He headed out the door
EPILOGUE
MARNI WALKED THROUGH the suite of rooms she’d chosen for Pop and Nelson, checking everything was in readiness. This suite had a small kitchenette and she’d stocked it with their favourite snacks, brands of tea and coffee, and a refrigerator full of cold drinks.
It would make Nelson feel more at home if he could prepare small meals for himself and Pop and, as Pop was still convalescent, they’d both appreciate not having to join the family for every meal.
‘Stop fussing, it’s perfect, and it’s time to leave for the airport.’
Ghazi had obviously known where to find her and he stood behind her, slipping his arms around her, one hand resting protectively on her belly where the surprise she had for Pop was just beginning to show.
She leant back against her husband, aware of him in every fibre of her being, aware of the love that flooded through her whenever he was near.
In six short months her life had changed so tremendously it still had a dreamlike quality. She’d soon learned the wife of the ruler had a multitude of duties to perform, but his family had been wonderful, even Tasnim, with her new baby—Marni—was constantly on the phone.
Like him, she was still learning ‘the job’ but it was becoming easier every day—her reward for her diligence, the nights she spent in the arms of her lover—night after night of excitement, tenderness, raging lust and pure bliss.
Ablezia had certainly provided the answer to her ‘virginity thing’!
‘I can feel you thinking about sex,’ Ghazi whispered in her ear.
‘Not here, and there’s no time anyway,’ she told him, but she pressed her body against his and enjoyed the ripples of excitement even such a casual embrace could cause.
‘We have to leave—the plane’s due in within half an hour.’
She spun around and kissed him, her excitement over the arrival of Pop and Nelson now quelling other kinds of excitement.
Like most of the guest suites, this one opened onto the inner courtyard and Ghazi led her out that way and through the gardens to the garages at the back. This told her he’d be driving them to the airport—no driver for this private family meeting.
The courtyard seemed darker than usual, and only a few lights shone from the rooms around it, although usually the place was flooded with light.
‘Austerity measures?’ she teased, waving her hand towards the dark building.
‘Probably a problem with a fitting somewhere,’ Ghazi replied, ‘and the electrician’s closed off a whole section of the power.’
She forgot about it as they drove to the airport, although as they skirted the city, it, too, seemed to be less lit up. But Ghazi was talking about Safi, staying at the palace, in the harem, with his mother and younger brothers, awaiting his next operation.
One of Marni’s projects was setting up a fund to raise money for the families of children who came to Ablezia for medical treatment—money that would allow family members to accompany the children and cover any loss of income they might suffer because of their absence from work back in their homeland.
They talked of it until they pulled up at the airport, driving to a private area where Ghazi’s own plane would touch down.
Had touched down!
And there was Pop, using a walking stick but as upright as ever, Nelson right beside him, while a steward came behind them with their luggage.
Marni raced across the tarmac and threw her arms around her grandfather, tears coursing down her cheeks. She could feel his fragility as she held him, and that made her tears flow faster.
Eventually he eased away.
‘See,’ he said, ‘that’s why I sent you away. Couldn’t have stood to have you weeping over me for six months. No more tears now. Say hello to Nelson then you’d better introduce this husband you seem to have picked up.’
Marni smiled through her tears and hugged Nelson, thanking him again and again for all he’d done, seeing Pop through his operation and recuperation.
‘I know how difficult he can be,’ she said, and Nelson smiled.
‘And you also know I can handle him,’ Nelson told her. He studied her for a moment then added, ‘Ghazi being good to you, darling girl?’
Marni could only nod, the lump in her throat too big for speech. Then Ghazi was there, introducing himself, telling Nelson he remembered him, thanking them both for the gift they’d sent—the gift of Marni.
The steward had loaded the luggage into the car, and Ghazi seated Nelson beside him in the front, Marni and Pop in the back.
He drove slowly back towards the main road into the city, although maybe they were on another road for now all Marni could see that beyond the headlights was complete darkness.
‘Is that desert out there?’ Pop asked.
‘Mostly, although this is a big highway and usually well lit.’
She’d barely spoken when the lights came on—and what lights! Strung between the tall lampposts were garlands of red and green, Christmas bells hanging from the centre of each one. The posts themselves were decorated with streamers, and along the road reindeer were picked out in fairy-lights.
‘But you don’t celebrate Christmas in Ablezia,’ Marni protested, as more and more Christmas decorations came into view—huge banners hanging from high-rise buildings, streamers of coloured lights around the souk, Christmas trees in parks and gardens, and huge blow-up Santas atop any available chimney.
Ghazi slowed the car and turned back to look at her.
‘I couldn’t let you miss out on your celebration,’ he said. ‘Nimr took the idea to parliament, reminding everyone we have a lot of Western expats in our land. How better to welcome them and make them feel at home? he suggested. Then although Fawzi and Hari are busy with their safari plans, he got them busy organising it, seeing all the big corporations and explaining what we wanted.’
Marni shook her head, unable to speak for the wonder of what her husband and his people had done for her.
But the palace itself was even more breathtaking, for here everything was done in fairy-lights so the courtyard looked like a fairy wonderland, the tree in the majlis a miracle of silver decorations and tiny shining lights.
Still bemused by the whole thing, she showed Pop and Nelson to their suite, introducing them to the servant who would be on call for them at any time.
In Pop’s bedroom they finally had time to pause, to hug each other again, and for them to study each other.
‘How are you, really?’ she asked, and he smiled his old, cheeky smile.
‘Nearly there, my girl, nearly there. You know you can’t keep an old dog down.’
Then the smile faded as he touched her cheek.
‘And you? Are you happy? It’s obvious he loves you, I can see it in his eyes. Do you love him?’
Marni smiled and hugged her grandfather again.
‘With every breath I take, with every cell in my body,’ she whispered, and Pop patted her on the back.
‘That’s good,’ he said, then he held her at arm’s length and she saw the twinkle in his eyes. ‘So maybe two old men knew what they were doing, eh?’
‘Happy?’ Ghazi asked much later when she slid into bed beside him.
She shook her head and saw his frown. Kissed it away, and whispered, ‘There has to be a better word than that for what I feel. Overwhelmed with love, that’s what I feel, overwhelmed that you would do what you did for me tonight. You’ve given me so much with your love, and your trust, and bringing Pop and Nelson over for this visit, but to give me Christmas—that goes beyond everything I’ve ever known or expected or imagined.’
‘So you are happy?’ Ghazi pressed, as he gathered her into his arms.
‘So far beyond it I can’t explain, but maybe I can show you.’
And she did!
ISBN: 9781472003522
DATE WITH A SURGEON PRINCE
© Meredith Webber 2013
First Published in Great Britain in 2013
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