Free Valentine Babies (Holiday Babies Series) by Mona Risk Page A

marry you.”
    Roxanne swallowed and cradled her belly. Too late, she
noticed Leila staring at her. She jerked her hands away, but her friend’s eyes
widened and then squinted.
    “Roxy, is there something you want to tell me?”
    Roxanne focused a weary look on the young woman. Could she
trust her with her secret? Would she understand or hate her?

 
     
     
    Chapter Seven
    “Please tell me,” Leila begged.
    Holding her gaze, Roxanne lifted her chin and covered her
belly with a protective hand. “Your brother and I didn’t get married but we...”
How would she explain a crazy moment of passion?
    Leila smiled, a huge happy smile that brightened her face.
“Thank you, Lord.”
    Roxanne’s mouth twitched. “I don’t think the Lord approved.”
    “We live under horrible conditions. My brother loved you. I
have often wondered how he could have resisted so long. Too bad, he didn’t
know—”
    “He knew. I called him with the news. He ordered me to
return to Baghdad and get married right away. I wasn’t ready to give up
everything. Also I didn’t think I—”
    “Oh my God, Roxy, this is wonderful. It’s exactly the good
news we needed to cheer up Baba , to give him back the will to live.”
    “Wait. Nabil didn’t want your father to know we made a baby
out of wedlock. He was afraid your dad would be disappointed in him.”
    Leila shrugged. “Father would have chastised my brother if
he were still alive. But he’s dead and things have changed so much.” She
grabbed Roxanne’s shoulders and held her at arm’s length. “Try to understand. Baba lost his two sons. Now he calls Michael by his father’s name, Little Tarek .
Without this boy, Baba wouldn’t have survived. We keep reminding him we
need him to protect Michael. We are two lonely women, my mother and I, in a
country where a male protection is paramount. I will tell him about Nabil’s
baby. I will break the happy news very slowly.”
    Roxanne nodded. “Do whatever is best for your father. Just
remember that this is the last time I’ll come to Iraq. I can’t risk my child’s
life.”
    “Of course. Baghdad is not safe for you. It’s not safe even
for us. If Baba improves, we will all go to Paris. Soon, I hope, and we
won’t come back.”
    “What about your apartment, your things?”
    “In the past, I would have felt sad to leave all these
valuables. But now...” Leila scanned her elegant surrounding and waved a hand.
“Material things. They can be replaced, or not. Who cares, as long as we are
safe?”
    Roxanne hugged her. “I’ll do everything possible to help
you.”
    Leila kissed her on both cheeks and gently touched her
stomach. “You have already done so much, ya okhty , my sister.”
    Roxanne’s phone chimed interrupting their effusions. She
recognized Greg’s number on the digital display. “Hi Greg,” she said with a
smile. “I was planning to call you as soon as I go to the hotel. I’m at the
Diabs’ now.”
    “How was the trip?”
    “Very comfortable. I was able to rest during my stopover in
Dubai. I didn’t have to leave the airport. You can’t believe the luxurious room
Lou booked for me at The Dubai International Terminal Hotel.”
    “Great. What about in Baghdad?”
    “Steve Cooper, a photographer at KNR and two military guards
received me and drove me to the Diabs’. Greg, I just told Leila about the
baby.” Roxanne winked at Leila who was observing her with a slight frown. The
young woman raised an eyebrow at the mention of her name.
    “And?”
    “She was very happy and will inform her parents. I feel so
good about her reaction. Would you like to talk to her?”
    “Yes.”
    Roxanne turned to the young woman and covered the phone with
her hand. “I met Greg at my sister’s wedding, two days after I received your
horrible news. He did his best to help me. He’s a doctor, an obstetrician.
We’ve been very good friends since then. I talked to him a lot about you and
your family.”
    Leila’s scowl