Chapter 24 – The Dinner Invitation
The days kept moving, one after another, steady and quiet.
Seventeen days until the trial.
Adrian still left at 7 a.m., came home at 8 p.m.
We still ate dinner together, sat on the couch, said "I love you," and went to bed together.
Layla still called me "Mama Lila" every Wednesday.
But on Saturday morning, something changed.
We were having breakfast when Adrian's phone buzzed.
He looked at the screen and sighed.
"It's my mother," he said.
"Are you going to answer?"
He hesitated, then answered.
"Hello, Mom."
"Lila, it's his mother," he mouthed to me.
I nodded.
I could hear her voice from the speaker, high and sharp.
"Adrian, why haven't you called me this week?"
"I've been busy, Mom."
"Busy? With what? With her?"
Adrian glanced at me.
"Yes, with Lila."
There was a pause.
"Adrian, we need to talk. I want you and Lila to come to dinner next Friday."
Adrian frowned.
"Mom, I don't think that's a good idea."
"Why not? She's your wife now, isn't she? It's time I met her properly."
Adrian looked at me.
I gave him a small nod.
"Okay, Mom. Next Friday at 8 p.m."
"Good. I'll see you both."
The call ended.
Adrian put his phone down.
He looked at me.
"My mother wants us to come to dinner next Friday."
I felt my stomach twist.
"Are you sure you want to go?"
"Yes. It's time."
"What if she doesn't like me?"
"She will."
"How do you know?"
"Because I love you, and she loves me. She'll see that."
I nodded, but my chest felt tight.
"Okay."
Adrian reached across the table and took my hand.
"Don't worry. I'll be with you."
"I know."
He squeezed my hand.
"I love you."
"I love you too."
We finished breakfast.
At 7 a.m. he left for work.
At 8 p.m. he came home.
We had dinner.
After dinner, we sat on the couch.
"Lila," he said.
"Yes?"
"Are you nervous about Friday?"
"Yes."
"Don't be. My mother is… difficult, but she means well."
"What if she asks about the contract?"
"Then I'll tell her the truth. That it started as a contract, but it's not a contract anymore."
"What will she say?"
"I don't know. But I'll be with you."
He kissed my forehead.
"I love you."
"I love you too."
We sat on the couch until 10 p.m.
He went to his office.
I went to my room.
That night I opened the notebook.
*Day 109 – Adrian's mother wants us to come to dinner next Friday.*
Under it:
*She's Lila. I'm nervous.*
Sunday morning we woke up together.
We had coffee and breakfast together.
At 7 a.m. Adrian left for work.
I spent the day cleaning and cooking.
At 4 p.m. Mrs. Cole texted: *Layla is asking for you.*
I replied: *I'll see her tomorrow.*
*Mrs. Cole: She's been drawing pictures of you.*
I smiled.
At 8 p.m. Adrian came home.
He hugged me.
"How was your day?" I asked.
"Good. Yours?"
"Good."
I served dinner.
We ate.
After dinner, we sat on the couch.
"Lila," he said.
"Yes?"
"Thank you for agreeing to come to dinner with my mother."
"You're welcome."
"Are you still nervous?"
"A little."
"Don't be. She'll love you."
"I hope so."
He kissed my forehead.
"I love you."
"I love you too."
We sat on the couch until 10 p.m.
He went to his office.
I went to my room.
That night I opened the notebook.
*Day 110 – Five days until dinner with his mother.*
Under it:
*She's Lila. I'm nervous.*
Monday morning we woke up together.
We had coffee and breakfast together.
At 7 a.m. Adrian left for work.
At 8 p.m. he came home.
He looked tired.
"How was your day?" I asked.
"Long. The lawyers are preparing everything for the trial."
"Is Samira ready?"
"Yes. She's ready."
"Good."
I served dinner.
We ate.
After dinner, we sat on the couch.
"Lila," he said.
"Yes?"
"Four days until dinner with my mother."
"I know."
"Are you still nervous?"
"Yes."
"Don't be."
"I'll try not to be."
He kissed my forehead.
"I love you."
"I love you too."
We sat on the couch until 10 p.m.
He went to his office.
I went to my room.
That night I opened the notebook.
*Day 111 – Four days until dinner with his mother.*
Under it:
*She's Lila. I'm nervous.*
Tuesday morning we woke up together.
We had coffee and breakfast together.
At 7 a.m. Adrian left for work.
At 4 p.m. Mrs. Cole texted: *Layla is asking for you.*
I replied: *I'll see her tomorrow.*
*Mrs. Cole: She made a drawing for you.*
I smiled.
At 8 p.m. Adrian came home.
He hugged me.
"How was your day?" I asked.
"Good."
"How was work?"
"Good."
I served dinner.
We ate.
After dinner, we sat on the couch.
"Lila," he said.
"Yes?"
"Three days until dinner with my mother."
"I know."
"Are you still nervous?"
"Yes."
"Don't be."
"I'll try."
He kissed my forehead.
"I love you."
"I love you too."
We sat on the couch until 10 p.m.
He went to his office.
I went to my room.
That night I opened the notebook.
*Day 112 – Three days until dinner with his mother.*
Under it:
*She's Lila. I'm nervous.*
Wednesday morning we woke up together.
