Page 58 of The New Girl

‘Well, come on then, someone answer the door! We can’t leave her out there all day,’ Dad said, nudging Ruby towards the hall.

Ruby’s hands were shaking as she opened the door.

Safa stood there beaming. ‘Hi.’

‘Hi.’

‘I bought some chocolates for your mum. I know she likes them.’

‘Great, thanks.’ Ruby was afraid to say any more in case she blurted anything out.

Clara and Denise came into the hall.

‘Act normal,’ Clara hissed at Denise.

‘Hi, Safa,’ Denise said. ‘How are you? Are you good? Yeah? All fine? Yeah?’

Safa looked at her strangely. ‘I’m fine, thanks. Are you OK?’

‘What? Me? Yeah, I’m great. Brilliant. Sound.’

Fiona popped her head out the kitchen door. ‘Come on in, Safa love.’

Safa walked in and saw the big feast of food on the kitchen table. ‘Oh my goodness!’ she exclaimed. ‘You’ve gone to so much trouble.’

‘Well, we wanted to thank you for all you’ve done for this family. You helping to get Robbie into Grangepark is going to change all our lives. You’re a very special girl, Safa.’ Fiona hugged her.

‘Yes, you’re a diamond,’ Dad added.

‘Thank you so much.’ Safa’s eyes were shining. ‘I never expected all of this.’

‘You deserve it. You’re brilliant.’ Orla’s voice trembled.

Ruby looked at her sister. There were tears in her eyes. Oh no. Ruby quickly looked away. If Orla cried, Ruby would break down. She couldn’t start crying now. Not yet. Not before the big surprise.

Clara nudged Ruby. She cleared her throat. ‘Actually, Safa, we have a present for you. It’s from me and Clara and Denise,’ Ruby said.

‘But mostly Ruby – it was her idea,’ Denise admitted.

‘Yeah, but I did a lot of the work,’ Clara said.

‘Fair enough, you did, but it was still Ruby who had the plan.’

‘I know but still –’

‘Girls!’ Annabelle cut across them.

‘So anyway, your present is here,’ Ruby croaked. She looked at her dad, who rushed out of the kitchen.

Safa frowned. What was going on? Everyone was staring at the door. Safa could feel the tension in the room. Her heart began to beat faster. What was the present? What was it? Why was everyone so quiet?

She could hear Ruby’s dad saying, ‘Easy now, mind your step.’

Then a figure appeared at the door. A man. He was standing in the doorframe, and the light from the hall was behind him. Safa rubbed her eyes. It couldn’t be. It just couldn’t be. It looked like him, but thinner, older, greyer ... but the eyes, the beautiful eyes ...

Her legs were shaking so much she thought she’d collapse.

‘Hello, Habibti,’ he called out to her.

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