Chapter 1
WARNING: this story contains some sexual content and mature content which viewers may find unpleasant.
Kyle’s POV
Eastern Beach
Saturday, 12 July 2014
19.05 hrs
Fatima’s large family gathered by the BBQ, sat on their chairs or stood up as they spoke amongst one another whilst Soukaina was in the middle of preparing the food for the grill.
She did so with the help of myself and her younger sister, Yasmina Hassani, who lives across the border in Spain but within very close distance of Gibraltar compared to the rest of Fatima’s family who live in either Morocco or further abroad.
Yasmina’s features are no different to that of her sister with the same brown coloured eyes but instead of black hair she has a lighter blondish tone and, the most noticeable feature being, unlike Soukaina she doesn’t wear the Hijab over her head.
Many of the elderly women in the family did wear the Hijab as well as a few of the younger girls, save for two of Fatima’s cousins – one of them being Yasmina’s sixteen year old daughter, Ikram.
Ikram had the typical nerdy look with glasses on her face, covering her blue eyes, much like her older and now pregnant cousin wore them and light blonde hair done up in a braid.
Just like her mother she was very kind and accepting of me when we first met and she’s often spent time with us during her visits to Fatima’s house.
‘Kyle, can you hand me some more of the pinchitos?’ asked Soukaina.
I nodded my head and handed her the plate of readied skewers with meat on them. Soukaina smiled as she took the plate and I got back to filling up the skewers with the selection of marinated chicken, beef or lamb both her and Yasmina had prepared for the event.
As I continued with the skewers I felt a hand touch my shoulder and a cup of Coke was set on the table in front of me.
I looked up and I caught sight of the most beautiful eyes and gorgeous smile I’ve ever known. I took the cup in my hand and smiled back at Fatima.
‘Thanks, babe,’ I muttered loud enough for her to hear but quiet enough that the rest of her family couldn’t.
‘You’re welcome,’ replied Fatima.
She walked back to her family members to continue speaking with them.
I sipped at my cup for a bit and set it down to continue preparing the skewers for the grill. Yasmina stood beside me as she helped prepare some of the food on the table.
‘Kyle, would you like me to do some for you?’ she asked.
‘Yeah sure,’ I replied setting the last few skewers down.
I stepped aside and took a sheet of tissue for my hands to wipe them clean whilst she stood in front of the trays of meat and got to filling up the skewers.
So far Yasmina, her husband Sufian, and their daughter are the only other members of Fatima’s family to meet me in person a couple of months prior, which happened to take place shortly after Fatima told me she was pregnant.
Of course we’ve kept that news to ourselves for now.
At the very least she took comfort that I was accepted by her auntie’s family the day I met them. As for the rest of the family, this was just as much a first for them as it was for me too.
Little Yusuf ran around the shoreline with his other cousins on the sand, carrying small water guns shooting water at one another. He looked over to me and waved to which I smiled back at him with a wave of my hand.
I noticed the other little cousins looking at me as he pointed and spoke to them, very likely informing them I was Fatima’s boyfriend as their expressions quickly turned to a surprised one.
Whether it was a good thing or not wasn’t worth over thinking it.
‘Seems everyone is keeping to themselves,’ Yasmina commented.
I gave a nod as I looked around at the small groups within the family.
‘It sure seems that way,’ I replied.
‘I wouldn’t worry about whether they approve of you or not,’ she added. ‘They’re all just catching up with each other... they don’t exactly live close to one another back in Morocco compared to here.’
‘That’s true, and then you have your cousin Ahmed along with his family from America,’ I added.
Yasmina chuckled.
‘If you need an introduction to everyone I’d be happy to help, although I’m sure Fatima would rather be the one to make the introductions herself.’
I snorted.
‘Yeah, I suppose she’s trying right now as we speak,’ I replied looking over to her, watching her smiling and laughing with her family members.
One of the elderly women she stood in front of, her grandmother if I recall, held Fatima’s hand in hers as she sat in her chair and spoke cheerfully with her granddaughter.
The grandmother she spoke to, Zara, is a twin whose identical sister, Sidrah, I learnt is Soukiana and Yasmina’s mother.
I spotted Sidrah amongst the group sat nearby chatting to some of the other members along with Ahmed’s wife, Karima Belhaj, her eldest daughter Soraya – who was just a year older than Yusuf – and finally their youngest two year old daughter Safaa, sat on Karima’s lap.
