Wayside: A Serial Novel - Episode 9
This is a work of fiction. Unless otherwise indicated, all the names, characters, businesses, places, events and incidents in this book are either the product of the author's imagination or used in a fictitious manner. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, or actual events is purely coincidental.
Episode 9: Worthy
September 25, 2026
Welcome to Minnesota, the sign read.
Josina exhaled a sigh of relief as she crossed the state line. The last time she had taken such a long road trip was in 2020, when she moved from Minnesota to North Carolina to be Marisol’s live-in caregiver. Just as she’d done back then, she had split up the 20-hour drive over the course of three days, pacing herself as best she could. She had spent the past two nights in roadside motels with external corridors and standalone heat and air units, leaving the windows cracked open and running portable air purifiers for a few hours before unmasking. As the new school year had started a few weeks ago, the predictable surge of Covid, Influenza, RSV, Norovirus, and all kinds of other pathogens was well underway. She hoped her precautions would be enough to keep her safe during her trip.
The day before, she’d called from her hotel room to make an appointment in Minneapolis. The earliest opening was the morning of October 1st. She claimed it.
That gave her 5 full days to spend in Minnesota. She had a couple of other things on her agenda, but more than anything, she was looking forward to a change of scenery, some quiet time to herself to think and reflect.
She had mixed feelings about returning to her home state. In high school, she’d read Thomas Wolfe’s novel ‘You Can’t Go Home Again.’ She hadn’t fully grasped the meaning of it at the time, but was reminded of it now.
Now she understood. The place she used to call home still welcomed her, with the caveat that it had changed and grown into a different city in her absence.
Just as she had changed and grown into a different person since she’d been away.
Outside of her window, the long stretch of flat, empty ground quickly dissolved into buildings, which grew higher and wider with each passing mile – so many of them new, so much of the unfamiliar scattered across the familiar skyline. The interstate exits which fed into beltways and busy highways seemed busier than she’d remembered. Traffic quickly picked up around her. Before she knew it she was cruising through the heart of the city, taking in all of its brightness and noisiness and frenzied motion. The rising sun reflecting off the bumpers of the vehicles ahead of her prompted her to reach for the aviator sunglasses she’d bought from a convenience store the day before. They’d been perched on the top of her head since she’d checked out of her hotel early that morning. She slid them down onto the bridge of her nose, catching a glimpse of herself in the mirror as she did so.
Josina smiled at her reflection. Her face was framed by a tan hijab she hadn’t worn in years, but had grabbed from the back of her closet while packing. She was surprised to see that the red gloss she had applied to her lips was still in place, even after multiple sips of the coffee cup she’d filled in the hotel lobby. She normally didn’t wear much makeup, but had come across the brand new tube of gloss while packing. Siado had given it to her in a stocking filled with other cosmetics, nail polishes, and candies back in December, when the Founders’ Council held a Secret Santa gift exchange. Josina smiled at the memory of finding the stocking on the front door as she was leaving to go to Reese’s interfaith candlelight service at Bonfire Pavilion on Christmas Eve. At the Founders’ Council holiday gathering that followed, Siado revealed she was Josina’s Santa.
“Did you like everything in the stocking?” Siado had asked, wide-eyed with anticipation.
“I love it all!” Josina had told her, delighted by the big smile that had spread across Siado’s face. They hugged each other, then huddled around the firepit drinking hot cocoa and sharing memories from past holidays. Josina teared up at the thought of her, knowing how much she was struggling with feelings of loneliness. She wanted nothing more than to comfort Siado, to reassure her what an amazing person she was and that she wouldn’t be lonely forever. Josina would find herself speaking to Siado the same way that Ola had talked to her whenever she’d been distraught and discouraged.
The way a mother would talk to a daughter.
No matter how often Josina reminded herself to treat the younger woman as a peer and a friend, the mothering instinct was too strong to be contained. It was impossible for her to be around Siado without thinking of her own daughter, wherever she was in the world, whomever she had become. She would be close in age to Siado, who still seemed so childlike at times.
There was a hole in Josina’s heart for the child she’d surrendered for adoption so long ago. That ever-present ache seemed to have grown exponentially since moving to Wayside.
Sometimes Josina wondered how different her life would have been had she kept the baby. She imagined she might have made different choices about her education, her career, where she lived, how she reacted to the Covid pandemic.
She knew the circumstances of her life would have been so different, she never would have moved to North Carolina to care for Marisol.
She never would have met Ben.
Never would have lived with him, never would have loved him, never would have journeyed to Pine Tree, North Carolina, to bid on and win a shuttered amusement park in an auction with him.
Which meant there would be no Wayside, no Founders’ Council, no place to call home for the wonderful people who lived there now. The people who had become her family.
Although Josina wondered what might have been, she never dared to ask herself if she’d made the right decision.
“I am not on this journey to dwell on the past,” she whispered to her reflection in the rearview mirror. “I’m moving forward, not backwards.”
Josina turned on the radio and found a local classic jazz station. She tapped her fingers on the steering wheel to the beat of the original recording of John Coltrane’s ‘Giant Steps.’ She hadn’t been to a jazz show since she had left Minnesota, as North Carolina’s live jazz scene wasn’t nearly as robust as that of the Twin Cities. She thought about masking up and going to a show during her trip. Maybe after dinner at a restaurant with a heated dining patio, sometime between the lunch and dinner rush. She’d brought a little black dress, heels, and a cashmere pashmina to keep her warm. Between her hijab and her N95, she’d likely get some stares and insults. The idea of an evening out was exciting enough that she didn’t care.
