Part 5
Chapter 36 1977 Ellie
The story has gone backwards in time.
Ellie and Mehrdad have just arrived in New York. Ellie is homesick and lonely. Mehrdad takes her to meet his colleagues and his boss. She feels inappropriately dressed. The boss is impressed by her English and suggests she joins the expat happy hour.
She meets Angela and they become friends. It is Angela who suggests she tries for a job at Bloomingdales.
The two couples spend news year’s eve together and watch Jimmy Carter drink champagne with the Shah. The Iran/US relationship is solid.
But I should have known that some friendships fracture and rupture beyond belief.
Chapter 37 1978 Ellie
Ellie’s mother comes to visit. They have a difficult conversation about Homa, her father and Uncle Massoud over frozen yogurt at Bloomindales.
Her mother tells her the country is in a terrible state and it will only get worse if the fundamentalists take over. They should stay and make a life for themselves in America, which they do.
Chapter 38 December 1981
We’re back to where we started.
Ellie calls Homa. She learns about Abdol’s death and how awful life is in Iran. Ellie is worried that people might be listening to the call.
Homa wants Ellie to host Bahar to get her out of the country. Niloo’s husband is in the foreign office and can organise the paperwork.
Homa is going to stay in Iran and fight for women’s rights.
Ellie and Merhdad agree.