‘I bet she misses her family a lot when they leave?’ I said.
Yasmina gave a long sigh in reply.
‘There are usually a few tears when it’s time to say “goodbye”, but everyone does their best to keep in contact with one another.’
‘That’s good at least,’ I replied.
‘Indeed. But anyways, we’re all here to celebrate Fatima’s birthday as a family and you being here is a new addition.’
I chuckled.
‘You make it sound like we’re married.’
Yasmina chuckled back, her face blushing for a moment as she realized the implication she’d unintentionally made.
‘Well, I see the way she looks at you – and I know a couple destined to be when I see one – so... you never know.’
I gave another chuckle as my cheeks started to go red now.
If you only knew…
I took a sip to alleviate the rosy blush, but I have to admit, Fatima’s love towards me couldn’t have been any more similar to that of a devoted wife, and after our recent discovery I’m sure she has many other things in mind for us in the future.
Looking over again at Fatima I noticed a few of her family members occasionally peaked over at me, each showing different expressions: some with curiosity, others with concern and a few of her male cousins looking ready to rip my head off if I gave them so much as a reason to.
But nevertheless I caught Fatima frequently turning her eyes towards me with a reassuring smile.
This time however she looked over at me directly and gestured with her head to come over.
‘Into the lion’s den I go,’ I muttered over to Yasmina.
‘Good luck,’ she replied with a giggle.
I took my cup and walked over to Fatima, standing beside her I looked at the two elderly twin sisters sat in their chairs and smiled at them.
‘Kyle, these are my grandmothers I was telling you about,’ said Fatima introducing me to the two. ‘Sidrah, my mum and auntie’s mother and her twin sister, Zara.’
′Salam alaykom,′ I said with a nod of my head. ‘It’s good to meet you.’
They both gave a grateful smile with a nod of their heads.
′Alaykom wa salam. It’s good to meet you too,′ said Zara.
‘So are you the boy our granddaughter has been telling us all about?’ Sidrah asked politely.
I blushed with a chuckle and gave a nod of my head.
‘Yes ma’am, that would be me.’
God only knows what Fatima has been saying to them about me but given how eager she was for the family to welcome me, I doubt it was anything of concern.
‘And tell us, Kyle, what is it that you do?’ asked her cousin Karima.
‘Well I just recently got a job a month ago working in the hospital, doing administration work.’
Their expressions seemed quite pleased, as well as impressed.
It goes to show the mention of working in a hospital gets people’s vibe towards you going positive. So far so good.
‘That sounds very good,’ said Sidrah.
‘And do you work with the doctors?’ asked one of the male cousins stood in the background.
I shook my head.
‘Not directly, but I handle their reports and deal with their files and on occasions work with them. It’s not a very interesting job but the pay is good.’
The cousin gave a slow nod, as if showing approval of my employment. Still, they were getting to know me now so at least things were slowly rolling on the introductions phase.
‘So how did you both meet?’ asked Ahmed.
‘In college, about two years ago,’ I replied looking over at Fatima.
A smile spread across Fatima’s face as she recalled the fond memory.
‘We were both in the same English class and on my first day Kyle helped me find out where our class was,’ Fatima added.
‘If I hadn’t I guarantee you would have still been roaming the corridors for ages, looking for our class,’ I said with a grin.
Fatima chuckled as she turned her eyes down to the sand then quickly back up to her grandparents. Their expressions so far were mellow and thankfully the smiles on their faces showed no signs of fading.
‘So do you live with your parents or on your own?’ asked Karima.
Things from there went silent between us both. Neither Fatima nor myself spoke a word as I stood frozen before the family.
My expression went from alive to near enough empty very quickly.
It wasn’t until I felt a gentle hand cover my left one and another over my shoulder as Fatima leaned in towards me did I regain some composure.
I looked at Fatima for a moment before I faced towards the family again, but I ended up turning my eyes down to the sand beneath our feet. Meanwhile they looked at us in confusion.
‘Is something wrong?’ Karima asked.
‘Kyle... lives alone,’ Fatima explained. ‘His parents died a few years ago in a car crash.’
