Page 140 of Sapphire Spring

Apparently, that was the wrong answer because Naser startedshaking his head and waving his hands like Mason was about to step into flamesby mistake.

Mahin’s frosty expression and slow approach suggested thesame thing. “It was a populist uprising that was stolen by the clerics. It wasnot a revolution.”

“My mistake.”

“Don’t worry. I long ago stopped expecting anyone in thiscountry to know anything about Iran they did not see in a movie with ArnoldSchwarzenegger or Ben Affleck. Anyway, my point is this…”

Her hand was still raised, but it looked as if painfulthoughts had claimed her. Not just thoughts, Mason realized when he saw the wayshe was studying the floor—memories.

“When the first tanks rolled, we did not know what wouldhappen. Some people thought the Shah would hold fast. Some people thought if hefell, the ayatollah would never come back. And some people thought theprogressives would prevail and we would get a real democracy at the end of theday. Naser’s father, he was in the last group. I was not. I made us leavebefore many of the others left. I let him believe it would only be weeks ormonths before we went back. But in my heart, I knew this was not the truth.

“I don’t regret my decision to make us come here. I wouldnot have had a life for my daughter where she was forced to wear the hijab. Iam grateful I did not raise my son in a place where he could be put to deathfor loving you.”

She seemed to remember how close her son had come to deathand looked to the floor.

“By the state, at least,” she added. “No, what I regret isthe guilt I felt over insisting we leave. Because it was the guilt that kept mefrom talking about Iran with my husband late at night. That made me shut himdown every time he brought up taking a trip back there to say goodbye to allthethingshe thought we would see again a few monthsafter we left. He was a soft, sensitive man, and I loved these things about himvery much. But when it came down to it, I did not let him grieve. And I worryeach night that this destroyed his heart before it was his time. Andsothis is what I ask of you, MasonWorther.You let my Naser show the world his heart so that he might live a long andhappy life.”

“I wouldn’t dream of doing anything else,” Mason answered.

“Good. Come back in, Naser. I know you are behind the door.”

Naser was wiping tears from his face as he reentered theroom. Mahin curved an arm around his back, and he pulled her into a tight embrace.For a while they hugged, then she crossed to Mason’s bed and did her best to curveher fingers around the ones that emerged from the cast on his left arm. He sawshe was holding Naser’s hand as well, forming a link between them.

“But when the time comes, you are going to have a big,expensive wedding to impress all my friends because that is what we do. You’renot getting out of it just because you’re both men, and that is final.”

Then she left the room before either one of them couldprotest or point out that they weren’t engaged.

38

Three Months Later

Naser had resumed a cordial andrespectful relationship with Jonas since returning to work, but their dustup onthe day Mason left for Pine Rise had yet to be addressed.Sowhen Jonas knocked on his open office door holding a bright floral bouquet inone hand, Naser assumed it was a belated apology, one well past the point ofbeing necessary.

“To celebrate.” Jonas set the flowers on the edge of Naser’sdesk. “Mason’s getting his casts off today, right?”

“That’s so thoughtful of you.” Jonas must have learned thenews from someone else. While he’d given the man general updates on Mason’srecovery from his injuries, he still wasn’t comfortable getting specific andpersonal with someone who could never be specific and personal with him.

“A summer bouquet, given the season. But around the borderhere, that’s freesia. It symbolizes trust.”

Naser wasn’t sure who was supposed to be trusting who inthis scenario, and he didn’t want to ruin the moment by asking—even though hewasn’t sure what moment he would be ruining. “Thank you, Jonas. I know Masonwill appreciate it too.”

Jonas nodded and went to leave. Naser had restartedtreatment with Dr. Kelley soon after the terrible events in San Onofre, fillingher in on all the events he’d omitted from his story during their lastsessions. So far, they’d remained focused on how Chadwick’s attack had churnedup memories of Naser’s past abuse, but he’d also broached the subject of hisalienation from Jonas several times because it weighed on him.

“Jonas, I—”

“We don’t…” The man turned, one hand raised, head bowed.“That’s not why I did it. It really was just to celebrate the occasion,Nas.”

“I know you gave me a pass on the whole thing because ofeverything that happened with Mason, but the day I snapped at you, I wasdealing with something very painful, and I took it out on you, and I’m sorry.”

“You made a valid series of points, and I can’t blame you.Like that old Bible verse.”

“Sorry, I’m bigger on Hafez than the Bible.”

Jonas looked directly into his eyes. “John 8:32. And yeshall know the truth and the truth shall make you free.”

“Never took you for a religious man, Jonas.”

“I’m not. But there are advantages in being who you trulyare, as you and Mr.Wortherhave proven. Enjoy havingMason’s arms back.”

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