Red-Hot Desert Docs. Carol Marinelli

must be lonely for her, Adele thought.

      ‘He was going to send one of my handmaids but I have told him not to. I have asked Dakan to bring my embroidery from the hotel. That will take my mind off things.’

      Leila was so easy to talk to. She was the complete opposite of Zahir, who, Adele guessed from the little she had gleaned, took after his father. Leila was more open and outgoing, rather like Dakan.

      ‘So you have days off this weekend?’ Leila asked.

      ‘I do.’ Adele nodded. ‘Then I’m on night duty for a fortnight.’

      ‘They must be tiring,’ Leila said, and then looked at Adele and saw the smudges under her eyes and her pale features. ‘Though you look tired now, even before you have started your night duty.’

      ‘I am tired,’ Adele admitted, and not just to Leila but to herself. It had been an exhausting few years and Janet was right to insist that she take her leave. ‘I’ve got a holiday coming up.’

      ‘That’s exciting. Are you going anywhere nice?’

      ‘I haven’t decided yet. I’ll have a think about it this weekend.’

      As they chatted Adele revealed that she was going on a date that evening.

      ‘A first date.’ Leila beamed.

      ‘I’m actually not looking forward to it,’ Adele admitted. ‘I’m thinking of cancelling but I can’t come up with a good enough excuse.’

      ‘What do your parents think of him?’ Leila asked.

      ‘They...’ Adele paused. ‘I think your idea of a first date and mine are a little bit different, we’re just going out for dinner.’

      ‘Oh, yes.’ Leila nodded. ‘I sometimes forget. By the time I had my first date with Fatiq he was already my husband.’ She laughed.

      ‘Had you met him before you married?’

      ‘Yes, there was a selection ceremony two months before the wedding. I knew though that I would be chosen. Or rather I hoped. From when I was a little girl I always knew who I would marry. I told him that I came with conditions, though,’ Leila said, and tapped the ruby at her throat.

      Adele guessed Leila meant she had told Fatiq that she must be kept in splendour.

      ‘Well, I can’t see myself ever marrying Paul,’ Adele admitted. ‘I can’t even picture getting through dinner.’

      ‘Your parents haven’t met him, then?’

      ‘No.’ Adele shook her head. ‘My parents divorced when I was very young and my father has never had anything to do with me.’

      ‘And your mother?’

      ‘She was in an accident,’ Adele said. ‘She’s very unwell and is in a nursing home. I see her every day.’

      ‘And you’re visiting me too!’

      ‘No, I like visiting you,’ she said, and then closed her eyes on the sudden threat of tears.

      Adele never cried but she was suddenly close to it now as she had practically admitted the truth—she didn’t like visiting her mum.

      Leila’s hand went over hers.

      It was unexpected and also terribly kind, given what she had just said.

      ‘She can’t talk or react,’ Adele told Leila. ‘She’s just a shell of herself. I don’t even think she knows that I’m there.’

      ‘You know that you’re there for her, though,’ Leila said. ‘That’s the important thing.’

      Finally, someone who understood, Adele thought.

      Her family, friends and colleagues all encouraged her to step back. Even the nursing staff at the home gently implied that Adele didn’t need to visit quite so much.

      Adele knew that she had to sort out her life—she didn’t need to be told that but it was so nice to have someone understand.

      ‘I’m worried about going on holiday,’ she admitted.

      ‘Can I tell you something?’ Leila offered. ‘I want to have a holiday. I love my country and my people but because of certain ways...’ She hesitated and then explained. ‘Always there must be a royal in residence. Fatiq was already a king when we married so I never even had a honeymoon. Now one of my sons steps in if we have to go away for formal occasions. Usually it is Zahir, but both of them have busy lives, so they only return when they must. I know that a holiday would be rejuvenating. I dream of having some time away with my husband to replenish myself, although I can’t see it ever happening. Take some time for yourself, Adele, and you will return refreshed and better able to take care of your mother.’

      It helped to hear that.

      The wise, gentle words made Adele feel better about taking a short break.

      ‘I must get back to work.’ It had been nice talking and before she went Adele wished Leila well for her operation on Monday.

      ‘I doubt you’ll be up to visitors on Monday night but I’ll come in after my shift on Tuesday morning.’

      ‘I shall look forward to it,’ Leila said. ‘Enjoy dinner tonight.’

      Adele did.

      Her date went well, in fact. Paul was nice, and perfectly fine, except she didn’t fancy him.

      Not a bit.

      And it neither started nor ended with a kiss.

      It just wasn’t there.

      For Adele at least.

      Monday came and in the afternoon Adele lay in bed, trying to get some sleep before her night shift.

      Then Helga and James started to row.

      Again.

      She had gone to look at the one-bedroom flat, along with many others. She had put an application in and all Adele could do now was hope.

      Oh, Leila was right, she needed a break.

      She had two weeks of night duty to get through and then the world was her oyster.

      Not quite.

      She sat up and reached for her laptop and checked her bank account.

      Still, it didn’t stop her from daydreaming. She liked the look of Greece though she was still considering the South of France when an advert for exotic honeymoon destinations caught her eye.

      Well, not the honeymoon word. Adele couldn’t even get the excitement up for a second date. Paul had called over the weekend, suggesting that they go to the movies, but she had said no.

      There was no point.

      No, it was the destination that had her pause.

      Mamlakat Almas.

      That was where Zahir was from.

      Adele clicked on it and immediately she was swept away.

      She found out that the name translated to Kingdom of Diamonds.

      It looked incredible. Adele watched a short film. It was taken from the air and she saw the azure water and the pristine white beaches. From snatches of conversations when she had worked with Dakan and from the odd comment Zahir had made, she had thought it was all ancient buildings and desert. And, yes, there was all of that—the film led her through the desert and she saw a caravan of camels and Bedouin tribes as well as colourful souqs. The city skyline, though, was modern, with golden high-rise buildings that shimmered in the sun.

      And there, most beautiful of all, was Qasr Almas.

      Diamond Palace.

      Zahir’s home.

      It was spectacular—an imposing white residence with