Continental Divide (17 page)

“I think its women in general,” Hamid
admitted. “But as for Tanya, she knows she’s going home to face a
lot of problems. Heaven told me that Tanya’s cousin is in the
hospital. She’s promised to care for her children— six of them,
Imran. This isn’t a joke. Unless you decide to go into any of the
many family businesses, right now you cannot support a family of
that size. I think maybe Tanya is right in wanting the two of you
to end things here.”

“Would you have left Heaven if she had
problems?” Imran cocked his head and waited for an answer that did
not come. “Of course you wouldn’t have left her. But then again,
you’re one of the millionaire sons aren’t you?”

“Imran, don’t do this.”

Glaring at Hamid, Imran walked out the door.
He’d never argued with any of his cousins because of their status
and it had never cut him so deeply than now that what Hamid said
was the truth. Imran could not take care of a family of six kids at
the moment. As for his latest book, he’d been writing it and
researching it for three years and he still wasn’t done. Still,
there had to be a way for him to help the woman he loved. He had to
find a way. Fate had brought them together with a little help from
Heaven, perhaps but fate would keep them together. Praise to
Allah.

Chapter Six

Imran sat in a corner observing Tanya. There
was a sudden aloofness toward him, that was until she turned and
faced him, then the heat shimmered between them. He smiled but she
didn’t return it. He knew what she was doing. She didn’t want to
admit that she was falling for him. Her plans were what were
important to her. He’d been a diversion, a break from her normal
life. But there was more, he saw the way her breath hitched in her
throat when he’d accidentally touched her earlier. She’d jumped
back as though burned, it was that electrical.

For seven days and nights he’d stolen those
times and made love to her, worshipping her body, drowning in her
chocolate eyes and she’d enjoyed him. It was only when he’d
attempted to tell her that he was falling in love with her that
she’d cursed and jumped from his bed, dressing and demanding that
he take her home to Heaven’s.

Since then he’d tried talking to no avail,
even pleading hadn’t worked. She wanted no part of a relationship
with him. She’d hissed at him when he’d come over earlier in the
day. He’d prayed and was hopeful that Tanya wouldn’t give in to her
fears. She had such a short time left in Pakistan; surely they
would be able to patch things up. But now as he sat watching her,
knowing that the next day she would leave, he wondered if he
weren’t a glutton for punishment.

He stared at her and she stared back, no
warmth for him in her gaze. And he winced. Could it be that she’d
been telling him the truth earlier that day when she’d said she was
planning to tell him the night before that she didn’t want a
relationship with him?

Now with this wall of ice that was going up
higher and higher between them it made him wonder. Perhaps it was
all true. Perhaps she’d not cried as he sang to her. Perhaps he’d
not seen and felt her love. But he had. Imran dropped his gaze from
Tanya and turned away.

The sound of her laugher was false, the
notes didn’t have the right cadence. She flirted with Ali amusing
him with her antics, stabbing Imran with her indifference. For a
moment he saw looks pass between Heaven and Hamid, a look of pity
it seemed. He shrugged when Heaven glanced in his direction. He’d
not admitted to loving Tanya to his cousin’s wife and he’d not do
so now.

Suddenly and as if by a plan all three women
in the room were on the floor kneeling over the coffee table at the
array of diamonds Ali had brought over.

“Tanya, I did not forget my promise to you
to show you some diamonds.” Since you’re leaving tomorrow please
pick something as my gift to you,” Ali said then glanced over
toward Imran and smiled.

Imran knew what his cousin was doing. Hamid
had undoubtedly told Ali that Imran had confessed to being in love
with Tanya. He turned to glare at Hamid who shook his head no. Then
he glanced back at Ali who also shook his head no and pointed a
finger toward Imran. Imran sighed and closed his eyes. He guessed
the way he was behaving his cousins wouldn’t have a hard time
knowing what he was feeling. They’d always been close. Still, Imran
wondered why his cousin would bait the woman he loved with diamonds
that Imran couldn’t afford to buy for her.

“What would you like, Tanya?” Ali asked
again.

“Nothing,” Tanya laughed and began fingering
the pieces. “Listen, Ali, I’m sorry for coming on so strong to you
before. I really don’t want anything other than your friendship.
I’m not this gold digging American that I portrayed initially.”

