by Alam, Donna
‘Shall we?’ he asks, bringing my hand to his mouth and kissing it, laughing softly.
Inside, the entrance hall is cool and dark. Slate tiles cover the floor and contrast stylishly against the warm ochre walls. We follow Mishael through a heavily carved archway and into a high-ceilinged room, brightly lit by several sets of French windows, leading out onto a terrace and the large freeform pool beyond.
‘Sit down, lovelies.’ Mishael directs us enthusiastically to pale sofas placed over bright oriental rugs. ‘Tell the old bird what you’ve been up to today.’
The familiar flush of cardinal red creeps across my cheeks. I hope it doesn’t make the answer too obvious.
‘Old bird?’ Kai repeats with scorn. ‘Do you see where I get my inclination towards flattery and compliments?’ His gaze slides to mine, before returning warmly to his mother. ‘We haven’t been up to much, just hung out, read a little. Your old favourite, Layla and Kais.’
I’d managed to source a copy of it in the school library. Kai spotted it on my bedside cabinet, laughingly asking if I’d found any smutty bits in it.
Mishael looks surprised for a moment, her mouth opening into a small ‘o’ before morphing into a smile. ‘But you hate that book! Said you’d wish I’d called you Peter or something. It must be you, Kate, he wouldn’t know good literature if it fell right off the shelf and hit him on the head.’
‘Actually, Kai read a little to me.’
‘No.’ He groans, ‘I’ll never live that down. I’m going to need a drink if you’re going to gang up on me.’
‘But it’s barely lunchtime,’ his mother cautions, one censorious eyebrow raised. Eyebrow action is obviously a family trait.
‘Mother, I’m being politic. By excusing myself to get a bottle of wine, I’m allowing you to quiz Kate about her intentions towards your only child.’
‘Kais!’ his mother exclaims. ‘Behave yourself! Bugger off and get yourself a bottle if you must, but don’t upset Regina.’
Kissing the top of my head, he murmurs, ‘I’ll be back soon. Be sure to make her get the thumb screws out.’
‘He’ll only be a few minutes. I don’t have an extensive cellar here.’ Rising, Mishael comes to sit on the sofa next to me. ‘Though he may go to his own house if he wants a particular wine.’
‘No worries. He’s next door, right?’
‘Yes, one of the other houses on the compound. I’m sure he’ll show you around.’ She waves her hand dismissively. ‘He really is a lovely man, a little stubborn, but he has a heart of gold.’
‘That sounds like him,’ I say lightly.
‘Yes, but in this case, I wanted him out of the room, anyway.’
‘Oh.’ Or more likely, uh-oh.
‘I did want to have a quick chat with you, without him around.’
‘Sure.’ I’m intrigued.
‘I do hope you aren’t letting him railroad his way through your life. I often think he needs someone to stand up to him, as well as for him. He hasn’t had the easiest life. God knows, his father demands a lot from him.’
‘I wouldn’t know,’ I say in a small voice.
‘No, you wouldn’t. I expect he thinks he’s protecting you. But you look strong enough to cope.’ Her eyes are almost assessing, but of what, I’m not sure. I feel like I’m here for an interview or something. ‘Look after my boy. Let him look after you.’
‘I’ll try my best,’ I reply quietly. But what she says next steals the breath from my lungs.
‘He’s in love, you know. I know it. I expect he does, too.’ She takes my hand in both of hers. ‘Just let him get there himself. It’s probably a frightening place for him to be.’
‘I . . . I . . .’ don’t know what to say.
‘No, you don’t have to tell me. It’s written on your face when you look at him. But I doubt he’s ever been in love. Of course, there have been girls. Lots of girls, I shouldn’t wonder.’ I feel myself shrink in my seat. How much does she know? ‘I’m sure his father saw to that, not that I blame Faris, and not that I have any say over his plans. In his own twisted way, he’s trying to set his son on what he sees as the right path. He thinks Kai is leading a wild life and he’ll be ready to settle down when he’s done.’
‘It’s probably the way dad’s usually think, with son’s I mean.’
