Tale In The Red Sand

Chapter Forty

Ercole departed for Italy the next day. Hibaaq tried not to be saddened about it, but they had only gotten married the day before and engaged the day before that. She told herself this little time they wouldn't be spending with each other wouldn't put a dent in the life they would have together. By Allah's will they would have years.

"Come back to me." Hibaaq murmured as she rolled over in bed that morning. They were a tangle of bedsheets and bare limbs and warm skin. She cupped the side of his face before leaning in to peck the sun kissed arch of his cheekbone. Noticing the the blood that had suddenly rushed to the area, she let out a soft chortle.

"I will, Bella." He promised, turning his face ever so slightly to press his lips to her small palm.

...

Hibaaq had generally nothing to get up to. She had time off nurse training to heal up the trauma on her thigh, that she noticed, didn't hurt so much anymore, though it would leave a nasty scar. She aided Xalimo with cleaning up the decorations from the night before. They untwisted the draping vines on the banister and swept up the crestfallen flowers off the floors. The party lights that hung from the garden hedges were taken down by Liban, and just like that the house was spotless and returned to its former state.

Hibaaq hadn't realised she had been subconsciously counting down the days of his return before the second week was up, and only one day remained between them. Mere hours, she liked to think. She was in the kitchen her bottom glued to the high chair beside the counter. Her head rested in her palm as she watched Xalimo stir a pan of sautéed spinach and tomatoes for an early dinner alone since her father had left for that conference in Zürich. He'd be returning a day after Ercole. Something about a business affair with a revered company he couldn't pass up on.

"Ugh, you look sickly in love." Xalimo bleched mockingly as she bent over at the waist.

Hibaaq rolled her eyes jestingly. "I'm just sitting here, existing."

"Actually, you're sitting there and daydreaming about running into your husband's arms tomorrow and being twirled around like a princess." Xalimo 'corrected'. Tease all she wanted, she couldn't hide the laugh in her tone. Hibaaq shrugged. She wasn't entirely lying about that.

"I am excited." She told her, sitting up.

"Well, if you're going to be sitting there and watching me, you might as well get started on the sabayad," Xalimo pointed to the covered tray of resting dough on the countertop.

She followed her instructions as she started to roll out the oiled dough whilst the second pan heated up on the stove. Xalimo cheekily smiled, bumping shoulders with Hibaaq as they busied their hands.
...

Hibaaq got up early in the morning, earlier than usual, though she tried but failed miserably to get back to sleep just until duhr time. She hadn't been sleeping in her bed, and she didn't miss it either. Ercole's bed was her new home, she laid in it for ages after the morning he left for Italy, savouring the yummy scent of him on the sheets and hugging his pillow to her chest until she fell back asleep. He was set to arrive in the afternoon, but with nothing to do and the hours painfully dragging, Hibaaq finally gave up and peeled her aching eyelids open.

She read, she cleaned some, she took a shower, she dried herself in the balmy breeze of the garden, then she changed into a clean dress, watched TV, up until duhr. Then the crunching of tires on gravel finally reached her ears and Hibaaq shot up from her seat on the couch. She dashed to the front door before pausing in front of it to fix her damp curls and straighten her yellow day dress sooner the long awaited knock came at the door.

She pulled it open.

The love of her life stared back at her. Hibaaq didn't wait for any word of greetings before she basically reenacted the scenario Xalimo excused her of daydreaming about yesterday evening.