Both Karima and the grandparents’ expression turned to shock as they muttered something in Arabic, taken aback by the news. The mood changed dramatically amongst the rest of the family members.
‘Then, where is the rest of your family?’ asked Sidrah.
‘Majority of them are in England,’ I said. ‘My grandparents on my mother’s side live in Spain. They used to live with me until I was eighteen before they moved back.’
‘His grandparents pay for a majority of the house bills until he’s certain the job he has now is permanent, then he’ll start paying for them himself.’
‘Well, I wish you the best of luck and if Allah deems it so then everything will turn out well for you,’ said Zara.
I smiled at her gratefully.
‘I’m sure your family are very happy about you and Fatima dating,’ said Karima.
Good question – I thought to myself.
My grandparents on my father’s side in England wanted nothing to do with me the last I remember, and as for the ones in Spain I rarely saw them now that I’ve never had the opportunity to bring up the topic.
Having said that, I wasn’t sure how far Fatima and I would have come in the beginning if it would have even been at all worth mentioning our relationship to them.
I suppose it was worth introducing her to them now during their visit next month in August.
I looked over at Fatima momentarily before looking back over to Karima.
‘Actually I haven’t seen them much so I haven’t really been able to mention our relationship to them.’
‘And exactly how long have you been dating her?’ asked another male cousin in a rather cynical tone. ‘Isn’t she important enough to you to get on your phone and tell them?’
I resisted all urge to give him a dirty look but the temptation was there. I clenched my fist subtlety behind my hip.
‘Now then, Zachariah,’ Zara snapped, ‘don’t be disrespectful.’
Zachariah and I glared at each other.
It was clear there was a sudden tension growing between us. Why though, I couldn’t understand but I’d noticed from the second I arrived here with Fatima he’d had his eyes on me and not in the friendliest of ways.
′Fatima, go with Kyle and check on how your mother is doing with the food,′ said Sidrah in Arabic.
Fatima nodded her head and took my hand, leading me away from the family circle.
I kept my eyes on Zachariah as I walked away before turning my head forward towards the grill.
She squeezed my hand reassuringly to which I turn to her as she looked at me, a concerned feeling building in her eyes.
‘You OK?’ she asked.
I nodded my head slowly, peaking over at Zachariah briefly.
From the tone of the family members around him it seemed like they were giving him a good bollocking, which he definitely deserves, but yet I could see him continue to stare over at us menacingly – Prick!
‘Yeah... I’m all right. But what the fuck was that all about?’
Fatima took a deep sigh.
‘I’ll tell you later, OK?’
I took a deep breath and nodded my head.
‘OK.’
‘Just ignore him, Kyle,’ said Ikram walking beside us. ‘Zach can be a bit of an idiot sometimes.’
‘I’ll sure say…’ I muttered with a roll of my eyes.
We wandered over to the grill and it seemed all the food was near enough ready to eat. Soukaina was already dishing up some of the cooked food onto the plates, she handed Fatima and I a freshly cooked skewer to eat before the rest of the group.
′Chukran,′ Fatima said gently to her Mum.
‘Thanks,’ I said with a nod as I took the skewer.
Soukaina smiled at us.
‘The food will be ready in a few minutes so tell your brother and cousins to get ready to eat,’ said Yasmina.
Fatima gave her aunty a nod of her head.
I looked down the beach and spotted Yusuf with the little cousins running around further away from where we had set up our little camp. They had gone beyond shouting distance which was proven as they showed no response to Soukaina’s cry out to them.
As to be expected she sent us down the beach in pursue of them and bring them back.
Fatima quickly agreed and took my hand leading me down the beach along with her. It gave us a few moments alone together at least so we took our time walking up to them.
Nevertheless I caught sight of a few stares from the family when they noticed us holding hands.
‘Tough crowd,’ I muttered once certain we were far enough away.
Fatima snorted. She squeezed my hand in hers and continued her steady pace along the warm sand.
‘Give them time. It’s not something they’re used to.’
’Give them time … or Zachariah time you mean?′ I added, making no effort to hide my irritation.
Fatima sighed.
‘He’ll come around. And anyways, he won’t be here long. Once he leaves with his parents you won’t have to worry about him.’
‘Maybe so,’ I replied, ‘but what the hell is his problem with me anyways?’
Fatima stopped for a moment.
