Page 18 of The Sheikh's Secret Family

“That day, the Al Salyan secret service came to my dorm. They told me that my father had died and that I needed to go home right away to take over as sheikh. I had to argue with them to even have a chance to write that note for you. While I was writing, they packed all my things and took my cell phone. Apparently, it was a security risk.”

Tariq shook his head and looked down at his hands, which were resting on his lap. Emelia could see that he was still filled with emotion from that day, just like she was. Despite herself, she started to feel sympathetic towards Tariq. She hadn’t known that his father had died, although she should have put it together from what she’d read online.

“I know I could have found a way to contact you once I got back,” Tariq continued. “I know I should have. For years, I’ve regretted not trying harder to find you. But please, try to understand. I was snatched from my life as a college student and shoved into the role of sheikh. Right after my father died. Right after I left you. I felt lost for a long time. I missed my father so badly and honestly, I thought you might be better off without me. All my time was spent trying to learn how to be a sheikh, trying to fill my father’s giant shoes. I wouldn’t have had time to be the guy that you deserved.”

Tariq reached for Emelia’s hand, and she let him take it. “I know this might sound like an excuse, but it isn’t. I should have found a way to get in touch with you. I should have convinced the secret service to let me say goodbye. I’ve replayed that day a thousand times in my head, wishing I’d done it differently. But I didn’t, and there’s no way I can take it back. I just hope you’ll let me be better now.”

Monologue finished, Tariq sat back a little, looking at Emelia for her reaction. Emelia, for her part, felt her anger slowly draining away. Yes, Tariq had abandoned her and their son. She wasn’t about to forget that. But she did understand, now. Tariq had just lost his father. They’d both been young. He’d been hurt and confused and the secret service had taken charge.

“I’m sorry about your father,” Emelia said softly. “I know you were close.”

“Thank you. We were,” Tariq agreed. “He was a great man.” He gently squeezed her hand, which he was still holding. “I’m still sorry.”

Emelia shrugged, letting herself give a little smile. “Thank you for saying that. I’m not mad anymore.” Then she gently pulled her hand away. Right away it felt cold, but she knew it was the right thing to do. “This isn’t about us, anyway. It’s about Owen.”

“Owen,” Tariq repeated, holding the name in his mouth for a moment. Emelia was reminded of the reverent way he had said her name the first time they met, all those years ago. “Tell me more about him. You said he likes airplanes and basketball.”

“He really is the most amazing kid in the world, like I said,” Emelia said, finally letting herself relax and allowing a genuine smile to cross her face. “I’m serious. It’s not just because I’m his mother that I think that.”

“He does sound amazing,” Tariq said. He seemed to be considering something, then he slapped his hands against his thighs. It was the gesture of someone who had put together an excellent plan and expected no contradictions. “You’ll both come back to Al Salyah with me.”

“What?” Emelia asked. Of all the things she’d been expecting him to say, this wasn’t even close to being on the list. She was torn between surprise, confusion, and annoyance.

“Yes,” Tariq said firmly. “I’ve let you both down for long enough and I want to make it up to you. Come with me to Al Salyah. Tariq can have the best tutors. You can finally get the life you deserve.”

Emelia shook her head, disbelieving. “You come back into our lives and the first thing you want to do is uproot us both and move us to another country? I was thinking you could send birthday cards or have visits every few months.”

Now Tariq was the one who looked disbelieving. “I just found the two of you again, and you expect me to be satisfied with birthday cards or visits a few times a year? No. Emelia, I know life has been hard these last few years, and that’s my fault. Please, let me do this for you. For our son.”

Emelia was still shaking her head. “Listen, Owen has school here. He has friends. I have work…” She trailed off. She couldn’t really claim that she had friends herself. Frankly, apart from her work and her apartment, there was little tying her to Boston anymore. The same was true for Owen. He had just started school and hadn’t had enough time to settle in, especially since he’d been acting up lately. Emelia didn’t have roots here. Neither did Owen. For years, the two of them had been sitting on a lifeboat, unmoored, while Emelia did everything she could to keep them afloat.

Still, the fact that life had been difficult didn’t mean that she was ready to follow Tariq to Al Salyah. That would be a crazy choice after everything that had happened.

“Owen can have friends in Al Salyah,” Tariq protested. “So can you. You can both have new, better lives there. Please, Emelia. Consider it. You can move back to Boston at any time. Or anywhere you want. Just give me a chance to make this up to the two of you. Give me a chance to know my son.”

“It’s not a good idea,” Emelia said. It wasn’t. Not least of all because she still had feelings for Tariq. If they went to Al Salyah, she might not be able to guard her heart. What if she fell for Tariq again and he broke her heart,again?Worse, what if he broke Owen’s heart? So much trust had been lost between the two of them. They weren’t the same in-love kids they’d been before. Emelia wasn’t the same girl who would have followed her ‘TJ’ to the ends of the earth.

“I promise, things will be different than they were in college,” Tariq said. “I’m never going to hurt you or Owen again.”

Emelia folded her arms. It was like the man could read her mind.

She sent one more look around her apartment. It was the first place that had been her home. Owen had taken his first steps on the threadbare blue carpet. Emelia had written her first resume on this couch. She’d cooked a thousand meals in that kitchen, put a hundred Band-Aids on Owen’s knees, and flopped into bed exhausted night after night. It had always been a struggle. And now Owen was having problems in school. Maybe it was time to give life in a palace a try. Emelia would at least have a little time to think, for the first time in years. Then she could make a plan. She could apply for better jobs, get Owen into a better school, and move back here within a few months. Emelia could keep her heart safe — and Owen’s, too.

“Fine,” she said, raising her eyebrows at Tariq. “But you’re right. It won’t be like college. Owen is my priority now, and he has to be yours, too. And you’ll have to earn my trust as much as his. Okay?”

“I promise,” Tariq said. He was grinning and for a moment, Emelia saw the goofy guy he’d been years ago, before the weight of too much responsibility had descended on his shoulders. Then it passed and he looked again like the dignified, responsible man that he’d become. “So, we can leave tomorrow.”

“Tomorrow?!” Emelia exclaimed. “There’s no way we can leave tomorrow. We have to pack, I’ll need to give notice at my job, and I’ll have to pull Owen out of school.”

“You can give notice and withdraw Owen over email,” Tariq said evenly. “And what do you really need to pack? My palace has several sets of rooms for guests, all of which are fully furnished. All you need are a few outfits to get you started and any mementos you want to take. You can pack in the morning and we can leave in the afternoon.”

“I don’t even know what to pack,” Emelia said. “How’s the weather in Al Salyah right now? What do I need?”

“Warm,” Tariq said. “Around this time of year, it’s usually quite pleasant, although the summers can be a bit scorching. Trust me, you don’t need much. Once we get there, I can get you anything you need.”

Emelia wasn’t sure she liked the sound of that. It seemed like she’d be depending on Tariq a lot, which was never a comfortable position for her. And when she’d relied on Tariq before, he’d let her down — like everyone did. Emelia liked to be independent and self-sufficient. She had supported herself and Owen for years. That wasn’t something she felt comfortable giving up.

“I’m sure I can figure it out,” she said, already mentally picking apart her closet for the best options. “All right, we can leave tomorrow. Do you want to come back around one p.m. to pick us up?”

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