The Sheikh's Pregnant Wife - Leslie North Page 0,20
Kara settled her napkin into her lap. After a moment, Laila and Zayid sat down on opposite sides of the table, and the dinner service began. “There’s a project in development there that we both have a stake in. But we were able to relax together as well.”
“A project in development?” Salima raised her eyebrows. “Can you say more about it? I understand if you can’t. Things with the royal family sometimes need to be kept under wraps.” She took a bite of chicken but didn’t lose her hopeful expression.
Kara’s soul lightened at the prospect of being able to share this project with Salima. They’d done plenty of outreach about it, and the palace’s involvement wasn’t a secret.
“I can.” She laughed. “So much more that you’d probably be tired of it by the time I was done. My organization is in the final planning stages of building a sports and community center in Mennah. We’re actively pursuing financial support from the royal family. Still working that out—but I feel very optimistic about it.” Far more optimistic than she’d felt before the trip to Mennah, but that might also have to do with how much closer she felt to Yaseen.
“That’s a lovely idea. My grandmother was from there, so our family spent quite a bit of time there when I was growing up. A place like that could become the beating heart of the community.”
“That’s my hope,” Kara said. “That’s exactly my hope. I truly believe that the center will provide a springboard for—” Tears sprang to her eyes and she fanned them with one hand. “I’m getting choked up, probably because—” Kara gestured to her belly. “Just thinking about having a child of my own makes me even more determined to make things steadier for the children in Mennah. It could start a new wave of positive growth.”
Salima patted her hand. “You’re right, you’re right. My grandmother considered leaving several times, I can remember. But she was able to make a go of it with her linen business. I think these small investments—not that your center will be small—”
“I know what you mean,” Kara said fervently.
“The people need something to rally around,” said Salima. “It’s easiest to rally around the children. But rallying around someone else makes it easier to cheer yourself on.”
“Exactly.” Kara gave Salima a big smile. “Who knew such like-minded people would be seated together like this?”
Salima winked at her. “I think Laila had something to do with it.”
The two women chatted more about Mennah—its recent history, the artisans who kept coming back despite everything, and the center. Salima was wonderful. Still, a heaviness settled over Kara’s shoulders. It got heavier when Laila introduced her to another couple from the business district in Raihanabad who were interested in similar projects. Somehow, it was far more tiring to lean forward to hear them over the chatter at the table. Had she ever had heavy eyelids like this before? Kara caught herself trying to remember the last time she’d felt this way. It was never. Pregnancy was an adventure.
The dinner ended a while later, and Yaseen reappeared at her side. “Come with me.” He offered his arm. “There are people I need to talk to.”
Kara stood by and listened, trying not to look overawed. Yaseen was really something. She saw no sign of his stiff-necked approach to the Mennah project in his interactions with the dinner guests. Instead, he listened, nodding in agreement or couching his dissent in diplomatic turns of phrase. Men and women holding champagne glasses pressed in, but Yaseen planted his feet and greeted every one of them by name. He asked after their children, their projects, their businesses. He listened carefully to each reply. He gave advice. All of it in pithy language that made people smile and nod and laugh.
They kept coming, one after the other. The upper crust of Raihan was made up of bright-eyed people who never hesitated to seize a moment and shout over the crowd to be heard. Kara fought to keep her back straight and a smile on her face. Mentioning her growing discomfort to Yaseen seemed like giving up, and she wasn’t going to do that. She had limited time here in this position. She had to make the best of it.
But as one man stepped away—a titan of the construction industry in Raihan and someone who always wanted to pitch new projects to the sheikh—she let herself lean a little heavier on his arm.
Yaseen’s eyes snapped to