The Sun Sister (The Seven Sisters #6) - Lucinda Riley Page 0,289

see. It was just after you went into rehab and, well, the two of us got close,’ Mariam confessed, pulling a tissue out of her sleeve and blowing her nose. ‘He’s such a kind man and cares for you so much, and even though we come from completely different worlds, we just kind of . . . bonded. I was coming by to work at the apartment and even though you weren’t here, he kept appearing on the doorstep. He said he liked his routine. And we started going for a walk in Central Park, just sitting on a bench and eating our lunch together. And one thing led to another and . . . we realised that we liked each other a lot.’

‘But surely that’s wonderful, Mariam? I mean, I obviously don’t know Tommy as well as you do, but I do know he’s a lovely guy and that he’s had a rough time.’

‘No, Electra, it is not wonderful. Tommy is ten years older than me, he has a child and an ex-wife. He’s a recovering alcoholic, you know, and he lives off his army pension because he has PTSD and’ – Mariam swallowed hard – ‘besides all that, he isn’t of my faith.’

‘I remember you once telling me that your father had said you must embrace the country in which you were born,’ I said.

‘I did, yes, and he meant it too. But that sentiment does not go as far as me marrying outside the faith. It is forbidden for any Muslim woman to marry a non-Muslim man.’

‘Is it? I didn’t know that.’

‘Yes. Even though Muslim men can marry non-Muslim women. Life really isn’t fair, is it?’

‘My pa always told me that all the old biblical texts were written by men, Mariam, so they could have it all their own way, you know,’ I shrugged, trying to lighten the atmosphere. ‘Could you guys not get married in a civil ceremony?’

‘I am the eldest daughter in my family, Electra. Our entire life, our community, has been based around our faith since I was young. A civil wedding would not be recognised – I would be going against all the principles that I have been brought up with if I married him.’

‘Mmph,’ I said. Not being a believer in organised religion myself, it was difficult for me to have an opinion, apart from the fact I knew how much it mattered to Mariam. ‘Could Tommy not convert to your lot – I mean, faith?’

‘Maybe he could, yes, but remember he was out in Afghanistan, Electra, and even though he has never said this outright, I know he saw some atrocities that were perpetrated by Muslim extremists. He has friends who died at their hands, blown up by mines or bombs . . . Oh, it is just all so complicated!’

‘Love always is, isn’t it?’ I sighed. ‘I mean, this probably isn’t a solution, but could you two just live in sin or something?’

‘No, never, Electra. That would be the worst sin of all,’ Mariam said firmly.

‘And what has Tommy said to all this?’

‘Nothing. As I told you, I said it was over between us a week or so ago.’

Which must have been around the time I heard him talk at the AA meeting, I thought.

‘So that’s why he hasn’t been here?’

‘Yes.’

‘And he knows why?’

‘Kind of.’

‘But have you actually asked him whether he would be prepared to convert to Islam? I mean, if that’s the only option?’

‘Of course I haven’t. He hasn’t asked me to marry him or anything, but given everything I’ve just told you, I just can’t see a future for us, so I decided that the best thing was simply to end it.’

‘Well, I get that it’s a little complicated,’ I replied, feeling like the mistress of understatement, ‘but oh, Mariam, I’ve known there’s something wrong for ages. I also need to tell you – well, I need to break one of the rules of AA confidentiality – and say that I heard him speak at a meeting last week. He stood there and told everyone that he’d fallen in love, but the person he was in love with could never be his. Me and my overblown ego thought he was talking about me,’ I smiled. ‘Of course, he was talking about you. He loves you, Mariam, truly he does. And if you love him too, I’m sure there’s a way that this can be worked out. But you guys have got to speak. You’ve just got to