Chapter Sixteen
Rita Hawatmeh clung fiercely to Dylan’s hand during most of the flight to Houston, often weeping silently. “First Shadi, and now my Issa,” she whispered, then used her other hand to cross herself as she said a prayer in Arabic.
Dylan remembered Issa telling him his parents were deeply religious, Catholics. In spite of his anger toward Issa’s parents for what they’d done to their son, Dylan couldn’t help but pity her. He knew Issa would want him to comfort her, and he’d vehemently defended his mother. His father had been the one who’d rejected Issa for being gay, and his mom was caught in the middle.
Dylan had only a few memories of his own parents. For most of his childhood, he’d been raised by his older brothe
