Half a Cup of Sand and Sky by Nadine Bjursten

Author:Nadine Bjursten
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: General Fiction
Publisher: Alder House Books
Published: 2023-10-13T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter 40

October 26, 1992, Tehran

fatemeh greeted them at the front door with Sohrab in her arms. Amineh took her son and held him to her, kissing his cheek and breathing in his sweet smell.

Fatemeh wore a lightweight printed chador over her clothing, and Amineh tried to hide her displeasure. Fatemeh hadn’t been religious until recently, and this new phase of hers seemed forced, and that worried Amineh most of all, as force had the power to break things.

With her cheek still on her son’s head, she reached for her sister. “I’m looking forward to spending time with you.”

Before Fatemeh could respond, Farzad came in. He took Sohrab from Amineh and ran with him into the living room. “Look at my big boy!” he said exultingly.

Amineh touched her sister’s arm. “Did you find everything you needed?”

“Yes. Sohrab missed you, though, and Sara has become opinionated!”

“It’s good you could be here with Sohrab. Don’t mind Sara. That’s what happens with teenagers.’”

“You should be stricter with her.”

“She’s thirteen. She’s testing the boundaries, but she’s a terrific girl. Did you find everything?”

“I searched the pantry for barberries for tahchin-e zereshk. Manuchehr couldn’t find them either, so I bought another bag.”

“Thank you. The barberries should be on the third shelf, but I may have used them up. Fatemeh, come with me to my room. I have a gift for you!”

Farzad met them in the hallway. He was making Sohrab giggle.

“I have to leave today,” Fatemeh said as she and Amineh entered the bedroom.

“I thought you were staying one more night.”

“Bahman asked me to come home,” Fatemeh said. “His mother is ill.”

“What’s wrong with her?” Amineh liked Bahman’s mother. She reminded Amineh of a female Buddha with her plump body and eager smile.

“She’s old.”

Farzad entered the room holding Sohrab’s hands as he practiced walking.

“What a big boy!” said Amineh, catching and kissing Sohrab before she pulled out the slippers and silk scarf she had bought for her sister. Blue was Fatemeh’s favorite color, and Amineh knew the deep tones would suit her.

Sohrab was eager to walk, and Farzad helped him down the hallway.

“Do you like the scarf?” Amineh asked her sister.

“Yes, it’s perfect! Thank you. You know, I used your phone to call our brother today. I hope you don’t mind.”

“Of course not. How is he?”

“I worry about him,” Fatemeh said. “I don’t think his English girlfriend is right for him.”

“I think you have to accept he’s not going to marry an Iranian if he marries at all. I would try not to worry about him. He’s fine.”

Fatemeh’s lips trembled, and Amineh moved over to sit next to her, putting her arms around her sister’s shoulders. “What’s the matter?”

Fatemeh held her hand over her face.

“What is it?”

Fatemeh brushed Amineh away. “You don’t have to pretend. It’s not like you call me when you don’t need something.”

Her words stung Amineh. Her sister had such a nasty streak, and at times Amineh wished they weren’t related. But they were. This fact alone compelled her to reach for her hand, and this time, Fatemeh didn’t push her away.

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