“It’s been fine! But yeah, I’ve been busy. After the prom is done, I’ll be a lot freer—at least until we plan next year’s event. Did I tell you Tim wants to do an eighties-and-nineties theme next? I don’t know—”

“Ah, but maybe I can ease some of your burden now…” Dad interrupted, a wide smile on his face. He looked at Rohan. “I think it’s time to tell her.”

Kamila smiled, but she could feel her hands clam up. “Tell me what?”

Dad got up and grabbed a file folder from his briefcase and sat back down. “Now, beti, I know you worry about me very much—and I’m blessed that you care so much.” He smiled. “I feel like you’ve been a different Kamila lately. I have never seen you work so hard—at Emerald, at the shelter, and now with Anil and the incubator project. You’ve grown so much. But you’ve sacrificed too much for me.”

“No, Dad, I—”

“Just listen, Kamila. I know why you’ve become who you are.” His voice gentled. “The way your mother treated you was wrong, but I didn’t know how much it was hurting you until it was too late. I’ve told you so many times, and you’ll hear it again—I’m sorry I wasn’t there for you more. I was so busy with Hussain, Nasser, and Suleiman that I neglected my family. I failed you. But now I can make things right.”

“Dad, you haven’t failed me. I—”

“Ah! Let me finish. Look what all that focus on my work got me…health problems in my body.” He tapped his head. “Health problems in my head. Sometimes I feel I haven’t had one moment when I wasn’t worried or sad since your mother passed on. But these past weeks…my outlook has changed. My new drugs are working well. Did I tell you I even saw a new psychiatrist? On video call! What is the world coming to!”

Kamila hadn’t heard that he’d had an appointment with the psychiatrist. Why hadn’t he told her? She tried to ask him more about this doctor, but Dad but his hand up to stop her.

“You’ve been right the whole time, beti,” he said. “I need to take care of myself. I need to step away from so many responsibilities.”

Tonight was about good news! He was agreeing to go part-time even before the board met! This was exactly what she wanted. Kamila grinned and turned to Rohan, but he wasn’t smiling. Or, he was, but she could see it wasn’t a real smile.

She felt a chill go through her. “So, what exactly are you saying?” she asked slowly.