Read 53 Letters For My Lover for Free Online

I was still sleeping.
    “Today, I will show you,” she said. “After, you make the breakfast every day for us.”
    She insisted on speaking English with me.
    “It good for my learn,” she explained over lavash with feta cheese and fig preserves.
    I washed the dishes as she made up the couch. After a while, she came and kissed me on both cheeks.
    “Good girl. We must do laundry.” She laughed and held up the blood stained bed sheet.
    By noon, we were ready to receive Hafez’s cousins and aunts. They were immaculately dressed in shoulder-padded blouses, with big hair and bright lipstick.
    “Nasrin!” They hugged Ma.
    The younger ones pulled me aside.
    “So?” They teased. “How was it? Your first night?”
    “I’ll go get the tea.” I excused myself.
    “She’s shy!” They laughed.
    I poured sweet tea in glass teacups and served it with a tray of cookies.
    “We know Hafez and Kamal have to work, but it’s Thanksgiving weekend and we were hoping you’d join us for lunch.” The aunts informed me.
    I glanced at Ma. Lunch meant money, and I had none.
    “Farnaz and Behram own a restaurant. You must go,” she said.
    “What about you?” I asked.
    “ Khaleh Nasrin doesn’t like to go out,” said Farnaz, one of Hafez’s cousins. “The doctors say it’s her heart.”
    “I don’t like go out because I don’t want put feet in shoes,” said Ma, pointing to her swollen ankles. “You go.”
    We squeezed into Farnaz's car after saying goodbye to Ma. Farnaz insisted that I sit in front with her.
    She slid me a sly glance. “I can’t imagine getting much privacy in that place. When are you off for your honeymoon?”
    “We haven’t planned anything. Pedar says the shop is too busy.”
    “It will always be too busy. Hafez is his best mechanic. You don’t think he’s just going to let him go, do you? You’ll have to fight for him, my dear.”
    She pulled into a parking lot behind a Greek restaurant.
    “You’ve met my husband, Behram.” She waved to him as she led us to a table.
    “ Salaam .” He greeted us, looking a little flustered. “ Jaan ,” he said to his wife, “I could really use your help. We’re short staffed.”
    “What happened to the girl we hired?” asked Farnaz. “She was supposed to start today.”
    “She never showed.”
    Farnaz rolled her eyes and disappeared into the kitchen. She returned with plates full of souvlaki sticks, pita bread and salad.
    “Eat up, ladies. I’ll be in the kitchen if you need anything.”
    “You need help?” I asked.
    “Sit down,” hissed one of the girls. “You’re making the rest of us look bad.”
    “Oh.” I took my seat and lowered my head.
    Uncomfortable seconds ticked by. When I looked up, they were all rolled over, trying to keep themselves from laughing.
    “Welcome to the family,” said the one on my left, ribbing me with her elbow. “We’re the not-so-serious side.”
    “Let the poor girl eat,” said Farnaz’s mum. She filled my glass with water. “I thought I would see Mona at the wedding. How is she?”
    “Maamaan is fine. They couldn’t get their papers on time.”
    “Tell her Farideh sends her regards. I visited your summer home many times when I was there.”
    “You did?”
    “Yes. And what a grand place it was. Your mother threw the most lavish garden parties. And you father...” She laughed. “A handsome devil with a silver tongue. You must have been very young. I don’t recall seeing you or your brother.”
    “We used to fill our plates and sneak off to the lemon groves,” I replied. It had been my favorite place in the whole world.
    “I was sorry to hear about what happened,” said Farideh.
    I nodded and picked at my food, trying not to think about the smell of burning lemon trees.
    When I got back , Ma was dusting the glass cabinet that stood gleaming like an exclamation point in the drab apartment. Hafez had told me that it was her pride and joy.
    “They’re beautiful,” I said, peering into the