Valentine Babies (Holiday Babies Series) (8 page)

“Wait for me,” Joe said. “I’ll get the car.”

A moment later, Brian stowed her suitcases in the trunk of
an army Jeep and opened the back door for her. She slid in and he sat beside
her.

Steve settled in the front. “Just relax,” he said. “Joe will
take a longer route to avoid dangerous areas.”

“Whatever you guys decide. I haven’t been here for a long
time and have lost track of recent events.”

Brian exchanged phone numbers with her and insisted she put
theirs on speed dials, then he related the latest news, insurgency activities
and terrorist attacks with no apparent emotion. The local sectarian violence
had become a daily occurrence she’d forgotten about in the last few weeks of
her cozy life in the States. Steve updated her on important changes at the
local KNR station and reporters’ moves while the Jeep careened along the
heavily fortified Baghdad Airport Road.

Instead of crossing the Tigris River that Nabil had shown
her, Joe veered into a smaller street, and often turned into back roads she’d
never seen. After a last check at the address on the paper she’d given him, he
glanced at the GPS map. “We’re almost there.”

The partly dilapidated building etched in her memory
suddenly loomed in front of her. She cringed. Bittersweet reminiscences swept through
her mind. Nabil’s cheerful voice, his small nephew’s babbling and giggling, and
the mother’s generous hospitality.

Anxiety clenched her heart. How would the senior Diabs
receive her?

Joe jumped out of the Jeep and held the door open for her.
“I need the suitcase with the red ribbon,” she instructed. Brian retrieved it
for her.

“Which floor?” He kept the heavy piece in his hand.

“The Diabs live on the third floor. You don’t have to—”

“Let’s go.” Brian preceded her to the dark marble stairs
that had seen better times, and Steve followed them.

“I’ll wait in the car,” Joe declared.

They had specific instructions to protect her. There was no
need for protection while in her friends’ apartment, but she didn’t try to
protest. A lump the size of an orange settled in her throat as she carefully
climbed the chipped steps and glanced at the corner where Nabil had kissed her
the first time.

Why on earth had she flirted with him? Why had she allowed
him to believe she returned his feelings? Was it admiration for the dashing
officer? Pity for the dire life he led?

Guilt rushed over her like a tidal wave as she reached the
landing of the third floor and stared at the wooden door.

Brian pushed a button and stepped behind her. The bell rang.
Footsteps shuffled on the floor and a female voice talked in Arabic.

The door opened. Leila smiled to her ears and threw her arms
around Roxanne’s neck. “Roxy, my dear friend.
Marhaba
, welcome. You came
again. You are an angel. Come, come inside. You too, sirs. I will have coffee
ready and pastry for you. Have a seat.” Leila’s Arabic accent chimed with
warmth and joy.

Roxanne introduced the men and they followed her into the
living room. “Wow,” Brian exclaimed at the sight of the Aubusson chairs, cherry
wood tables, and gilded frames. “I feel like I’m in a palace.”

“It’s all they have left of their wealthy past,” Roxanne
explained in a low voice. “It was a luxurious building, but a bomb destroyed
one of its corners. There’s no one to repair or maintain it anymore.”

Steve kept glancing at the gorgeous brunette with big
chocolate eyes and dark hair cascading down her back. He lowered his gaze then
shifted it back to her, studying every one of her moves. “I’ll have an Arabic
coffee if you please, Miss Leila. Can I help you carry the tray?”

Roxanne bit her tongue. She’d never seen the devil-may-care
Steve so polite and courteous, almost timid.

Leila blushed prettily. “No thank you. I can handle it.”

“
Roxanna, habibty
. My darling,
marhaba
,
welcome.” A heavy woman walked in, her arms wide-open, and hugged her. “You are
back.”

“How are you doing, Aunt Marie? And how is Uncle Elias?”
Roxanne returned the greeting. Since her first visit she’d learned that
Aunt
and
Uncle
were the respectful yet affectionate terms to call older
people in this part of the world.

“I am doing well. But your Uncle Elias is so sick. We cannot
operate here. His sister lives in Paris and has arranged for him to be admitted
at a French hospital. If we can only fly to France.”

“I brought medicines for Uncle Elias. My sister,
brother-in-law, and a friend have consulted with cardiologists and bought the
necessary drugs for him.”

