by Erin Snihur
Sighing romantically, Bea grins and shoots Amelia a wink, “You mean you already feel those maternal instincts kicking in?”
Ending the call without saying anything more, Amelia races out of her study, only to be stopped by Mareen, who bumps into Amelia and falls onto her bottom. The young girl is hysterical and in tears as her words come out garbled and incomprehensible.
Hands on her hips, Amelia stares down at Mareen without feeding into the young girls’ hysteria, just like she had been trained to when she worked as a school teacher, “Sweet one, I can’t understand you unless you stop crying. Can you do that for me?”
Nodding through the tears and snot, Mareen stammers out her reply, “Malcolm was being mean to me. He says Santa won’t bring me the pretty pony I wanted because I was bad this year!”
Sighing, Amelia kneels down beside Mareen, smiling at the young girl, “I’m certain that is not true, sweet one. I think Malcolm is just trying to tease you and gain a reaction from you.”
Inwardly, Amelia’s heart warms as Mareen nods in understanding. The young girl loves to play in the stables and the head stablemaster’s son, Malcolm, seems to have developed a small crush on the young girl. After all, a way to a young girl’s heart is through teasing and the pulling of pigtails. At least where Mareen and Malcolm are concerned.
Clutching Amelia’s hands, Mareen stares into Amelia’s eyes deeply as her bottom lip quivers, “Will you please tell Khalid to call Santa and make sure I’m on the nice list?”
Smiling, Amelia nods and through the corner of her eye, notes Mareen’s maid approaching, “I will, darling. I promise. Now, run along and be good.”
Wincing as the young girl dances off with her maid, Amelia stands and goes in search of her own maid, who is quietly arranging Amelia’s clothing for dinner.
Dinner! That’s perfect, Amelia’s mind rejoices and she calls her maid.
“Have my husband notified that we’ll be having dinner in our chambers tonight, please,” Amelia asks and darts back to her study. The perfect night to tell Khalid the news about the baby and Mareen’s instance for a new pony.
Amelia glances from the small present wrapped and hidden beneath her robes to the large clock hanging over the mantle of the lit fireplace. Stopping herself from glancing at the clock once more, Amelia squirms in her seat. Only just this afternoon, she had been introduced to Fatima’s very discreet doctor and given an estimate of being almost six weeks pregnant.
The nausea began almost immediately after the kindly doctor left. Much to Fatima’s amusement, Amelia had groaned and clutched her stomach on Fatima’s bed, as she begged for the nausea to stop. Fatima claimed it was just nerves that had brought the nausea, but even now, when Amelia is waiting for her husband, she worries the nausea would present itself again.
Khalid was late. He was almost never late. Especially when it came to her. He must be very busy. Running a hand over her flat stomach, Amelia feels the flutters swell and roll through her stomach. Smiling down at the slight bump that appears and disappears in certain lights, Amelia sighs and meets her maids gaze. The young girl is clearly feeling pity for her Sheikha, but she thankfully remains silent.
Feeling her nausea begin to swell, Amelia stands and waves her hand towards the platters of food, still covered by the silver domes, “I think I shall retire. Please have the food sent to someone who will enjoy it.”
Her maid is instantly at her side, “Are you sure you’re alright, your Highness? Perhaps the Sheik is on his way now?”
Shaking her head, Amelia forces a happy smile on her face and pats the young girls’ hand, “My husband is a busy man and I am tired. If you do see him before you retire, tell him I’ve gone to sleep.”
Nodding in understanding, the maid quickly rushes about the little sitting room attached to their quarters and begins placing the trays of food on a rolling trolley. Amelia’s heart plummets down to her toes at the realization of her romantic night now in shambles. Clutching the wrapped pregnancy test tightly in the folds of her long dress, Amelia marches with her head held high towards their chambers. Closing the door behind her as quickly as she can, Amelia’s eyes begin to fill with tears. No need for the servants to know how disappointed she was in her husband’s disappearance.