She was on a mission, but she could still enjoy some adventures along the way.
The song ended and a pre-recorded commercial began to play, disrupting Josina from her daydreaming. It was then she realized she wasn’t sure where she was headed at the moment. She’d made it to the city, but hadn’t reserved a hotel. She wouldn’t be able to check in until the afternoon, anyway. There was time to kill.
After pondering her options, she took the next exit off the Interstate, grabbed a fresh coffee and a breakfast sandwich from a fast food restaurant, and keyed in the address for the Somali Community Center on her phone’s GPS app. She hadn’t visited since well before the Covid pandemic had begun and wondered if any of the familiar faces she remembered would still be there. It would be nice to say hello to them if so, or meet the new people in those roles if not.
A short while later, she pulled into the parking lot, masked up, and stepped inside. The community center building hadn’t changed much since she’d last been there, save for a fresh coat of paint on the walls, a new bulletin board with flyers and children's drawings pinned haphazardly across it, new furniture in the waiting area. And a new motion sensor digital doorbell.
Ding dong, it chimed as she stepped inside.
“Be with you in a moment!” The friendly, thickly accented voice of a man carried from behind a door which led to the administrative offices. While Josina waited, her eyes settled on a wall-mounted portrait of a man she guessed to be in his late 30s or early 40s. He had big, brown eyes, a neat fade haircut, a smile revealing a mouthful of metal braces. Kaafi Gedi, Executive Director, read the nameplate below the portrait.
Josina recognized him immediately when he stepped through the door into the lobby, even though – to her delight and surprise – he was wearing an N95.
“Good morning!” He greeted her warmly. “How may I help you?”
“You must be Kaafi?” She asked.
“Yes!” He said with enthusiasm. “And you are?”
“Josina,” she said.
Kaafi froze for a moment. “Josina Hussein?” He blinked several times.
“Yes,” she replied, her eyebrows arching with surprise. “How did you know my name?”
“Are you kidding? You are a legend here, Miss Hussein!” His eyes squinted with the rise of his cheeks, a clear sign he was smiling underneath his mask.
“Josina,” she corrected him with a soft laugh. “Please, call me Josina.”
“I am so honored to meet you!” Kaafi placed his hands over his heart as he bowed to her. “You are so loved by this community! Honestly, there isn’t a day that goes by here at the community center that your name doesn’t come up.”
“You must be kidding!” She said with amusement. “That… that can’t be possible.”
Kaafi pointed at a framed photo hanging on the wall near his own portrait. It was the house Ola had left her, which she in turn had donated to the community center. “We named it ‘Josina’s Home,’ so of course your name comes up every day,” he explained.
“Oh my goodness!” Josina gasped with surprise as she stepped closer to the picture. The house looked very much like she remembered it, with the addition of a porch swing and a canopy over the paved driveway. “Who lives there now?”
“No one at the moment,” said Kaafi. “Once the last family who was staying there found permanent housing and moved out, we decided to do some renovations. They’re underway right now. It’s time for fresh paint, new appliances and furniture, and a few bigger modifications. We’re converting the garage to an apartment, adding a wall to the downstairs bedroom to make it two individual rooms, and building a deck behind the house.”
“How wonderful! Ola – my hooyo, the one who gave me the house, would be so happy.”
“I know all about Miss Ola too,” said Kaafi. “We remember her fondly! Both of you are heroes to our community. Anyway… I’m so sorry, I’m being rude! I’m standing here talking your ear off when I should be helping you with whatever you came in for. Many apologies, Josina. What can I do for you?”
“Nothing in particular, actually. I live in North Carolina now, but needed to come back to Minneapolis and tend to some business for a few days. Anyway, I just came in to say hello, to see how things are going in the community.”
“I’m so glad you did. It is an honor to meet you!”
“I have to say it’s such an unexpected surprise to be greeted by someone wearing a mask. I wasn’t expecting to see anyone else in an N95, so the sight of yours is a bright spot in my day.”
“Thank you,” he said. “It’s a funny story, actually. I wasn’t always good about masking, but last year, I got braces. My dentist said they would take some getting used to, but didn’t warn me that I’d have all this extra saliva at first that would leave me drooling and spitting all over everything whenever I spoke! It was so embarrassing I started wearing a mask whenever I was around other people. A short while later, everyone in our community got so, so sick. A lot of people had Covid and Influenza co-infections. Many were hospitalized and dozens of them died. It was devastating. I was one of the few who didn’t get sick. That was the first time I truly understood just how well these masks work, and that they can keep us safe and alive. Even though I’ve adjusted to my braces and there’s no more spitting or drooling, I saw no reason to stop masking. I’ve got important work to do here, so I need to stay alive and healthy!”
“Well, cheers to your braces!” Josina laughed. “I’m glad they got you masking again, and that you had the wisdom to stick with it.”
“Of course. And I’ve only been in my role for 6 months, but I feel I have a duty to be a role model. I always encourage others to wear a mask here in the building, and at all of our community events. I’ve been happy to see that some of them are coming around and are willing to mask again. Maybe some of them feel like they owe me, since I was there for them during that terrible wave last winter. Giving them rides to the hospital, delivering food, bringing laptops and tablets to families with children so they could participate in school remotely… I was on the go nonstop through much of last winter! There were so few people who were well that I really had to step up and take care of others. Whatever their reasons, I’m just glad they’re doing the right thing now, and I hope they will also have the wisdom to continue.”
