Ramlah

2 - Top Floor

Opening up a bakery is difficult. I loved baking, it's been my passion since I could remember but opening a whole shop for it is proving difficult.
Jamal, my oldest brother, was my biggest cheerleader when I had the idea and he's been my biggest investor; next to my mom, that is.

I was visiting with my realtor, looking at some of the most popular areas for food businesses. We went through near seven spaces before I found the space that took my heart.

I have to have this! I thought to myself as soon as I walked in. And by the time I saw the kitchen I was sold beyond recovery. It was this space or nothing.
I was ready to wire the money right there and then.

"So this is a little above your budget," my realtor said handing me a pice of paper. My breath hitched in my throat. It was more than a little beyond my budget.

Just then a little someone walked in and my space was just a little less perfect, not to the point I wouldn't still want it if I could have it.

"Ramlah?" I heard his voice cut through my thoughts.

"Nabil," I sighed before I turned around. He wore a big smile and you could see the light radiate from his face. He had cut his beautiful hair - I always loved his hair - he still looked good though. He ran his hand over his head, as if he had just read my mind.

"What brings you here?" He stuffed his hands in his pockets. I watched my realtor walk slowly away until she was out of sight. I would walk away too if i could, you could cut the tension between us with a knife.

"I'm looking at shop options." I gestured around the empty room. His eyes combed over the space before he turned to look at me.

"You're opening a bakery?" He seemed almost as excited as I was.

"Yes," I looked down at my feet. Seeing Nabil in person, with his eyes looking at me like I'm the most radiant thing ever, was definitely hard. It was hard to resist the pull his eyes had towards me. This was mostly because his eyes were my favorite thing about him, it could have also been his smile or the softness in which he held my hand. All I now know is that the saying absence makes the heart grow fonder was not based off a lie.

"That's amazing," he clapped his hands, "also, my firm just opened offices on the top floor of this building." He gleamed as he spoke but my dream space had just become tainted.
It had me wondering if I could even take it at this point.

"Well, nothing is final yet, I still have a lot to think about. And this place is way beyond my budget." I chuckled nervously.

His face fell, only slightly, "I hope you end up picking here, I really do." He smiled.
I smiled back politely before telling him I had to leave. I said goodbye to my realtor and asked her to await my call on the spaces we saw today, but really I just needed time to weigh my options.

Not getting this place would be really heartbreaking, but what could I do? I can't afford it.

I had a lot to think about and not much time to think about it.

"Did you find a place you liked?" Tahira, my sister in-law asked as soon as I walked in.

"Hi, Tee, how's my niece doing? You see what I just did there? I said hello to you." I answered sarcastically.

"Whatever," she rolled her eyes handing me the baby in her arms, "how did the hunt go?"

"I found a place - out of the eight that we saw - that I really, really loved." I spoke about it with so much love and pain at the same time it hurt my heart.

"What's the matter then?"

"It's too expensive, also Nabil's firm works the top floor of the building." I pouted. The infant in my arms squirmed a little, I placed her pacifier back in her mouth and she was straight back to sleep.

"Oh," her enthusiasm had dwindled just as mine had when I heard the news, "How did you find out about the Nabil thing?"

"He told me," I raised my eyebrows and paused a little for dramatic effect, "right after he waltzed into my bakery like he owned the place."
Tahira took a sharp breath as she placed her hand on her chest. I knew if I wanted a reaction that would match mine, all I had to do was come to my sister-in-law.

"How did it feel seeing him again, you know... after-"

"It was hard," I cut her off, "he seemed like he was doing good, and he looked like..." I sighed and threw my head back.

"He looked extremely good and he looked like I may still have feelings for him." I said looking up at the ceiling. Tahira gave no witty comeback nor did she give me another dramatic reaction. We just sat there as I realized the weight of my confession.

I still had feelings for Nabil... fuck!

After my revelation, we only spoke for a few more minutes before I left to go home. I needed to work through some of my thoughts. I had to write a pros and cons list. I love lists, they make things easier and it's quicker to go through.
As soon as I drove through the black gates, my day's worries began to melt away. Mama was back!
Her car was parked by the entrance and a few of the maids and grounds workers were taking her luggage inside. She had just come back!
I parked in my car's parking spot and leapt out. I basically ran into the house and met Mama sitting in the downstairs living room with Hammad and Ali.

"I can't breathe," she gasped as I threw my arms around her and squeezed tightly.

"Welcome home, mummy." I let her go and sat next to her. I held onto her arm and rested my head on her shoulder, "I have missed you so much."

"I've missed you too darling, did the boys take care of you while I was away?" She rested her head on top of mine and used her free hand to pat mine.

"Don't lie, Ramlah, God is watching you!" Ali spoke before I could.

"Ahn - Ahn, Ali are you afraid I might say something that may incriminate you?" He rolled his eyes as I spoke. We had a good laugh as we al filled our mother in on everything that conspired while she was away. I omitted my drama with the men in my life and told her about the bakery I couldn't afford.

"We'll see what we can do about it, also we'll keep looking." She patted my shoulder. she excused herself to go take a shower and wash the travel off of her.

"I'm going to meet Zainab, we're planning her bridal shower," as I spoke I noticed Ali only watched Hammad. He rolled his eyes and left the living room. Ali and I laughed, only lightly before I headed to the kitchen to get something to eat.

CHAPTER 2

Excited to get back into writing!

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