Pulling her cellphone from the hidden pocket of her dress, Amelia scans the notification screen. She has many messages from Bea, all with pictures of cute baby clothes and fun nursery themes. Smiling at her friend’s eagerness at becoming an honorary aunt, Amelia pushes all thoughts of Khalid from her mind and begins scouring the internet regarding all things baby and first time mothers.
When Khalid finally appears in their chambers, he looks stressed and angry as he yells into his phone in heated Arabic. Amelia is only able to catch a few words. Army. War. Children. The last word she is able to catch sends chills running through her veins as she recalls the pregnancy test gift, she has hidden in her bedside table drawer. Khalid couldn’t know about the baby already, could he?
“Fix it,” Khalid finally snarls and ends his call. As if finally realizing she is in the room, his face softens. Scanning the room, Khalid sighs and runs his hands through his hair.
“I’m so sorry for missing our dinner, ya amar,” Khalid croons as he stalks towards her and squats down to her eye level. Blushing at his close proximity and the musky scent of his skin, Amelia quickly shuts off her phone and greets her husband with a kiss.
“It’s alright, I know how busy you are.”
Khalid hums as their lips meet and when he pulls back, he softly bumps his nose against hers. Standing to full height, Khalid walks over to his walk-in-closet and begins loosening his tie and suit jacket as he grumbles about his day.
“Today was a disaster. Maarku finally got back to me, but that conversation went nowhere. Then Haseem alerted me to a few remote tribes along our borders that are having territory wars. These people are still living like wandering sheep and I’ve tried to help them as best we can, but they continue with their traditions. Which brings us to today when one of the tribes kidnapped some children who had wandered off from their own tribe. We started negotiations and Haseem has sent a few of our men to infiltrate and retrieve the children, but I fear there may be casualties.”
Amelia’s stomach turns at the thought of children being used as pawns in territory wars. Wringing her hands, her eyes drift to her side tables drawer and the thought of her pregnancy test, distracts her as Khalid continues his rant.
“You know, my father used to use his own children as pawns in his games. As much as my mother begs us for grandchildren, I am happy we don’t have to worry about that for a very long time.”
Eyes wide as she watches Khalid change into low hanging pajama pants, Amelia’s bottom lip begins to tremble, “You mean you don’t want to have children?”
Sighing, Khalid rounds their bed and climbs under the blankets on his side. Leaning up against the pillows, Khalid caresses Amelia’s face before shooting her a soft smile.
“Maybe someday, but this past year has made me realize something, especially after Teresa and Xavier were being held prisoners by Tariq’s father,” Khalid murmurs and continues, “Children are liabilities. They are our weaknesses.”
Breath hitching, Amelia mutters, “But Teresa and Xavier were fine. Nothing horrible happened to them.”
Shrugging, Khalid concedes, “No, but something could have happened. I am not willing to place you or our hypothetical children on the line like that. Besides, I thought you and I wanted to spend time together alone without the responsibility of children weighing us down? Perhaps even travel the world like Malik and Samara have since they reunited?”
Amelia’s mind races. What would Khalid do if he found out she was pregnant after all? Would he blame her? As if sensing her mood and tumbling thoughts, Khalid shifts closer to her.
“Are you alright?”
Not waiting for her answer, Khalid pulls Amelia into his arms, “Mother didn’t give you some of her relaxin
g tea again, has she? I told her that stuff was too strong for you.”
“Yes, the tea. I suppose I should just sleep,” Amelia whispers.
Moaning in delight as he presses himself right up against her back, Khalid croons in her ear, “Dream of our future, ya amar. Tomorrow, you and I shall begin our plans to travel and see the world. Just the two of us.”
Inwardly, Amelia cringes and amends internally, just three of us.
4
Four days until Christmas...
“Any reported casualties?” Khalid asks Haseem as he flips through the documented report detailing the events of a kidnapping of children from a remote desert tribe to the north.
“A few chickens and cows, but no human casualties. It seems the tribe who orchestrated the kidnapping is from the northern Arabian country of Kulaz. We have been contacted by the Kulaz military who claim that since the death of their Sheik and the announcement of his heir, his daughter, tensions have been running high between some of the more remote tribes. They request all guilty parties be extradited back to Kulaz for sentencing,” Haseem murmurs, shortcutting a lot of unnecessary details that Khalid will no doubt read about in the report later.