“No doubt that’s a big part of the reason why you were chosen for your position as Executive Director,” Josina observed. “You earned the trust of this community, leading by example.”
“It’s the only way to lead, the only way a leader can expect to make a difference,” he said with a nod.
“I couldn’t agree more.” Josina’s gaze drifted to the framed photo of the house again. She smiled underneath her N95. “You know, Ola was a servant leader too. She would have loved knowing that her house became a home for fellow refugees to get started with their new lives in this country. And she would have loved that porch swing.”
“Why don’t we take a ride over there so you can see it, with the renovations in progress?”
“I’d love that!”
“Let me go get my keys then,” said Kaafi, turning toward the door to his office.
“Oh, we don’t have to go right now,” she said. “I’m here until next Thursday. I know you must have work scheduled for today, so I can come back at a more convenient time.”
“I’ve got nothing on my calendar today! I blocked it off to work on a grant proposal, and after spending the past couple of hours at work on it, I’m ready for a break.”
“Alright then,” surrendered Josina. “Let’s go!”
Kaafi stepped away, returning a moment later with two sets of keychains. “May I ask where you’re staying, Josina?”
“I don’t know yet, actually. I’ll find a hotel and make a reservation shortly.”
“No need,” said Kaafi. He handed her one of the keychains, tethered to two silver housekeys. “The house is vacant right now, and we don’t have any work scheduled on-site for the renovations until next Tuesday. Even then, they’ll be working in the garage apartment and shouldn’t need to enter the main house. I’ll see to it they don’t disturb you.”
“Really? If it wouldn’t be an inconvenience, I’d actually love that!”
“Of course,” he said. “It is ‘Josina’s Home,’ after all! You’ll always be welcome there. Here you go – keys to the front and back doors.”
Josina accepted the keychain from him.
Suddenly, she found herself reeling with excitement. So many wonderful surprises had unfolded in the few minutes that had passed since she’d set foot in the door of the community center.
The feeling of kinship upon meeting Kaafi, seeing him in an N95.
His starstruck reaction when she told him her name.
His invitation for her to stay in her former home.
The way her heart skipped a beat as his fingers grazed hers during the handoff of the keychain.
“Actually, Kaafi,” she said on impulse, “would you mind helping me with something I need to do before we go to the house? You don’t have to do anything really, just come along with me and be present.”
“Anything for you,” he said. “Would you like to drive separately, or ride together?” Kaafi asked.
“I’ve been driving for three days, so if you wouldn’t mind a passenger, I’d be happy to ride along with you.”
“I don’t mind at all. Before I took this job, I was a rideshare driver. It’s a rare treat for me to drive someone around without having to worry about how many stars they’re going to click in the app.”
“Five stars, if I have my say.”
“What?” Kaafi laughed. “We haven’t even started the trip yet!”
“Not the trip,” Josina said with a smile. “Five stars for the driver.”
***
Kaafi parked his SUV in the parking lot of an ancient-looking strip mall. He stepped out, smoothed his black peacoat, then held the door open while Josina climbed out of the passenger’s side.
“Thank you for sharing your story with me during the ride here,” said Kaafi. “I’m so sorry for everything you’ve been through.”
“Thank you,” Josina replied. “I haven’t spoken about any of this in a long, long time. I probably shouldn’t have unloaded all of that on you, seeing how we just met earlier today. I’m sorry. It was too much.”
“No, Josina, no.” he faced her and took her hands into his, giving them a reassuring squeeze. “Don’t apologize. I’m glad you felt comfortable talking to me.”
“Thank you.”
“How are you feeling?” He asked with concern. “Are you nervous at all?”
“Actually, no. If I had to do this alone, then yes, I would be. But the fact that you’re coming along with me puts me at ease.”
“Then let’s go.” Kaafi squeezed her hands again before they turned and walked toward the building.
Josina led him to the far end of the strip mall, to the last storefront before the sidewalk wrapped around the building to the dumpsters behind it. Her stomach turned as a childhood memory resurrected from the far corners of her mind.
“Yasir is a bad man,” she’d told her mother once, after they had visited the office unit her stepfather owned. “His office is trash, just like him. Maybe that’s why it’s near the dumpsters.” Her mother raised her hand as if to slap her, but stopped herself. Instead, she sent Josina to bed without dinner that night.
Josina could still feel the sting of the correction. Not in the missed meal, not in how close her mother had come to striking her. It stung because her mother knew she was right. Yasir was a very bad man. He put on a different face in public, presenting himself as the same charming, humble man he’d pretended to be when he’d swept Josina’s mother off her feet. Behind closed doors, in the privacy of his own home, he was a monster. Only Josina was brave enough to say it out loud, but her mother made it clear she was unwilling to hear it.
She and Kaafi had reached her stepfather’s office. She reached for the door, rested her hand on the pull bar, then hesitated. Josina took a deep breath, pausing to take in her reflection in the glass door. She had changed into a black blazer and trousers, matching black hijab, matching black N95. She stood taller than she normally did on the 3-inch heels she rarely had an excuse to wear. Today was a fitting occasion. She looked polished. Important. Powerful.
“You’re not alone,” Kaafi whispered from behind her. “I’m here.”
His words gave her the reassurance she needed to open the door and step inside. Kaafi followed behind her.
A bored-looking receptionist glanced up from the Solitaire game on her computer screen and stared at them. Instead of offering a greeting or asking how she could help them, she waited for them to speak.
“I need to see Yasir,” said Josina.
