protest. “It’s something I have to deal with myself, in my own way. I’ve already set up an appointment with my counselor to help me work through it all.”

“OK.” The sense of helplessness frustrated her, especially since she knew her attraction to his friend was responsible for his current distress. “You’ll let me know if there’s anything I can do?”

“Of course.” He hugged her and stepped back with a smile. “You’re a good woman, Megs. Basir’s lucky to have you.”

She sighed. “I keep hoping he’ll realize something similar to that, but it’s hard to know what he’s feeling.”

“You don’t have anything to worry about. He likes you, and he’s made it clear in his own way.” Ryan tugged her ponytail. “You just don’t understand romance in Afghanistan.”

“That’s because I’ve never been there, unlike some people I know.” She crossed her arms and raised her eyebrows, relieved to see her brother in a better mood. “I don’t suppose you’d care to give me a few pointers?”

“Keep doing whatever you’ve been doing. It seems to be working out pretty well.”

“You’re no help.”

“Of course not. I already told Basir you guys are on your own for figuring this out. I’m not about to let you turn me into a hypocrite.”

Meghan rolled her eyes. “I should get Julia to find you a date just so I can refuse to give you any pointers.”

“I don’t need any.” Ryan headed for the door but paused and glanced over his shoulder. “I don’t need Julia’s help to find a date either.”

Meghan stared after him as he left the room. That last comment sounded suspiciously like he had a girlfriend hidden somewhere or maybe just someone he was interested in. Her joking comment about finding a date sprang to mind and touched off an idea.

Basir wasn’t comfortable going on a date with her without a chaperone nearby. If Ryan already had a woman he was dating, maybe she could talk both guys into a double date. Not only would it give her the opportunity to go out with Basir, but she would also get a chance to satisfy her curiosity about her brother’s love life.

She smiled as she turned to pick up the box waiting to be shipped. “Thank You, Lord, for giving me a creative mind.”