Redeeming Honor

by E. A. West

  He removed Kadwaal’s harness before opening the door. The kitten scrambled to the ground and immediately set off to explore. Basir left the harness and leash on the seat when he climbed out. The kitten still kept close on the farm, so he saw no need to restrain him. During transport from town to farm and back, however, he didn’t want to risk the kitten getting too curious about the vehicle and interfering with whoever was driving.

  Meghan met Basir by the hood of her truck. “So, what shall we do to entertain ourselves until my parents get here?”

  “Well...” He was torn. As much as he wanted to spend time with her just relaxing, he had a promise to keep. “I have project I need to work on for Ryan.”

  “Can I tag along?” Her sweet smile destroyed any resolve he may have had to keep the ring a secret from her.

  “OK, but you can’t tell anyone about what I am making.”

  Meghan laughed as they headed toward the workshop attached to the barn. “That sounds ominous.”

  “It is not ominous.” He grasped her hand and smiled as he felt her ring. “More of a secret for the moment.”

  “Now I’m even more curious.”

  He chuckled and let them into the workshop. Meghan flipped the switch by the door, and light flooded the cluttered space. He had organized the tools, materials, and stored items the best he could, but it still looked a little chaotic. The workbench along the back wall was fairly clear, however, and he made his way over to it. A thin strand of insulated wire lay on the wooden surface along with the tools he would need to make a ring. Meghan stood at his side and watched as he picked up the wire and began stripping off the insulation to reveal the copper underneath.

  “Will you tell me what you’re making?” she asked as he cut the wire into even lengths.

  He laid his work down and faced her, amused by the curiosity shining in her eyes. “Do you promise to keep it a secret from Ryan that I let you watch me work?”

  “I suppose...” She studied him. “But if you’re making it for him, why does it matter if he knows I watched?”

  “Because I think he wants to keep it a secret from everyone for now.”

  “Ah, gotcha. That reminds me of when we were kids around Christmas. We would either make or buy gifts for everyone and try to keep anyone else from knowing what they were until Christmas morning. The whole family enjoyed the surprise of finding out what the gifts were.”

  Basir wondered what kind of traditions they would share in the coming years, but he pushed the thought aside for the moment. “I am sure your whole family will enjoy this surprise as well.”

  Meghan bumped her shoulder into his. “The suspense is killing me.”

  He chuckled and gave her a quick hug. “I am making a ring for your brother.”

  “A ring? Why would he...” The confusion in her face evaporated as she looked at her left hand. Then her eyes widened and shone with joy. “Oh!”

  “Yes. Now you know why it is such a big secret.”

  “My lips are sealed.” She pretended to lock her mouth and toss aside the key.

  “This will be a quiet afternoon.” Basir picked up the wires and made sure the ends were even as he waited for her reaction to the teasing comment.

  She swatted his shoulder. “Oh, please. You know I’m not going to stay silent that long.”

  “This is true, but I thought it would take a little longer before you started talking again.”

  She laughed and slid an arm around his waist as she laid her head on his shoulder. “You know, I think it’s great you’re doing this for him.”

  “He asked after he saw the ring I made for you.” He glanced at her and matched her smile with one of his own. Perhaps one day he would get used to her affectionate ways, but he hoped he never took her affection for granted. He had never experienced anything quite like it, and he never wanted to lose that special connection with her.

  He returned his attention to the wire in his fingers, but his mind drifted yet again to what he would say to her father. If he had ever been witness to marriage negotiations, he might have a little more confidence in his ability to say the right things. But he hadn’t been regarded highly enough to be party to any such negotiations, and his own marriage had been negotiated without his presence, as was common.

  Father God, help me to know what to say when the time comes.

  God knew how much he loved Meghan and wanted to marry her. If it was truly in His will for them to be together, they would be, even if Basir completely blew the conversation with Fred. He had to trust that God would help him find the words he needed when he needed them. Otherwise, he was liable to drive himself crazy worrying about it.

  21

  Meghan scooped a spoonful of cookie dough from the mixing bowl and dropped it on the greased pan. She stole a glance toward the back door, but it still didn’t open. After watching Basir manipulate the wires for a while, she had decided to leave him to his work and find something productive to do while she waited for her parents’ return. Work held little appeal, so she decided cookies were the answer. Thankfully, she’d gone with a familiar chocolate chip recipe. Trying to focus was an interesting challenge as her mind whirled.

  Her brother planned to propose to Sara? It didn’t particularly surprise her, but she wanted to wrap them both in a big hug and jump for joy. Then, she had to consider what would happen when Basir talked to her father. Yes, Dad had said a few times how much he liked Basir, but did he like him enough to approve of him as a son-in-law?

  At least she knew her mother was thrilled about the engagement. If Dad did anything other than give his blessing for the marriage for some reason, she could count on Mom for backup. She didn’t know if that would be enough for Basir, but she had to hope.

  “Lord, please let Dad give Basir the permission he needs to marry me. I feel like You brought us together, and if that’s the case, I know nothing will keep us from marrying. But I would like everything to be as stress-free and joyful as possible, so please help the conversation between Basir and my dad go smoothly.”

