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CHAPTER THIRTEEN
The party began immediately after the ceremony, and I ran to change into yet another gown. Julie ducked with me into our private rooms and chortled, “Wardrobe change!” As she helped me strip, I confided my secret. She covered her mouth in shock. “Are you sure? A kid will change everything!”
“I’m almost positive. That’s what I’m afraid of, but I don’t really have a choice now.”
“True. At least you have help. Not like you will have to do all the work on your own. Other than get fat and have it ruin your body.” I gave her a withering glance, and she amended, “You know what? That is just my cynical side talking. Don’t listen to me. You’ve always wanted kids and you’re going to love being a mother. I can already tell your body is happy, like I said, you’re glowing all over! Anna, you are freaking radiant as the sun! It’s going to be wonderful, and I bet Omar will be over the moon about it. I don’t want kids! But that isn’t you. Sorry. Don’t listen to me! It’s awesome!”
I bit my lower lip and gave her a half grin, “Yeah, I have always wanted this, so I guess now is as good of a time as any.” Then I had a thought, “Oh God, I’m going to have to stop drinking wine. I’ve been drinking for weeks now. What if I hurt it? Oh shit! Omar will know something’s up if I refuse alcohol at the toast. What do I do? I’m not ready to tell him.”
Julie grinned and went to the door, calling out to one of the servants. She spoke in a hushed tone and then returned, smiling from ear to ear. “Problem solved and nobody will know. They will give you sparkling cider instead, so don’t worry.”
I hugged her, thanking her for being there and expressing how much I missed her. She joked that she might have to just come and live here to keep my company. After we went back to the party, I considered her joking suggestions and then decided to ask Omar if perhaps we could invite her over and hire her to help me with the charity. Also, when I got too big to go out or do anything, she could keep me company. It would mean the world to me have a friend that I knew so close, and I was certain that Omar would be fine with it.
At the toast, my glass was indeed full of sparkling cider as I toasted right along with the crowd. Omar and I danced almost every dance except the really fast stuff that his younger brothers, and of course Julie, wiggled and writhed to. Julie did get drunk, and although she could handle her liquor pretty well, she always became the most boisterous in the group and tonight was no exception.
Omar was seated and talking to Amir Rashid when I joined them. “Anna, you are more stunning than I recall. What have you done? You have a glow about you. You are an angel.”
I offered him a shy smile and Omar set his hand in mine on my thigh, “He is right darling, you are a vision to behold.”
Amir leaned in and almost whispered, “Anna, do tell me of your friend. Is she single? Would she reject me if I asked her to dance?”
I turned to see Julie twerking her butt up and down in front of one of Omar’s almost drooling brothers, “I’m sure she won’t reject you, Amir. Just watch yourself with her; she is nothing like the women you are accustomed to. She swears more than most sailors, and she has no manners to speak of. She is not a lady in other words. She is fun, though, and I’m sure she would enjoy the attention.”
He chuckled and stood, buttoning his jacket and smoothing his pants, “I could use some of that about now.”
Just as he walked to the edge of the dance floor, Omar lifted his hand and made a motion towards the band, and the music shifted instantly to a slow song. Amir turned and grinned at Omar and bobbed his eyebrows up and down once before striding out onto the floor. He tapped Yasser’s shoulder and proceeded to steal Julie right out of Omar’s youngest brother’s arms.
Just as Omar was, so Amir was. Both high born and raised with the arts and dancing as a strong foundation in their arsenal towards this lifestyle. Julie showed her amazement as Amir twirled her and expertly handled her as they effortlessly glided around the dance floor. At one point, when they were nearest us, Julie gave me a wide eyed look of amazement and mouthed, Oh my God!
I giggled, and Omar slid closer to me and put his hand up my thigh, “Perhaps Julie would like her very own sheikh?”
“Yeah, I think she might. Although tying that girl down is going to take the hand of God.”
Omar slid his hand higher until his fingers were touching the soft cotton over my center. “Amir is just that man then. Would you enjoy her living so close as to be only an hour away?”
I turned and gushed, “Yeah! You think? I was going to ask you if you would be okay with inviting her to live here, with us—you know, to help me with the renovations and charity—and when…” My voice trailed off just as both Yasser and Zahir joined us.
Omar quickly became distracted with his brothers ,and I took a breath. At least I did until Alath came and sat down next to me. The men were animatedly talking in Arabic, and I’d lost track of the conversation minutes earlier. Alath seemed warmer to me than she normally did and when she picked up my hand and told me how happy she was for this joining, I felt it was genuine. Then she added in a hushed enough tone that only I could hear her, “Anna, I do not understand the power you wield with my brother, but I respect the changes you have already made. I misjudged you, and for that I apologize.”
It wasn’t much, but it was a lot considering who those words were coming from, and I responded to her appropriately.
“Alath, it is my pleasure to be included in your family. I love your brother and your country and all the people. I want to be the best possible wife to your brother and queen to your people. I only seek to fulfill those roles. Thank you for this acknowledgement. I would dearly love it if you and I could be friends. Someday you will be the aunt to our children, and I would love for them to be an active part of your culture. Their culture.”
Her cheeks tinted and she nodded with lowered lids, “Yes, I would like that very much.”
My dad interrupted us when he asked me to dance with him. I tilted my head towards Omar and told my dad, “You need to ask my husband.”
My dad grumbled and gruffly turned to Omar’s amused expression, “Khalid, may I steal your young bride for a dance?”
Omar grinned and nodded, “Richard, remind me later. I’d like to give you a few of my US investments to handle. You up for it?”
My dad’s face went through so many expressions, I lost track. First he seemed shocked, and then he looked back at me and I just shrugged, then he looked pleased and excited and I saw the dollar signs flash in his eyes like he was a slot machine. Finally, he surprised me as I noticed some hesitation or maybe it was trepidation, but in the end he stuck out his hand and heartily shook Omar’s. “Sure thing, Khalid. It would be my pleasure.”
Omar returned the shake and simply said, “We are family now, Richard. Whatever happened in the past only brought us to now. Bygones?”
My dad nodded and returned the statement. Then he and I went out to the dance floor. It was nice to feel so much closer to him.
“Dad, I’m really happy you and Mom are working it out. Have you noticed how happy she is?”
