CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE

Ruby and Safa

The girls all stood in the kitchen, holding hands, watching the clock tick.

‘My stomach is doing backflips,’ Clara said.

Denise was jigging about, unable to stay still.

Ruby was trying not to throw up.

Dad popped his head around the kitchen door. ‘I think I see her coming up the road.’

Clara squeezed Denise’s hand tightly.

‘Ouch!’ said Denise.

‘Sorry, I’m so nervous I think I might pass out.’

‘Me too,’ Denise said. ‘I couldn’t even eat lunch. Imagine, me not eating. But I’m definitely having some of that chocolate cake your mum made.’

How could Denise think about food? Ruby was afraid to open her mouth. She felt so many emotions, she was afraid that if she spoke she’d end up crying. So she clamped her mouth shut and said nothing.

Mum was chatting to Annabelle and feeding Robbie Smarties to keep him quiet.

Orla came over and poked Ruby in the back. ‘Are you ready?’

Ruby turned to her sister and nodded.

‘Nervous?’

‘Very.’

‘It’ll be fine. Chill. You’re a bit of a legend, Ruby.’

Ruby stared at her sister. ‘What?’

Orla popped a Smartie into her mouth. ‘I know I don’t say it much, but what you’ve done is pretty amazing. I’m proud of you, sis.’

‘Thanks!’ Ruby was shocked. It was probably the nicest thing Orla had ever said to her.

Orla walked over to the cake, picked a chocolate finger off the side and stuffed it into her mouth.

‘Do you think Safa will be happy?’ Clara asked.

‘I hope so,’ Ruby said.

‘Of course she will,’ Denise said.

The doorbell rang. Everyone froze.

‘Well, come on then, someone answer the door! We can’t leave her out there all day,’ Dad said, nudging Ruby towards the hall.

Ruby’s hands were shaking as she opened the door.

Safa stood there beaming. ‘Hi.’

‘Hi.’

‘I bought some chocolates for your mum. I know she likes them.’

‘Great, thanks.’ Ruby was afraid to say any more in case she blurted anything out.

Clara and Denise came into the hall.

‘Act normal,’ Clara hissed at Denise.

‘Hi, Safa,’ Denise said. ‘How are you? Are you good? Yeah? All fine? Yeah?’

Safa looked at her strangely. ‘I’m fine, thanks. Are you OK?’

‘What? Me? Yeah, I’m great. Brilliant. Sound.’

Fiona popped her head out the kitchen door. ‘Come on in, Safa love.’

Safa walked in and saw the big feast of food on the kitchen table. ‘Oh my goodness!’ she exclaimed. ‘You’ve gone to so much trouble.’

‘Well, we wanted to thank you for all you’ve done for this family. You helping to get Robbie into Grangepark is going to change all our lives. You’re a very special girl, Safa.’ Fiona hugged her.

‘Yes, you’re a diamond,’ Dad added.

‘Thank you so much.’ Safa’s eyes were shining. ‘I never expected all of this.’

‘You deserve it. You’re brilliant.’ Orla’s voice trembled.

Ruby looked at her sister. There were tears in her eyes. Oh no. Ruby quickly looked away. If Orla cried, Ruby would break down. She couldn’t start crying now. Not yet. Not before the big surprise.

Clara nudged Ruby. She cleared her throat. ‘Actually, Safa, we have a present for you. It’s from me and Clara and Denise,’ Ruby said.

‘But mostly Ruby – it was her idea,’ Denise admitted.

‘Yeah, but I did a lot of the work,’ Clara said.

‘Fair enough, you did, but it was still Ruby who had the plan.’

‘I know but still –’

‘Girls!’ Annabelle cut across them.

‘So anyway, your present is here,’ Ruby croaked. She looked at her dad, who rushed out of the kitchen.

Safa frowned. What was going on? Everyone was staring at the door. Safa could feel the tension in the room. Her heart began to beat faster. What was the present? What was it? Why was everyone so quiet?

She could hear Ruby’s dad saying, ‘Easy now, mind your step.’

Then a figure appeared at the door. A man. He was standing in the doorframe, and the light from the hall was behind him. Safa rubbed her eyes. It couldn’t be. It just couldn’t be. It looked like him, but thinner, older, greyer ... but the eyes, the beautiful eyes ...

Her legs were shaking so much she thought she’d collapse.

‘Hello, Habibti,’ he called out to her.

‘Baba! Is it really you?’ Safa cried out, staggering towards him.

‘Yes, it’s me.’ Mr Karim opened his arms just in time to catch his daughter.

He wrapped her up in a huge hug. She inhaled his scent. Baba’s smell.

Was this really happening? Was her father really here, in front of her? Safa pulled back and pinched herself on the arm. ‘It is real?’

‘Yes, it is,’ her father said.

Mama was standing behind him, smiling and crying at the same time. It really was her dad. Baba, he was OK. He was alive, he was here.

‘Baba, I missed you so much.’ Safa began to cry. All of her fears, worries, and nightmares about never seeing her father again bubbled up from deep inside her and exploded out of her. She cried and cried. Her whole body shook.

Baba held her tighter. Beside her Ruby was sobbing too. Safa looked around. Everyone was crying, even Annabelle, who looked like she never cried. Robbie was shouting, ‘Again!’ in the corner.

Safa turned to Ruby. ‘Thank you. Thank you for the best present I could ever have wished for.’

Ruby gave her a teary grin.

‘Kank you, kank you!’ Robbie shouted.

Everyone laughed.

It was all right, Safa thought. Everything was going to be all right. Magic did happen. Good things did happen after bad. There was a silver lining in this cloud.

She snuggled closer to Baba and let his arms hold her and keep her safe.