Fickle

Chapter 21

Kulthum sat across from her children in the small, sunlit living room of their suburban home. The autumn sun filtered through the lace curtains, its warmth contrasting the tension in the room. Jenna perched on the edge of the couch, her bright eyes alight with curiosity. Hudayfah, on the other hand, sat with his arms crossed, his expression a mixture of skepticism and hurt. 

Her mind randomly wandered to the day she told the twins who Abdullah was. 

"Jenna, Hudayfah," Kulthum began, her voice steady but tender, "I know this is a lot to take in, but it’s time you knew the truth. Abdullah... he’s your father."

Jenna gasped softly, her small hands clapping together in delight. "I knew it! I knew it, Mama!" she exclaimed. "He looks like Hudayfah! And... and he’s so tall like you said Daddy was!"

Kulthum smiled faintly at Jenna's enthusiasm but quickly turned her attention to Hudayfah, whose gaze was fixed firmly on the floor. "Hudayfah," she called softly, her voice laced with concern.

The boy finally lifted his head, his dark eyes filled with an emotion too complex for his eight years. "Why didn’t you tell us before?" he asked quietly, his voice trembling slightly.

Kulthum leaned forward, resting her elbows on her knees. "It wasn’t an easy decision, sweetheart," she said. "Your father and I had... disagreements. I wanted to protect you both."

Hudayfah’s brows furrowed, his lips pressing into a thin line. "Protect us from what? From him?"

Kulthum hesitated, guilt flickering across her face. "Not from him, Hudayfah. Your father didn’t know about you. There were... complications. But now, things are different. He knows the truth, and he wants to be a part of your lives."

Jenna interrupted, her voice bubbling with excitement. "Does that mean he’ll visit us? Or maybe we can visit him? Oh, oh! Can we have two Eids now?!"

Kulthum chuckled softly at her daughter’s optimism. "Jenna, it’s not about holidays. It’s about giving you both a chance to know your father."

But Hudayfah wasn’t smiling. He shook his head, his voice trembling with anger. "I don’t need him. We’ve been fine without him, haven’t we, Mama?" His eyes filled with tears, though he tried to blink them away.

"Sweetheart, I know this is hard," Kulthum said gently, moving to sit beside him. She placed a hand on his shoulder, but he shrugged it off. "Your father made mistakes, but he wants to make things right."

Hudayfah stood abruptly, his small frame taut with frustration. "Why should I care what he wants? He didn’t care about us!"

"That’s not true," a deep voice interjected from the doorway.

All heads turned toward the entrance, where Abdullah stood. His tall frame seemed to fill the room, and his usual air of regal composure was tinged with vulnerability. His gaze settled on Hudayfah, soft but resolute.

"I cared, Hudayfah," Abdullah continued, stepping into the room. "I just didn’t know. If I had, I would’ve been here for you from the very beginning."

Hudayfah glared at him, his fists clenched. "You think saying that makes it better?"

"No," Abdullah admitted, his voice steady but filled with regret. "I don’t expect you to forgive me right away. But I’ll do everything I can to show you how much I love you."

Jenna slid off the couch and approached Abdullah hesitantly. "Do you really love us?" she asked, her voice small but hopeful.

Abdullah knelt to her level, his expression softening. "With all my heart," he said sincerely.