by Cara Albany
Even in the short time she'd been living in the palace, Abby had worked hard to make that relationship a reality. She figured it was the least the children deserved. The sight of her parents and the children laughing together made Abby's heart warm, taking away the chill that had overtaken it after Taliq's hasty departure.
When the children asked where their father was, Abby explained that he'd had to go to the city urgently, but he'd return later. Aisha seemed happy with that explanation, although Kamil, as always was much more thoughtful about it.
Maybe, sometime soon, she would get to the bottom of why Kamil was so reserved, even so withdrawn. For a young man of his age, Kamil seemed unwilling to take things as he found them. He was constantly questioning everything that happened, almost as if he couldn't quite bring himself to trust people or the things they did.
Abby understood he'd been through a lot, but she desperately wanted to make a difference in his life. But wasn't that also Taliq's job as a father? To be a role model for Kamil? If that was the case, then what about this morning?
It was just as well that Kamil didn't know anything about Taliq walking out on Abby. That kind of knowledge could only make a difficult job almost impossible, she told herself.
"What are we all going to do today?" Abby asked the children as they were all sitting at the breakfast table. "You know my parents are going away this evening."
Abby smiled at her parents. She knew they wanted to get back to America as soon as possible. Abby's mother had told her they both wanted to leave Abby and Taliq to get on with the job of building their new life together.
"Do you have to?" Aisha asked with more than a hint of disappointment.
"I'm afraid we have to," Abby's father said. "We've got lots of things to do back home."
Abby knew that was true. Now that their financial situation had been improved, thanks to Taliq, there was plenty for her father to attend to. She knew he wanted to be home soon so he could feel that he was once again in charge of his life. That was important to her father, Abby reflected. He'd taught her that lesson, too. Maybe his wisdom would come in handy with the future she had chosen, Abby reflected.
Abby had a sudden thought. She looked at the children who were almost finished with their breakfast. "Maybe you could both show them your horses," Abby said enthusiastically.
She realized she still hadn't seen the children ride the horses which were kept in the stable on the northern part of the palace grounds.
Abby assumed that her suggestion would have been greeted with an enthusiastic welcome by the children. But, it wasn't. Instead, she saw Aisha look toward Kamil, her face a picture of concern. "Maybe some other day," Aisha said.
"Why?" Abby said. "I'm sure everyone would love to see how well you both ride."
Aisha shook her head and forced her attention to the almost empty plate in front of her. Abby wondered suddenly if there was something she didn't know about. Something about which Taliq should have warned her.
Abby looked at Kamil, who looked stern-faced. His gaze was studiously averted from Abby. "Kamil? Wouldn't you like to do that?"
Kamil shook his head. "I would prefer not too," he said sullenly.
"Why ever not?"
Abby saw Aisha and Kamil exchange knowing looks. For a moment, the siblings seemed to be trying to decide what to do about Abby's innocent enquiry.
Abby saw Aisha lift her brows and then Kamil shrugged, almost as if he didn't care what his sister decided to do. Abby had noticed previously that the two of them had a close bond. Tragedy had obviously brought them so close that they could almost communicate instinctively.
Then, Aisha spoke up. "There is something you should know."
"Really?" Abby said.
Aisha nodded. And then with one final look toward her brother, she started to explain.
CHAPTER FOURTEEN
Taliq stepped out of the elevator and strode along the hallway that led to his brother's office. As he made his way toward where he knew he would find Ahmed's receptionist seated behind a desk, Taliq thought hard about just why he'd decided to come here.
It was simple, really.
Taliq was confused. He couldn't figure out why he'd done what he'd done in the palace, this morning. Why he'd walked out on the woman he'd just married.
Why he'd ran like a fool.
Taliq thrust a hand into the pocket of his dark blue jacket. He'd been a complete and utter coward, he reflected. He'd deserted her, just when their relationship had seemed completely renewed. She hadn't deserved that.
In fact, he had deserved every one of her stinging looks.
And she had looked so hurt. The memory of the pained look in her eyes still stung him.
Abby had deserved an explanation, but Taliq had been completely unable to give her one that would have made any sense to himself or to her.
The only way he could begin to understand why he'd left like that had to do with the way he'd felt upon waking next to Abby. In that moment, as he'd gazed at her next to him in the bed, he'd realized the magnitude of what he'd done.
Something had snapped inside him.
And it had made him want to leave. The fear which had gripped him in the bedroom had stayed with him out on the terrace as he'd tried to force himself to eat breakfast.
There was no mistaking that sensation he'd felt the entire time he'd waited for her to emerge from the bedroom.
It had been a raw state of panic.
Something he'd felt so many times before when women had gotten so close to him.
But this time it was different. Completely different.
Because, this time, it was Abby who had come back into his life. Permanently.
And, if he was being honest with himself, that realization had driven him into a state of complete panic.
Until the morning after the wedding, everything had seemed so simple. He'd managed to keep in mind, at all times, that this marriage was nothing more than an arrangement. A deal which suited them both.
But, after the intensity of their love-making, after feeling as if he'd bared his soul to this incredible woman, something had changed inside Taliq. Something over which he'd believed he had complete control.
