The next few days were a flurry of activity on the school front. Resumes were rolling in at a pace that Willow couldn’t even keep track of. And it wasn’t her responsibility to track them anymore. It was Nasser’s, since he’d offered to take on more tasks with the early administration.
Except she could see that he wasn’t making headway on the resumes. Not at all. She hesitated to even check the shared calendar for evidence of his use. She already knew the answer. Nasser hadn’t looked at it once, and she still hadn’t figured out the best way to address this ballooning source of tension between them.
And since she didn’t know how to bring it up, she didn’t know how to tell Nasser that he was really letting his tasks fall by the wayside. It meant more work for her, which she would gladly do in the name of the school. After all, this project’s success rested solely on her shoulders.
But with Nasser walking that fine line between lover and colleague and irritated partner, she wanted to tread carefully. This was a whole new world now. One that she was hesitant to upset too much. Besides, he seemed busy with his own projects beyond the new school. She tried to reason with herself—that was probably the reason for this distance she’d felt spring up between them. Usually a great night of sex cured everything, but their sex the other night had only seemed to compound things.
They still shared a bed at night, and usually breakfast in the morning, but he seemed distracted. Lost in his phone. Only halfway listening whe
never she tried to break the ice or engage him somehow.
It had to be the stress of the baby. The school progress. His own work. The wedding. Everything. There was a lot going on now, and each day, her own anxiety seemed to multiply regarding the opening of the school. Wondering if things would be ready in time for the family tours. Whether they’d have the full staff trained and ready to go by opening day.
She tried not to think of the details too much, because it left her heart racing and chest tight. All she could do was move forward. Keep plodding along and trust that her immaculate preparation would pay off as it always did.
Except your immaculate preparation caused you to screw up the visa.
That hiccup in her plans always came back to her. Circling like a shark around a lost swimmer. She couldn’t figure out if her mistake would turn out to be a blessing or a curse. Already, she felt like she had an unexpected blessing blossoming in her belly. But rehashing old wounds with Nasser? Facing down a second time these demons that had driven them apart two years ago?
Seemed more curse than anything.
But it would only be a curse if she saw it that way. She was determined to turn things around. Not let it get her down. And the best way she could see to do that was via lavish surprises.
It was no secret Nasser was a child of wealth. He responded to luxury like a kitten curling up in front of a fireplace. She wanted to surprise him with an overhaul of their bedroom to include a fully stocked and well-equipped nursery. She’d even include state of the art tech, like motion-activated nighttime cameras and a bath station with totally unnecessary spa jets to massage their little baby’s bottom. She couldn’t wait for him to find out about and fall in love with the plan. She could see it uniting them, bridging the undercurrent of anxieties about the baby and the future and all of it.
Willow had put the appointment with the contractor into their shared calendar, and as she lingered near the front of the palace, awaiting the contractor, she mentally prepared herself for Nasser to be MIA once more.
It shouldn’t surprise her, but it did disappoint her. The shared calendar for her was a way to bring them together, to be involved in all the important aspects of their newly shared lives. The best way to send him sweet notes about the status of their joint life.
Except Nasser wanted no part of it.
She wished it didn’t sting even half as badly as it did.
The contractor arrived, a portly older gentleman with raven hair and smiling eyes. They chatted as she led them down the palace hallways toward the bedroom, his tool belt rustling as they walked.
“Here’s the bedroom,” Willow said as they breezed inside. She’d been sure to make the bed and hide their messy clothes. She glanced toward the bedroom door, still hoping that Nasser might be on his way. Desperate to see him step into the room, apologizing for some random holdup, already knowing that she’d organized this surprise for him.
But he didn’t show up. Of course he didn’t.
“It’s quite large,” she went on, her throat tightening, “and I think that my main question is whether or not we need to utilize some of the space of the adjacent bedroom, or if we can get the nursery inserted without creeping into the room next door.”
The contractor hummed as he checked out the room. “Your measurements were quite accurate. You sure you haven’t worked in construction before?”
Willow laughed. “I suppose I’m just an excellent researcher—and maybe a little overzealous when it comes to new projects.”
“That’s an understatement.” Nasser’s new voice filled the room, and Willow whipped around to find him with a strained smile on his face. Excitement tremored through Willow, but it quickly dimmed once he sent her a shrouded look. Nasser offered his hand to the contractor. “And you are?”
Realization thudded through her. He had no idea about this meeting. He’d probably just happened to swing by. The contractor introduced himself, and to Willlow he asked, “May I see the next room? Just to get a better idea of what we’re working with.”
Willow led him out of the bedroom and over to the adjoining guest room. Nasser followed, a plastic smile on his face, hands shoved into the pockets of his sweatpants, which meant that he must have just gotten back from the gym.
He grabbed her by the elbow to prevent her from going inside the guest room.
“What’s going on here?” he asked in a low voice.
“It’s the contractor,” she said, exasperation building inside her. Like it always did. “This was on the calendar. The one you said you were using?”
“Fine. A contractor. But why?” he demanded.