He shoots me a knowing grin. “Steinway Street makes me feel like I am at home. In this neighborhood I can speak my own language without people looking at me as if I might be a terrorist, but it’s not the same as being with my family.”
I can’t imagine how that feels. In Egypt I never had to fear someone mistaking me for a terrorist. This boy doesn’t want to destroy the world; he wants to feed it. Anger washes through me, and I wish I could protect him from the people who refuse to see beyond his skin, who will never know the goodness of his heart.
Adam delivers the drinks and takes the couple’s food order, then returns.
“I spend a lot of time here at the restaurant, and on Sundays I go to the Irish pub down the street where they show English football matches,” he says. “Liverpool’s unpredictability is always consistent. Which is comforting.”
Inside the circle of his arms, I thought we could pick up where we left off, that it could be effortless if we let it. But life might be too complicated for love to conquer all. Someday he will go home and we’ll go around the same circle again.
“What are you thinking?” Adam asks.
“This is never going to be easy, is it?”
He looks at me with those clear brown eyes, and I see a quick flash of sorrow as he realizes I am right. But then he does the little shrug-nod that makes my chest feel like a cage for my too-big heart. “Perhaps not, but when it comes to you, I would rather have good than easy.”
He turns to the stove to begin cooking the new order. And as I watch him, I know we are both right. I have to stop worrying about what might go wrong and just love him back. I take a deep breath and then, finally, loud enough so that Adam Elhadad can hear me, I say just one word.
“Bahebak.”
He turns around and gives me that huge smile—the one I can’t image ever getting tired of seeing—and we begin again.
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
In a Perfect World was not meant to be my next book, but sometimes the world has other, better ideas. I owe a debt of gratitude to Sara Sargent, who gave me a seed and a watering can.
Working with Jennifer Ung has been a dream. She understood my vision and helped make it a reality. Big thanks to her and the team at Simon Pulse, including Mara Anastas, Liesa Abrams, Mary Marotta, Lucille Rettino, Carolyn Swerdloff, Catherine Hayden, Michelle Leo, Jodie Hockensmith, Christina Pecorale, Katherine Devendorf, Karina Granda, and Greg Stadnyk.
Kate Schafer Testerman is always in my corner, and I am grateful for everything she does.
Suzanne Young and Cristin Bishara constantly challenge me to be a better writer. I am so fortunate to have them as writing partners and friends.
While researching this book, I had an amazing group of people who answered my questions about Egypt, Islam, and living in Cairo, including Hend El-Nagy, Baasma Aal, Aneeqah N., Aya Elgadaa, Jon Baschshi, Miranda Kenneally, Amanda Ross, and Becky Harrison. Special thanks to Baasma and Aneeqah for reading the earlier drafts, and to Aya for lending her name. If I got anything wrong, it’s all on me.
My family is unwavering in their support and patience. Mom, Jack, Caroline, Scott, and Raquella, I love you all . . .
. . . and especially you, Phil.