Kamil looks at Adel with surprise and then regains his composure. “Yes, you know the wife gets really upset if we are late for one of her delicious home cooked meals.” He winks at Yonka. They turn and leave.
“Wow, that was the fastest exit ever.” Guy chuckles to himself.
Susan elbows her. “You know, Yonka, if I were you, I'd forget about Mario and concentrate on your husband.”
Jenny giggles. “Is he really your cousin?”
“Yes he is.”
“I can't see the resemblance,” Jenny says. The newlyweds were like night and day. They seemed to have nothing in common with each other.
Susan and Guy laugh along with Jenny. Yonka doesn't understand the inside joke and looks confused.
She finally says, “Mario wants me to go to Dubai.”
“No way!” Jenny shakes her head.
Susan nods slowly. “Now I know why you say that this is complicated.”
Guy looks at the door. “Honey, you've got the big catch right here and you're just too blind to see it.”
Chapter 24
A different perspective
After the swift departure from Yonka’s pot party, Kamil drives Adel to his apartment.
“I can't believe this woman,” Adel says. “She is smoking weed in the house and drinking alcohol with her friends.”
Kamil nods his head. “She is definitely not the traditional woman she appeared to be at the wedding.”
“That's it. I can't take this crap anymore. I'm going to annul the marriage.”
“What?” What is Adel talking about?
“What do you mean ‘what’?” Adel snaps.
Kamil says, “But you remember that your Grand Uncle and your father made an agreement with each other. Why would you ruin everything for your family?”
Adel shakes his head. “I can't believe you are saying this. I can't live like this. I want to have my own life.”
Kamil frowns. “You know, Adel, you never change.”
Adel is surprised that Kamil is not taking his side on this. “What? What are you trying to say?”
“You always think about yourself,” Kamil says. “Your life, your dreams, your goals. You don't think of your family or your friends.”
Adel is stunned. “I really don't understand why you are saying this,” he says. “Of course I care about my family. I send them money. I did this arranged marriage thing because of them.”
Kamil half laughs. “Oh come on, Adel. You did this arranged marriage thing only because it was convenient. You needed a way to stay in Canada and this is the ticket. Your father knew this and that's why he arranged for this.”
Adel scowls. “Oh that is so wrong. I don't care if they deport me tomorrow. I want to get out of this circus of a marriage.”
Kamil wasn’t going to let Adel have the last word. “You know, if you went into the marriage with the right intentions, maybe you could get Yonka to come around. She's being influenced by foreigners and she needs someone like you to set her straight. She IS your cousin after all.”
“I don't care if she is my cousin. What did Grand Uncle ever do for my family?” Adel clenches his fists. “I hate my cousins. They are all selfish, ungrateful cockroaches. They are always getting things without even having to work for it.”
Kamil smirks. “Yeah, I heard it all before, Adel. Your horrible Grand Uncle and your weak father. Didn't it ever occur to you that your father isn't weak?” Kamil asks. “That maybe what you see is weak is really that he is a very fair and kind man who is not greedy like your uncles and aunts. If your dad was just like them fighting for land and money from your grandfather's inheritance, maybe you and your brothers and sisters might end up just like your horrible cousins.”
Adel’s jaw opens to say something and then he stops.
Kamil continues. “And your Grand Uncle was like a secondary father to your father when your grandfather died. He had to run the family business and take care of his family and your father like he was his own son.”
Adel scowls. “Oh sure... my Grand Uncle took the opportunity to take the money from my grandfather's business and save it all for himself and his own children,” he says. “He took care of my father? He treated him like he was an orphan servant. My father always got the scraps. And my father never said anything.”
“Yes but your father was only a very young boy when your grandfather died,” Kamil says. “How do you expect him to say anything to his uncle who was a grown man with his own family?”
Adel shakes his head. “Yeah, and my Grand Uncle took advantage of the fact that my father was a young boy and never let him think for himself.”
“Yes, but like I said, what you see as your father's weakness is actually his greatest strength,” Kamil says. “He is a kind humble man. He works hard for the money he brings home. And he loves you and your brothers and sisters.”
Adel laughs. “Loves us? He doesn't see us! He does his own thing and only tells us to get out of his way.”
Kamil shakes his head. “I don't know, but I can see that your father loves you in his own way. He is strict because he wants you and your brothers and sisters to grow up to be good people. I think he succeeded.”
“No, it's because of my mother that we turned out to be good,” Adel insists. “She is loving, kind and hard working. She's patient with my father and with all of us.”
Kamil nods. “I completely agree with you, man. But you have to give some credit to your father.”
Adel shakes his head. “I don't know. I just don't see it that way. I know you were there when we were growing up but you still can't understand how it is to be my father's son.”
Kamil shrugs. “Well, maybe you never saw beyond yourself to see this. You always were able to get by with your good looks and charm.”
Adel is surprised. “How can you say such things? I have nothing and it's all because of my father. I should have land, a house, a wife—but look at me!” Adel pauses. “Okay, forget about the wife part.”
