Shattered Trust, Unbroken Love

Chapter 39

In the weeks following Abdullah’s letter and his speech to the people of Daura, Kulthum found herself in an emotional limbo. The weight of Abdullah’s return and the changes it would bring to their lives was never far from her mind. She couldn’t help but wonder if things could ever truly go back to the way they once were. Yet, there was also a flicker of hope—especially in Jenna, who seemed eager to welcome her father back into their lives. Hudayfah, however, remained more distant, cautious about the promises Abdullah had made.

Jenna was the first to approach her mother with questions, her bright eyes filled with a mixture of excitement and curiosity. She often asked about Abdullah, asking Kulthum when they would see him again, and whether they would live together as a family once more. She was eager to hear stories about her father and the kingdom, never fully understanding the complexities that had torn her parents apart. For Jenna, Abdullah was her Daddy—the one she remembered from her early childhood, the one she still clung to in her heart.

One evening, as Kulthum tucked Jenna into bed, she asked quietly, "Mama, do you think Daddy will stay with us this time?"

Kulthum paused for a moment, her fingers brushing Jenna’s hair gently. "I don’t know, my love. But I do know that your Daddy wants to be a part of your life, and he’s working hard to fix things."

Jenna smiled, content with the answer. "I think it will be nice if he stays. I miss him."

Kulthum’s heart ached at the simplicity of Jenna’s wish. She didn’t know how to reconcile the little girl’s optimism with the complexities of her own feelings. Still, Kulthum couldn’t deny that Jenna’s hopefulness reminded her of the love she once had for Abdullah—the love that was still there, buried beneath years of pain and distance.

Hudayfah, on the other hand, was a study in restraint. He had listened carefully to his mother’s conversation with Jenna but had yet to ask any questions of his own. His feelings toward Abdullah were still complicated—part of him longed to understand the man who was supposedly his father, but another part of him resisted. It was difficult for him to simply accept the idea that the man who had been absent for so many years could suddenly come back and fix everything.

One day, as Hudayfah sat quietly in the living room, watching his mother sort through some old papers, he finally spoke up. "Mama… do you think Uncle Abdullah really wants to be our father again?"

Kulthum turned to him, her expression softening. She had always known that Hudayfah was more reserved, more cautious in his approach to people, especially after everything that had transpired. "I think he wants to, Hudayfah. But it’s going to take time for him to prove that he truly understands what he’s asking for."

Hudayfah nodded, but there was a skepticism in his eyes. "I don’t know if I can trust him, Mama. I don’t know if I want to."

Kulthum sat beside him, placing a hand on his shoulder. "I understand, Hudayfah. It’s not easy, I know. But sometimes, people can change. And sometimes, they deserve a second chance. What matters is that you take your time. You don’t have to rush."

Hudayfah’s gaze remained distant, but there was a small shift in his expression. He wasn’t ready to embrace Abdullah yet, but Kulthum could see that her words had begun to plant a seed. He wasn’t as resolute in his resistance as he once was. The walls he had built around his heart were still there, but they were beginning to crack.

For Kulthum, the hardest part was reconciling her own feelings for Abdullah. Her heart ached for the man she had once loved deeply, the man who had been ripped from her life, leaving behind scars both physical and emotional. Yet, as she watched Jenna’s hopeful eyes and listened to Hudayfah’s guarded voice, she couldn’t ignore the pull of the past—the dreams she once had of a family reunited, of a life where they were whole again.