“Bless you,
ya benty
, my daughter. You are a
malak
,
an angel. Nabil was right to choose you for a bride. Too bad he didn’t have
time to marry you. We would have had a little baby to cherish, now that our son
is gone, may he rest in peace.”

Warmth crept to Roxanne’s throat and face as her fingers
itched to touch her stomach. Unbeknown to his grandparents, the
little baby
to cherish
was growing in her belly. Roxanne hoped the older woman wouldn’t
notice her unease.

Sure enough, Aunt Marie smiled and patted Roxanne’s cheek.
“I know I should not talk about these things with an unmarried young woman.
Rabbena
kebeer
, the Lord is great and has his way. His will be done.”

“Oh dear, I don’t think God... hmm...” Roxanne was used to
the way the Iraqis sprinkled every sentence with religious invocations and
references to God. But she’d almost blurted that God certainly hadn’t approved
of her and Nabil’s reckless act.

Leila returned with a tray loaded with three small cups and
a platter of sweet pastries she presented to Roxanne and the two men. “Coffee
and
loukoums
.” The roasted aroma of Arabic coffee wafted around them.

“Lovely,” Steve blurted. “I mean delicious,” he added with a
besotted smile.

Brian cleared his throat and scowled. He swallowed his
coffee, stuffed one of the sugar-covered soft squares in his mouth, and licked
his lips. “These
loukoums
are heaven. May I have another?”

“Of course, help yourself. You too, Steve.” The photographer
took another sweet piece and forgot to eat it.

“Steve, move,” Brian ordered. “We’ll wait in the Jeep with
Joe. Roxanne, call us when you’re ready to leave.”

“Thank you, Miss Leila. If you need anything, don’t hesitate
to call us.” Steve handed her his card as they left.

“Please, come again with Roxanne.” She walked them to the
door and shook the hand Steve offered her.

“Can we have the medicines?” Leila asked when she returned.

“Sure.” Roxanne flipped the heavy suitcase flat on the floor
and unzipped the cover. “It’s all for you. These are the various pills Uncle
Elias has to take. There is a paper that explains how and when to take them.
They will help stabilize him so he can travel.” Roxanne sent a mental thank you
to Greg who had neatly typed the instructions. “Leila, I have here bottles of
shampoo and conditioner for you.”

“Thank you, Roxy. They will come in handy as I finished the
last drops of mine and can’t find any in the pharmacies.”

“Vitamins for Aunt Marie. A whole frozen ham to bake. I
think it’s still frozen after spending so long in the freezing plane hold. And
a bear and train for Michael.”

“Me, me, bear,” the toddler squealed from the door.

“Michael just woke up from his nap. Come say welcome to Aunt
Roxy.”

The little boy ran toward her, wrapped his arms around her
legs, and grabbed the bear from her hands. “
Woxy, Woxy
,” he babbled as
he squeezed his stuffed animal. “
Twain
?” He extended his empty hand to
receive his second toy.

“Say thank you,” Leila ordered.

“
Tank you
.” He blew a kiss and ran away.

“We can’t thank you enough,
ya benty,
my daughter.”
Aunt Marie took the bag of medicines and sheet of instructions and rushed
toward her husband’s room.

“Roxy, you are really a good friend. How will we ever repay
you?”

“Don’t say that.”

“Like Mama, I wish Nabil had time to marry you.”

Roxanne swallowed and cradled her belly. Too late, she
noticed Leila staring at her. She jerked her hands away, but her friend’s eyes
widened and then squinted.

“Roxy, is there something you want to tell me?”

Roxanne focused a weary look on the young woman. Could she
trust her with her secret? Would she understand or hate her?

Chapter Seven

“Please tell me,” Leila begged.

Holding her gaze, Roxanne lifted her chin and covered her
belly with a protective hand. “Your brother and I didn’t get married but we...”
How would she explain a crazy moment of passion?

Leila smiled, a huge happy smile that brightened her face.
“Thank you, Lord.”

Roxanne’s mouth twitched. “I don’t think the Lord approved.”

“We live under horrible conditions. My brother loved you. I
have often wondered how he could have resisted so long. Too bad, he didn’t
know—”

“He knew. I called him with the news. He ordered me to
return to Baghdad and get married right away. I wasn’t ready to give up
everything. Also I didn’t think I—”

“Oh my God, Roxy, this is wonderful. It’s exactly the good
news we needed to cheer up
Baba
, to give him back the will to live.”

