“Oh, you shouldn’t have,” she said. And when it turned out to be an out- fit that matched his, she repeated the sentiment, not daring to look at either Karim or Jacqueline.

As quickly as politeness would allow, she whisked Travis away from the apartment. Once they were away from disapproving eyes, she relaxed enough to enjoy mussels and pasta in the North End and coffee and dessert at the Copley Plaza, where Travis was staying. She could not, however, relax enough for anything more.

“I can’t,” she said, not altogether regretfully, for what seemed right in Puerto Rico just didn’t seem appropriate in Boston. “Karim just wouldn’t understand.” “Well, if he won’t, then I guess I’ll just have to,” Travis drawled, and Jenna kissed him for that.

O

“He’s not right for you,” Karim pronounced the following morning, sounding so much like a parent that she would have laughed had she not been so annoyed.

His reaction was normal enough. Karim had never had to deal with the prospect of sharing her with anyone else. It didn’t take a degree in psychol- ogy to understand that.

But when Travis called several times over the next few months, it was clear Karim’s objections were more specific: “If you have to date someone, why don’t you date an Arab man? Are you ashamed of what you are?”

“I wasn’t searching for anyone to date,” she explained patiently. “I just met a very nice man while I was on the plane. Don’t you think I should have any life of my own?”

Karim glowered at her. Again, for a terrible moment, she thought she glimpsed Ali.

O

Travis’s schedule—and his natural inclination to roam—did not allow him to be a constant presence in Jenna’s life. And, in truth, this suited her. Though it wasn’t the kind of emotional connection she had made with Philippe, Travis had brought her out of her self-imposed isolation. He had allowed her to play, to be less serious, less intense, to laugh at herself once in a while, and at life. To be young. After she jokingly referred to their part-time love affair, Travis wrote a song called “Part-Time Lover” and dedicated it to her.

O

“Badir Fined, Ending Mirage Case” read the headline in the Wall Street Journal. After months of murky revelations about dubious international banking practices and the business, and personal habits of several high European officials, the investigation into Malik’s business affairs ended with a series of low-level results. Several minor bureaucrats were forced to resign. Malik, except for the fine—which was huge—got off unscathed.