Read Online An Illusion of Trust (Sequel to The Brevity of Roses) by Linda Cassidy Lewis - Free Book Online

always picks the French restaurant when she invites me to lunch. Jalal doesn't like that one. He says the food isn't good, but I know from Judith that he met Meredith there, so I suspect that's the real reason we never go to Pain sur la Table. I compete with her enough, so I'm all for finding a new special place with him. I don't think this one will be it, though. He frowned at the presentation of the appetizer, and after two bites of the salad he slipped on his full critical face. I wonder how often I fail to notice him looking at me like that when I don't live up to his expectations.
    "Adam went down for his nap quickly," he says.
    "They really tired him out."
    "He loves the attention."
    "Like his father?" He watches the wine as he swirls it in his glass, so I assume he's ignoring my comment, but then he narrows his eyes at me.
    "Is that a slam?" he asks.
    "No. Everyone likes you … and they should."
    When the entrees arrive, I wait for Jalal's reaction. He tastes a scallop, utters a sound of pleasant surprise and forks another bite. I'm glad for the interruption of our conversation. I don't really want to know what his friends think of me. I almost wish he could get back into his old social circle without me.
    "Is something wrong?" he asks.
    "No. Why?"
    "Are you going to eat? It might be better than you expect. Mine is."
    We eat in silence for a few minutes. He relents and pours me an inch more wine. "After the holidays," he says, "we have invitations to honor."
    "Invitations?"
    "For dinner."
    "With who?"
    "Some of the people you met at Judith's party."
    "Oh."
    "Your enthusiasm astounds."
    "Sorry. That's nice. Great." I drink the wine. "I'll keep my shoes on."
    Jalal laughs. I wish I could.

    Kristen and the guys were busy with their party preparations most of the afternoon, so Adam got my full attention while Jalal and Azadeh cooked dinner. She chose the menu to impress Paul, who she's been out with three times since Judith's party. We talked to him only briefly when he came to pick up Aza one of those times, so tonight's our first chance to get to know him. He's kept us laughing since we sat down. If Paul realizes how closely Jalal is scrutinizing him, he doesn't show it. I'm happy for Aza.
    During a lull in the conversation, Aza finally takes her eyes off Paul and says, "Renee, you know you said I should go back to school?"
    "You should."
    "Well, I am. I only signed up for one class because I don't know how much help you'll need after the baby's born."
    "You never discussed this with me," Jalal says.
    "Because you would have discouraged me."
    "I would not. I told you to do it years ago."
    "You told me to finish my general studies."
    Listening between the lines, I'm pretty sure I know how she's going to reply when I ask, "So what class are you taking?"
    She hesitates. "Creative writing," she says and then points at Jalal, "and don't you say a word."
    It's obvious by the way Jalal shifts his jaw that she called him out, but he pretends innocence. "What did
I
do?"
    "You will have no part in this," she tells him. "I don't want your advice or critique or anything."
    "I think it's a great idea," Paul says.
    "I agree," I say. "And I'm sure we'll have no problem working around your schedule."
    Jalal's face is blank now; he's lost in a memory. I can't wait to ask him what history between them sparked Azadeh's prohibition.

    "Paul seems like a nice guy," I say as we're getting ready for bed.
    "Green technology is hot and his company is one of the most successful in the business."
    "You see that? I mention Paul as a
person
, and you calculate his net worth. That's what I hated about the conversations at Judith's party. Money is all anyone talks about, how much they make or how much they spend. All that tells me about a person is that they're boring."
    "You enjoy having money."
    "Yes, but all I really care about is that we have enough to live. If your investments dried up tomorrow, we could sell this house and live off that money