Red-Hot Desert Docs. Carol Marinelli

      Hannah said goodbye and Adele looked out at the royal jet, scarcely able to believe that soon they would be boarding.

      ‘I am so excited to be going home,’ Leila said. ‘Zahir and Dakan should be here soon.’

      And here they were.

      Always, always, he looked immaculate.

      Just not today.

      His suit looked a bit rumpled, as if he had slept in it, and he really needed to shave.

      Oh, she hoped he didn’t!

      Adele hadn’t seen or heard from Zahir since they had kissed, and she tried to remember how she used to greet him before...

      That’s right, she’d smile and he’d ignore her!

      It had worked for twelve months and it worked now, for Adele smiled and Zahir duly ignored her.

      It was Dakan who returned her smile.

      In fact, he came over. ‘My mother’s ever so pleased that you’re going home with her. I brought some antibiotics just in case they were required...’

      ‘It’s okay,’ Adele said. ‘Mr Oman has already taken care of that.’

      ‘These are for you,’ Dakan said, ‘in case you need them. Are you allergic to anything?’

      ‘No but—’

      ‘Adele, believe me, you don’t want to get ill there. I’m sure Zahir has got some with him but he may well be busy or away. Have these with you just in case.’

      ‘Thank you.’

      A flight steward came out to greet Leila and Dakan went over to his mother and they embraced.

      Leila’s eyes filled with tears and, though they spoke in Arabic, it was clear to Adele that Leila found it hard to say goodbye and that she wanted both of her sons home.

      It was time to board and Leila did so without fuss, though she needed a little help with the steep stairs.

      Adele felt dizzy with anticipation as she boarded the royal jet and Leila greeted the captain, co-pilot and the rest of the crew.

      They greeted her so formally—even Hannah had called her Queen Leila—that Adele realised the great privilege it had been to talk to Leila so informally.

      The Queen and Zahir sat in a lounge area and Adele did what she could to make Leila comfortable. She gave her a little cushion to put over her incision and helped her to strap in for take-off.

      ‘Are you wearing your anti-embolism stockings?’

      ‘I am.’ Leila nodded, and lifted the bottom of her robe to show that she was.

      ‘Good,’ Adele said.

      Adele was guided a little further back to a gorgeous leather seat that was set apart from the lounge, but she would be able to watch the Queen and would hear her if she called. She was told that her room was further down at the rear of the plane and she could sleep there later.

      Adele had thought maybe it would be small jet, but it was huge, and lavishly furnished.

      Still, she tried to focus on Leila.

      It was the most rapid take off. Almost as soon as Adele sat down the plane started moving and before long they were levelling out. Adele looked down and saw they were already over water and when she noticed Zahir looking at her she gave him a small smile.

      This was normal to him.

      It was a huge adventure to her.

      Once they were able to move around Adele found her room. It was small but there was a very comfortable-looking bed and a small shower. It was like first-class travel and this was just for the staff! There was a muslin nightdress laid out for her on the bed.

      As well as that, hanging up was a coral-coloured robe and some pretty jewelled shoes.

      She thought about what Zahir had said about everything being provided and it felt as if she had entered another world.

      She came out and Zahir was on his computer and was chatting with his mother when the meals were served.

      Adele took her cues from the flight stewards. She was seated to the rear and would take her meal there, whereas Zahir and Leila ate at a polished table.

      Adele chose a lovely mint soup and a small bread roll for starters but her stomach was too tied in knots to have a main course.

      Dessert was a light, pale custard with a rich rose-water syrup over it.

      She saw that Zahir had declined dessert.

      A foolish mistake, Adele thought, and closed her eyes in bliss at the taste and then opened them to see him.

      He made her blush.

      With one glance from Zahir she felt heat in her face.

      * * *

      Once the meals had been cleared away, Zahir declared he was going to bed.

      He went into his suite, stripped off and showered.

      He hadn’t slept last night. He had gone out but had soon returned to his apartment and drunk cognac, wondering when, if and under what circumstances he might return to England.

      He pulled on black silk lounge pants and closed his eyes but sleep would not come.

      Zahir, in an attempt to drag his mind from Adele and those awful linen trousers, made a couple of phone calls to some architects and tried to line up some meetings.

      One of them, Nira, sounded promising and she had some questions that she put to him.

      Adele, on the other hand, tried not to think of Zahir asleep a matter of metres away as Leila took out her sewing.

      ‘Come and see this, Adele,’ Leila said.

      ‘Oh!’ Adele walked over and looked down, and saw that the Queen was embroidering a small square. The silks were so rich and the stitching so detailed it really was exquisite. ‘It’s beautiful. What are you making?’

      ‘A blanket,’ Leila told her. ‘I have been making it for many, many years.’ She took out a few squares from the sewing bag for Adele to see. They were all different, and each one was a work of art in itself. They ranged from flowers, to delicate letters, to beautiful coloured birds.

      ‘These must take hours and hours.’

      ‘They do,’ Leila agreed. ‘It is a stitching technique that has been passed on through generations. Each square has a different symbol or flower...soon I shall put them all together. It has been a labour of love.’

      Soon, though, Leila put away her embroidery and declared that she was very tired. ‘I don’t understand why, though, I slept well last night.’

      ‘You were up early,’ Adele pointed out.

      ‘I am always up early.’

      ‘It’s your first proper outing since surgery, so being tired is to be expected,’ Adele said.

      ‘Well, I’m going to go to bed, if you could come and help me.’

      ‘Of course, but you do need to walk around first.’

      The Queen wasn’t sitting in cramped economy class but she had just undergone abdominal surgery and that was a major risk factor for embolisms.

      ‘You’re bossy,’ Leila moaned, and then she smiled at Zahir, who had come out of his room and was on his phone.

      Of course, Leila didn’t nearly faint at the sight of Zahir in black silk lounge pants and a naked torso.

      That would be Adele.

      And neither did Leila care that his hair was wet from the shower and that his feet were bare.

      That would be Adele too.

      Oh,