ZAYN
A door creaked open behind me. I whirled back, coming face-to-face with Uncle's grin.
"Is she awake?" My throat was sore, voice unrecognizable.
He clapped my shoulder for support, sitting down next to me with a wince. "Yes, she woke up half-an-hour ago."
I was unable to contain my excitement, wondering what kind of face she had made when she'd held her son for the first time. I could bet on everything that it must've been priceless. That sweet, lovely smile. That crinkling laughter. Were there tears in her eyes? I wanted to know everything.
But Uncle seemed to be in a mood to talk. I sank deeper into my seat, looking directly at him.
"What do you want from her?"
I was startled by the straight-forward question but the words easily flowed out of my mouth. "She isn't happy in her marriage. I think you know that but you keep ignoring it for some reason. Don't let the lights dim out of her."
His jaw ticked, eyes alit with emotion. "You know, I've always seen her like a real daughter. But you are not yet a father so you wouldn't understand that I would rather die than see her sad."
"And she is," I insisted. "She is not only sad, but Ammar is—" I broke off, not wanting to say 'abusive'.
Uncle seemed to know though, for I saw the darkening of his eyes, the further clenching of his jaw. "You didn't answer my question. What do you want from her?"
I thought, damn it all, if he could be straight-forward, so could I. Turning at the waist, I faced him completely. "I would like to ask for her hand in marriage."
He grimaced but I saw the loosening of his shoulders, as if relieved. "Just as I thought, then. Look, I don't know you very well, but my daughter seems to trust you a lot. And Leia is no dumb girl. She must see something in you." The demeaning look he cast me suggested he didn't think the same.
Well.
"So? Do you approve then?"
He grimaced again. "If she says yes, I have no objection."