  She added one last cookie to the pan and slid it into the oven. With that prayer, she had done everything she could to ensure her dad would grant his permission for the wedding. Now she just had to stick to her faith and believe that God would make sure everything worked out the way it was supposed to. Hopefully, that meant she would marry Basir. It had to mean that, because she wasn’t sure she could survive the heartache of having him leave her.

  The front door opened, and her mother called out, “Hello, hello!”

  “I’m in the kitchen!” Meghan set the timer for the cookies and turned to greet her parents.

  Mom and Dad stepped into the room with plastic bags in their hands.

  “I found the most amazing knickknacks,” Mom said as she set two bags on the kitchen table.

  Dad added the one he carried. “How’s Basir?”

  “Doing well.” Meghan tried not to read too much into the fact that her father had been the one to ask. “Actually, he’s out in the workshop right now.”

  Dad’s eyebrows rose. “He is better.”

  “Like I said, sleep and his medication usually clear up his migraines in a few hours to a day.”

  “I’m glad he found something that works,” Mom said. “Your Aunt Kathy has had migraines that last for days.”

  The back door opened and closed, and then Basir stepped into the kitchen. Mom gave him a warm smile.

  “Hi, Basir. How are you feeling?”

  “Much better. Thank you for your prayers.” He bowed his head slightly.

  “Oh, you’re welcome, honey.” Mom walked over and patted his arm. “I’m glad your migraine went away.”

  “Me too.” He glanced at Meghan, and she could see he was ready to talk to her father. Well, maybe not ready, but as close as he was going to get. She had no idea if her parents could sense his nervousness, but she could see it in his eyes and his body language.

  She gave him a small nod, and he turned to h
er father.

  “Fred, may I speak with you privately?”

  “Of course.” Her father looked a little surprised, but he lifted a hand toward the back door. “Why don’t we go outside?”

  As soon as the men left, Mom turned to Meghan. “That poor young man looks scared half to death.”

  “He is.” She drew in a breath to calm her nerves and decided to let her mom in on the conversation the men were having. “He’s going to ask Dad for permission to marry me.”

  A smile spread across Mom’s face. “That’s so sweet! A little more old-fashioned than I expected, but it’s a nice gesture.”

  “It’s more than a gesture for Basir. He is sincerely seeking Dad’s permission to marry me.” Meghan shook her head and tried not to worry. “He’s done a great job of integrating into American life, but some things he just can’t let go. Making sure my father is in agreement over our marriage is one of those things.”

  Mom stared at her wide-eyed. “You mean he would honestly break off your engagement if your father didn’t grant permission for him to marry you?”

  “Right. He wants so much to respect and honor me that he would make himself miserable to keep from doing anything that might damage my family’s honor...such as marrying me without my father’s blessing.”

  “Well, no wonder he looked so terrified!” Mom moved to Meghan’s side and hugged her. “But neither one of you needs to worry. I happen to know your father fully approves of Basir as husband material. In a few minutes, that young man of yours will be able to relax and focus on building his relationship with you.”

  “Oh, I’m so glad.” Meghan sagged in relief, thankful for her mother’s support, both physical and moral. Then, she straightened and looked at the bags on her table. “While we wait for them to get back, why don’t you show me your new knickknacks?”

  As her mom unwrapped the newspaper protecting the first one, Meghan said a silent prayer of thanks that everything would be OK.

  ~*~

  “It’s good to see you up and moving around,” Fred said as they crossed the back yard. “You didn’t look well at all after the parade.”

  “I wasn’t. It was one of the worst migraines I have had in a while.” Basir prayed for wisdom as he struggled to know how much to tell the man he hoped would be his father-in-law.

  “Have you always had migraines?”

  Basir shook his head, thankful for the clouds hiding the sun. At least he didn’t have to hide his eyes. “No, the migraines started after the explosion that injured me. The doctors tell me it is part of the traumatic brain injury I suffered.”

  “That’s too bad.” Fred glanced at him as they approached the pasture. “Are the effects of your brain injury serious?”

  The moment had come to be completely honest with the man and hope he didn’t deem Basir unworthy as a husband. “Serious enough. I have the migraines, and my eyes get more light sensitive. They were already sensitive from the burns. I also get other headaches, dizziness.”

  “I see.” Fred stopped by the fence and turned to face him. “I’ve heard that traumatic brain injuries can cause personality changes. Is that true for you?”

  Basir looked out over the alpacas happily munching on grass as he considered the way he was now compared to how he was before. “I think it has changed me a little, but I don’t suffer the uncontrollable anger or impulsiveness of some.”

  “How has it changed you, then?”

  “I am less confident. More anxious.” Basir hated admitting such serious weakness before even broaching the topic of marriage, but the man deserved to know the truth. “It is hard for me sometimes to remember that I must live by American standards now and not Afghan standards, but I am getting better. I will never be the man I was before the explosion, but I am improving.”

  “I’m glad to hear it.” Fred leaned against the fence and studied him. “Now, what is it you wanted to talk to me about? I’m sure this isn’t it.”

