The Sheikh's Kidnapped Bride (The Sharqi Sheikhs Series Book 3) (8 page)

Two months later…

Carolyn picked up the dirty dishes and then smiled at the young family that had wandered into the diner some twenty minutes earlier. “Enjoy your evening.”

“Thanks.”

She dropped the dirty dishes off and then joined Kerri in the small waitress alcove, wiping the sweat from her neck and leaning against the counter.

“I can’t believe this is your last shift here,” Kerri told her.

“It’s time. I’m finally going to be able to take full-time classes next semester and graduate.”

“How’s your dad doing?” Kerri asked, having learned all about the gambling debts and Carolyn’s attempt to pay off the debts herself once she returned from Al-Sarid.

That had been two months ago, and Carolyn had returned a much different person. Stronger and more determined than ever to break free from her past. Salvatore had, as Mahil predicted, tried to extort additional funds from her, but Carolyn had recorded their last meeting on her phone and threatened to turn the recording over to the special prosecutor if Salvatore ever bothered her again.

When her father had amassed more gambling debt a few weeks earlier, she’d withdrawn a thousand dollars from her savings account, given it to him and told him she never wanted to hear from him again. She’d cancelled her cell phone, moved to a new apartment, and changed her mailing address. Leaving her employment at Ken’s Diner was simply the last step in breaking free from her old life.

She’d returned from Al-Sarid and been fascinated by the necklace Mahil had bought for her in the sanctuary gift shop. After doing some research, she’d found a high demand for similar jewelry and tried her own hand at making the necklace and bracelets.  She’d taken samples around to some of the city’s more posh boutiques and instantly seen success.

Over the last few weeks, she’d started bringing in enough revenue from their sales that she’d been able to quit all of her jobs. Her life was finally starting to come together, the only cloud was the fact that she hadn’t heard from Mahil since her return home.

She’d hoped that he would realize he truly didn’t have anything to feel guilty about and come seeking her out. Ahmed had expressed his desire for the same thing, but so far, Mahil had not returned to the States.

“Well, I’m going to miss you. So, what’s next for your jewelry business?”

“I don’t know. One of the boutiques was inquiring about some Middle Eastern accent pieces and I’ve been seeing advertisements for an auction happening later this afternoon.”

“Are you going to check it out?” Kerri asked.

“I think I might. The advertisements said some of the pieces were rare and antique. Maybe if I pick up a few things I could find similar items to recreate their look.”

“That’s a great idea. I wish Ryan didn’t have parent teacher conferences tonight, or I’d offer to go with you.”

Carolyn smiled at her, “That’s okay. I haven’t really decided if I’m going to go or not. I’ll see how tired I am at the end of my shift.” She broke off talking when Ken walked over to join them.

“Carolyn, I need to see you for a moment.” He looked at Kerri and she excused herself.

Carolyn was prepared for him to try to convince her to stick around, but that wasn’t what he wanted at all. He reached into his pocket and withdrew a check, “This is yours.”

“What?” Carolyn asked him in confusion. She unfolded the check and then her eyebrows went up, “What is this?”

“It’s a check for two thousand and forty-eight dollars. I figure that’s the amount of tips I made you split with me over the last few months.”

Carolyn was shocked and tucked it into the pocket of her skirt, “Thanks. Mind my asking what changed your mind?”

“I realized while I was trying to find your replacement that you and Kerri are the real reason the diner has survived these last few years. I also realized that if I wanted to continue being successful I needed to start doing things differently.”

Carolyn smiled at him and nodded her head, “I’m glad. This place looks much better and we’re even attracting families now.” She pointed towards the family she’d just finished serving and watched him smile.

“Thank you,” he told her and then he turned to leave. “Oh,” he stated, turning back, “You can leave early. I overheard you telling Kerri about some auction you wanted to attend. Now you have money to spend, so go do it.”

Carolyn grinned, “So I do. Thanks. Kerri,” she hollered out, waving at the woman, “I’m outta here. I’ll catch you later this weekend.”

“Hey, Carolyn,” Ken called to her.

“Yeah?”

“Don’t be a stranger.”

“I won’t. I promise.”

She dropped her apron off in the dirty laundry basket and grabbed her car keys. It seemed she had time and resources to attend the auction after all. Today was definitely turning out to be a good day!

Carolyn stopped by the bank and cashed Ken’s guilty conscience check and once she’d arrived at the hotel where the auction was being held, she was glad she had. As she stepped into the large ballroom, she was amazed at how many items were going to be auctioned off.