Kamil makes a face. “Yeah, sure, even if you did get all these things, you would have wanted more,” he says. “You still would have left to come to the U.S. You told me that yourself. You want what you want and you get what you want.”
Adel half laughs. “Wow, brother, I never thought you felt that way about me.”
“Hey, I love you, man,” Kamil replies, “but that means I gotta tell you the honest truth. So before you start thinking about going after Ms. Teacher, you better think about your wife first and try to work things out.”
Adel sighs deeply. “You don't get it, Kamil. Even if Nora didn't come back in my life, there is no way that I'm going to stay with Yonka,” he says. “She is the complete opposite of what I want in a wife.”
Kamil nods. “Well, I'd have to say that you are right about that.” Then he laughs again. “Man, if I saw my wife at home smoking pot with her co-workers, I think I'd divorce her on the spot!”
Adel laughs too. “I think if your wife was smoking pot in your home, she'd divorce herself on the spot.” Both men laugh together at the thought.
Chapter 25
Nora and Michael
It is late in the evening and Nora and her fiancé Michael are having a heated discussion outside of Nora’s townhouse.
Nora says to him, “You can't just take off every time we disagree on something.”
“You know, I am just tired,” Michael says, “and I have an early day tomorrow.” He is a tall man with a receding hairline. He is dressed in an expensive suit—one of many in his collection. His hair, once the colour of hay, is now more silver than blonde. His eyes are a steel grey blue. His colleagues say his stare can hypnotize the most challenging dean or faculty member at the university in any meeting. The other female ESL teachers whisper to each other about why such a distinguished man like him would have any interest on the very young and naïve Nora.
> Nora is upset. “Fine. Whatever.” She turns and walks back towards her front door.
Michael follows her. “You know, if you weren't so moody maybe I wouldn't have to run away.”
She whirls around. “Excuse me? What do you mean moody?”
He takes a deep breath. “For the past few weeks, you seem distracted and bothered. Everything I say, you've got something to say.”
“Like what?” she asks.
“Like when I say, let's go look for at the new condos, you're always complaining that you're tired or another time.”
She tries to calm down. “Well, I am tired. I've just got back to work and I've got so many lessons to prepare.”
Michael shakes his head. “And I drive all the way out here which is a good forty minute drive just so that I have to hear you bitch about all the work you have to prepare.”
How insensitive he is! “Well, you know, since I got promoted to head teacher,” she says, “I have to work extra hard to prove to everyone that I got the promotion because I deserve it. And not because I'm sleeping with my boss.”
He half laughs. “You always have to blame it on that. I'm the director, not your manager. And I didn't give you the promotion so I don't know why you have to keep saying that.”
Nora lowers her voice. “You don't understand. You don't hear the other teachers talking about me.”
He says, “They're just jealous. Why let it bother you?”
I better tell him, she thinks to herself. “I was thinking of looking for a teaching job at another university.”
Michael’s eyes widen. “You know, when we get married, I was hoping you would just stop working.”
“Oh, I see, and sit at home and do what?” She can’t believe her ears.
“Be my wife! Mother to our kids.”
She shakes her head. “You know, how romantic you make that sound?” she asks. “If you half meant it, maybe I would consider staying home and being your cook and nanny to your kids.”
He turns away and starts heading to his car. “Okay, I'm going home now.”
“See that's exactly what I mean,” she says. “When we finally start talking, you run away.”
He turns around. “You know, Nora, you're a pain and sometimes I wonder if it's worth the drive to come out here.”
“I can count on my one hand how many times you drive out to see me in a month,” she says. “I'm the one who always drives out to see you and I don't complain. It's because I look forward to seeing you so the drive is nothing to me. But you are always counting your pennies and worrying about how much you are spending on gas.” Michael makes a face.
“And if you want to know the reason why I don't want to quit my job after we're married,” she continues, “it is because I don't want to feel helpless and have you controlling me because you would have money and I wouldn't.” There she finally told him the truth.
Michael walks towards his car without turning around. “See you at work tomorrow, Nora...good night.”
He gets into his car and drives away. Nora watches him, tears streaming down her face.
Chapter 26
Lunch?
Weeks later at the school, the students are standing in the hall way lining up at the student activities table, excited about the upcoming Whistler weekend retreat. Nora is helping students sign up for the activity. Adel and Kamil are at the end of the line. Adel has been planning for this opportunity for days. He had done a little shopping on the weekend. He bought himself a new shirt and black pencil tight jeans. He had spent an hour in the morning combing and gelling his hair. And to top it off, he sprayed four big squirts of his favourite cologne “Eternity” by Calvin Klein. Yonka had made a face when she walked by him in the hallway that morning.
She greeted him with, “Did you just have a bath in a bottle of old cologne?”
When it was finally their turn to sign up for the retreat, Adel leans towards Nora. “I am looking forward to the retreat to Whistler this weekend.”
Kamil leans forward and says, “Me too.” Adel gives him a look.
He says to Nora, “I was happy to hear that we will be escorted by our instructors.”
“Well, it won't all be fun and play,” Nora says. “I do expect everyone to work on their projects at the retreat.”
