Sunny was overcome with emotion as she sat next to Jack, among all her friends laughing and drinking, while the crew served the food they’d cooked in what was her kitchen for this one last night. She thought back to kissing Jack in the closet, laughing with Bashir Hadi, seeing Petr slink in with Isabel, hating, then loving Candace. She thought of the Indian doctor’s speech. Of Malalai Joya. Of bringing Yazmina here, of Ahmet falling in love with her. Of his discovering the relationship between Rashif and Halajan. Of Tommy leaving, then returning and, finally, leaving. Of knowing Jack for so many years before she realized she was in love with him.
Of the damn wall that she’d finally finished painting in time for a wedding. This place, this nothing of a coffeehouse had had miracles happen in it. It had been a home away from home for many people. Most of all for herself.
She’d changed here. Her entire life had changed here.
She raised her glass and said, “To friends. To living a life of love and good health. To a safe Kabul forever! Salaamat! To peace!”
And everyone answered with shouts of “Inshallah! Inshallah! Salaamat!” God willing. To peace.
Her last night in Kabul. Early in the morning she would be leaving with the one thing she could never leave behind. She and Jack were headed for a new life together in Ann Arbor, Michigan, in the United States of America. She reached down under the table and took his hand; he looked at her and squeezed it. She smiled at him widely and fully, with the unself-consciousness of love.
Behind him was her mural. This she was proud of. Gray doves filled a stone courtyard under a blue sky. But every seventh one was white. Because each of her friends in Kabul was a seventh dove, the one with the spirit that rose to the heavens.
Acknowledgments
I am a storyteller first, a writer only later. These stories could not have been transformed into a novel without the help of some of the world’s greatest editors, first among them the amazing Leslie Schnur, who not only helped me shape my ideas into the novel they became, but who also always spoke the truth. Working with her has been the best education I could have wished for in fiction writing. Her gifts and wisdom are on every page. More than just an editor, she has become a valued friend. I also owe a great debt to the fine editors at Random House. Caitlin Alexander and Jane von Mehren made me go deeper and work harder than I ever thought possible. I owe you both so much, along with the wonderful publicity, marketing, and sales departments of Random House, who have always supported my work so wholeheartedly.
As a hairdresser and coffeehouse owner, I had the opportunity to hear everyone’s stories, one of the great privileges of these occupations, and I am pleased now to present a few of my own stories to readers. While this book is fiction, many of the characters were inspired by the wonderful people I met during my expat life in Kabul, behind both the coffee bar and the beauty chair.
None of this would have been possible without my two favorite people in the world: Marly Rusoff, my wonderful agent, and her amazing, funny, and sweet husband, Michael (Mihai) Radulescu. Marly, you stood by me and held me up when I couldn’t do it myself. You always believed in me and helped me understand that anything is possible. Michael, you are one of the few people I know who would travel to the end of the earth to help me, even offer to risk your life for me. This will never be forgotten.
I would like to thank my daughter-in-law, Tannaz Ghanei, who not only is a great wife to my son Zach but also a wonderful woman who gave me a window into much of the Persian culture and its beautiful lifestyle.
I will never forget the time my sweet friend and muse Karen Kinne from Holland, Michigan, helped me birth the idea of this book over a bottle of wine and a pizza. Thank you, Karen, for being a lifelong friend. May there be many more pizzas and wine in our future.
Heidi Kingstone, what can I say? You are a great inspiration for this book. I love your style, laugh, and humor. You are a beautiful woman inside and out. Thank you for being a true friend and for saving my life in Afghanistan.
Daniel Cooney and Mireille Ferrari Cooney, your friendship has meant so much to me over the years, both in Kabul and in the States. I am proud to be Auntie Debbie to your sweet Maia. Thank you for advising me on subjects that went well beyond my experience in Afghanistan. I am truly grateful that our paths crossed.
Lindy Walser, you have been such a strong advocate for the women of Afghanistan. Thank you for all your effort with Oasis Rescue. Your compassion is extraordinary, as are you.
Chris Gara, it was you who gave the Cabul Coffee House in Afghanistan its true colors. I drew upon the works of art that you painted in the courtyard and on the walls of the coffeehouse for this novel. Thank you so much for your endless devotion to making the world a more beautiful place through your art.
Edie Kausch, thanks for being my first friend in California, but more important, a friend for life.
Bill Kish, thank you for the great times we had at the Cabul Coffee House. I loved your stories and the knowledge you shared with me about the Nooristan area. I gleaned so much from you then and now. I always looked forward to seeing you walk through that coffeehouse door. Thank you for always being only an email away.
To Betsy Beamon, one of the bravest expat women in Afghanistan, you are an inspiration not just to me but to the world. I am so proud to have you as my friend. Thank you for letting me bounce ideas off you while I was writing and for sharing your rich knowledge about the traditions and culture of the wonderful country of Afghanistan.
Polly, you listened to me complain, laugh, and cry. You sat on my lap as I told story after story while working on the book. You never had a negative thing to say … well, maybe just a little meow now and again.
Last, I feel a great debt of gratitude to so many of the fine men and women of Afghanistan, who have struggled so long and endured so much. May peace soon be yours.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
DEBORAH RODRIGUEZ is a hairdresser, a motivational speaker, and the author of the bestselling memoir Kabul Beauty School: An American Woman Goes Behind the Veil. She spent five years teaching at and later directing the Kabul Beauty School, the first modern beauty academy and training salon in Afghanistan. Rodriguez also owned the Oasis Salon and the Cabul Coffee House. She is the founder of the nonprofit organization Oasis Rescue, which aims to teach women in post-conflict and disaster-stricken areas the art of hairdressing. She currently lives in Mexico.
www.debbierodriguez.com
www.oasisrescue.com
If you would like to see an interview with
Debbie Rodriguez
and learn more about
A Cup of Friendship,
visit www.BeautyandtheBookShow.com
Table of Contents
Cover
Also by Deborah Rodriguez
Title Page
Copyright
Dedication
Epigraph
Contents
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
Chapter 12
Chapter 13
Chapter 14
Chapter 15
Chapter 16
Chapter 17
Chapter 18
Chapter 19
Chapter 20
Chapter 21
Chapter 22
Chapter 23
Chapter 24
Chapter 25
Chapter 26
Chapter 27
Chapter 28
Chapter 29
Chapter 30
Chapter 31
Chapter 32
Chapter 33
Chapter 34
Chapter 35
Chapter 36
Chapter 37
Chapter 38
Chapter 39
Chapter 40
Chapter 41
About the Author
A Cup of Friendship Page 30