Free A Family Affair by Fern Michaels

want me to plan your wedding. Me, who knows as much as you know about things like this. I have no idea if we have a wedding planner here at the palace. I’m thinking we don’t, or at some time or other, we probably would have heard about it. No member of the royalty has gotten married in this palace that I know of. Your sister, after all, kept rejecting all the prospective husbands your father presented to her. Anyway, I think women are supposed to do things like that. Soraya has nothing to do, so let her have a go at it.”
    “I trust you, Rashid. Find a wedding planner and work with him or her. I want my wedding to be perfect. Besides, when Trish goes back to the States, I am going to allow Soraya to go with her. It will just be long enough for Trish to do what she has to do before she moves here permanently. That just leaves you, Rashid. I know you’ll do a good job. Nothing tacky, now. But I want it a mix of our way and Trish’s way. A wedding to remember. Perhaps two ceremonies, one Muslim and one Christian. Check that out. I feel so much better now that I know our wedding is in your capable hands.”
    Those capable hands flew in the air. “I quit. Wedding planning is not in my job description, Malik.”
    Malik laughed. “You can’t quit. You are bound to me for life. We both know that. Two ceremonies, the private one and the palace one. Do a really good job and don’t bother me with details. I have a honeymoon to plan. Do it for me, Rashid. I promise to have Trish bring you back a planeload of White Castle burgers.”
    “You cannot bribe me, Malik.” Rashid’s tone belied his words and made it clear that he could be bribed that easily.
    “I just did. We both know you would cut off your arm for those burgers. Like me with the hot dogs, which take forty-eight hours to digest. I wouldn’t go back to sleep if I were you. You have a busy day, starting right now.”
    “I need a date, Malik! When do you want to get married? I could be wrong, but doesn’t the bride-to-be have some input here?”
    “The sooner the better, but at least a month from now. Trish will need two to three weeks back in the States. She is as anxious to get married as I am, so don’t worry about that. Soraya will need that much time, too. See how perfectly this is working out, Rashid? I’m killing two birds with one stone, and my sister and her incessant pestering will be done with. She will come back here joyfully and, I hope, a changed young woman.”
    “Well, that’s not going to happen. You’re a fool if you think so,” Rashid said sourly.
    “Carry on, Rashid. I have to meet my prospective bride for breakfast. By the way, my next project after getting married, palace business, and seeing to my sister is going to be finding you a wife. I think that’s your problem.”
    Rashid dropped his head in his hands and pretended to sulk as Malik left his suite of rooms. The moment the door closed behind him, Rashid’s clenched fist shot into the air.
     
    The palace buzzed and hummed as the two lovebirds finished their breakfast just as Soraya entered the dining room, late as usual. She eyed her brother, sparks shooting in his direction. “And I have to find out this wondrous news from a servant!”
    “I didn’t want to wake you, sister. Had you been on time for breakfast, you would have known sooner. Spending less time in front of a mirror would do it, Soraya.”
    Soraya ignored her brother. She bent over to hug her soon-to-be sister-in-law and murmured all the right words about how happy she was to welcome her into their lives. Trish hugged her back.
    “I have a surprise for you, Soraya. I am going to allow you to go to the States with Trish when she returns to settle her affairs. You will return with her. Let’s make sure we both understand that.”
    “Of course! Of course! Truly, I can go? Oh, you are the best brother in the whole world. No chaperones, though. Just Trish and me. I want to experience this all on my own. Say yes,