Nodding, Khalid clicks his fingers over the keyboard of his computer and a large map of the Arabian countries displays. Easily finding Kulaz, hidden in the Arabian mountains, Khalid’s eyes squint as he reads the little information he had on the country. The old Sheik, Fargo Aqila, was a silent man and preferred ruling over his people without much assistance from other alliances. Though, Aman and Kulaz did have a peaceful friendship of sorts, things had obviously become distant in the last decade or so. Especially since Khalid had taken over after the death of his greedy father.
An alliance of some sort must be breached. Dealing with a lone Sheikha was new for Khalid. The countries that lived amongst the Arabian Mountains had strange traditions. He had never heard of one that allowed a sole woman to rule the country without assistance from her husband. Not that he minded, but it did make things more difficult. Especially since in the past, Khalid had had no dealings with the mysterious Sheikha of Kulaz.
Grumbling under his breath, Khalid shuffles the papers on his desk and shot Haseem a smirk, “Do we still have the invitation to the Kulaz crowning celebration? Perhaps Kulaz will be the first place Amelia and I travel once we get the Maarku matter settled.”
Handing Khalid the invitation, Haseem opens his mouth to speak, but Khalid’s office doors fly open, banging against the walls, startling both men enough that both reach for their concealed guns. Khalid instantly curses under his breath at the sight of his mother standing on the threshold of his office. His mother's angry face is all Khalid can see through the oval of Fatima’s hijab as she crosses her arms over her chest and marches into the room.
Ignoring Haseem completely, Fatima centers her glare on Khalid as her icy voice speaks up, “I wish to speak to my son.”
When Haseem hesitates, Fatima then turns her harsh and cool gaze on the large man, “Alone.”
Shooting Khalid, a look that resembles unease from the normally hardened soldier, Haseem makes a quick exit. Once the doors of the study close behind him, Khalid sets the papers in his lap aside and focuses on his mother. Fatima does not relax her glare and in fact, at the way Khalid is acting, perhaps she grows even more furious.
Extending his hand towards an open seat in front of his desk, Khalid murmurs, “Mother, don’t tell me my siblings have more demands for Christmas?”
Her small fists clench tightly at her sides as Fatima walks around his desk. With an open palm, she smacks the back of Khalid’s head as she yells, “You stupid man!”
Wincing at the dull pain forming at the side of his head, Khalid jumps to his feet, “What the hell was that for?”
“That was for being a stupid man! I thought I raised you better, Khalid!” Fatima groans and waves her hands about as she mutters under her breath about how disappointed in him, she is.
Fed up with her mutterings, Khalid snarls, “What are you talking about, Mother?”
Glaring at him with her hands on her hips, his mother delves one hand into her pockets and produces a small rectangular box wrapped in holiday wrapping. Throwing the box on his desk, Fatima scoffs.
“I did not raise a coward, Khalid,” his mother snaps as Khalid picks up the small present. At his hesitancy, Fatima motions to the gift again, “Open it, boy.”
Ripping the wrapping, Khalid turns the unmarked box over and pops the lid. Staring at the object inside for a moment, Khalid turns his bewildered look on his mother.
“Are you trying to tell me you are pregnant, Mother?” Khalid asks, not wanting to know the answer to his question, but it was the only one that came to mind.
Sighing in frustration, Khalid’s mother throws up her hands in disbelief, “I have raised a stupid son!”
Glancing down at the positive pregnancy test in the box, Khalid mutters, “Who could be—”
Khalid’s voice trails off as his mind connects the dots. Amelia. Standing from his desk, Khalid lets out a harsh curse, causing his mother to visibly flinch. She never did like her son’s use of such foul language. A trait they’d picked up from their father, much to her disappointment.
“How could this have happened?” Khalid growls as he stares back at the positive pregnancy test.
Scoffing, Fatima adjusts her hijab and pretends to flick a speck of dust off her robes, “I believe your father taught you about the birds and the bees when you were a younger man, Khalid.”
