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Monday October 23rd, 2000
Tiffany opened the kitchen cabinet and looked inside feeling the hunger pains worsen. She had already checked the refrigerator three times and was certain it contained nothing more than mayonnaise and ice. She walked back into the living room and picked up her purse again checking the bottom of the handbag hoping to find enough money to order in a food delivery. She found another quarter that made her total $3.00. That was enough for a sandwich if she ran out to the corner. She glanced at her watch. If she had just another dollar she could get a delivery. She didn't dare leave the apartment now, surely Amir would call any minute. She picked up her glass of water and took another drink. She would just have to suffer a little longer. She sat the glass of water on the coffee table and searched through her handbag again. She pulled out her checkbook and looked at the balance. She realized that she had to get a job immediately if Amir didn't help her out. She had just lost her job and if the newspaper reports were true Amir was a married man. Surely he would call from his island home soon. She just had to know if he had rushed there to attend a 'sick wife' as the newspapers had reported. If the story was true, then she would have to find another apartment as well. She certainly couldn't stay in his apartment and have him take care of her if he had a sick wife in another country. She wiped the tears from her swollen eyes and told herself that crying hadn't done any good. The ringing of the phone jolted her to reality and filled her with hope.
"Hello", she answered grabbing the phone on the coffee table and trying to sound casual.
"Tiffany".
"Amir! Oh my God. I've never been so happy to hear from someone in my life," she said.
"You okay?" he asked in his broken English.
"Well, it just seems to keep getting worse since you left,", she said wondering where she should start.
"What happen?"
"Other than losing my job?"
"Yes".
"I'm still convinced that Jan had something to do with this Amir." She was still irritated that he had defended his assistant the last time they talked on the phone."
"Jan never do this, I tell you," he said.
"I think Jan did really play a big role in this," she said with conviction. She wanted so much to tell him that she even suspected Jan of having an affair with her estranged husband Skeeter. This she believed to be one of the reasons Amir's assistant wanted her out of the picture.
"I find this out."
"That's not what has really upset me though", she was unable to wait another minute to find out the truth. When he didn't speak, she continued. "Did you see the newspaper reports?"
"No. I hear of the report. Reporters call every minute night and day," he admitted.
"Amir. The newspapers said that you rushed home to attend to your sick wife." She said holding her breath as she gripped the telephone tightly bracing herself for his response.
"Yes, I hear this", he said.
"Well? Tell me this is a terrible mistake", she pleaded.
"I am afraid this report to be true," he said.
"What!"
"Yes. Report true. I want to tell you before but…"
"True! How could you not tell me you had a wife? Oh my God, Amir I can't believe you, of all the men I have ever known. How could you do this to me?" she said sobbing into the phone.
"I try to explain," he said clearing his throat.
CONTINUED TOMORROW. MORE PHOTOS BELOW.
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