Chapter 27 – The Photo in the Frame
Nine days until the trial.
The tension in the apartment was quiet but constant, like a low hum you only notice when it stops.
Adrian was careful with me — more gentle, more attentive — but I could see the weight behind his eyes.
I kept my secret about the baby locked inside me.
Every morning I felt a little nausea, every night I touched my stomach and whispered, "Soon."
On Thursday morning, we woke up together.
We had coffee and breakfast together.
At 7 a.m. Adrian left for work after kissing me goodbye.
I was washing the dishes when I noticed the photo of the three of us on the living room shelf.
Adrian and I standing close, Layla between us, all smiling.
It was the first photo we'd ever taken as a family.
I lifted the frame to dust it, and a small piece of paper slipped out from the back.
I opened it.
It was a photo.
Not of us.
It was a photo of Nadia, Adrian, and baby Layla.
Nadia was holding Layla, Adrian had his arm around both of them, all three laughing.
My chest tightened.
I remembered the day we moved Nadia's photo from the living room to Adrian's office.
I had put *our* photo on the shelf.
I hadn't realized his photo of them had been tucked behind it.
I sat on the couch holding the photo.
I stared at Nadia's smile.
She looked happy. She looked loved.
I felt a pang of jealousy, quick and sharp, then guilt for feeling it.
I was the wife now.
She was the memory.
I placed the photo face down on the table and kept cleaning.
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.
I picked up the photo and handed it to him.
"I found this behind our photo."
Adrian took it and looked at it.
His eyes softened.
"Nadia, me, and Layla," he said quietly.
"Yes."
He ran his thumb over the glass.
"I miss her."
"I know."
He was quiet for a moment.
"Do you want me to put it back in my office?"
I looked at him.
"No. You can keep it here if you want."
He looked surprised.
"Are you sure?"
"Yes. She's part of this family. She should be in the living room too."
Adrian's eyes filled.
"Thank you, Lila."
"You're welcome."
He placed Nadia's photo on the shelf next to our photo.
Now the living room had both.
The past and the present, side by side.
He sat down next to me and put his arm around me.
"Lila," he said.
"Yes?"
"Thank you for being big enough to let her stay."
"I'm not trying to replace her, Adrian."
"I know."
"I'm trying to build a life with you."
"I know."
He kissed my forehead.
"I love you."
"I love you too."
We sat in silence for a while, looking at the two photos.
Then Adrian spoke.
"Nadia loved this photo. She said it was the happiest day of her life."
"When was it taken?"
"The day Layla turned one."
I nodded.
"She was beautiful."
"She was."
I rested my head on his shoulder.
"I'm glad you have this photo."
"Me 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 122 – Nine days until the trial.*
Under it:
*She's Lila. I let Nadia's photo stay in the living room.*
Friday 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 exhausted.
"How was your day?" I asked.
"Long."
"How was work?"
"The lawyers reviewed the evidence again."
"Is everything okay?"
"Yes. Everything is okay."
"Good."
I served dinner.
We ate.
After dinner, we sat on the couch.
"Lila," he said.
"Yes?"
"Eight days until the trial."
"I know."
"Are you scared?"
"Yes."
"Me too."
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 123 – Eight days until the trial.*
Under it:
*She's Lila. She's my wife.*
Saturday 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 wants to know if you'll be at the trial.*
I replied: *Yes, I'll be there with Baba.*
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?"
"Seven days until the trial."
"I know."
"Are you scared?"
"Yes."
"Me too."
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 124 – Seven days until the trial.*
Under it:
*She's Lila. She's my wife.*
Sunday 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.
"Mama Lila!"
I hugged her.
"Hi, habibti."
We played with her blocks.
We read *The Little Star*.
Then she pointed at the drawing she'd made.
"This is Mama."
"This is Baba."
"This is Lila."
"This is Baby."
I smiled.
"That's right, habibti."
"Will Baby come to the trial?"
"Not this time, habibti. Baby is still too small."
She nodded seriously.
"Okay."
I hugged her.
"I love you, Mama Lila."
"I love you too, habibti."
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."
"What did she say?"
"She asked if Baby will be at the trial."
Adrian frowned.
"What did you tell her?"
"I told her Baby is still too small."
He looked at me, confused.
"Baby?"
I realized what I'd said.
I froze.
Adrian stared at me.
"Lila… did you say Baby?"
I felt my face go hot.
I wanted to take it back.
I wanted to hide.
I took a deep breath.
"Adrian… I'm pregnant."
He stared at me.
"What?"
"I'm pregnant. I'm seven weeks."
He didn't move.
"You're… pregnant?"
"Yes."
He stood there, silent.
I felt panic rise.
"Adrian, say something."
He looked at me, his eyes wide.
"You're pregnant."
"Yes."
He sat down on the couch slowly.
"You're pregnant," he repeated, like he was trying the words.
"Yes."
"How?"
"How do you think?"
He blinked.
"I know how. I just… I didn't know."
"I wanted to tell you after the trial."
"Why?"
"I didn't want you to have two things to worry about."
He was quiet.
Then he stood up and pulled me into his arms.
"You're pregnant," he whispered.
"Yes."
He held me tight.
"Lila… are you sure?"
"Yes. I took a test."
He pulled back and looked at my face.
"You're pregnant."
"Yes."
He smiled, a real smile, the first big one I'd seen in weeks.
"You're pregnant," he said again, and kissed me.
"Yes."
He kissed me again.
"Lila, you're pregnant."
"Yes, Adrian."
He hugged me tight.
"I'm going to be a father again."
"Yes."
He kissed my forehead.
"I love you."
"I love you too."
We sat on the couch, holding each other.
"Seven days until the trial," he said.
"And a baby on the way."
"Yes."
He kissed me.
"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 125 – Seven days until the trial. I'm pregnant.*
Under it:
*She's Lila. She's my wife.*