‘Perhaps. But Faris isn’t a usual father. Heaven only knows what that man is up to. Unfortunately, the stereotype fits him well.’ I must look confused as I have no idea what she’s talking about. ‘Urbane, educated liars,’ she prompts, as though I should understand. ‘Men who promise you the world, but in the end it amounts to nothing. Faris promised me the world and I often wonder what would’ve happened if . . .’ Her words trail off, her mind turning inwards as her face clouds. She shakes off the clinging grievance. ‘No matter. He looks at his own life, at me, and I know he’s trying to prevent the same from happening to Kais. An unsuitable wife.’ Her grip tightens on my hand. ‘But Kais will live his life as he wants, not as he’s told. Neither one seems to realise they’re cut from the same, stubbornly thick cloth. There will be rough times ahead, Kate, but don’t lose sight of my boy and what you mean to him.
Kai returns to the room at that minute, brandishing an open bottle. ‘The prodigal returns!’ he exclaims. ‘And Regina says brunch is ready.’
Brunch is served in a large family-style room, complete with an intimate table setting. We dine, I distractedly, on herbed, grilled chicken and a deliciously crisp fatoush salad, complimented by a zesty dressing and lemony breadsticks. Mishael explains that sumac, the lemon-scented herb coating the bread, is used extensively in Arabic cuisine, and tells me she has the berry growing in her garden. The conversation flows, but I find myself quiet at the table as I try to process his mother’s words. How can she know he loves me? Does she know her son that well? And what of the implications of his father again? Doesn’t anyone in this family say what they actually mean?
‘The girls are coming over later, maybe you could stay?’ she asks Kai before turning to me with an explanation. ‘Kai’s sister and a couple of his younger cousins. Lovely girls.’ Wow, the whole family thing. And his sister is a half-sister, isn’t she?
‘We can’t, I’m taking Kate out to the desert.’
I set my wine glass down. ‘You are?’
‘Part two of our mystery destination,’ he replies casually.
‘You mean you didn’t let the poor girl know she was coming out here?’
‘No. I didn’t want to frighten her with the thoughts of seeing the old dragon.’
‘Charming.’ Somehow it comes out more like arsehole. His mother is lovely and doesn’t breathe fire at all. Him, on the other hand. ‘I wonder how you describe me when I’m not around.’
‘Now that would be telling,’ he answers with a deep chuckle. ‘And, there’s a third part to the mystery day. Something I’ve thought long and hard about.’ He taps his full bottom lip as though in deep contemplation. That one motion has me both thrilled and a little anxious as to what else is in store.
‘What are you doing for the holidays?’ his mother interjects, deftly changing the subject. ‘Weren’t you going to Egypt to climb?’
‘I haven’t made firm plans. I was hoping to entice Kate away.’
This is news to me. Usually, when someone wants to take a holiday with you, they ask. Mind reading isn’t a great medium for communication. But a climber? That would explain Kai’s lithe physique and muscle definition, for sure. I can just imagine him in cargo pants, mounting a rock face. Somehow that doesn’t sound quite right, but I imagine it all the same.
‘Do you have plans for the half term holiday, Kate?’
‘Sorry?’ I’m obviously radiating that colour again as Kai coughs into his napkin, hiding a sly smile. ‘I haven’t thought about it. It seems weird taking a holiday when I’ve only just started work.’
‘It’s because of the government holidays. They have everyone upside down this year due to their early fall
. I think the school is closed for ten days in total, including the weekends. It would be a shame to spend them in Dubai when you have the opportunity for a holiday,’ she adds.
‘If you don’t already have plans, I’d love to take you somewhere.’ Kai tilts his head towards one shoulder. ‘Where would you like to go?’
‘Don’t put the girl on the spot, Kais. Let her have a think.’
‘Sounds great. I’d love to go on holiday. With you.’
‘We just need to choose a destination, then. Goa, the Maldives, Sri Lanka?’
‘Anywhere, so long as it doesn’t involve climbing. I barely have enough upper body strength to lift my coffee cup.’
Mishael stands in response to a noise from the hallway, laughingly commenting, ‘Are all Australian’s as entertaining as you, Kate?’
Entertaining? I wasn’t kidding.
‘Where should we go?’ Kai asks as she leaves the room.
‘What do you want t—’
‘You. Anywhere and all of the time, but I meant where would you like to go?’