We had coffee and breakfast together.
At 7 a.m. Adrian left for work.
At 4 p.m. I was at Mrs. Cole's apartment.
Layla ran to me and hugged me.
"Mama Lila!"
I hugged her back.
We played with her blocks.
We read *The Little Star*.
She gave me a drawing.
"This is for you, Mama Lila."
I looked at the drawing.
It was the house with three people.
"This is Mama."
"This is Baba."
"This is Lila."
I hugged her.
"Thank you, habibti. I love it."
"You're welcome."
When the hour was over, she said, "See you next week, Mama Lila."
"I'll see you next week, habibti."
I kissed her forehead and left.
When I got home at 5:15 p.m., Adrian was there.
"You went to see Layla," he said.
"Yes."
"How was she?"
"She gave me a drawing."
"Can I see it?"
I showed him the drawing.
He smiled.
"She drew us."
"Yes."
"She calls you Mama Lila."
"Yes."
He hugged me.
"Two days until dinner with my mother."
"I know."
"Are you still nervous?"
"Yes."
"Don't be."
"I'll try."
He kissed my forehead.
"I love you."
"I love you too."
We had dinner.
After dinner, we sat on the couch.
He kissed my forehead.
"I love you."
"I love you too."
We sat on the couch until 10 p.m.
He went to his office.
I went to my room.
That night I opened the notebook.
*Day 113 – Two days until dinner with his mother.*
Under it:
*She's Lila. I'm nervous.*
Thursday morning we woke up together.
We had coffee and breakfast together.
At 7 a.m. Adrian left for work.
At 8 p.m. he came home.
He looked nervous.
"How was your day?" I asked.
"Good."
"How was work?"
"Good."
I served dinner.
We ate.
After dinner, we sat on the couch.
"Lila," he said.
"Yes?"
"Tomorrow is dinner with my mother."
"I know."
"Are you still nervous?"
"Yes."
"Don't be."
"I'll try."
He kissed my forehead.
"I love you."
"I love you too."
We sat on the couch until 10 p.m.
He went to his office.
I went to my room.
That night I opened the notebook.
*Day 114 – Tomorrow is dinner with his mother.*
Under it:
*She's Lila. I'm nervous.*
I didn't sleep well that night.
I kept thinking about Adrian's mother.
What if she didn't like me?
What if she asked about the contract?
What if she thought I was just a replacement for Nadia?
I tossed and turned.
At 6 a.m. Adrian woke up.
"Did you sleep?" he asked.
"Not much."
"Are you nervous?"
"Yes."
"Don't be. I'll be with you."
He kissed my forehead.
We got up, made coffee, and ate breakfast together.
At 7 a.m. he left for work.
I spent the day cleaning and cooking.
I picked out a simple blue dress to wear.
At 7:30 p.m. Adrian came home early.
"You're ready," he said.
"Yes."
"You look beautiful."
"Thank you."
He kissed me.
"Ready to go?"
"Yes."
We left the apartment at 7:45 p.m.
His mother lived in a big house in Zamalek.
When we arrived at 8 p.m., she opened the door.
"Adrian," she said, and hugged him.
Then she looked at me.
"So you're Lila."
"Yes, ma'am."
"Come in."
We went inside.
The house was elegant, full of photos of Nadia.
Adrian's mother looked at me.
"You're younger than I expected."
"Yes, ma'am."
"Sit."
We sat in the living room.
"Adrian told me you've been good for him," she said.
"I try to be."
"You were his wife on paper. Now you're his wife for real."
"Yes, ma'am."
"How did that happen?"
Adrian answered before I could.
"Mom, I fell in love with Lila."
His mother looked at me.
"Is that true?"
"Yes, ma'am."
She was quiet for a moment.
"Do you love my son?"
"Yes, ma'am. I love him."
She nodded.
"Good."
She stood up.
"Dinner is ready."
We ate dinner.
His mother asked me questions about my family, about where I came from, about my life before Adrian.
I answered honestly.
When dinner was over, she looked at me.
"Lila, I know you started as a contract wife."
"Yes, ma'am."
"But I can see you love my son."
"Yes, ma'am."
"And I can see my son loves you."
"Yes, ma'am."
"Then that's enough for me."
She smiled at me.
"Welcome to the family, Lila."
"Thank you, ma'am."
Adrian took my hand and squeezed it.
I smiled.
"Thank you, ma'am."
We left the house at 10 p.m.
In the taxi on the way home, Adrian held my hand.
"How do you feel?" he asked.
"Relieved."
"Good."
"I was nervous."
"I know."
"But she was kind."
"Yes."
"She said welcome to the family."
"Yes."
He kissed my hand.
"I love you."
"I love you too."
When we got home, we went straight to bed.
Adrian held me close.
"Good night, wife."
"Good night, husband."
He kissed my forehead.
I fell asleep.
The next morning I opened the notebook.
*Day 115 – Dinner with his mother. She said welcome to the family.*
Under it:
*She's Lila. She's my wife.*
I closed the notebook.
Sixteen days until the trial.
Adrian's mother had accepted me.
I was no longer the woman in the contract.
I was Lila.
Adrian's wife.
Layla's mama.
And I was part of the family.