“But I thought diamonds were a girl’s best
friends.”

“Not even close.” Tanya shook her head and
moved away from Ali. “Diamonds definitely don’t buy happiness.” She
moved even farther away from Ali and her gaze slid quickly to Imran
and held for a moment. She inhaled, closed her eyes briefly and
returned to looking at the jewels.

When Imran looked toward Ali his cousin had
a huge grin on his face and he was motioning toward Tanya. It was
Ali’s way of telling Imran that he approved of Tanya, that she
wasn’t a gold digger. Imran bowed his head slightly in
acknowledgement and shrugged but didn’t move toward Tanya. His
cousin’s proof had not been necessary. His heart had long ago told
him of the character of the woman he loved. He’d have to forget her
if that was what she truly wanted. In the space of a breath he knew
his thoughts for the lies they were. The fluttering in his chest
was so intense that it was actually painful. There would be too
many things that he would be forever remembering about Tanya. How
was he supposed to forget?

He sighed and devoured Tanya with his eyes,
trying to drink in the sight of her so he’d never forget her. At
that precise moment Tanya raised to her knees and her round jeans
covered derriere was starring him in the face. If only Imran hadn’t
remembered the way he’d pounded into Tanya’s body as he’d kneeled
behind her feeling the firmness of her flesh. If only he didn’t get
so hard while watching her rounded buttocks. He couldn’t believe
he’d made love to her for the last time. The thought that she
didn’t even want to try to pursue a more serious relationship with
him stunned him into the silence he now found himself in. It would
be no grand feat for them to continue a relationship. Heaven and
Hamid had managed to conduct a marriage while they were a continent
apart. Surely if they both wanted it, he and Tanya could do the
same.

Heaven’s squeal made Imran look up. Hamid
was kissing her unashamedly as he fastened diamonds around her
neck, then put a bracelet on each wrist and handed her earring to
put in. His arms went around her and the heat between them sizzled
making Imran wish for those things. He felt as though he were
spying on his cousin and his wife in an intimate moment. He glanced
away, but his gaze caught Tanya and he realized that she wanted the
same things that he did. Love, for someone to have that all
consuming feeling about her. Then why, he wondered didn’t she take
what he was offering? They had so much in common. They laughed
uproariously together, enjoyed many of the same things and they
fought well. His eyes remained fastened on her. And they made love
equally as well. He refused to avert his gaze from her sweet
lips.

Fatima ohhed and ahhed over her brother’s
newest jewels, putting diamond bangles around her wrists and rings
on her fingers. It was then he noticed Tanya’s gaze hadn’t moved
from the pair of earrings she held in her hands. She wanted them.
He saw her biting her lips before she returned them to the case. He
walked over for a better look. They were pretty, he thought.

“Tanya, choose what you want as my gift to
you and choose something that you believe the others will like as
well,” Hamid called out to her.

Imran glanced at Hamid then at Tanya. Not
taking a gift of diamonds from Ali was one thing, but the earrings
she wanted, surely she’d take them from Hamid and Heaven. Imran
waited.

“No thanks, Hamid. You’ve done enough for me
already. I can’t take anything else.”

“Don’t be silly,” Heaven rushed over and
reached for the earrings Tanya had been fawning over. “You love
these. Here, they’re a gift from us.”

For a moment Tanya didn’t move, then she
took the earrings from Heaven’s hand and again laid them in the
case. “No thanks, Heaven, you and Hamid, have done enough.”

In this she had surprised him. She turned
slightly and her gaze caught Imran. The look she gave him stopped
his heart. It was as though she knew what their buying her an
expensive gift like that would do. She hadn’t taken the gift of
diamond earrings she obviously wanted because of him. Why? he
wondered.

He continued watching as she chose pieces
for her friends while every few seconds her eyes would glide toward
Heaven and Hamid as they cooed together over Tsukama. He saw her
swallow, then close her eyes and this time deliberately move toward
him. Her look had longing, sadness, regret and yes love. She wanted
what Heaven and Hamid had. She wanted love and babies. And she
wanted her diamonds to come from a man who loved her as much as
Hamid loved Heaven. She wanted the diamonds to come from him. Imran
swallowed. He wanted the diamonds to come from him as well.

