And then he thought about Leila, searching for her own scent and the tears she had shed last night and he picked up the phone to fix the little he could.
She was a mystery.
A complete one because at 4:00 p.m. he looked up as the door opened and a very different-looking Leila walked in carrying several bags.
She was dressed in gold, and her long black hair was flowing; her eyes were made up with kohl. He had possibly never seen anything more beautiful but, just as relief hit, he also remembered how worried he’d been. ‘Where have you been, Leila?’
‘We’re not married yet,’ Leila said, and hit him with his own response to her question this morning.
‘You look...’ He was rather lost for words. ‘Amazing.’
‘Thank you,’ Leila said. ‘Though really I am so tired of wearing this robe but it is the only one I brought with me...’ She was honest. ‘I don’t do well with the clothes here. I have tried so many things—I like to be covered but long dresses make me feel like a gypsy and trousers make me feel like a man.’
‘You are so not a man, Leila.’
‘I like being covered though.’
‘I’ll have someone come and bring a selection of clothes...’
‘Authentic Surhaadi robes?’ Leila shook her head. ‘I think that might be a little hard for even James Chatsfield to arrange.’ She opened up her handbag and took out a large wad of cash. ‘Look at my tips.’ Leila smiled.
‘Tips?’ James did a double take. ‘Leila, where have you been?’
‘Working.’
James blinked.
‘So you were wrong yesterday—I do know about hourly rates!’
He couldn’t believe that she’d gone and got a job.
‘Where are you working?’
She told him where and James frowned; it was a very exclusive Middle Eastern restaurant close to where he lived, a restaurant that James visited on occasion. ‘You’re not waiting tables?’ James checked.
‘Of course not.’
‘Dishes?’ James asked in horror.
‘Oh, no, I tried that three times and I got let go three times.’
‘Belly dancer!’
She heard the hope in his voice and narrowed her eyes. ‘Don’t be crude,’ Leila said, but she gave in to his curiosity, as it was incredibly nice to have someone who actually asked about her day and seemed interested. ‘I play the qanun in the restaurant. They are delighted with me and have asked if I will do nights too.’ She saw his mouth gape open. ‘Did you think that I would have stayed hiding in my room, James?’
‘I don’t know,’ he admitted.
‘I earn little—one week would not pay for even one night here.’
‘Er, it probably wouldn’t get you an hour.’
‘I get that, but it is the only job I could do. Now they are offering me more shifts for more money. It really is a start. I will not be a burden on you forever.’
‘You don’t need to work.’
‘But I like it,’ Leila said.
‘I don’t think you understand that you’re known now.’
‘I wear my veils to work,’ Leila said. ‘None of the customers know who I am. I like getting dressed up and playing my music. I like the appreciation. I like that I get a meal each day that I provide for.’ She picked up some of the bags she’d brought in and took them over to the bar fridge and started to load it with containers of food. ‘I like that I nourish my baby with food that I understand. James, I really do not need a husband. We don’t need to get married...’
‘Aside from everything, Leila, and it’s just a minor point, but if you want to live here, then it might be preferable for you to be a US citizen and possibly the easiest way for you to get that is to marry me.’
‘I don’t understand.’
‘You can’t just choose which country you reside in. Don’t take my word for it though, maybe check with the Surhaddi embassy.’ James rolled his tongue in his cheek. ‘If there is one.’
‘I shall,’ Leila snapped back. ‘I mean it, James. I can support my baby. You are welcome to visit us when you wish but you don’t have to fund me.’
She tested his patience but in a way that was starting to amuse him.
‘So where are you going to live?’
‘I will find somewhere.’
‘On your music money?’
‘Yes.’
‘And what happens when the baby gets here?’
‘I will still work. I will get a nanny.’
‘On your music money?’
‘Yes,’ Leila answered, but then thought for a moment. ‘Though you could maybe buy me a house.’