The bidding was set to begin soon, so she signed in and received a paddle with her own number on it. Hugging it to her, she looked around at the tables closest to the bidding area, but soon the auctioneer was urging everyone to find their seats. She’d not found the beads that had been advertised, but she decided to watch the first few items and see just how the auction was going to be handled and then go search them out and decide if she really wanted to bid on them.

She took a seat near the back and then watched in amazement as the auctioneer brought up the first item for bid. Muffled whispers filled the room at the shock of the mystery item, it was a stuffed teddy bear and upon closer inspection, she recognized it as being the same teddy bear she’d seen in Mahil’s closet.

She glanced around, but didn’t see either him or Ahmed.
What’s the bear doing in this auction?
She listened as the auctioneer attempted to lure someone into bidding on it, but no one seemed interested. When he began his final countdown, Carolyn found herself raising her paddle, agreeing to pay one hundred dollars for the worn-out child’s toy.

“Sold!” the auctioneer stated to the room and then he moved on to the next item up for bid.

Carolyn watched the bear leave the stage when suddenly she felt a presence behind her and a deep voice whispering in her ear, “Thank you, Cara.”

She spun around to see Mahil standing there, looking so good she could only look at him and wish they were anywhere but a crowded ballroom full of potential bidders.

“Come with me,” he suggested softly and she left her chair and allowed him to pull her out of the room. He continued walking her towards the hotel foyer and then to the private elevators that took them straight up to the penthouse suite.

When the elevator doors closed, he turned to her, “I wasn’t sure if you would come. Not after the way I treated you the last time we were together. Not after the things I said to you.”

“Mahil, I don’t understand. What are you doing here?”

The elevator doors opened up to the penthouse apartment and he escorted her inside before answering. “I’ve done some soul searching since we last talked. Much, actually. You and Ahmed were right. I’ve been trying to atone for Lyla’s death by saving everything I could, but the pain of losing her never goes away. My guilt never went away.”

“That’s because the guilt wasn’t yours to begin with,” she told him softly, watching him pace across the white plush carpet. She’d missed him terribly and was happy to see him moving on with his life.

Mahil returned to her side and took her hands in his own, looking down into her eyes, “You are much like my sister in many ways. Your will to survive is strong. As a boy, many times I wanted to give up. To join one of the gangs as a means to survive, but Lyla wouldn’t let me. She would bring me to the library to show me pictures and we would dream of a better life.”

“Is that why you have so many books?”

Smiling, “Yes. Lyla had learned to read thanks to a kind volunteer at the library and she taught me. She was fascinated with books.”

“What did she like to read?”

“Anything with a happy ending.” Mahil smiled as he said it. “These last two months have been miserable and I won’t let my past ruin our future anymore.”

“Our future?”

“Yes. I can’t survive without you, Cara.”

Carolyn felt her heart skip a beat as those words left his mouth. She’d thought about this moment for two months – dreamed of seeing him again. But how could she trust him again?

“I missed you terribly. I thought about coming here and kidnapping you again.”

“You did?” she asked in wonder, a smile tugging at the corners of her mouth.

“I did. Ahmed talked me out of it. He said I’d been lucky the first time, and spending the rest of my life barred from entering your country was not how I should prove I’d changed.”

“So, I still don’t understand. How did the teddy bear end up being part of the auction?”

“I arranged for the auction to take place. It was a good strategic move for Al-Sarid and our people, and it gave me a perfect opportunity to see you again. I knew about your jewelry business and how well it was doing.”

“Did you know that I was asked just this week to recreate some Middle Eastern design pieces?” she asked, suspicion growing in her mind.

“Guilty. I visited the boutique owner and she fell in love with our story. She offered to help steer you in this direction and I couldn’t refuse her.”

Carolyn smiled at him, squeezing his hands, “I’m glad you didn’t. I almost didn’t come here tonight. Did you have a back-up plan?”

Mahil looked guilty and then nodded, “I intended to ignore Ahmed and kidnap you a second time.”

Carolyn laughed and threw herself into his arms, “I might not have minded at all.”

Mahil hugged her close before tipping her head up and kissing her tenderly, putting everything he felt for her into his kiss. “I missed you.”

Carolyn returned his kiss and then told him, “I missed you too. Were you responsible for all of the advertisements that kept showing up everywhere I went?”

“Guilty again. I finally found a way to put my mass advertising classes to use.” He chuckled and then sobered, “I wanted to see you again but I knew I didn’t deserve a second chance with you.”

