“Hi, Mom!”

She adjusts the phone screen and I can see my baby Rian in her lap.

“Say hello to Mom, Rian,” she tells him.

“Mum, mum, mum...See car...new car.” I hear his sweet rant as he waves his tiny fists at me. He shows me the new car that his grandma bought him and I coo a few words to him.

No matter how many times a day I speak to him, it’s just not enough. His absence pricks like a thorn in my heart. It’s been more than a week since I left him and I don’t know how long it’ll be till I can hold my darling baby in my arms again.

My eyes sting and my voice wavers. “I...I miss you, baby!”

Mom immediately hands over Rian to my dad and I see her face light up my screen. “What’s going on, Aaliya? Talk to me.”

I sniff. “I’m in Scotland, stranded with Damien in his house.”

I give her the details and update her on what’s happened since morning.

“How is he?” she asks, worry lining her face. “We’ve all been on tenterhooks since the shooting.”

“He’s fine, Mom. Thankfully, he’s unhurt. I’m so grateful for that. All of this is hard for me and so scary. I can only imagine how hard it is for him.”

“I know my darling. I understand. It will all be fine soon. Just hang in there. Does he...?”

I don’t let her finish that question. “He doesn’t. He still has no recollection of me. None at all! It just hurts so bad sometimes when he looks at me like an absolute stranger.”

“A stranger that he’s attracted to, right?” she asks in a soft voice. There’s nothing I’ve hidden from her.

I give her a slight nod.

“Of all the women who could be at his feet, he wants you...you, Aaliya. That certainly means something. The mind may forget but the heart remembers. Trust in that always. So be strong for both your sakes.”

“I feel like a fraud for being in his house as his guest.” I run a troubled hand across my face. “How could my life have come to this point, Mom, where I have to deceive my husband? Where I have to lie to him!”

“Tell me Aaliya, do you have a choice?”

I shake my head. There is no choice. I still remember the dread in Damien’s voice message to Gabriel. I remember the worry just now on his face when the news reporters spoke about the shooting and so, I’m willing to do anything to protect him and my son. I pray he finds the person responsible for all this heartache soon, so I can tell him about me without any fear.