by Holly Rayner
True, her stubborn streak ran a mile wide. This determination had to do with the fact that she wanted to show that wealth hadn’t spoiled her—that, softened by the ease of a good life, she could yet handle whatever must be done, when it came to her home and family.
Karim was still out, pushing Aaron’s stroller with Aaron himself toddling alongside on his short, plump legs. He must have inherited that independent streak from his mother, because he always resisted the convenience of sitting during their walk until he was too tired to go any farther. Then, he would plunk himself down, wherever he happened to be—sometimes with tears of frustration—and refuse to take another step.
At first, during their times together, Karim had tried reason. Hallie had done her best to explain that reasoning with a willful child has about the same effect as reasoning with a wild-eyed warthog. It leads to more frustration for the baby and absolute tear-your-hair-out stress for the adult.
Usually, the best approach was one of autocracy. In this case, without further argument, Karim simply picked up the baby, plopped him into the stroller, and strapped him in place. Enough said and done. Then, the walk could continue in peace, with Aaron either taking great interest in everything going on around him, and chatting animatedly about it, or peacefully falling asleep.
In the back of her mind, Hallie could picture the whole scene. They had found that Karim could deal more easily with the little boy’s temper tantrums—a sign of the terrible twos to come—because of his calm and sensible demeanor. The characters of both mother and son were too much alike to allow any sort of discussion. She foresaw some storms ahead. Thank heavens for a husband who was not easily upset by confrontation!
With her charge taken away for a couple hours, the nanny, Bea, had excused herself to run several personal errands. Left alone at last, Hallie could get back to work on the most pressing chores she had set for herself. Karim had asked about her style choice—a sit-down dinner party would be nice, he had suggested almost wistfully. But Hallie preferred the fun and informality of a picnic, where guests could wander and mingle and nosh at will. Which was what she had prepared.
House immaculate and ready for guests: check. Outdoor garden area set up with small tables, umbrellas, and chairs: check. Containers of potato salad and coleslaw, bowls of fruit salad, trays of deli meats all stored in the fridge: check. Chafing dishes of beef stroganoff and mac and cheese on the counter: check.
The Al Ahsans were ready to entertain.
Let the games begin.
It was truly amazing—Hallie reflected a few minutes later, enjoying the luxury of a shower uninterrupted for once by husband or son—how quickly the time between wedding and housewarming had passed by.
Almost immediately after their return from that wonderful—and much-needed and well-deserved—honeymoon trip to the Keys (where Hallie, freed from most childcare duties, could spend her days delightfully sipping Margaritas on the beach and her nights making fervent love in the bedroom), the family had settled into their new lifestyle. Tied now to no particular schedule or routine, she could be a housewife to her heart’s content.
New pieces of furniture here; a rearrangement of curios and framed photographs there; excursions to grocery shops and farmers’ markets; a scatter of rugs on the highly polished floor.
In other words, Hallie was having the time of her life.
Her husband had recommended hiring household staff, but she had caved only to the Beatrice’s assistance, and had, eventually, hired a once-a-week cleaning service. Otherwise, she insisted she wanted privacy in their home. And she got it.
Nor had she forgotten her family and friends in the interim.
She either visited, or invited to visit, her parents at least once a week; she often telephoned coworkers from her days at Cranston. Far from taking on the society duties that the wife of Sheikh Karim Al Ahsan might be expected to perform, she had contacted a local animal shelter to volunteer her time.
And so, here they were.
She was dressed in her favorite outfit of flowing sea-green maxi dress and beige, jade-studded sandals. Aaron and Karim were ready for the afternoon. Beatrice had offered to circulate and pick up any slack.
The doorbell rang, right on time, and within an hour, the place was jumping.
Food and drink flowed freely: wine, beer, and cocktails were available, as were trays of a variety of appetizers. The mixture of offerings was as much a contrast as the guests themselves, invited to sit inside or outside, to tour the house, to make free of facilities.
“Hey, Mom, you remember Mrs. Griffin, from the wedding, don’t you?” Hallie moved about, chatting and re-introducing members of this and that group. “Annemarie has been such a help to me, with so many things.”
“I sure do. Hello, again.”
“And to you, too, Joanne.” Chip’s wife had the remarkable ability to look at home in any setting, whether formal or not, and to dress for the occasion. This afternoon, she was wearing a short-sleeved blouse and loose summer trousers. “Chip and I have gotten to know your daughter and her husband quite well these last couple years, and I’ve enjoyed every minute.”
Sipping from the glass of white wine in her hand, Joanne nodded.
“Sometimes, I can’t believe this is my little girl. She’s simply blossomed since she met Karim. I heard from someone that you and your husband recently returned from an around-the-world cruise?”
Annemarie laughed.
“Oh, that! Well, Chip lasted through about a quarter of the trip, and then he started getting antsy, and we had to pile off the ship with all our luggage. I should have realized that he has worked far too long to ever consider full retirement. Bored out of his mind! But the man has no hobbies. He doesn’t collect anything, he hates golfing, and so on. So, he and Karim are already talking about a position opening for him on the board of Karim’s company.”