But, he had been wrong.
He didn't have control any more. Control was slipping away.
Now that Abby was his wife. Now that he had a family which was now complete.
The illusion he'd been living with for so long had vanished. And, it had been replaced with an amazing, wonderful reality.
Abby, his wife.
The children.
Their family.
When he'd first entertained the idea, tempted himself with the prospect of marrying Abby, it had seemed so inevitable. So logical. Even destined.
But, now that he had gone through with it, it all seemed so overwhelming.
So, he'd done what he'd always done, for so many years, whenever he felt like this. He'd some to speak with the only person who had ever been able to talk sense into Taliq.
His elder brother, Ahmed.
Taliq reached an open area in front of the door which led to Ahmed's office. Aaliyah, his secretary, looked surprised to see Taliq. "Is he in?" Taliq asked abruptly.
She nodded and went to press the intercom to announce, but Taliq shook his head. "I'll just go in," he stated.
He pushed on the dark tinted glass door and entered Ahmed's office. His brother was seated behind a wide desk. He looked up as Taliq entered. It was safe to say that Ahmed looked astonished to see Taliq in his office the day after the wedding.
Ahmed stood and came around the to the side of the desk. "Taliq? What are you doing here?"
Taliq went over to a long sofa and flopped down onto it. "Can't you guess?" he exclaimed running a hand through his hair.
Ahmed sat across from Taliq on a single seat which matched the gray fabric of the sofa. For a few moments, Ahmed seemed lost for words. Seeing Taliq in obvious distress he offered his Taliq a drink of water from the pit
cher on the glass table between them. Taliq refused.
"You're the last person I expected to see here, this morning," Ahmed said.
"I'll bet," Taliq admitted.
"It's not something serious, is it?"
Taliq shook his head. "No more than what you're used to when it comes to my life, Ahmed," Taliq said wearily.
Ahmed frowned. "Want to tell me about it?"
Taliq sighed and settled back against the sofa. "I'm not sure I want to."
"Is it about Abby?"
Taliq squinted at Ahmed and nodded. "Yes."
Ahmed sat back on the chair. His features were patient. Ahmed knew Taliq's history. He was well aware of every disastrous relationship, every selfish act, every awkward situation.
Taliq's life was an open book as far as Ahmed was concerned. He was the only member of Taliq's family who knew every detail. On more than one occasion, Ahmed had knocked sense into Taliq, counselling him with the wisdom that only a brother could provide. Taliq desperately needed some of that wisdom now.
"The wedding went well," Ahmed offered diplomatically.
Taliq lifted a brow. "Is that supposed to be funny?"
Neither brother was smiling, Taliq noticed.
Ahmed shrugged. "Just an observation."
Taliq narrowed his eyes. "Thanks for that."
Ahmed was silent for a few moments. Taliq was grateful because he needed the time to think how he was going to tell Ahmed just what he'd done. Finally, he decided directness was the best choice.
"I walked out on Abby, this morning," Taliq said.
"You what!" Ahmed exclaimed.
"Just what I'm saying."
"You left her?"
Taliq sighed. "Not exactly." He shook his head. "Let's say, it all got a bit overwhelming this morning."
"Did you two have an argument?" Ahmed asked.
Taliq tilted his head. "Not quite."
"Then what, Taliq?" Ahmed said, a hint of irritation. "What did you do?"
Taliq frowned. He thought for a moment. What exactly had he done? It was obvious really, and quite simple.
"I let my fear get the better of me, Ahmed," Taliq admitted.
"How?"
Taliq peered across at his brother. He was aware that Ahmed still didn't know the whole story of his marriage deal with Abby. He'd kept that to himself, knowing that he'd made a promise to Abby that no-one would ever learn the truth. That promise was sacred, Taliq told himself as he saw Ahmed waiting for what he would say next. But, there had to be a way to deal with this that would allow Ahmed to help him see the reality of what Taliq's life had become. To make sense of what he should do.
"You know what I've been like," Taliq said. "Women have come and gone in my life."
"That was the way you always wanted it," Ahmed replied. "But, it's different now, isn't it? With Abby."
Taliq sighed. "You're right." He peered across at Ahmed. "Everything has changed now that she's my wife."
Taliq saw Ahmed smile. "What's so funny," Taliq asked.
Ahmed shook his head, continuing to smile. "You don't know how long I've been waiting for you to say those words."
"What words?"
Ahmed leaned forward. "That you have a wife."
Taliq nodded. "I certainly do," he agreed rolling his eyes.
Ahmed propped his elbows on his knees and clasped his fingers together. "You do love her, don't you," he said.
Taliq peered across at Ahmed. The question had been asked so directly, so honestly, that he knew it was impossible not to tell the truth. He nodded. "I do."
Just admitting that to his brother made Taliq pause a second to consider the enormity of the admission. He did love her. Last night he'd felt that truth, sensed it during every moment he'd been with her.
Ahmed nodded. "I know you do. It's obvious."
Taliq squinted at Ahmed. "How?"