She turns her head to me wearing a growing frown on her face. She clearly knows exactly what his problem is with me and if I’m honest I’m not exactly keen to find out.
‘He was very close with my father,’ she quietly explained.
Now it all made sense.
He no doubt must have gotten word of the fight between Karim and I some time ago and now seeing me here with Fatima clearly wasn’t something he approved of very much.
‘Oh... I get it now.’
Fatima nodded her head slowly, biting her lip nervously. She expelled a large breath out of her lungs.
‘So that’s why just leave it be, enjoy the party with me and soon he won’t be of any concern to us.’
I turned my head to the side, rolling my eyes without Fatima noticing.
When I looked back towards her again I gave her a reassuring look, nodding my head. Fatima accepted my response and we continued down along the beach.
As far as I’m concerned I don’t care or want to know anything about Zachariah, especially if his view towards me is going to be hostile over an incident with someone who’s treated his own cousin like complete shit over the years.
That being said, for Fatima’s sake, it wasn’t worth making a big deal out of it, especially now that we have more important matters to focus on than a potential case of rivalry between one of her family members and myself.
Right now we have our own little family member to focus on.
‘Babe… we’ll have to tell your Mum eventually,’ I said.
Fatima shook her head.
‘I know… but not yet. I’m waiting for the right time to tell her.’
I sighed.
‘We’ll have to make it soon though. You’re over three months pregnant if my calculations are correct. I’m actually surprised she doesn’t already know.’
‘So am I,’ Fatima added with a nervous chuckle. ‘I might have to tell her after my family go back.’
‘That’s probably best.’
She nodded her head. It was just a good thing Fatima was wearing a robe because by this stage in her pregnancy her bump was beginning to reveal itself more now.
‘How do you feel though?’ I asked.
‘Physically or mentally?’ she replied with a grin.
‘Erm... whichever one doesn’t feel like shit, I guess?’ I said grinning.
We both chuckled together.
‘I’m getting past the scared side of being a mother and focusing more on the comfort that we’re doing this together.’
‘We really are,’ I smiled.
Fatima looked down at our hands held together.
She gave my hand another gentle squeeze to which I stopped and directed my eyes towards her.
I took her other hand in mine and held them tenderly.
My eyes turned down to her womb and we both just took a minute to acknowledge the fact she’s now carrying this wonderful life growing inside her.
Of course there is still a sense of fear you can see in her but also a greater sense of pure love and excitement for our baby, which we still have a further five plus months to meet.
‘We should get Yusuf before the food gets cold,’ Fatima spoke in a soft tone.
I nodded my head and we walked on until we caught up with the little ones.
They were running around blasting water out of their toy guns or otherwise rolling in the sand. It felt a shame to have to interrupt their fun but now was the time to eat.
I called out to her brother.
‘Yusuf!’
The little eleven year old stopped playing with his water gun and turned his attention to us.
‘Yes?’ he replied.
‘The food is ready now. Come and eat, all of you,’ said Fatima.
At that the little group made a fast sprint back to the party, leaving behind small clouds of sand in their mists.
A snicker was shared between us both.
’Time to feed the little ones – that includes you,′ I said with a chuckle.
Fatima rolled her eyes nodding as we strolled back slowly to the group.
We rejoined with the rest of the family and everyone was already eating away at the readied meat Soukaina and her sister were handing out.
When we arrived Yasmina handed us a couple of plates with burgers on them for Fatima and I, which Fatima wasted no time in stuffing down the second she took the plate.
Yasmina and I just stood there staring at Fatima in surprise — pregnancies... you gotta love ’em.
When Fatima realized we were staring at her, her entire face went flushed, the burger still in her mouth followed by a large awkward smile as she turned away and walked over to join her grandparents.
I couldn’t help but grin as I fought back the urge to burst out laughing.
‘Someone’s a little hungry,’ Yasmina muttered beside me.
I chuckled and took a bite out of my burger.
‘No kidding. I should time her next time.’
‘Makes you wonder if my sister even feeds her own daughter.’
‘It’s just been a long day, is all,’ I answered. ‘She hasn’t exactly had much time to eat.’
Yasmina nodded her head, taking a bite out of one of the dishes she had prepared at home.
We both stood together alone by the grill whilst everyone else ate in their groups as well as Soukaina who was sat on a beach chair with her son, peacefully eating their food together.