“Oh, husbands can be impossible.” Joanne, agreeing, sent a fond look toward her own husband, who was already seated at the grand piano across the room, thoughtfully running his fingers over its keys. Soon, he would begin to play, and be lost for a little while in his own private space.
“They certainly can. However,” Annemarie leaned closer, to impart something not for general knowledge, “he’ll be busier soon. Our older son, JT, and his wife, Marissa, told us just last week that they’re expecting a baby in December.”
“Why, Annemarie, that’s wonderful news!” Delighted, Joanne clinked her glass to her companion’s. “You and Chip will love being grandparents; it’s the very best job ever. Congratulations!”
In his usual spirit of generosity, especially when he had wooed and won the woman he wanted, Karim had tried to buy a nicer home for his new in-laws, in a nicer neighborhood. Much as they appreciated the gesture, however, the Jamesons had firmly declined. They had lived here since the early days of their marriage, Frank had told him, and they intended to stay as long as possible.
Surreptitiously, and with the full connivance of his wife, Karim had deposited a nice fat sum into a bank account in their names, to draw upon if and when they needed.
Could Hallie love him any more for that than she already did?
Well, yes. And she would soon be proving it.
“Do you get a chance to see Karim’s parents often, Hallie?” her old friend Maggie asked her as she wandered through with a fresh tray of snacks. Maggie herself had found love not long after her and Hallie’s stolen lunch at Café Mud, and the two friends had married within weeks of one another.
“I’m afraid not.” She paused, putting down the tray in exchange for a glass of soda. “They live so far away, you know—and Aaron hates flying right now—and it’s a shame, because we all get along so well.”
“You’re lucky, then. It’s like a battle between jungle cats every time we get together with the in-laws.”
“I am lucky,” Hallie quietly agreed. “I am so very lucky.”
“Hallie, where did you get that cute little blue chair in
your sitting room?” This was Anna Belinsky, from her old stomping grounds at Cranston. “It’s exactly what I’ve been looking for.”
“Oh! On sale, of course. I walked into Morton’s Department Store—downtown, off Main Street, and…”
Small groups disbanded, moved around, and joined up again. Like multi-colored shoals of fish, gliding amongst the shimmering kelp toward this tidbit or that.
It wasn’t until Hallie, glancing at her watch, decided it was about time to bring out the main course for dinner, that Karim returned to the kitchen.
“I just dumped our son into your mother’s lap,” he confided with a huge grin. “She seemed not at all unhappy to take him for a bit.”
Hallie chuckled as she opened the fridge door to dive inside. “Yeah, she complains all the time about never seeing him. I swear, two or three times a week just doesn’t give her enough of a fix. I wonder if all grandmas are that way?”
“I’d bet my entire company on the answer being yes,” Karim grinned. “How many bottles of champagne did we buy, honey?”
“Ten or twelve cases, at least.” Distracted, Hallie was setting up her buffet dishes, ready to carry into the dining room for consumption by the masses. “A hand here, if you please?”
“Of course, my darling wife. But first…”
At that very moment, Chip wandered in to join them, followed by Frank Jameson. “Okay, Karim, we’ve got everybody assembled in the living room, as you asked. You kids said you needed some help in the kitchen?”
Hallie had to back up to get out of the way.
“Well, if one of you would please pass these glasses out so each person can take one…”
“…And another would open at least two more bottles for me…” added Karim from the sink, where he was busy with wire, foil, and cork.
A few minutes of excited confusion ensued as the goblets were handed around, and the cool bubbly was poured. Murmured questions, a buzz of comments, and muted laughter accompanied the offerings.
Karim took center stage. He dragged a somewhat reluctant Hallie along with him.
“My friends.” Beaming, he glanced around at the gathered crowd. “Thank you for coming today. It’s truly an honor to have you all here.”
Just then, Aaron, from the safety of his grandmother’s knee, let out an enthusiastic yell and a clapping of hands. “Mama!”
“Indeed, yes, Mama,” agreed Karim, over the answering chortles. “I have been truly blessed among all men, with the love and support of this wonderful woman who consented, against all odds, to marry me.”
“Well,” Hallie drawled, interceding, “I could see you needed someone to lead you through the pitfalls of life. And who better than me?”
More laughter.
“That is true. You did take pity on me. At any rate…” he paused dramatically, “all of you celebrated our marriage with us last December. Today, we have several things to celebrate, and we are sharing them with you. First, our official housewarming.”
“We know it’s taken a few months to get here,” added Hallie, grinning at her parents. “But we wanted to make sure the house was ready, and that the party would go off without a hitch. And we want you to know that you’re all welcome here, anytime.”
“All right!” a young man (an assistant in Karim’s office) yelled from his position near the windows. “I’ll take that great bedroom on the third floor!”
“That’s fine, Leo, but you’ll have to wait in line,” Hallie neatly returned. “We already have a bunch of people making that request.”
“Ah—if I could but continue…” Karim said then.
“Sorry, dear. Go on.”
“Get to the champagne!” Maggie’s husband urged, causing a fresh burst of laughter to ricochet around the room.
“Please raise your glasses and toast: that everyone will stay happy and healthy, with enough work to keep busy and enough rest to enjoy life.” Karim raised his glass, and everyone followed suit, with a “Huzzah!” sounding throughout the room.