The woman’s eyes cut back and forth between the two of them. “Do you have an appointment?”
“No.” Josina took a step closer to the reception desk. “Tell him it’s his daughter.”
The receptionist stared at her with a confused look. “Your name?”
“Josina,” she said boldly.
The woman sauntered away, disappearing behind a door at the end of the hallway. The sound of hushed voices drifted back toward the lobby. The dialogue was indecipherable, but the emotions behind the words were clear.
“He sounds nervous,” Kaafi whispered.
“He should be.” Josina grinned underneath her mask. She glanced at her surroundings, noting they hadn’t changed much since she’d last set foot in the office more than two decades ago. The same cheap furniture was in the lobby. The walls were mostly bare; paint chips that had fallen on the floor were gathered in corners, covered by dust bunnies. Scattered spots of mold on the ceilings had bloomed into large, dark rings of fungus. No doubt it contributed to the stench that hung heavy in the air. She was grateful her N95 was protecting her from all the threats to health she could see, and especially those she couldn’t.
The receptionist returned to the lobby a few seconds later. She beckoned them to follow her.
When they entered the room, Yasir stood but remained behind his desk.
Josina noted that just like his office, little about him had changed. His wrinkles were a bit deeper, his hair greyer at the temples, his midsection thicker. Still, she would have had no problem picking him out of a crowd. He was the same surly man, same scowl etched across his face, a permanent glare of contempt in his eyes for her. Her hatred for him was stoked by the very sight of him. A poker to hot coals in a firepit.
Yasir eyed Josina up and down first, Kaafi next. “What a surprise,” he said nervously.
“Hello, Yasir,” said Josina. Without invitation, she sat down in the guest chair across from his desk. Kaafi stood dutifully against the wall behind her.
“The spoiled brat is all grown up now.” Yasir shook his head with disdain. “You disrespected me when you refused to wear hijab while living under my roof. Now that you’re an adult, you’ve gone to the extreme of covering your head and your face. How amusing. What do you want?”
“I’m hoping you can help me with a sensitive matter.”
“What matter?” He narrowed his eyes. “Who do you think you are showing up here like this? I told your mother to tell you not to darken our doorway ever again after you ran out on us.”
“She did. And I’ve respected that, hence why I’m not approaching you at home.”
“Well what do you want?” He spat the words at her like venom.
“Listen, Yasir,” Josina said as she relaxed back into the chair, lowering her shoulders, exhaling with a soft sigh. She smiled underneath her mask. “I see you for what you are. I know there’s a sign on the door of this dilapidated office building, and you have some kind of business license with the state. I also know it has nothing to do with what you really do. I know people in this community abhor you and fear you, as you seem to be above the law. I vividly remember how you treated me and my mother when I lived in your home. Tell me, Yasir, did having a wife and child help you maintain your image as a legitimate businessman? Did people respect you more, think you were less capable of evil, once you presented yourself as a family man?”
He gave a thin-lipped smile. “What about you, Josina? I heard you were a nursing assistant. Working at some hospital in the city, wiping people’s filthy asses for minimum wage, is that right?”
She ignored him. “Do you still take all those international trips? What exactly are you trafficking? Stolen property? Drugs? People?” She waved a hand dismissively. “Actually, let’s save that conversation for another time.”
“What do you want?”
“I want an hour of your time. Or less, if it turns out an hour isn’t needed. The quicker we can wrap this up, the better, as I can barely stand to be in the same room with you.”
“The feeling is mutual.”
“I need some input and advice on a very important matter. You happen to have the expertise I’m looking for.”
“What makes you think I’m interested in helping you?”
Josina dug into her shoulder bag, withdrawing a thick block of bills strapped together. She placed it on his desk but kept her hand atop it. “Five thousand cash.”
Yasir’s eyes cut toward the stack of bills. “I’m listening.”
Reaching into her bag again, Josina pulled out a cardboard cylinder. She pulled the plastic seal off of one end and retrieved the document inside, unrolling it into a poster-size architectural site map of Wayside. The names of buildings, streets, and other potential identifiers had been removed.
Newly intrigued, Yasir rose to his feet for a better view. “What is this?”
“It’s a map of a gated community. I’d like for you to take a good look at it and tell me what you think the vulnerabilities are.”
He looked up from the map to make eye contact with her. “Why is it of concern to you?”
Josina cleared her throat. “You’re a bit behind, Yasir. It’s been a long time since I’ve worked in a hospital. My career has taken me in a different direction.”
“Which is what?”
“That’s not important. Let’s just say I’m seeking an expert opinion on how to protect a community like this one. I’d like to know how vulnerable it is to an attack, some form of harm to the people living here. I’m asking for your help with identifying the conditions which would make that more likely, and what could be done to avoid it. I’ll give you an hour to study this map, tell me what you think the risks are, then you get to pocket five thousand, cash. And I will never bother you again.”
“And why did you come to me?”
“Isn’t it obvious?” Josina smiled with satisfaction under her N95. “I need to look at this situation through the eyes of a criminal. And you're the best of the best.”
Yasir glared at her with contempt. “You have some nerve, coming into my office, insulting me.”
“I’m not insulting you, I’m simply giving honest answers to your questions. Although…” Josina shrugged, then shifted forward in her seat. “Maybe I overestimated you. Maybe you’re not as wise as I thought and you’re not up for the task.” She stood up, scooping the cash back into her bag in one swift motion. “I’ll be on my way.”
“Sit down,” he commanded her. “I don’t need an hour. I can tell you in five minutes what you need to know.”