‘So long as it’s with you, I don’t mind.’ God. Talk about cringe-worthy. ‘Was that a bit much?’
‘Absolutely not,’ he says, switching on his toe-curling smile and reaching for my hand. He brings it to his mouth but instead of kissing it, grazes my knuckles with his teeth. ‘So long as we get to fuck lots, I don’t care.’
‘Shush, your mum’s coming back.’ I place my hand against his free one as it snakes up my thigh.
‘Let’s abandon the desert, go over to my house. Spread you across the table. I’d love to eat—’
‘Are you still hungry? I think there’s a citrus tart in the kitchen,’ Mishael calls, panicking me slightly. I hope her hearing isn’t that good. ‘Shall I ask Regina to serve it?’ she asks as she re-enters the room.
‘I’m afraid we have to be on our way.’
‘Then you must be sure to bring Kate visiting again.’
At the front door, Mishael takes my hand in hers. ‘It’s been so lovely to see you again, my dear.’
‘Thanks for lunch.’
‘Take care, Kais, darling.’ Hugs, kisses and social niceties over, Kai helps me into the car.
‘So, we’re off to spend some time in the desert?’ Kai pulls out of the large front gates. ‘Are we staying there, only I haven’t brought my toothbrush?’ Or spare undies, mascara or my deodorant, which would be problematic.
‘All taken care of. I’ve brought miswak.’
‘Mis-what?’
‘Miswak. A traditional Arabic toothbrush. It’s the root of a tree,’ he explains, ‘you chew on it in the place of a brush and paste.’
‘You’re shi—you’re winding me up.’
He can barely keep a straight face, eventually unable to hold back his laughter. ‘I am,’ he manages to say through his chuckling. ‘I have, however, taken all oral requirements into consideration for this stay.’
‘Okay,’ I reply softly and with a frown.
Staying out in the desert. Does that mean we’re camping? Of course, it does. Desert sand can’t be any different to beach sand and I hate that stuff with a passion. Ironic, considering where I’ve moved to.
‘What is it?’ Kai’s voice pulls me from my internal whine.
‘I’m not a fan of camping,’ I confess.
‘Who says were camping?’
‘I assumed . . .’ My words trail off.
‘You know what assume did.’
‘Yeah, thanks. My ass is big enough as it is.’
‘Your ass is fine, very fine, and you obviously haven’t seen how some Emirati’s like to camp. They take everything but the kitchen sink—sofas, huge satellite dishes for TV signals, rugs—the works. All that to get in touch with their inner Bedouin.’
‘And is that what we’re doing?’ I ask trying to mask my smile. Doesn’t sound too bad. Sounds more like glamping than camping. Very posh.
‘You’ll find out soon enough.’
Chapter Fifty-One
The motion of the car lulls me as I fight the urge to open my eyes, the soothing sounds of a guitar eventually breaks through.
‘Out for the count,’ I murmur, stretching and rubbing my eyes.
‘With snores and everything. I could barely hear Asturias.’
‘I didn’t,’ I protest, suddenly wide awake and disconcerted. ‘No way I stopped you from ass . . . whatever it was.’ Ass-what was it?
‘Asturias, the music,’ he says laughing. ‘And how would you know you didn’t snore? You were asleep.’
‘Because I don’t snore. It’s nice, the music. Flamenco-y,’ I add hoping to change the subject. I pause, willing him to expand on his music choice, allowing the topic to move away from further embarrassment, but no, he just continues staring at the road; smug.
Oh, the mortification of it all.
‘Go on then, add to my misery,’ I complain. ‘Tell me I snore like a hog.’
‘A gentleman never tells. I’m not going to tell you how your sweet little snores made me smile or how your sleepy murmurs made me hard.’
‘And that’s a gentleman not telling?’ I fold my arms. ‘Just teasing?’
‘Don’t ask. I don’t tell.’
‘How long was I out?’
‘A little under an hour. We’re nearly there.’
‘I’m not great company on a road trip.’ I yawn, stretching out my arms and chest, pushing the sleep from my body.
‘I’ve had worse companions.’ He slides an appreciative glance my way. ‘You’re certainly easier on the eye than Rashid.’
‘Thanks, I think. Though I do lack a certain length of something, compared to Rashid.’