But after a few hearty swallows, and muffled movements to break up the group, he held one hand out.
“Another moment, if you please. Hallie and I have some news that we would like to share with you.
“First, after many months of waiting, I have formally adopted Aaron, that precious little boy over there, and can now truly, legally declare him my son.”
The crowd whooped and cheered, many of those present aware of the lengthy legal process Karim had been through to officially be recognized as Aaron’s parent.
“And second, in about five months’ time, little Aaron will be getting a little brother or sister. Hallie’s pregnant!”
“If it’s a boy,” Hallie added, raising her voice to be heard over the cacophony of cheers that rang out, “we plan to name him Badir, after Karim’s brother. And if it’s a girl, she’ll be Joanne, after the best grandma in the world.” She beamed, overjoyed to be delivering the news she’d struggled to keep quiet for so many weeks.
Now, besides the buzz, came a surge forward, as friends swarmed around to hug and kiss and offer their most sincere congratulations.
The evening could only be considered a huge success. But what else could it be, with convivial folk circulating, delicious food available, and an unending supply of liquor from the bar?
It was long after midnight when things finally began slowing down, guests trickling out the front door in dribs and drabs. Eventually, Karim and Hallie almost had the house to themselves again (except for Aaron, worn out and sound asleep in his room, and Beatrice sequestered in her own), and the place was not such a shambles as Karim had predicted. Mainly because Hallie’s parents had stayed behind to help clean up and gossip.
“It was wonderful, honey,” complimented Joanne, rinsing dishes to load the dishwasher.
“Thanks, Mom. It looked like everybody was having a good time.” She was sitting, per her mother’s orders, in the most comfortable chair to rest her feet. “You did, didn’t you guys?”
“We did. We thoroughly enjoyed ourselves. You have a lot of nice friends.”
“We certainly do.” Hallie yawned. “I’m just glad we told you about our big news a few weeks ago, so you could take it all in beforehand.”
Smiling, Joanne patted her daughter’s shoulder.
“I appreciate that. It’s been like our own private little secret.”
“Hey, Joanne,” called Frank from the living room. “Honey, it’s getting pretty late.”
“I know, dear. I’ll be right there.” She glanced down with a whisper and said, “He’s about ready for bed. Much as he delighted in today, I think he’s about as tired as you must be.”
“Thanks, Mom. Thanks for everything.” Putting her feet to the floor, Hallie stood and hugged her mother. They walked arm in arm to the door, where Frank was waiting. Then, the Jamesons waved and departed.
Silence. Blessed silence. All around, just the hushed outdoor sounds from open windows, and the occasional bark of some neighbor’s dog, down the street.
“Oh, my darling husband.” Hallie, slipping into his embrace, let out a sigh. “What a day it’s been.”
“Too much for you, my love?” he asked tenderly.
She laughed. “Well, I wouldn’t want to do this sort of thing too often. But once in a while? It’s been great.”
“A truly memorable day,” Karim agreed. “My love, you have given me a beautiful son, and you will soon be giving me another child. Shall I now confide what I am giving you?”
“You’ve already given me everything I could want. You, a family, this beautiful house…”
“Ah. But there is another.”
“Another…?”
“House. Remember the country estate in upstate New York that you loved so much?”
Her eyes widened in shock. “You—you bought it? That house?”
Karim’s grin couldn’t have appeared more proud. “Indeed. I began negotiations many months ago, and it has taken this long to finalize the
purchase.”
“Oh, my gosh! Karim! I don’t believe it! Oh, are you not the very best husband on Earth?”
For a few ecstatic minutes, she was so bent on proving just how much he was the best—and how much she appreciated and approved of his expertise—that he was unable to move, thanks to her flurry of hugs and kisses. At last, with a laugh that told just how deeply he was moved, he led her from the foyer into the living room that was almost back to its normal order.
“You have made me very happy, Hallie.” With his arm wrapped around her, settled on the couch, he managed to speak softly but sincerely. “And I love you more than life itself.”
“My darling, that goes for both of us. Although, I suppose we shouldn’t depend on someone else for happiness, but should make our own. Isn’t that what philosophers tell us to do?”
“Whether that or not, I have been very fortunate to have found you.”
“And all because of—when you come right down to it—a small white lie!” Laughing tiredly, she burrowed her face into his shoulder.
And life was good. And life was sweet. And life would go on, and both would adapt to whatever changes came along. Truthfully, and together.
The End
The Sheikh’s Triplet Baby Surprise
Time for a tease!
Up next I’ve included the first few chapters of The Sheikh’s Triplet Baby Surprise, another story of mine that I think you’ll love
Happy reading!
Copyright 2018 by Holly Rayner
All rights reserved. Except for use in any review, the reproduction or utilization of this work in whole or in part by any means, now known or hereafter invented, including xerography, photocopying and recording, or in any information storage or retrieval system, is forbidden without the explicit written permission of the author.
All characters depicted in this fictional work are consenting adults, of at least eighteen years of age. Any resemblance to persons living or deceased, particular businesses, events, or exact locations are entirely coincidental.