She eased back into her chair, watching Yasir as he leaned over his desk to study the map. “Your entry and exit points appear to have security gates already. They should be staffed at all times, with more than one armed guard at each location. The security wall around the property is only as good as the surveillance equipment monitoring it. Otherwise, anyone could climb over it or plant explosives around the perimeter. You need cameras covering every inch of that wall, and continuous monitoring of video feed for potential breeches. This space inside the gates is open air, yes?”
“Yes,” Josina confirmed.
“Less of a threat, but still worth considering. It’s doubtful anyone would attempt entry via aircraft, but drones could be used discreetly for surveillance, or an attack. Military-grade drones can fire ammunition, detonate explosives, disseminate bioweapons. You need cameras pointed at the skies not just above the gated enclosure, but a wide perimeter around the entire property. You need to be able to quickly identify and react to anything flying toward the property that isn’t a bird.”
Josina nodded.
“Your shipping and receiving bay is an area of vulnerability. It needs the same surveillance, the same security measures as your gates. Continuous video monitoring. Multiple guards.” He paused again, tracing his finger over The Black Sheep, noted only as commercial kitchen/dining facility on the map. “Your food supply is a vulnerability. So is your water supply. Your fuel supply. Your medication supply. Everything you use in this contained space that you don’t manufacture for yourself from start to finish is a vulnerability. You have less control over what happens outside of the gates, so you need to know the supply chains, the entities involved, and their track records when it comes to safety and security.”
“Noted.”
“I see a few pull station alarms on the map, with phones, first aid kits. For a place this size, you need more. The people who live here need clear instructions for what types of threats they might encounter and how they should respond. You need to do regular drills. People who are shown where a fire extinguisher is located and are told to use it in an emergency end up dying in fires. People who go through the process of retrieving the extinguisher, pulling the pin, squeezing the trigger and sweeping it across the base of a fire in a training exercise remember what to do when there is a real fire.”
“Understood.”
He looked up from the map, locking eyes with Josina. “The greatest threats have nothing to do with the physical property, the space around it, or even the goods you source from the outside. It’s the people who live here.” He tapped his finger on the map. “They’re your biggest vulnerability.”
“How so?” Josina asked with genuine interest.
“Infiltration. Anyone who wanted to attack this community and cause real harm doesn’t need drones or weapons or toxins. They don’t even need to set foot inside. They just need to find the right people who are already inside – or can get inside through proper channels – and weaponize them.”
A chill ran through Josina’s body. Behind her, Kaafi cleared his throat. She was comforted by the subtle reminder he was there. “I’m listening,” she said to Yasir.
“If someone wanted to cause harm to the people who live here, it wouldn’t be that hard. Restrict their access to something they need or want. Threaten to harm something they love. Take away the truth and lie to them. Turn them against each other. When they’re divided and at war, blame their perceived enemies for all their pain. You won’t have to destroy them. They’ll destroy each other.” Yasir licked his lips.
Then he smiled.
Josina was repulsed by how casually and coldly he could speak of such matters. How delighted he seemed with the idea of destroying a community from the inside out. How eerily his suggestions aligned with what he’d done to Josina and her mother; how he’d broken their bond with such ease.
She reached into her bag, retrieving the stack of bills and placing them on his desk again. He snatched them away no sooner than her hand returned to her lap.
“What is this place, anyway?” Yasir dipped his head back down to fixate on the map, newly intrigued.
“It’s not a real place,” Josina lied. She’d learned as a child that deceiving Yasir was essential to her survival while living under his roof. It wasn’t always safe to tell the truth. Sometimes the truth had to be protected. She’d learned from experience she had to stay several steps ahead of him, anticipate questions he’d ask, think fast on her feet, be prepared to divert his attention with credible explanations, ready to substantiate them when he demanded proof.
“If it’s not real, why are you wasting my time?” He demanded to know.
“It’s real from an artistic perspective. It’s for a film. Live action scenes will be shot on a movie set like this,” she said, tapping the map on his desk.
“How did you get involved in that?”
“I’m…the nurse for the film crew. I treat any medical emergencies that happen while we're filming and I enforce the Covid protocols to keep everyone safe.” She pointed to her mask.
He narrowed his eyes. “And why is the nurse talking with subject matter experts?”
“Because the person who would normally do that tested positive for Covid this morning, so he’ll be out for a while. Rather than slow down production and lose money, my boss asked me to help tie up a few loose ends, one of which was to identify a creative consultant who could provide insights into the criminal mind. I told him I knew just the person.”
“And it’s customary for you to offer large sums of cash for this… consulting?”
“Well… no. But my boss authorized a cash payment as we figured you might not want your name associated with the sensitive nature of your… ‘expertise.’” She raised her hands, hooking her fingers into air quotes.
“Why doesn’t it surprise me you’d end up involved in something like this? I’m sure you fit in perfectly with all those fake Hollywood liberals who think they’re better than everyone else.” Yasir shouted. Then he pointed at Kaafi. “And you? What do you have to do with all this?”
“Stop yelling at him,” Josina said in a firm voice. “I have one more proposition for you. This next one is personal.”
“What else do you want?” Yasir’s nostrils flared as he spoke. A vein bulged on his forehead.
“I see you haven’t let go of that money since I gave it to you.” Josina’s eyes cut down to the thick stack of bills in his hand. “There’s more where that came from.”
“Stop playing games and tell me what you want.”