Ahmed pulled an incredulous face at Taliq. "Can't you see the way she looks at you? Everyone at the wedding commented on it. Our parents are so happy that you've finally found someone. Especially father."
Taliq nodded. "I know. He told me."
"You know how difficult it is for him to open up like that to anyone, least of all his precious sons," Ahmed said.
"He's really happy for us," Taliq added. He laughed. "He told me it would force me to behave like a true Qazhar male. At last, I'd have to take responsibility for my life."
"He's right," Ahmed said. "And you've got others to think about now, too. That's enough responsibility to last a lifetime."
There had been a period in Taliq's life when the prospect of a lifetime with one woman would have seemed inconceivable. Even terrifying.
But not any more.
He felt there was an inevitability about finding Abby again. Because that was what had happened. They'd found one another at exactly the right time in their respective lives.
Some people would have thought that miraculous.
And he had dared to toy with the idea of discarding it? He had considered carrying on with the marriage in the coldest and most clinical way imaginable. As some kind of marriage of convenience.
Taliq thought about the children. What would they have made of his absence today? Especially today. They must have noticed, even if Abby had been able somehow to distract them.
And Abby. What about her? Her first day as head of the the house must have been hard, he reflected. For a moment, he thought about all the difficulties she might have had to face while he was here talking with his brother.
Taliq groaned. Ahmed narrowed his eyes. "What?"
"I'm just realizing what I've done today."
Ahmed shook his head. "It's going to take time, Taliq. Look at me and Gemma. It took us months to adjust to life together. And we had the media to deal with. Gemma took a long time to leave that life behind."
Taliq recalled how Ahmed and Gemma had been hounded by paparazzi everywhere they had gone after their much publicized marriage. Gemma's fame as a social media celebrity had brought with it all kinds of complications. They hadn't had a moment of peace for the first few weeks of their life together. Eventually, it had all settled down.
Now they looked like just about the happiest married couple in Qazhar. And there was plenty of competition for that title, what with the number of American brides there had been in the kingdom these last few years. It had developed into quite a trend. Abby was the latest in a long line of American brides for Qazhar sheikhs.
"Is that the solution?" Taliq asked. "Just give it time. Accept that there are going to be lots of changes? That it will be okay in the end?"
"That sounds like a plan," Ahmed agreed, smiling at Taliq.
"It can't be that simple," Taliq said. "Not after what I did today."
Ahmed shook his head. "I don't think Abby's the unforgiving type. She just agreed to become your wife. And the mother to those two children. You can't get any better than that, Taliq."
Taliq nodded. He knew Ahmed was right. Even if the way he and Abby and himself had been brought back together was unusual, he still had to admit that he'd never find anyone like her. Last night, it hadn't just been about sex or physical attraction. What had driven him here had been the other thing he'd sensed last night.
The love he felt for her. A true love that he knew he'd be foolish to throw away. If he did that, he knew he'd never be able to forgive himself.
"What can I do to fix this?" Taliq asked.
Ahmed shrugged. "Just go back to her. Explain how you feel. Be honest. She'll understand."
"You think so?"
"I'm certain. A woman like that only comes along once in a man's lifetime. I should know," Ahmed said.
"You got lucky," Taliq said.
Ahmed reached across and patted Taliq on the knee. "And so did you, brother," he said.
Taliq thought for a few moments. He knew Ahmed was right. The fear had subsided, replaced by brotherly common sense advice.
And perspective. Ahmed understood exactly what Taliq
was going through. Taliq knew the advice could be trusted.
Both brothers stood. "I'm going back there," Taliq declared. "But there's only one problem."
"What?" Ahmed asked looking suddenly concerned.
Taliq peered at his brother who had probably given him the advice which would save his marriage. And then he told Ahmed his worst fear.
"I'm not sure she will take me back."
CHAPTER FIFTEEN
It wasn't until the plane carrying her parents had taken off and she was alone in the limo with Taliq, that Abby had a chance to speak with him alone. He'd returned to the palace in the middle of the afternoon, but he'd been silent about the events of the morning.
She was relieved about that because the last thing she'd wanted was any kind of uncomfortable conversation. Not with the departure of her parents immanent. She wanted to make the most of the time she had with them. She didn't know how long it would be before she saw them again. Probably months.
And, to be fair to Taliq, he'd seemed to go out of his way to accommodate her wishes. He was pleasant and courteous to her parents throughout the afternoon. Abby had helped her parents with their packing and preparation.
She had shared some quiet moments with her mother, reassuring her that she would be fine here in this new and very strange kingdom. It had helped when Abby had pointed out that it wasn't every day a woman got to marry a wealthy sheikh and spend her days in the lap of luxury with servants to carry out her every wish.
Abby knew that wasn't quite true. She'd spent a large part of her day with Mira, learning everything there was to know about the running of the palace. The more Mira had described the upkeep of the palace to Abby, the more concerned Abby had become that she had taken on more than she had bargained for.
For their part, her parents had wanted to spend time with Abby and the children. After the breakfast discussion, during which Abby had learned something that Taliq hadn't revealed to her, they had shared some enjoyable moments with the children.