Feeling his face turn red with embarrassment, Khalid sets the test down and runs his hand through his hair, “I know how it happened, I just don’t know how this could have happened. Amelia and I use protection. Besides, we don’t even want to have children right now!”
Snorting, Fatima shakes her head in disappointment, “Yes, I know all about your little announcement last night. How could you tell that poor girl you didn’t want children? Can’t you see that she is in a very vulnerable position? You mustn’t stress out a pregnant woman so much! It isn’t good for the baby or the mother, for that matter.”
Baby… Amelia is pregnant with my baby, Khalid thinks. His chest tightens as his thoughts turn to Amelia. His thoughts drift to the roundness of her stomach as it grows with the pregnancy and then produces the beautiful, little bundle of joy that is half Amelia and half him.
“My wife is pregnant…” Khalid murmurs, his voice trailing off.
Nodding, Fatima sighs and shakes her head, “She will not be your wife for long if you keep acting this way, Khalid.”
His hands clench tightly into a fist as Khalid marches around his desk and clutches his mother's shoulders tightly. Pulling her into a quick hug, Khalid smiles down at his mother, “I’m going to be a father.”
Finally smiling up at her son, Fatima nods in excitement and clutches Khalid's hands in hers, “I know! I shall be a grandmother!”
Laughing, Khalid’s eyes drift to the report on the kidnapping incident and his once happy heart drops to his stomach. Like the children in the file, Khalid’s child, a royal by birthright, would be at risk of becoming a victim to the schemes of evil men.
Sighing in defeat, Khalid pulls away from his mother and begins to pace, “This can’t be happening.”
“What is the matter now, Khalid?” Fatima asks, her voice nervous at Khalid’s changing mood.
“If I have a child, they will become easy targets to our enemies,” Khalid growls and motions around the room, “You yourself know it to be true. You kept us hidden away here in Aman for so long. Only when I demanded to be sent to that boarding school with my friends, did you let me out of your sight. Maarku too. After everything that’s happened this past year, I couldn’t bear it if a child of mine was taken from me. How am I supposed to be able to protect him or her, for that matter?” Khalid collapses into a chair, completely defeated.
Fatima chuckles, “Oh, my son.”
Clucking her tongue, Fatima kneels before Khal
id and takes his hands in hers, forcing him to gaze into her eyes, “You cannot predict the future. Nor can you be by your child’s side twenty-four hours a day in order to protect them. Children make mistakes. You have and so has Maarku. I love all of my children and I long to keep them safe, but I have learned that I must not stifle their lives or else they will rebel, for the worse.”
Squeezing his fingers, Fatima smiles, “Your wife needs you now. I know you have been busy these past few days, but she hardly eats and she has secluded herself in the private gardens of your chambers. She needs your reassurance. She too is scared of becoming a single mother. Your strength and confidence will lift her spirits.”
Nodding in agreement, Khalid stands and helps his mother to her feet, “I’ll need your help, Mother, if I’m ever going to gain Amelia’s forgiveness. I’ve been a complete idiot.”
Smiling, Fatima laughs and hugs Khalid, “All men make mistakes, Khalid. The fact that you recognize them, means you are better than most.”
I pray you are right, Mother. I just hope Amelia is able to forgive me.
5
Three days until Christmas…
Amelia lightly traces a finger through the shallow pool of water in the marble fountain. Watching as the small ripples of water forms bigger ripples, Amelia’s heart begins to ache. As it so often did during these past few days. Hand permanently resting on her small stomach that barely bulges, Amelia hums a soft tune, in the hopes of curing her aching heart. For her baby.
Perhaps she should run? Like she had when she’d first discovered Khalid was married to his first wife. Shaking her head, Amelia disregards that thought. It was wrong of her to run away like a coward. Like Khalid obviously had. It had been days since she’d seen him. The only indication of his presence was Haseem. She had seen the burly man come out to the gardens and her chambers at dinner time to check on her. He even mentioned that Khalid was away on business. Though what business he referred to, Amelia had no idea.
