AllFreeNovel
Share Us
Grace and Becca went out onto the balcony. The air was fresh and Grace was relieved to be outside. She hadn't realized just how sleepy she'd felt while indoors.
Becca leaned on the metal balustrade and Grace made her way to Becca's side. Grace was aware that she already felt oddly at home with Becca, almost as if both women had immediately forged some unspoken bond.
Of course, they had plenty in common. They were both American women on the far side of the world in a strange country. They'd both come here in search of something and had been overtaken by this powerful kingdom and its amazing men.
That was where the similarity ended, though, Grace realized. Becca was settled here and, apparently, blissfully happy with her husband and child. Grace wondered if achieving that had been difficult for Becca. She glanced at the petite woman alongside her.
No. Becca seemed more than capable of dealing with everything that Qazhar would throw at her in the coming years.
Did that make her a better person than Grace? Did that mean that Grace was somehow weak or had been fooling herself about just how strong she was as a person?
No, it was more than that.
Becca and Grace were totally different kinds of people. It had to be that, Grace reassured herself. Their circumstance were completely different, weren't they?
For a start, Grace was sure Becca hadn't fallen pregnant before marrying Zaheer.
"I heard you're leaving tomorrow," Becca said suddenly.
Hiding her surprise, Grace forced herself to take that comment casually. "The flight is scheduled for the evening," she replied.
"Looking forward to getting home?" Becca asked.
Grace nodded. "I guess so."
"You don't sound too sure," Becca probed.
Wanting to avoid answering any awkward questions, Grace tried to change the subject. "How long is it since you've been back to the States?"
"We were there just after Tariq was born. I wanted some folks to see him. Folks that are real important to me," Becca explained. It was clear she didn't want to go into any more detail. Grace wondered how Becca and Zaheer had come together. She still didn't know all the details.
"Wasn't that a long trip for a baby to make?" Grace asked.
Becca shook her head. "Zaheer has his own private jet. Tariq wanted for nothing, the entire trip."
"I see," Grace said idly.
Of course, Zaheer would have his own plane. Not for the likes of him and his family the rigors and discomfort of commercial travel.
The Al Shirah family did live in another world, Grace told herself. Just as she'd already seen close-up. A world that was alien to Grace.
A world of fabulous wealth, closed off from the rest of the world. A safe world for a family, she supposed. Was it the best kind of life for a child, though? Wouldn't any child brought up like that be overprotected, cosseted? Wouldn't they grow up to feel entitled, spoiled?
Grace glanced at Becca. She couldn't imagine Becca allowing that to happen to any of her children. The woman seemed so grounded.
"How do you do it, Becca?" Grace asked.
Becca's eyes narrowed. "Do what?"
"Cope."
Becca looked puzzled as she turned to face Grace. "What do you mean?"
Grace gestured out across the city view. "With all of this. It's so different from anything back home."
Becca's brows furrowed slightly, and she didn't say anything in response. Grace wondered if she was making sense. She sighed. Maybe this wasn't a good idea, after all. If she started asking these kind of questions, surely Becca might become too curious. Perhaps she might start asking really awkward questions.
"Nothing," Grace said. "Forget I asked."
