Fickle

Chapter 17

The sun had barely risen when the apartment began to hum with the soft energy of a new day. Kulthum moved around the kitchen, her motions automatic, but her thoughts elsewhere—on Abdullah, on the fragile bridge between them that had yet to solidify.

She tried to focus on the task at hand, preparing breakfast for the twins, but her mind kept drifting back to the conversation she and Abdullah had shared the night before. The way he’d looked at her, the words he’d said—they echoed in her head, reminding her of everything they had once been, and everything they had lost.

In the living room, the twins were already awake, Jenna perched on the arm of the couch, her legs kicking playfully, while Hudayfah sat on the floor, his back against the cushions. He seemed quieter than usual, his hands folded in his lap as he stared at Abdullah.

Abdullah, for his part, was doing his best to fill the silence. His attempts at small talk had a practiced quality, but there was an undercurrent of nervousness in his voice, a hesitation as if he were unsure of how to proceed.

“So, Hudayfah,” Abdullah said, leaning forward slightly. “How are you feeling this morning? I know yesterday was a bit much.”

Hudayfah’s response was a soft murmur. “I’m fine,” he said, not meeting Abdullah’s eyes. His fingers fidgeted with the hem of his shirt, the weight of the situation clearly on his mind.

Jenna, on the other hand, seemed much more curious. She hopped down from the arm of the couch and skipped over to Abdullah, her eyes wide with the unmistakable glint of mischief.

“So, you’re really our dad?” she asked, her voice high-pitched with excitement. “Like, for real?”

Abdullah froze for a moment, taken aback by the question’s directness, but then a soft smile tugged at his lips.

“Yes, Princess,” he said, his voice gentle but firm. “I’m really your dad.”

Her face broke into a grin, and for a moment, she was just the mischievous little girl he remembered—carefree and full of questions. She bounced in place, barely able to contain her energy.

“Does that mean we can do stuff like... real family stuff now?” she asked. “Like go to the park, or go camping? Or maybe you’ll teach me how to play soccer like you used to? I bet you’re good at that, right?”

Abdullah chuckled, the sound easing some of the tension in the room. “I’d love to do all of that,” he said. “But it’s going to take time, okay? I’m here now, and I’m going to try my best to make up for lost time.”

Jenna nodded enthusiastically, her grin never wavering. “Okay, that’s cool. I like the sound of that.”

But as Jenna’s excitement filled the room, Hudayfah remained quieter, his gaze fixed on the floor. He hadn’t said much since Abdullah had entered the apartment, and Kulthum could see the uncertainty in his eyes.

Hudayfah was always reserved, but this felt different. His usual calm demeanor seemed to be masking something deeper. He was processing.

Kulthum noticed the shift in the atmosphere and set down the utensils she was holding. She walked over to Hudayfah, kneeling beside him.

“Hudayfah,” she said softly, her hand resting gently on his shoulder. “Are you okay?”

He didn’t answer right away. Instead, he looked up at her, his eyes dark with a mixture of emotions. Finally, he spoke, his voice barely above a whisper.

“I don’t know, Mummy.”

Kulthum’s heart ached for him. She could see the confusion, the uncertainty in his face. Hudayfah had always been the more reserved of the two, but he was perceptive—perhaps more so than anyone realized.