“I want you to let my mother go,” said Josina. “Divorce her. Set her free. Name your price, Yasir. Retire from whatever kind of shady shit you’re wrapped up in. Shut down this sad, dilapidated office that you pretend is a real business. You must be tired. You look exhausted, if I’m being honest. I’m offering you a way to leave it all behind. Just let my mother go and tell me how much I owe you. You can bill me for a business expense or I can get you cash if you’d prefer. My fake liberal Hollywood friends who believe they’re better than everyone else actually are better than everyone else when it comes to moving money around quietly and discretely. They can help us make it happen.”
The room grew eerily quiet. Yasir seemed frozen in place. He stared at her for several seconds without so much as blinking.
Josina reached in her bag for a pen and piece of paper, writing a phone number on it. “Call me when you have a figure in mind.” She slid it across his desk, then stood up. “Would you like to keep the map, Yasir? You can hold onto it as a souvenir of our little meeting. Maybe you’ll recognize it in a movie someday.”
He jolted out of his seat, ripped the map down the middle, and threw the halves at Josina. She collected them nonchalantly and placed them in her bag. “Okay then. Suit yourself.”
“You think you can buy your mother?” Yasir threw his head back and laughed. “I don’t know who you think you are. You may be some bigshot in the film industry now, you may have money and a security detail following you around, but you’ll never see her again.”
“We’ll see about that. Everyone has their price, Yasir. Even you.”
“Get the fuck out of here, Josina.”
“My pleasure.” She stepped out of his office and down the hallway, Kaafi walking behind her. Both gave a polite nod to the bewildered-looking receptionist before exiting the building.
Back in Kaafi’s SUV, they settled into their seats, took a few deep breaths, then made eye contact.
“Get the fuck out of here, Josina!” She said, lowering her voice and mimicking Yasir’s accent.
They both broke into laughter, clutching their bellies and howling until they had tears in their eyes.
“You were amazing!” Kaafi proclaimed. “I have never seen anything like that before in my life! Remind me to never get on your bad side! You were so ferocious, so powerful… and yet so calm and confident! I’m in awe!”
Josina wiped her eyes. “You did a great job as my security detail. Thank you.”
“Security detail!” Kaafi repeated in between belly laughs. “How did you keep a straight face? That was so intense!”
Josina nodded. “It was. Now I’m hungry. Why don’t we go back to the community center so I can get my car, then we could pick up some lunch? I’m buying. It’s the least I can do to thank you.”
“Only if we can take it to the house and eat on the porch swing.”
Josina pondered his idea, then nodded. “I like the way you think.”
He started the engine and pulled out of the parking lot. “Still five stars?”
“Five stars. They’ll never be enough, but yes, my friend. Five stars all the way.”
***
Josina awoke to the sound of text message notifications hitting her phone. She reached for it on the nightstand, bringing it close to her eyes. There were several new messages in the ‘Fine Ass Ladies of the Founders’ Council’ thread, including a picture of the ladies at their Wednesday brunch at The Black Sheep.
Siado Martinez: Josina!!! We miss u!
Bellamy Fisher: Hope you’re here next Wednesday! Just rolled out a new menu item – strawberry cheesecake French toast. Thumbs up from everyone here!
Cassie Corio: Bellamy forgot you weren’t going to be here and made you a serving of it. Hope you don’t mind but I ate yours in addition to mine, LOL. Baby was hungry!
Josina grinned as she texted a reply: Miss you all! I’ve had the most amazing time in MN over the past few days! 😊 I’ll start my drive home tomorrow and should arrive on Saturday, late in the day. See you when I get back!
A flurry of heart emoji reactions to her message followed.
She sat up in bed, glanced around the room.
“Good morning Hooyo,” whispered Josina. “I can still feel your spirit here in your old bedroom. I’m so lucky that I got to stay here during my trip back home. You haven’t shown up in my dreams yet, but I’m not leaving until tomorrow, so you’ve got one last chance to make an appearance!”
After showering and getting dressed for the day, she went downstairs to find a styrofoam takeout cup filled with hot coffee and a bag of bagels on the counter. A handwritten note was taped to the bag.
Good morning Josina! I had to stop by this morning and let the work crew into the garage, so I thought I’d leave you some breakfast while I was here. Hope you slept well. See you this evening!
Kaafi
Her heart fluttered as she read the words aloud.
She grabbed the coffee, chomped down on a bagel, and picked a well-worn novel from the bookshelf in the hallway. Then she retreated upstairs again to climb back into bed. It was the last full day of her stay in Minnesota and she wanted to luxuriate in every precious moment of it.
Since the morning Josina arrived at the community center, she and Kaafi had grown close. They’d managed to find an excuse to see each other each day. Josina had joined him for some of his treks around the city for work. They’d picked up donations for the community center’s food and diaper banks, delivered school supplies to refugee families with children, and took flowers to community members in the hospitals and nursing homes. They’d caught the last concert of the season in the ‘Jazz in the Garden’ concert series at the local botanical gardens. They’d taken turns making dinner and dined on the porch swing each night, finishing the evening with a glass of wine and dessert.
They had spent much of their time together just talking, sharing their life stories in bits and pieces at a time. Josina had told him all about the traumas of her youth and how Ola had rescued her from it all, becoming a surrogate mother, giving her a home, and guiding her toward her nursing career. She’d told him all about the assault she’d suffered on the job, and the Covid infection that followed. Then about her move to North Carolina to work as a private duty nurse, and how she’d grown close to Ben. She’d told him about Wayside and the chosen family she had there.