***

At the airport Tanya's thoughts were on how
she was going to miss Pakistan. She’d enjoyed her visit, the
customs, the food and the people. Even Hamid’s parents had warmed
slightly toward her. When she’d figured out that Fatima had plotted
with Heaven to get her together with Imran they’d become fast
friends. At least that was after she’d already admitted to herself
that she had a thing for him.

She was really going to miss him. Her
actions the night before would more than likely hasten Imran’s
getting over her. She’d barely spoken to him. She knew what was
waiting for her at home. And with Lettie being in the hospital, the
possibility of it happening sooner than later was real. It wasn’t
just her being stubborn. It was the right thing to do. She knew it
was the right thing to do, yet her heart felt heavy and a wave of
sadness invaded her spirit. She did love Imran. But she had to let
go of that also. Out of sight out of mind, right? She sure hoped
so.

“Tanya, are you sure you can’t have it all?
You’ve been unhappy since Imran brought you home the other
night.”

“I don’t know, Heaven, maybe if I hadn’t
gotten the call that Lettie was in the hospital. Maybe if the
family had pitched in and one person had kept those kids for a few
days without fighting about it. But they didn’t. I promised Lettie.
You know it’s the right thing to do. If something happened to you
or Hamid you know Tsukama has more than enough people to love him,
to protect and care for him. But what if he didn’t? You’d want to
make sure he’d be loved. I know you would.”

Heaven could only sigh as the tears filled
her eyes and ran down her cheeks. “I know but it’s like you’re
giving up your chance to be happy, to have a husband and children
of your own. I don’t want you to miss out on all of that, not when
you’ve found it. That’s all. I’m just worried for you and for
Imran.”

“Thanks, but we both know my life has become
way too complicated. I have too many problems and you know it
wouldn’t be fair to plop Imran into all of that." She hugged
Heaven. It wouldn’t be fair to bring the things she was about take
on into any new relationship. Imran had enough worries trying to go
after his own dreams while trying to convince his family that his
dream was worthwhile.

Her luggage had been checked all that was
left to do was say her goodbyes. She hugged Hamid and flirted with
him a little, anything to keep it light. But when it was time to
hug Heaven she lost it. She had really missed her friend.

“Thanks, Heaven,” Tanya mumbled around the
tears. “I really enjoyed myself. It was even worth the shots I had
to take. And you have the world’s cutest baby regardless of his
name. He’s adorable. He’s going to be a heart breaker like his
father,” she said and smiled up at Hamid. Suddenly she blinked, her
words forgotten as she found herself facing Imran. Her heart was
racing. She wanted to throw her arms around him and kiss him, beg
him to jump into the fire with her, to come back to Chicago and
make love to her, to help her raise Lettie’s kids when the time
came. But she wouldn’t do that. She licked her lips and bit back
the things that she wanted. She couldn’t have them so there was no
use in hoping.

She looked first at his smiling face and her
heart skipped a beat overjoyed that he’d come to say goodbye then
sadness replaced it. This was goodbye for them.

“Imran, you came. I wasn’t expecting you.”
She held out her hand for him to shake and instead he looked
inquisitively at her.

“I didn’t come to say goodbye.” he
replied.

“No? Then why did you come?”

“I came to accompany you. I don’t think we
should just allow us to end, not without trying to find a way for
us to be together.”

Tears filled her eyes and a lump came to her
throat. He was so sweet. She looked at his beautiful, honey colored
skin and wanted to grab him and hug him close. But she wouldn’t do
it, she’d practice modesty in public. Still, the thought was there.
Imran wanted to give up his freedom to be a bachelor, to follow
her.

A tear fell and she angrily wiped it away.
Why not? She wanted to scream. She’d never thought she’d have a man
love her enough to put her first. She’d wanted a man to love her
the way Hamid loved Heaven, now she had it. She pulled in a breath
until it hurt. She finally understood why Heaven had given up her
life in Chicago and all that she’d wanted to follow Hamid to
Pakistan. Hamid’s happiness came first with Heaven that was
obvious.