“Wait. Nabil didn’t want your father to know we made a baby
out of wedlock. He was afraid your dad would be disappointed in him.”

Leila shrugged. “Father would have chastised my brother if
he were still alive. But he’s dead and things have changed so much.” She
grabbed Roxanne’s shoulders and held her at arm’s length. “Try to understand.
Baba
lost his two sons. Now he calls Michael by his father’s name,
Little Tarek
.
Without this boy,
Baba
wouldn’t have survived. We keep reminding him we
need him to protect Michael. We are two lonely women, my mother and I, in a
country where a male protection is paramount. I will tell him about Nabil’s
baby. I will break the happy news very slowly.”

Roxanne nodded. “Do whatever is best for your father. Just
remember that this is the last time I’ll come to Iraq. I can’t risk my child’s
life.”

“Of course. Baghdad is not safe for you. It’s not safe even
for us. If
Baba
improves, we will all go to Paris. Soon, I hope, and we
won’t come back.”

“What about your apartment, your things?”

“In the past, I would have felt sad to leave all these
valuables. But now...” Leila scanned her elegant surrounding and waved a hand.
“Material things. They can be replaced, or not. Who cares, as long as we are
safe?”

Roxanne hugged her. “I’ll do everything possible to help
you.”

Leila kissed her on both cheeks and gently touched her
stomach. “You have already done so much,
ya okhty
, my sister.”

Roxanne’s phone chimed interrupting their effusions. She
recognized Greg’s number on the digital display. “Hi Greg,” she said with a
smile. “I was planning to call you as soon as I go to the hotel. I’m at the
Diabs’ now.”

“How was the trip?”

“Very comfortable. I was able to rest during my stopover in
Dubai. I didn’t have to leave the airport. You can’t believe the luxurious room
Lou booked for me at The Dubai International Terminal Hotel.”

“Great. What about in Baghdad?”

“Steve Cooper, a photographer at KNR and two military guards
received me and drove me to the Diabs’. Greg, I just told Leila about the
baby.” Roxanne winked at Leila who was observing her with a slight frown. The
young woman raised an eyebrow at the mention of her name.

“And?”

“She was very happy and will inform her parents. I feel so
good about her reaction. Would you like to talk to her?”

“Yes.”

Roxanne turned to the young woman and covered the phone with
her hand. “I met Greg at my sister’s wedding, two days after I received your
horrible news. He did his best to help me. He’s a doctor, an obstetrician.
We’ve been very good friends since then. I talked to him a lot about you and
your family.”

Leila’s scowl smoothed and Roxanne handed her the phone.
“Hello Greg, any friend of Roxanne is a friend of mine.” She smiled and nodded
at something Greg said. “Absolutely... I’ll make sure she’s careful... Yes,
I’ll remember the number... Oh yes, I’ll let you know. Bye Greg, nice talking
to you.”

She turned to Roxanne with a satisfied smirk. “He made me
promise to keep an eye on you.”

“No kidding. Greg is always too worried.”

“You are lucky to have such a nice man caring about you. I
wish I could find one.” The corners of her mouth fell. “I was engaged once. He
was wonderful.” Tears shone in her eyes. “He’s gone like so many and we are
left with sadness around us.”

“Oh Leila.” Roxanne hugged her friend.

“But who knows? God has his way,” Leila added with typically
local resignation, although a hopeful gleam brightened her eyes and a hint of a
smile hovered on her lips.

“I have to go now. I’ll be back in a few days, after I
finish my work.” Roxanne pulled her phone and called Steve.

With a determined stance, Leila walked her to the door. “I
will go downstairs with you to wait for your friends.”

“Sure.” Roxanne didn’t add that Steve would probably be
delighted to see Leila again.

****

Four days later, Roxanne wrapped up a final report on her
laptop and called Greg from her hotel room.

His cheerful voice greeted her. “Hi, how are you doing,
sweetheart?”

“Great. I’m done with work. I’m done with my mission. Couldn’t
be better. The interviews are finished. I even managed to get permission from
two colonels to question soldiers from various factions. Wait till you see my
report,” she added with satisfaction.