And about Cassie’s dream. The vaguely ominous prophecy that Cassie believed it held for Wayside, that harm would come to the community. While Josina hoped it was just a dream, the strength of Cassie’s conviction was impossible to ignore. Josina understood sentinel intelligence took different forms, some of which were abstract and couldn’t be measured. Intuition was highly underappreciated by society at large.
But not at Wayside.
The visit to Yasir had largely confirmed for Josina that Joel had done his due diligence as the security director of Wayside. But to her surprise, Yasir had given her some valuable observations on potential gaps in their security planning and preparedness. She would share them with Joel upon her return. Hopefully it would give the Founders’ Council – especially Cassie – peace of mind that they were doing all they could to identify threats and avoid harm.
Aside from the plea to Yasir to release his wife from his abuse and control, Josina had confided in Kaafi there was a much bigger reason why she’d gone to see her stepfather.
“I wanted him to know he didn’t break me,” she’d shared with Kaafi. “I needed him to see that I survived what he put me through, and that I’m living a meaningful life now. That I’m confident and successful and happy. And that I’m worthy of all of it.”
Kaafi understood. He was a good listener. He hung on her every word and validated her thoughts with praise and encouragement.
Josina found herself comparing Kaafi to Ben. She trusted both of them. She felt connection and chemistry with both of them. But with Kaafi, she was certain it wasn’t one-sided. She didn’t have to wonder if his feelings for her surpassed platonic friendship.
She knew they did.
She could sense that Kaafi had been wanting to act on his feelings but was holding back. Maybe he was still starstruck. Josina was endlessly amused by the memory of his words when they’d first met. “You’re a legend!” Kaafi had told her, and he’d meant it. Perhaps it was out of respect; he knew she was only there for a short time and would have to return soon to her faraway home. He wouldn’t have treated her like a casual fling. Whatever the reason, she found his hesitancy both noble and frustrating. Part of her wanted him to break past the boundary of friendship, surprise her with a kiss, and sweep her off her feet.
But another part of her feared it would only end in heartbreak. They lived too far apart to sustain a meaningful connection. Josina couldn’t see herself moving back to Minnesota, nor could she fathom Kaafi moving away from a community where he was recognized as a leader and was making a real difference. He was where he belonged.
Underneath all the excitement and novelty of her budding friendship with Kaafi, there was an ache inside her.
She missed Ben.
He hadn’t reached out to her since she’d left Wayside, nor had she contacted him. She suspected he missed her too, but was respecting her ask for time and space to herself. There were moments when she could sense he was thinking about her, wondering how she was doing, wondering what she was doing. Wondering if she was missing him too.
And there were moments when she’d fought the urge to break the silence and text him to say hello, ask how his day was going. Or fill him in on all that had happened since she had arrived in Minneapolis, with pictures documenting her adventures.
Josina knew she and Ben hadn’t just stumbled into each other’s lives by coincidence. The way they complemented each other, they way they understood each other, and the way they needed each other told her that fate had brought them together for a reason. They were joined at the hip, tethered at the soul, incomplete without one another. She wanted nothing more for it to be a romantic love, but was waking up to the reality that six years had come and gone with zero movement in that direction.
She needed to know why.
“So ask him,” said a familiar voice.
Startled, Josina looked up to find the apparition of Ola sitting by her feet at the foot of the bed.
“Hooyo,” she said softly, sitting up in bed, outstretching her arms as Ola leaned into them. “I was hoping I would see you. I miss you!”
Ola embraced her, then pulled back, smiling warmly. She touched the top of Josina’s head. “I’ve been here all along, you know.”
“Of course. I was just hoping for one lovely, lucid dream with you while I’m back here in your room. I’ve been sleeping so soundly at night, I had to try and catch you in a nap.”
“Well, reading in bed always did make you fall asleep, and I’m sure all the carbs in that bagel helped,” said Ola with a laugh. “Nice work.”
“I’ve had the most wonderful time here, Hooyo.”
“I’m so glad, my dear.”
“You would love Kaafi. He’s been the best part of this journey. He’s kind and he’s funny—”
“And he’s hot,” said Ola.
“Hooyo!” Josina laughed.
“What? He is!” She flapped her hands in front of her face, pretending to fan herself. “Oh my stars, what a beautiful man. I could get lost in those eyes of his.”
Josina grinned. “He is gorgeous, yes. I really, really like him. But tomorrow I have to leave, after the appointment.”
“And what does that have to do with anything?”
Josina shrugged. “I have strong feelings for Kaafi, but I don’t want to indulge them. There’s no way we could be more than friends, so why bother? It would only end in disappointment. I guess I’m always thinking about tomorrow, about what comes next.”
Ola smiled. “Oh, my little refugee. You’re still running.”
“What do you mean?”
“You’ve always been like that. Ever since I’ve known you. As a runaway child you learned at a young age that you couldn’t depend on anyone but yourself. You always had to think about your next meal, your next place to sleep for the night. Now you’re all grown up and you’re safe. You don’t have to run anymore, Josina. But you still are. You’re protecting your heart. You run at the slightest sign that it might get broken.”
“No,” Josina waved her hand dismissively. “I don’t think that’s true.”
Ola crossed her arms and shook her head, sighing loudly. “You saw a dating app on Ben’s phone and made all kinds of assumptions about it without even discussing it with him. You moved out of the home you shared with him, returning to the villa. Then you packed your bags and came back to Minneapolis.”
“You’re right about me moving back to the villa. But that’s not why I came back to Minneapolis, Hooyo. I have an appointment in the city tomorrow. You know that.”