“Everyone deserves a second chance, Mahil. Especially you.”

Mahil looked deeply into her eyes and then kissed her again. “I love you, Carolyn Michaels. If it weren’t for you, I don’t know that I would have ever stopped feeling guilty for what happened with Lyla. I know that no matter what I do, I can never have a second chance to get things right for her. But I truly want a second chance with you.”

“I love you too,” Carolyn wrapped her arms around his neck. “And I want that as well.”

“Besides, it seems that I now owe you a date night,” he told her as she looked at him quizzically.

“I don’t understand.”

“The highest bid for the teddy bear also gets to have dinner with a sheik,” he told her, as she laughed.

“What would you have done if I wasn’t the highest bidder?”

“Shrugging his shoulders, “I was really hoping not to have to think about that; not when my dreams are of you, of us, at the paradise pool, our picnic at the oasis, even that maddening food fight.”

Leaning in to kiss him, “So, instead of just dinner, how about the next fifty years or so?” Carolyn asked him.

“Sold.” Mahil kissed her and then picked her up, carrying her to the attached bedroom. “But first, I need to feel you beneath me once again.”

“That sounds like an offer I can’t refuse. Welcome back, Mahil. I’m so glad you came back looking for a second chance.”

Two years later…

Carolyn was reviewing the latest sales records for her jewelry line for the Second Chance Preserve when she smiled. Thanks to the unsolicited celebrity endorsements, sales were up, along with increased awareness for wildlife rescue. Things simply couldn’t be better.

Realizing that she’d been sitting too long, she stood up to stretch before doubling over in pain. Taking a step, she wrapped her arms around herself as she cried out.

“Ma-hhhhiiiiillllllll!”

The sound of something crashing to the floor came moments before footsteps were thundering down the hall. Flinging the door open, Mahil took in her appearance.

“Cara, it is time! Just like we rehearsed,” he told her, excitedly, before running from the room.

“I know it’s time,” she told the empty room before she doubled over again. “Oh, oh, it hurts. Ma-hhhiiiiillllllll!”

Rushing back into the room, “Cara, I told you, it is time.”

“I know that you oaf, help me to the damn car,” she demanded as she held her hand out for help.

“Of course, I’m so sorry. Come. This way.” Wrapping his arm around her waist, Mahil helped Carolyn out of the room and down the hall toward the front door. As they walked, he was issuing instructions in Arabic as the maids ran around.

When he reached the door, a smiling Ahmed, opened it and taking Carolyn’s other arm, helped her walk to the car.

“I will be so glad when this is all over,” she told them, as Ahmed opened the back door while Mahil helped her slide in back.

“Over? Cara, this is just the beginning. We need enough for a full team,” he informed her as she scowled at him.

“I’ve already told you, if you want your own soccer team, you’ll have to find players another way, I am
not
having eleven children.”

“But Cara, you are already part way there.”

“No. Just no. Now, where is my bag?”

“Here, Sheika,” Jessenia called out as she ran toward the car.

“And my wedding ring? I know it doesn’t fit, but I wanted to bring it with me.”

“Here, it is. I put it on a chain for you, so you could wear it around your neck.”

“Thank you, Jessenia, what would I do without you?”

Smiling broadly at her, “Please call us when the children are born to tell us their sex, so that we will know how to finish the nursery,” she reminded her as Carolyn smiled.

“I will and thank you,” she called out before she clutched at her distended belly. “Mahil, why isn’t Ahmed behind the wheel yet?”

Sliding onto the back seat next to her, Mahil slammed the car door and wrapped his arms around her as Ahmed drove them to the hospital. As he drove, Mahil shouted at him in Arabic before grabbing his phone to call the hospital to make sure everything was set.

“This is not their first time delivering triplets,” she reminded him. “Just last year, those quintuplets were born to that nomadic family and they’re doing fine.”

“I am simply being cautious Cara, allow me to fuss, this is my first time too,” he told her as he began talking into his phone.

“Ohhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh,” Carolyn moaned as Ahmed looked at her through the rear view mirror.

“We should be there in twenty minutes,” he told her.

Remembering her classes, Carolyn began panting, as she fought to breathe through her nose but the pain was becoming unbearable. There was no way she would survive many hours of this.

Pulling up outside the hospital’s emergency entrance, Ahmed honked at the waiting medical staff who quickly moved to the back of the car. Opening the door, Mahil jumped out and reached in to help Carolyn into the waiting wheelchair.

As they rushed inside, they ran into Kim, Karim, Claire, Taleb, Amare and Saeed Sharqi.

