a private chat with Sarah

Tom showered and began to get ready. He was surprised at how long it took him to decide what to wear. 'I feel nervous!' he realized. 'This is the first date I've had since we got married.' He tried to convince himself that there was nothing to worry about, that he was just having an evening with Sarah. But the strangeness of the situation struck him; he really wasn't sure how much she was 'his' Sarah anymore.

Once he was dressed he paced around his living room, looking at the clock every few minutes. Finally it was almost seven and he left the house to walk over to Rashid's. The sun was low in the sky but still gave plenty of light. As he approached he saw Sarah standing out front, waiting with a relaxed smile. She was even more beautiful than earlier, having exchange the fitted but black abaya for one that looked almost like a long white dress and black cloak.

"Hello Tom," she greeted him warmly. "Hello," he responded as he glanced around. Through the full glass panels that lined the front he could clearly see Rashid and Amani as they uselessly pretended to not watch him and Sarah.

She motioned toward them with a nod of her head. "I asked them to let me speak with you privately for a few minutes, nominally to apologize for the awkwardness of last night. They were surprisingly enthusiastic. It is strange - I still have trouble accepting how American they are now."

Tom was again thrown off by how she seemed like an entirely different person. He tried to speak but couldn't put the words together.

Sarah's gave him a sympathetic look. She started to step forward as if to touch him but then caught herself. "This is very confusing for both of us," she said. "A part of me remembers a wonderful life here with you - of being WITH you..." She broke off, blushing profusely. "I...I am sorry to be so brazen but I must be honest with you. We can not speak so freely once we are with my famly. I see those images of us and I must admit I feel something. But at the same time I feel we are practically strangers to one another."

She sighed. "It is difficult to find the words.... I am saying I would like us to continue this courtship. As I get used to all this I may feel like more... " her face reddened again and she dropped her eyes. "Like doing some of those things that I remember. But at this time I am too much Sarah Al Kaabi, not Sarah Saunders, so we must go slowly."

Tom nodded in understanding. "Sarah, just know that I love you in any life, no matter you who are. However long you want to stay like this, I'll do whatever I must to be with you."

She lifted her face slowly to meet his gaze. Her eyes shimmered at him and she gave a slight smile. "Thank you," she whispered, then carefully wiped her eyes. "Let us go in now. We should not keep them waiting any longer."