“You left Wayside before you even made the appointment, more than a week ago. You were running, Josina.”
A long break of silence followed.
“Maybe I am,” Josina relented.
“So is it working?” Ola asked. “Is your heart unbroken?”
Josina was surprised by how sudden the tears came. “No. I really don’t know what I’m doing. I don’t know how to change it.”
“You’re stuck. Trapped in a cycle, repeating the same patterns. You can break them, Josina. I know you can.”
“How?” She wiped her eyes.
“By being brave. By choosing to stop running. By facing the things you’re most afraid of, and trusting that if the outcome isn’t what you were hoping for, you’ll be strong enough to deal with it.”
Josina wept into her hands. “You’re right.”
“Of course I’m right. Hooyo is always right.” Ola reached for her hands, giving them a gentle squeeze. “Look at me, Josina. My beautiful daughter who grew not in my womb, but in my heart. I love you so much, and I am so very proud of you. Listen to me. You are worthy.”
Josina awoke abruptly. She sat up, searching for signs of Ola, realizing seconds later that she was the only person in the room. Her eyes settled on the framed picture on the wall over the chest of drawers. A younger Josina at her graduation from nursing school, with a younger Ola standing by her side. Kaafi wasn’t kidding when he’d said that she and Ola were legends to the local Somali community. Each room of the house had a framed picture of the two of them on the wall, as if to keep them present in spirit, as if to keep their stories alive. Both women were a testament to the power of hope, of chosen family, of new beginnings.
“I heard you, Hooyo,” she whispered to the picture. “I am worthy.”
That evening, Kaafi arrived with a pizza, garlic bread, and cheesecake for dessert. They dined on the porch swing while watching a movie on Kaafi’s phone. They talked for hours. Midnight came quickly, dissolving into a new day just as swiftly. The chill in the air grew sharper. When Kaafi saw Josina pull the sleeves of her shirt down over her hands, he shrugged out of his jacket and placed it over her shoulders.
He kept his arm around her, hand on her back. Josina didn’t protest. She rested her head on his shoulder.
“How are you feeling about tomorrow?” He asked her.
“Good,” she said.
“Would you like for me to come with you?”
“That’s so kind of you to offer,” said Josina. “I’ll be alright. I feel like I need to do this on my own. But thank you so, so much, Kaafi. I really appreciate everything you’ve done for me. I can’t imagine what this trip would have been like, had I not met you.”
“I’m so glad you decided to come by the community center last week,” he said. “I’ve had the most wonderful time with you. I wish it didn’t have to end.”
“I wish things were different too,” said Josina. She glanced at her watch. “Oh wow, I should really get to bed! I’ll be starting the drive back after my appointment.”
Kaafi stood, extending his hand for Josina to hold as she stood up from the porch swing. As she did, he wrapped his arm around her waist, pulling her close to him. They smiled at each other.
Their noses touched.
And then they kissed.
They held each other tightly for a long moment. Josina rested her head against Kaafi’s neck. He wrapped his arms around her back.
“I really do wish things were different,” Josina repeated when she finally pulled back. “I wish this could be something more.”
“Why can’t it?” Kaafi asked.
“Because I’m already in love with someone else,” she said, her voice tightening with emotion. “If it weren’t for him—”
“It’s okay,” Kaafi said, embracing her again. “You don’t have to explain. I understand. Whoever he is, he’s the luckiest man in the world. And I’m happy for you, that you found someone to love. You deserve all the happiness in the world, Josina.”
She hugged him back. “You’re so amazing, Kaafi.”
“We’re still friends, aren’t we?”
“Of course!” Josina laughed. “I never want to lose touch with you!”
“Alright then. I’m glad.” Kaafi walked her to the door, kissed her on the cheek, and reclaimed his jacket as she stepped inside.
“Thank you for everything,” said Josina.
“Thank you for everything too. Especially that amazing kiss,” he told her, grinning as he rested his hand over his heart. “I will always remember it fondly. I hope the garlic and the braces didn’t ruin it for you.”
“I didn’t even notice,” Josina laughed.
“Five stars then?”
“Five stars would be an injustice,” said Josina. “For you, Kaafi? I give you all the stars in the sky.”
***
The following morning, Josina felt butterflies in her belly as she stepped out of her car. She reached for her phone, looking through her photos app for two of the oldest pictures stored on her device. In each one, sixteen-year old Josina was holding the tiny baby she had just given birth to. Welcoming her child into the world in the first one, saying goodbye in the next, just before the baby was surrendered for adoption.
“I am worthy,” Josina whispered. “I just wasn’t ready back then.” She zoomed in on one of the pictures of the baby’s face, wiping away a tear that had fallen on the screen. “I am now.”
Next, she opened her mail app, locating a flagged message in her inbox.
From: Rasmussen, Kate
Re: Details for 10/1 appt
Hello Josina,
I’m looking forward to meeting with you at 9 am on October 1st and supporting you through this journey. Since the adoptee is of adult age, the process will be less complex than if she were still a minor. Still, there are some legal considerations for you as a birth mother and some work we recommend you do to prepare yourself emotionally and psychologically for establishing contact with your daughter. We will serve as a confidential intermediary through these first steps of the process, which we will discuss in detail at our meeting on October 1st…
Josina’s gaze drifted away from her phone, up to the sign on the building before her.
Twin Cities Adoption Services, it read.
“I am worthy,” Josina repeated. “And I’m ready.”
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