“Yes,” Miss Baxter said. “You remembered.”
“There are some days I will never forget, Hilary Baxter. The day Allah blessed me with my beautiful daughter. The day I wed my late husband.” Hasiba paused, lost in thought.
“The day your father chased me off the island at the point of a blunderbuss,” Miss Baxter said. “I recall that day quite clearly.”
“Well, after a night like that, what did you expect?”
I watched a slow upturn of Hasiba’s mouth. Miss Baxter had taken the edge of the table cloth and was busy wringing it in her hands. All of the girls around the table, myself included, were trying to figure out what just transpired.
“I’ll never forget your birthday, Hilary Baxter. Or the day we met.”
“Miss Baxter,” Margo said, clearing her throat. “At your request, tonight’s selection is Ha
