Chapter 21 – The First Morning as Husband and Wife
I woke up before my alarm.
For 99 days I had woken up alone, in my small room, with the sound of the refrigerator humming through the wall.
This morning I woke up with Adrian's arm around my waist, his breathing slow against my neck.
I didn't move.
I just lay there, feeling the weight of his arm, the warmth of his body, the fact that I was no longer sleeping in the guest room.
I was sleeping in *our* bed.
The word made my chest tighten.
*Our bed.*
I had been his wife on paper for 99 days.
Now, on day 100, I was his wife in reality.
Adrian stirred, opened his eyes, and smiled when he saw me looking at him.
"Good morning, wife," he said softly.
"Good morning, husband."
He kissed my forehead.
"Did you sleep well?"
"Yes. You?"
"Better than I have in a year."
He kissed me again, this time on the lips, and I kissed him back.
It wasn't rushed. It wasn't urgent.
It was just… natural.
We got out of bed together.
I went to the kitchen to make coffee while Adrian went to the bathroom to shower.
The coffee was brewing when he came out, towel around his waist, hair damp.
He walked up behind me, wrapped his arms around my waist, and rested his chin on my shoulder.
"You're making coffee," he said.
"Yes."
"I like watching you make coffee."
I smiled.
"I like you watching me."
He kissed my cheek.
"Go get dressed. Breakfast will be ready in ten minutes."
He went to get dressed.
I made eggs, toast, and sliced fruit.
At 7 a.m. Adrian came into the kitchen, fully dressed in his work clothes.
He stopped when he saw the table.
"You set two plates," he said.
"Yes."
"For the first time, we're eating breakfast together."
"Yes."
He sat down.
I sat across from him.
We ate.
It was a simple breakfast, but it felt different.
There was no silence.
We talked.
"How was your sleep?" he asked.
"Good. You?"
"Good."
"Are you nervous about work today?"
"A little. There's a meeting with the lawyers about Karim's trial."
I nodded.
"I'll be thinking of you."
"Thank you."
He reached across the table and took my hand.
"I love you."
"I love you too."
He squeezed my hand and let go.
At 7:20 a.m. he stood up.
"I have to go."
"Okay."
He came around the table, kissed me goodbye, and said, "See you at 8."
"See you at 8."
The door closed.
I cleared the table and washed the dishes.
The apartment felt different.
Not empty.
Full.
I spent the morning cleaning, but I kept smiling to myself.
At 4 p.m. my phone buzzed.
*Mrs. Cole: Layla is asking for you.*
I replied: *I'll see her tomorrow.*
*Mrs. Cole: She's been asking every day since the funeral.*
I frowned.
Layla had been asking for me every day.
I texted back: *I'll come today.*
*Mrs. Cole: Are you sure? It's not your day.*
*Me: I'm sure.*
*Mrs. Cole: Come at 4.*
I got ready and took a taxi to Mrs. Cole's apartment.
When I arrived at 4:10 p.m., Mrs. Cole opened the door and smiled.
"Lila. She's been waiting."
I went inside.
Layla was sitting on the rug with her toys.
When she saw me, she dropped the toy and ran to me.
"Lila!"
I knelt down and hugged her.
"Hi, habibti."
"Where were you yesterday?"
"I was at home with Baba."
"Why didn't you come?"
"Because Wednesday is our day, remember?"
She nodded, but her face looked sad.
"I missed you."
"I missed you too."
We played with her blocks.
We read *The Little Star*.
She drew a picture.
"This is Mama."
"This is Baba."
"This is Lila."
I hugged her.
"Lila," she said.
"Yes, habibti?"
"Are you my new mama?"
My heart stopped.
I looked at her little face.
"What do you mean?"
"You sleep in Baba's bed now."
I felt tears in my eyes.
"Yes, habibti. I am your new mama."
She smiled.
"I like you as my mama."
"I like being your mama."
We hugged.
When the hour was over, she said, "See you tomorrow, Mama Lila."
"I'll see you tomorrow, habibti."
I kissed her forehead and left.
When I got home at 5:15 p.m., Adrian was already there.
"You went to see Layla," he said.
"Yes."
"How was she?"
"She asked me if I'm her new mama."
Adrian's eyes widened.
"What did you say?"
"I said yes."
He was quiet for a moment.
"And?"
"She said she likes me as her mama."
Adrian's eyes filled with tears.
"Thank you, Lila."
"You're welcome."
He came to me and hugged me tight.
"I love you."
"I love you too."
He kissed me.
"Do you want dinner?"
"Yes, please."
I served the food — grilled chicken, rice, and vegetables.
We ate at the table, facing each other.
After dinner, we sat on the couch.
Adrian put his arm around me.
"Lila," he said.
"Yes?"
"Thank you for being Layla's mama."
"You're welcome."
He kissed my forehead.
"I love you."
"I love you too."
We sat on the couch until 10 p.m., talking.
He told me about his meeting with the lawyers.
The trial for Karim Hassan was set for next month.
I told him about Layla calling me mama.
He smiled every time I said it.
When I went to my room that night, I opened the notebook.
*Day 100 – I am Layla's mama.*
Under it:
*She's Lila. She's my wife.*
I closed the notebook.
I went to bed.
Adrian was already in bed.
I got in next to him.
He put his arm around me.
"Good night, wife."
"Good night, husband."
He kissed my forehead.
I fell asleep in his arms.
The next morning I woke up in his arms again.
"Good morning, wife."
"Good morning, husband."
He kissed me.
I made coffee.
We ate breakfast together.
At 7 a.m. he left for work and kissed me goodbye.
At 8 p.m. he came home.
We ate dinner together.
We sat on the couch.
"I love you."
"I love you too."
He kissed me.
We went to bed together.
This became our new routine.
Morning coffee together.
Breakfast together.
Kiss goodbye.
Dinner together.
Couch time together.
Kiss goodnight.
Sleep together.
Every day.
The apartment no longer felt like a place where I was a guest.
It felt like *our* home.
And I was no longer the woman in the contract.
I was Lila.
Adrian's wife.
Layla's mama.
And I was happy.