Babies in the Bargain by Mona Risk

Author:Mona Risk [Risk, Mona]
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi
Tags: General Fiction
ISBN: 9781601545145
Publisher: Wild Rose Press
Published: 2008-01-01T00:00:00+00:00

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.

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