“Carolyn, my daughter, how are you doing?” Saeed asked, as they gathered around her.

Her answering cry of pain had the women shooing the men away as they followed the nurses down the hall to her birthing suite.

“Shouldn’t I be with her?” Mahil asked as he watched his wife disappear down the hall.

“Not if you want to live through the night,” Taleb told him. “Women can be frightening when they are in labor.”

“And you only had one baby. Mahil is about to have three. Can you imagine how much worse it will be?” Amare asked solemnly.

Turning to stare at his youngest brother, “What do you mean?”

As Amare opened his mouth to reply, a long, loud wail was heard coming from Carolyn’s room as Mahil looked up in alarm.

“You see?” Amare asked him. “Already it is much worse.”

“Amare, don’t give your brother such a hard time,” Saeed scolded. “He will have enough trouble if it turns out to be all girls. Can you imagine so many women under one roof?”

Before Mahil could reply, the others broke out into laughter as his father collapsed into the nearest chair, pointing to him. “You should have seen the look on your face,” he told him as his body shook with mirth.

Shaking his head, Mahil smiled at his adopted family. He couldn’t have asked for better. Carolyn was pleased to find out that both her sisters-in-law were American and the women became instant friends.

Pacing the hall, he looked up when Kim poked her head out the door. “Okay, future dad,” she called out. “You’re up. Come watch your babies being born.”

As Mahil took a step towards the birthing suite, he felt his legs give out as he stumbled. Taleb and Karim caught him before he fell.

“Are you ready for this?” Karim asked him, as he grinned.

“Yes. I’ve been ready since the moment I first laid eyes on her, but I was too stubborn to realize it at the time.”

Slapping him on the back, Karim walked with him to the door. Opening it, he faltered at the sound of Carolyn’s cry.

“You sure you still want a soccer team?” Karim teased him, as Mahil opened and closed his mouth without saying anything.

Shaking his head to clear the fog, “Nothing is certain beyond this moment. Now, if you’ll excuse me, I’m going to watch my children come into this world,” he told him, as he walked into the birthing suite and the door shut behind him.

*****

Carolyn smiled as she looked at the babies sleeping in their incubators. Two boys and a girl. She couldn’t believe that she had managed to deliver triplets. When they had first tried to have children, she had ended up seeking assistance from a fertility specialist when attempts to try on their own were unsuccessful.

While she never dreamed that she would have triplets, looking at them now, she liked the idea that little Lyla would have two big brothers to protect her. Adam and Alexander were going to be busy too given all the plans Mahil was already making for them.

It would be at least a week or more before the babies would be big enough to come home and the maids were busy with the final decorations in the nursery including all the soccer paraphernalia Mahil had insisted on including. Given how many games he made her listen to while she was pregnant and how much the babies kicked, she’d be surprised if the children didn’t take to the game as soon as they were old enough to walk.

She gave her husband a tired smile when he walked in carrying flowers. “Are those for me?”

Nodding his head, “Yes, along with this,” he told her waving a pastry box at her.

“Is that from Adilah’s bakery?” she asked as she held her hand out for the box.

“Of course. She said it was your favorite.”

Opening the box, she broke off a piece of honey cake and popped it into her mouth. “I dream about this cake,” she told him, as she stuffed another piece in her mouth and closed her eyes to chew.

“I thought you dreamed about me,” he teased.

Shaking her head, “I’m sorry, my love, but this cake is tastier than you are,” she told him. “I mean. That is to say.” Carolyn blushed as Mahil burst out laughing.

“That’s okay. Although I wouldn’t dare say the same thing about her baklava and you,” he replied as she glared at him.

“Hey!”

Sitting on the bed next to her, he slipped his arm around her neck and leaned down to kiss her.

“And how are you feeling?”

“Mostly tired. And overwhelmed. Is it too soon to feel overwhelmed? They haven’t even come home yet.”

Kissing the top of her head, “No, it isn’t too soon. Everyone is quite excited about our homecoming, so you will have plenty of help,” he assured her as she leaned against him.

“And cake.”

Chuckling, “Yes, and cake.”

Nodding her head, Carolyn yawned, as he lightly stroked her arm. “I can’t believe how tired I am,” she commented, as she got more comfortable on the hospital bed. “I think I need another nap.”

Kissing her, “Sleep, my love. I will be here when you wake.”

“Promise?”

“Well, at least for the next fifty years,” he told her, as he brushed his lips across hers.

“Sold.”