Page 90 - A Woman Is No Man

story starring a guy murdering a bunch of helpless women.”
“Someone’s a cynic,” Isra said.
“Maybe a little.”

“What’s your favorite book?”
“Lord of the Flies,” Sarah said. “Or maybe To Kill a Mockingbird. It
depends on the day.”
“Are those romances?” Isra asked.
Sarah gave a harsh laugh. “No. I prefer more realistic fiction.”
“Love is realistic!”
“Not for us.”

It was as though Sarah’s words had smacked her across the face, and
Isra looked down to regain her composure.
“If you want,” Sarah said, “I can bring home some books for you
tomorrow. Don’t worry, I’ll make sure they’re romances.”
Isra smiled, a brief uneasy smile. She thought of Fareeda, catching her
one day as she read an English novel, a romance even. No, she didn’t want

to upset her. She swallowed. “It’s okay. I prefer Arabic novels.”
“Are you sure? I know a few English novels you’d like.”
“Really,” Isra said. “I won’t have time to read with a newborn, anyway.”
“Suit yourself.”
Isra meant what she said about not having time to read. In fact, lately
she had begun to wonder if she was ready to be a mother. It wasn’t just how
busy Fareeda kept her, but she worried she had nothing to give to a child.

How could she teach a child about the world when she knew nothing of the
world herself? Would she be a good mother—and what did a good mother
look like? For the first time in her life, Isra wondered if she wanted to be
like Mama. She wasn’t sure. She hated how easily Mama had abandoned
her to a strange family in a foreign country. But deep down, Isra knew
Mama had only done what Yacob wanted—she’d had no choice. Or had

she? Had her mother had a choice all along? Isra wasn’t sure, and later that
evening she found herself sitting by the window thinking about the choices
she might soon have to make as a mother. She hoped she would make the
right ones.

That night, Adam came home from work before the sun had set. He
appeared in the kitchen doorway wearing faded black trousers and a blue
collared shirt. Isra didn’t notice him standing there at first, as she stared