Chapter 54 The Secret

As they left the airport for Aunt’s Diyannah townhouse near the Ile de la Cité Abdullah marveled at the change in himself. He felt like some shell-less creature, pink, raw and exposed, everything out there for another person’s examination. It was a strange and uncomfortable feeling, but it wasn’t necessarily bad.

He’d been glad to tell Amira about his childhood, his aunt, his own fears and weaknesses. He’d never talked that way to another soul, yet he craved that kind of honesty with Amira.

He just didn’t know what to do next. How it all would actually work. Take one step at a time, he supposed. For now he needed to think about Aunt Diyannah.

He’d phoned her from Muscat, so she was waiting as their limo drew up to her townhouse and their security detail quickly got out to check the surrounding area.

Aunt Diyannah came out to the front steps, her face wreathed in a tremulous smile, her wispy white hair blowing in the breeze. She looked so much older, Abdullah thought with a pang, and h