Page 20 of From One Night To Desert Queen
‘I’m sorry about your mother’s diagnosis,’ he said. It had been burning a hole in his conscience since Maya had told him. He couldn’t even begin to imagine what that must feel like.
‘Thank you,’ she said quietly.
‘Is there anything that can be done?’
‘We are working on it.’
Star stared at the rich yellow sand, rising and falling as if endless, silently praying for it to distract her. The ‘family residence’ in the desert was her last hope and she would turn it upside down if she had to.
Because if she didn’t find the necklace and they couldn’t save their mother then...then...she’d be alone. Her sisters loved her, but her motherunderstoodher. And the awful shadow of loss she felt for the father she had never known would benothingin comparison to what life would be like without her mother.
She cleared her throat against the aching burn and Khalif passed her a bottle of water. She refocused her gaze on the miles of golden sand and brilliant blue sky.
‘How do you feel?’
‘No more pregnant than I did an hour ago,’ she said, the concern in his voice a kindness that softened her reply.
If you are carrying my child, we will marry.
It was only now that she might be pregnant that Star realised just how much she’d wanted to marry before having a child. It was in the way her heart quivered at the thought of her baby growing up to experience the same stares and whispers that she and her sisters had. An experience that Khalif had shared in his own way.
‘But if I was,’ she said hesitantly, picking up the threads of her answer, ‘if Iwaspregnant, if we had a child, can you ensure that they wouldn’t be judged, or excluded or...?’
‘Star, look at me,’ he said, removing his sunglasses. Only when she met his gaze did he continue. ‘With every ounce of my being I would protect you and our child. Our family has an agreement with the press, both in Duratra and internationally, that protects our children from scrutiny until they turn eighteen. They attend a central city school until they decide whether they want to attend university. We can’t protect them from everything, but we do our best.’
Star thought about that for a moment, not immune to the devotion and determination in Khalif’s tone. She had grown up sure of her parents’ love, even though her father had passed. Their love of her, love of each other, hadn’t needed a marriage certificate. But her grandparents’ behaviour had made her see through different eyes—ones that were hurt and had caused hurt. And she would never do that to her child.
‘If I were pregnant, I would do whatever it took to protect them,’ she said, finally turning back to him, knowing that he would understand what she meant.
‘As would I.’ His words felt like an oath and she felt the stirrings of the connection she’d been drawn to when they’d first met and something tight eased in her heart.
The sound of his phone ringing cut through the Jeep, but he put off answering it until Star returned to look out of the window.
Biting back a curse, he pressed the wireless earbud to his ear and pressed a button on the steering wheel to answer the call. ‘Yes?’ Khalif answered in Arabic.
‘Wow. Okay. Nice to speak to you too,’ came the sardonic response from Reza.
‘I don’t have much time. I’m on the way to Alhafa.’
‘Really? Is that...wise?’
Khalif glanced across at Star. Nothing about his decisions had been wise since she’d come crashing into his life.
‘There wasn’t much choice.’
‘The plans for the memorial are barely finalised, let alone—’
‘I know, Reza. But what do you want me to do? Abbad will never be happy with the choice of memorial for his youngest daughter. We could have renamed the mountains and it wouldn’t be compensation for his loss.’
‘If that’s what you’re trying to achieve, Khalif, then...’ Reza’s voice trailed off, genuine concern evident.
He cursed. ‘I don’t know any more, Reza.’
‘Well, at this rate, Amin might have a heart attack and be removed from your staff for medical reasons.’
‘He’s necessary.’
‘He was necessary for Faizan. I’m not sure he’s necessary for you.’