16
Deck the Halls
When Karim returned to the table at the Turkish restaurant, the three women were already on their feet. Lauren was supporting herself on the table. He took her arm and helped her walk out to the footpath. She leaned heavily on him.
‘I guess I should have stayed home,’ she said ruefully.
‘Nonsense,’ Esmat answered. ‘Best thing is to have a bit of company, but put that foot up when you get back.’
His mother and sister said their goodbyes to Lauren. Soraya handed over a business card and told Lauren she was always welcome to look her up in Boston. After he had helped Lauren into a cab and whispered that he would call her, his mother turned to him.
‘Not bad,’ she shrugged, ‘but not Persian.’
His mother and sister piled into a second cab with him and he suppressed a gro
