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Holly sat on the toilet seat as she looked at the test, then looked again. One pink line. She sagged, but whether from relief or disappointment she wasn’t quite sure.
Either way she couldn’t sit in the bathroom forever, Hamid would be sweating bullets. It was time to put him out of his misery. She pushed to her feet and swung open the bathroom door, leaving behind the expanse of marble and white tiles to walk across ankle-deep carpet.
Hamid was pacing back and forth near the patio doors, his head rearing back the moment he sensed her approach. He crossed his arms, his eyes narrowing. “You have the results?”
She nodded, then held up the stick with its single pink line. “You can relax, Hamid. I’m not having a baby…with you or anyone else.”
His hands clenched at his sides before he reached for the stick, then gazed at it with unblinking eyes. “I was beginning to second-guess myself about how careful I’d been using protection.”
She sagged a little. So he no longer believe she’d been sleeping with other men since leaving him?
“Clearly you’ve been careful enough.” She managed a shrug. “I probably caught a virus or bug. Or perhaps I should be more careful eating street food.”
A knock sounded on the door and Hamid exhaled, then said, “The doctor is here. Good. He should know what ails you.”
“What? I didn’t ask for a doctor.”
He strode to the door, then glancing back at her he said, “It’s better to be safe than sorry. Besides, the sooner he checks you over the sooner we can have that talk.”
The middle-aged doctor walked inside with his black medical bag, a white coat that concealed most of his suit, and a red and white checkered ghutrah that covered his head.
She sat stiffly on the couch while the doctor wrapped a cuff around her arm and checked her blood pressure. Did Hamid actually think she was looking forward to their coming confrontation? She’d rather walk across hot coals than be tempted to admit to him how she really felt.
“Your blood pressure is a little high, as is your temperature,” the doctor confirmed a few minutes later. He checked her pulse next. “Have you been feeling stressed at all?”
She bit her bottom lip. “A little,” she conceded. “I’ve been working hard—“
“She’ll get plenty of rest and relaxation here at my penthouse suite,” Hamid said smoothly. “I’ll make sure of that.”
The doctor nodded. “Good, good. I’d suggest a week of good nutrition, rest and relaxation.” He looked pointedly at the pregnancy test stick in Hamid’s hands. “Nothing too strenuous, though with lots of TLC I don’t see any reason you can’t be parents soon.”
Holly spluttered, “We’re not trying t-to be p-parents!”
The doctor nodded shrewdly. “Of course not.” He bowed to Hamid, then absently patted at his red and white patterned ghutrah before he picked up his medical bag. “If there is nothing else?”
“No, that is all,” Hamid confirmed.
The doctor had no sooner shut the door behind him when another knock sounded at the door. Hamid said, “Come in,” and a chef in his whites pushed a trolley inside.
It was only once he’d set the table and discreetly disappeared out the door again that Hamid proffered her his hand and drew her up, then led her toward the table. “I hope you’re hungry.”
“You know me. I’ve always had a good appetite.”
He nodded. “One that matches my own. I’m glad that hasn’t changed.”
He pulled out a seat for her and she sank into the chair, her stomach gurgling at the scents emanating from under the cloches. Perhaps her sickness had stemmed from not eating enough? She’d been on the move so much and been so preoccupied with taking photos that she’d not made the time to look after herself.
Hamid uncovered the first dish and she gasped. “Burgers!”
“Yes. I thought you might enjoy some food from your homeland.”
He uncovered a large meat pie next with flaky pastry, then two pizzas and a creamy pasta dish. There were also a few Middle Eastern dishes. Fattoush, shish tawook and kofta.
“I’ll have to make sure there are plenty of fruits, salads and vegetables for our next meal,” he murmured, his eyes sweeping the apparently unhealthy food.
She teared up, oddly emotional. “Thank you.”
“No need to thank me, Holly. Not after what I said.”