  “Ah, no.” Basir drew in a deep breath and slowly released it. In a few minutes, he would know whether Meghan could become his wife or if he would have to remain alone. “I wanted to talk to you about Meghan. You know I have asked her to marry me. In my homeland, I would not have asked her. I would have talked to my father, and he would have talked to you and arranged the marriage.”

  “I see.” Fred studied him for an uncomfortably long moment. “Since you’ve already proposed to her, I assume you’ve figured out our family doesn’t do arranged marriages.”

  “Yes. I understand they are unusual in America.”

  “So, since you’ve arranged your own marriage, what is it you wanted to talk to me about?”

  “I would like your permission to marry your daughter. I love her with everything that is in me, and I will continue to love her and honor her as long as I live.” He held his breath as he waited for Fred’s response.

  “Can you take care of her? Provide for her and any children the two of you may have?”

  “I work hard. I know much about farming and how to make the land productive. Meghan has said that the advice and assistance I have given her have already helped her a great deal. I will continue to do whatever she needs me to do around here to make her farm and Carpenter Alpacas as productive and profitable as possible.”

  “And you have no problem knowing you’ll be working for your wife?”

  “No.” Basir didn’t know how to explain the hard road he had traveled to get to where he was, but complete honesty seemed to be the best option. “I know it may seem odd for me to devote my life to running a farm I do not own, but it is what I know. And Meghan will not fire me when I have bad days. A regular job like Ryan has would not work well for me.”

  “I see. And Meghan knows all of this? She knows about the traumatic brain injury and the challenges you have because of it?”

  “Yes. I have been completely honest with her.”

  “Good.” Fred looked out over the pasture long enough to make Basir worry, but then he brought his gaze back and smiled. “I can tell you love my daughter very much and that she loves you just as much. Do you promise to always treat her with respect and care for her to the best of your ability?”

  “Yes.” Basir placed his right hand over his heart and prayed the man would see his sincerity. “I would give my life for her if it came to that.”

  “We’ll hope it never comes to that, because it would break my daughter’s heart.” Fred clapped a hand to Basir’s shoulder. “You have my permission to marry Meghan. I appreciate your honesty with me, and I look forward to having you as part of the family.”

  “Thank you.” A weight lifted from Basir, and he said a silent prayer of thanks.

  They watched the alpacas while they continued to talk, and Basir answered every question Fred asked about his background and family. Some of it was painful, such as admitting to being disowned, but sharing it all with his future father-in-law was also freeing. Fred never once made him feel ashamed of his past. Instead, he expressed sympathy and compassion just as his children did.

  By the time they returned to the house, Basir felt more secure in his relationship with Meghan than he ever had. The women sat at the kitchen table with steaming mugs filling the air with the strong scent of coffee. A plate of chocolate chip cookies waited in the middle of the table.

  Meghan ran her gaze over Basir and smiled as her mother rose and followed Fred into the hallway. “You look awful happy.”

  “Your father has granted his permission for me to marry you.” He knelt beside her and took her hand. “He said he looks forward to me being a part of your family.”

  “That’s great news!” She wrapped her arms around his neck and hugged him tight. “No wonder you look so happy.”

  “Yes. Now nothing stands in the way of our marriage. We are free to wed and start our life together.”

  “Well, it won’t be quite that fast.” She leaned back with a small laugh. “My mom is determined to plan the most perfect wedding ever. She thin
ks a winter wedding is ideal.”

  “And what do you think?” Winter seemed like a lifetime away, but he would do whatever made Meghan happy. After all, it was her first wedding, and he knew American women wanted their weddings to be perfect.

  “I think she’s right. It will give us more time to get to know each other, but it’s not too far away. What do you think?”

  “I think...” He leaned closer and smiled as he looked into her eyes. “Whatever will make you happy is what we should do.”

  Warmth filled her eyes and she opened her mouth, but the sound of the front door interrupted. The murmur of voices reached them, and then Ryan called out, “Hey, Megs! Basir! Come out here.”

  “Wonder what he wants,” Meghan said as they stood.

  Basir placed his mouth close to her ear and whispered, “Probably the ring.”

  She laughed and slipped her hand into his as they stepped into the hall.

  Ryan stood just inside the front door with his arm around Sara. Both looked excited, leading Basir to wonder if there was more truth to his teasing comment than he thought. Fred and Linda stood with them, their expressions curious. When Basir and Meghan joined the group, Ryan ran his gaze over each of them.

  “Now that you’re all here, I have some news. Sara and I are getting married.”

  “Oh, that’s wonderful!” Linda’s eyes filled, and she stepped forward to embrace them both.

  As congratulations rolled around the group, Ryan met Basir’s gaze and mouthed, Ring? Basir nodded and stepped to Meghan’s side.

  “I’ll be right back,” he said softly.

  “OK.” She gave him a knowing smile. Then she turned back to the conversation with her mother and Sara.

  Basir headed out the back door and hurried to the workshop, thankful he had already finished the ring. The braided piece of jewelry sat on the workbench, and he grabbed it before jogging back to the house. He stepped inside to find the Carpenter family and Sara had moved to the kitchen. Meghan stood at the counter pouring coffee, while her mother set small plates on the table.