“Kamil and I are almost finished our project so that there will be more time for play.” He winks at Kamil who laughs.
Nora can't help but smile. “Good day, Mr. Emre. I have another class soon and I need to get ready for them,” she says.
Adel blurts out, “Are you free for lunch?”
Nora starts to say something. The bell rings for classes to start. The students disperse and head to their classrooms.
Nora looks around and then lowers her voice, “You know what? Sure... let's go for lunch.”
Adel smiles widely. “I'll meet you here then?”
She bites her lip. “Actually, let's go off campus... I just don't want the other students and teachers to talk. Where are you parked?”
“In the parkade next door,” he says.
“Okay, sure let's meet right outside.” She quickly disappears around the corner towards her classroom.
Adel waves good-bye. When he turns around, he meets Kamil’s stern frown.
“Don't you know she's engaged to the program director?” Kamil asks. “Would it be wise to be taking his fiancée out for lunch?”
Adel rolls his eyes. “Kamil, relax... You worry too much.”
Kamil points his finger at him. “And don't forget that you are a married man.”
Adel laughs. “Looks like you won't let me forget.”
* * *
When the class is finished and her students start to leave, Nora quickly starts packing up her things. She looks up and is startled to see Michael standing by the door. He walks over to her desk.
“Want to go for lunch?” Michael asks. Nora takes a deep breath. Michael continues, “I have a meeting in forty-five minutes so let's get going.”
Nora frowns. “Sorry, I have things to do. You go ahead.”
He is surprised. “Okay, I'll see you later tonight then? Are you stopping by my place after work?”
Nora shakes her head. “Not tonight, Michael. I have to prepare for the Whistler retreat.”
She quickly walks by him with her head down.
“Okay... call you later then?” he asks.
Nora keeps walking out the door leaving Michael standing alone in the classroom with a stunned expression on his face.
* * *
Nora steps outside the building. The cold wind blows her hair into her eyes. She zips up her jacket. Suddenly she feels unsure of herself. She hears the voices of her colleagues inside the building. Maybe he isn’t going to show up after all. As she turns towards the parkade, she sees Adel leaning against the stair rail, smiling at her. She looks around to see if anyone is looking. She cautiously approaches him. His smile gets bigger the closer she steps towards him. When she climbs to the top step, he gives her his hand. She reaches out her hand but then hesitates.
“Mademoiselle,” Adel says.
She checks over her shoulder, her heart pounding. What if the other teachers see her? She begins to doubt why she came. At that moment, the sound of Michael’s voice fills her ears. “I want you to stay at home and be the mother to our kids.”
She turns to Adel. “Monsieur Emre.” They walk together into the parkade.
***
Adel speeds down the highway imagining his VW Golf is a sports car whipping around the race track in the Indy 500 and beside him is his Hollywood bride-to-be. He had purchased the car at the used car lot near Kamil’s apartment just a few days ago. He believes that a man without a car is a man who cannot satisfy his woman.
“Whew... it feels like we're free from everything the farther we drive from campus.” Nora giggles.
Adel smiles. “Freedom...
yes, that is how I feel when I'm with you.”
She laughs again. “Oh Adel... you are so funny.”
“Why? It's the truth,” Adel asks.
She shakes her head. “You just say exactly what you feel.”
Adel says, “I don't know any other way.”
He reaches out and puts his hand on top of hers. Nora attempts to pull away but then relaxes. They drive in silence for a few minutes.
Nora finally asks, “Where are you taking me?”
Adel shifts into third gear. “You'll see...”
After driving across the bridge into Richmond city, Nora becomes anxious wondering where he is taking her. Adel suddenly makes a turn and enters a quiet road. Nora notices a number of cars parked facing a chain link fence. Overhead she hears a loud rumbling sound and a large commercial airplane flies above them. Like a huge white eagle, the plane descends over the fence and touches down on to the tarmac in front of them. Adel looks over at Nora and squeezes her hand.
This was his surprise place he wanted to share with her weeks ago but had been too afraid to ask. He parks his car and then takes out the picnic basket—which he had prepared after Yonka left for work—from the back seat. “I reserved the best seats right up front.”
Nora giggles. “How were you able to get tickets at such late notice?”
“I have a cousin that works at the ticket booth.”
He takes out of the basket two turkey avocado sandwiches (which he made himself that morning), two bottles of cranberry juice (his favourite flavor), and two cups of pro-biotic strawberry yogurt (doesn’t hurt to impress her with his awareness of healthy eating).
“How did you know I'd go to lunch with you?” she asks.
“Why you say this?” he replies.
“Well, you already had the picnic basket in your backseat so I'm assuming that you thought I would say yes to your invitation.”
Adel laughs. “Well, how do you know I don't have an emergency basket of food in my car all the time?”
Her face turns red. “Oh yes. I didn't think about that.”
He says, “Actually I was hoping you would come today but if you said no, I would be having a romantic picnic with Kamil right now.”
They both laugh.
“Gosh, it's weird,” Nora says, “for a moment I felt like we were back in LA at the airport watching the planes.”