Three Wishes (9 page)
The refugee camp was ankle deep in mud after the rains. Children cried and cooking fires sent swirls of smoke to choke the heavy air.
Cali and Andrew walked hand in hand through the organized chaos. They could see the tent that was the medical centre. Over Andrew’s shoulder was a bag of much-needed supplies, medicines and painkillers.
A toddler tumbled into their path. Cali swooped and caught the little girl, swinging her up and causing a gurgle of laughter before she handed her back with a smile to the gaunt-eyed mother.
“A beautiful girl.” Cali slid some money into the woman’s hand, along with the toddler.
“Andrew! Cali.” David emerged from the medical tent and stopped, blinking. His gaze focused on the medi-marked bag over Andrew’s shoulder. “Thank God.”
Three hours later, with the rest of the supplies unpacked and Miriam’s extended surgery hours finished, the four of them sat around for a meal of rice and beans.
“No need to ask if you’re happy.” Cali smiled at Miriam, who radiated contentment despite her tiredness.
David was never far from her, their eyes catching sometimes in a wordless exchange of love and support. He looked younger. Using his logistical skills for an aid agency suited him. He’d gotten out of the weapons trade and put his money into staffing the restored castle hotel. That left him free to follow Miriam into hellholes and haul her out. His essential ruthlessness was still there, just better directed.
Miriam returned her smile. “You look pretty happy yourself.”
Cali and Andrew sat close enough that their shoulders brushed. She treasured their soul-deep intimacy.
“Do you regret not killing me, Cali?” David grinned as he poured coffee for them all.
She shook her head and laced her fingers with Andrew’s. “I’m glad we all had a happy ending.”
“Speaking of endings.” Andrew swallowed some coffee. “Agrib is dead. Killed by his own men.”
“Live and die by the hate you create.” Cali leaned against his shoulder, grateful for the love that had saved her. She had Andrew and she had friends. She lived with hope. It was more than she’d ever dreamed.
Andrew’s arm went around her. “Thank God for love.”
Jenny Schwartz is an Australian writer fascinated by romantic traditions from around the world. Djinn and magic carpets, the catfish that shakes Japan and Australia’s Rainbow Serpent are all wonderful, mythical starting points for modern-day stories of passion and adventure.
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ISBN: 978-1-4268-9165-6
Copyright © 2011 by Jenny Schwartz
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All characters in this book have no existence outside the imagination of the author and have no relation whatsoever to anyone bearing the same name or names. They are not even distantly inspired by any individual known or unknown to the author, and all incidents are pure invention.
This edition published by arrangement with Harlequin Books S.A.
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