Hasiba’s face turned crimson. “No, ma’am,” she said. “I’d rather keep that between us.”
“And college courses?”
“If you think it is good for me, then I will trust your judgment.” Hasiba fidgeted a bit more, and then dropped my hand to place her arms around my neck. She leaned in to give me a long, and gentle kiss, full on the mouth.
“Thank you, Hilary Baxter,” she said. “You’ve always…If things were different…”
Hasiba trailed off, her face buried in my shoulder. I held her close for a good, long time. The smell of bergamot took me back to our first meeting, dancing on the patio to the sounds of Duran Duran.
I heard a sniffle and then she stood upright. “You will be my chaperon for my twenty-first birthday party, won’t you Hilary Baxter?”
Her eyes wavered. I bit my lip to stop myself f