This time his glance my way is wry. ‘I’m not sure where you’re going with that. Care to expand?’
‘Think it was black, and about, hmm, yay long?’ I hold out my fingers, approximating a vague length.’ Then burst into a fit of giggles. ‘His gun. The barrel? Was black and about this long?’ I might be mistaken, but I’m pretty sure he just rolled his eyes. ‘Hey, why isn’t he driving? You could’ve slept, too. Arrived all fresh eyed and bushy tailed to our secret destination.’
‘Bleary eyed and bushy mouthed, more like.’ I purse my lips together and mentally make a note of not getting too close before acquainting myself with a tube of toothpaste or at least a packet of mints. ‘I hate falling asleep when I’m travelling. I always seem to wake up in the foulest of moods. I’m not a great sleeper in general. How do you think I got the photos of you in bed?’
‘You don’t sleep?’ I can’t believe I haven’t noticed, but then he’s usually worn me out before I fall asleep in his arms.
‘I do, just not as much as you. Hence the photos. I like to watch,’ he replies, tone ribald.
‘A sleep voyeur? That’s a new one on me, but as I slept and you watched, it worked out well for both of us.’
‘Any time spent with you is time well spent.’
I absolutely flush with pleasure because that’s got to be a little more adoration there, but, Christ, I hope I wasn’t snoring.
‘Sorry,’ I say feebly. Sorry for sleeping, sorry for snoring? Who knows?
‘Don’t worry. I’m sure you’ll think of a way to make it up to me. If not, I can certainly think of a thing or two . . .’
‘I just bet you can.’ I don’t know how he manages to bring every conversation back to sex. It must be a knack or something. Or maybe he was right when he said everything in the world is about sex. And sex is about power. Nope, not going with that line of thinking again. ‘D-did I miss anything?’ I stammer. ‘While I was snoring away?’
‘Let me see.’ He rubs a hand across his cheek in mock contemplation. ‘You missed me fighting the urge to pull over and disturb you, bend you over the backseat and—ouch!’ He chuckles, moving nearer to the door as I slap his arm. ‘Obviously I didn’t. I couldn’t wake you through the snoring!’
‘You’re such a slut,’ I grumble, fighting my smile.
; ‘Baby, talk dirty to me,’ he growls out playfully. ‘You know how much I love your pretty mouth full of dirty words.’
‘You’re impossible, you know.’
‘Habitual,’ he exhales with a sigh. ‘And you didn’t miss much, nothing you can’t see on the way back. A couple of abandoned villages, some camels on the horizon.’
‘Bugger. I could have brought my camera. I haven’t seen anything Aladdin-y since I got here,’ I grumble.
‘Arabia not Arabian enough for you?’
‘Funny you should ask, but the lack of flying carpets has been a huge disappointment.’
‘Yes, Niamh had mentioned you’d said as much. That’s why I thought of this place rather than going away to Beirut or wherever. And there’ll be lots of time for shisha and camels in the future, I promise.’
Lots of time for me and my boyfriend. That sounds heavenly and I must remember to thank Niamh, too.
‘And hopefully, we’ll make memories here.’
I reluctantly turn my eyes from Kai’s smiling profile, following the slight incline of his head. In the distance, a large sand coloured building glints in the sunlight. Fortress is the first word that springs to mind, but on second glance there isn’t anything ancient looking about the cluster of buildings, despite being walled and turreted. Could it be a small town, like an oasis outpost? And, for the first time since waking, I notice the sand. On either side of the car, apricot coloured sand dunes shift minutely, twisting in the breeze.
‘Is that a fort? Where are we? Where did all the sand come from?’
‘A, no, it’s a hotel. B, in Liwa, and C, from the desert.’ His voice is full of warm humour and he looks pretty stoked.
‘A hotel?’
‘Yes. We’re staying here, on the edge of the Rub’ al Khali. The empty quarter.’
‘In the desert? Wow!’
What starts as a chuckle develops into a deeply distinct laugh as I stare at the cluster of buildings drawing ever closer. I probably look like a kid at the gates to Disneyland. The buildings look more like a citadel than any hotel, though definitely more modern than ancient. Now I’m stoked!
‘What’s the empty quarter?’