I lost myself in the atmosphere that I didn’t even notice Yasmina leaning up to my ear.
‘Well she does have to eat for two now,’ Yasmina whispered.
My eyes shot open and my muscles went all tense.
The hairs on my body rose and I swore a patch of sweat was starting to form on my forehead. Shit! Yasmina knows Fatima’s pregnant – and if she knew what were the chances she had told Soukaina?
A lump appeared in my throat that I almost felt like I was going to choke on my food from not being able to swallow.
‘Don’t worry, I haven’t told Soukaina anything,’ Yasmina said reassuringly having read the worry in my expression.
And just like that the lump went and I could breathe again. However that still didn’t relieve me of any tension going through my mind.
My heart rate was still beating rapidly.
‘H-how... did you know?’
Yasmina smiled at me.
I felt a slight sense of comfort seeing her smile but there was still that lump in my throat that was just waiting to get stuck again.
‘Kyle, I’ve been a mother for the last sixteen years,’ she replied putting a hand on my shoulder. ‘I know a mother-to-be when I see one.’
‘That’s fair. So... Soukaina still doesn’t know?’
Yasmina shook her head.
‘I thought it wasn’t for me to say anything, but I figured you’d both like to know you have my support.’
I took a deep sigh of relief, turning my head down at the sand for a brief moment. I looked back up at Yasmina and smiled gratefully.
‘Thanks, I appreciate that. We’re not exactly sure though how Soukaina will take it.’
‘I’m very certain my sister will approve of your expecting child. After all, she loves her daughter very much.’
‘I know. I’m just hoping we can do right by our baby.’
Yasmina squeezed my shoulder once more.
‘I’m sure you will,’ she smiled. ‘Do you know if it’s a boy or a girl?’
I shook my head.
Aside from not knowing how our child’s grandmother would take the news, the one thing we definitely didn’t know was our own child’s gender.
‘No not yet. We... haven’t booked for an ultrasound yet and I’m not sure if it might be too early.’
Yasmina raised an eyebrow.
‘How many weeks is she?’
‘Around twelve to thirteen weeks I believe.’
‘I see. Well, I think you should book the ultrasound as soon as possible.’
I nodded before looking over at Fatima and seeing her laugh with her mother, uncle and cousin’s wife. Keeping this big secret from Soukaina wasn’t as easy for Fatima as she made it look, but clearly Soukaina loves her daughter unconditionally.
As uncertain as we both felt, deep in my heart I knew something like this she would no doubt support her with, especially if it’s what Fatima really wants for herself and us.
‘Yeah, we’ll likely have to do that but I think Fatima wants to do it after we tell her mother.’
Yasmina nodded.
The support in her eyes was very evident. There was no worrying about her not being there for us when the time came for Fatima’s pregnancy to get out.
All I could think about is how the rest of her family would take it.
More so given the tension earlier between her cousin, Zachariah, and I over what happened long ago with Karim.
If I had to worry about anyone in her family being against right now, he definitely met the criteria which only exacerbated my dislike of him.
Fortunately my attention was quickly diverted to the tugging force of a little hand pulling at my white T-shirt below.
I looked down to see little Yusuf in front calling out to me.
‘Kyle! Kyle! We’re about to blow out the candles on the cake!’ he cheered.
I smiled and took his hand as he pulled me over to the group all circled around a small cooler box in the centre with a wonderfully decorated cake set on top of the lid.
Fatima sat on her knees in the sand just in front of the cooler as her Mum lit up the two candles making up the number 20.
The cake looked absolutely delicious coated in a white frosting with pinkish frosted patterns going around and in purple frosted writing with a combination of chocolate sauce read the words: “Happy 20th Birthday Fatima” in the centre of the cake.
With the family all cheering her and the candles lit she sat there in silence, her eyes staring down at the cake.
‘Make a wish,’ I spoke out.
With one glance in my direction and a smile on her face, Fatima blew out her candles to which everyone started to sing.
Happy birthday my love...
*********
Hope you guys all loved this adorable little chapter where we now meet more of Fatima’s family and her cool aunty Yasmina who is actually one of my favourite supporting characters in the whole series :D
Let me know what part you found cute and as always remember to vote and comment and I’ll be back shortly with another update.
