Page 50 of Under the Arabian Sky

Andrew had proven that. Even Cavendish had proven it, ending things before his time and for what? Because he chose to ignore a destiny he could have had with Akbar.

Suddenly I felt the need to kiss Tariq.

I kissed him long and hard.

I tasted all the determination and confidence on his lips.

I drew on his certainty that we had the power to forge a future together, or at least try.

And for the first time, I wondered what it would be like to say goodbye to rainy old England and call the desert my home.

Was it a risk worth taking?

Everything in Tariq’s eyes said ‘yes.’

Everything in my heart said ‘yes’.

And yet— “Let’s just take things one day at a time.”

Tariq raised one eyebrow. “Does that mean you’ll move in with me?”

“That means… I don’t know. I want to say yes but there’s so many… I don’t know… obstacles.”

“Like what?”

“Like what would your parents think? Your father already treats me like the devil incarnate. What would he say?”

“Who cares what he’d say? This is our life, not his. It’s our decision to make.”

I sighed. I knew he was right, but I couldn’t help but think that in a country like Oman, so entrenched in its Islamic faith, there was perhaps too much at stake… for both of us.

I squeezed his hand. “Let’s just wait and see what tomorrow brings.”

CHAPTER18

Tomorrow broughta number of developments I didn’t see coming at all.

The first was Tariq’s father.

“I need to take him to the hospital.” It was early morning, and Tariq had just returned to the clinic from the house and was rummaging for his keys, clearly agitated.

“Is he okay?

“It’s his leg. The doctor just called; the tumours have returned.

“Tumours?”

“Six years ago, he was diagnosed with osteosarcoma, it’s a form of bone cancer. They removed three tumours, he underwent chemotherapy and radiation and eventually went into remission. But now they’re saying the tumours are back, larger than before. Now where the hell are my—”

I pulled open the drawer in a stand by the door. “You put them in here last night.”

“Why would I put them there? I never put them there.”

“I don’t know. Maybe because you were tired when we got home. We were both tired. And now you’re tiredandstressed. Just take a breath for a moment.”

He took the keys. “You’re right. I am stressed.” He stopped for a moment and took a deep breath. “We thought this journey was over. The doctors told him he’d have a limp for the rest of his life following on from all the treatment, but at least he was alive. Since then, I’ve prayed every day for Allah to keep my father free of cancer.”

For the first time since I’d met him, I heard the confidence in Tariq’s voice falter.

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