Free Promised to a Sheik by Carla Cassidy Page B

details her mother had brought up.
    Grace paused, then laughed. “I guess I do need to take a breath, don’t I?” She leaned forward in her chair and covered Cara’s hand with hers, her expression suddenly serious. “Are you sure about all this? Do you really love him, Cara?”
    â€œI do,” she replied softly. And that was the problem. She had fallen in love; first with the man who had written the beautiful letters she had bundled and tied with pink ribbon and kept next to her bed.
    In the past couple of days since spending time with Omar, her love for him had grown. He was tender yet passionate, intelligent yet sensitive. He stirred her not only on a physical level, but on an emotional level.
    He made her feel special and exciting and wanted, and she was so afraid of losing that, of losing him.
    â€œIt’s quite a challenge you have ahead,” Grace said as she sat back in her chair and wrapped her plump fingers around her coffee mug.
    â€œWhat do you mean?” Cara asked curiously.
    â€œYou’re going to go live in a foreign country, with new people and new customs. You’ll be going thereas a wife to a man you haven’t spent much time with. Are you sure this is really what you want?”
    Cara paused and took a sip of her coffee, then smiled at her mother. “I feel as if all these years I’ve been living a practice run for real life, and now suddenly I’m about to begin living for the first time.”
    Grace looked at her with empathy. “Your sister is a difficult act to follow.”
    Cara laughed. “That’s putting it mildly.” Her burst of laughter faded and she frowned thoughtfully. “You know I adore Fiona, but Mission Creek has never been big enough to allow both of us to shine. Omar looks at me, and I feel as if I’m the most unique, special woman in the world. More than anything, I want to build a life with him in Gaspar.”
    Once again Grace reached out and took Cara’s hand in hers. She squeezed it and smiled. “You know your daddy and I only want happiness for you. And if your happiness lies in Gaspar with Omar, then, you know you have our blessing.”
    Cara rose and kissed her mother on the cheek. “I know, and thank you. And now I’m going to change and get ready for the barbecue.”
    That afternoon, the barbecue turned into an engagement party of sorts for Cara. Her sisters-in-law, Josie and Rose, ooh ed and aah ed over her ring and teased her about finding a handsome sheik who was sweeping her off to live in a desert palace.
    It was near dusk and the barbecue was winding down when Cara carried her glass to the kitchen and found Josie sitting at the table with a tall glass ofmilk. Baby Lena was in a stroller next to her, sound asleep.
    Cara placed her glass in the dishwasher, then joined Josie at the table. “How are you feeling?” she asked.
    Josie smiled and rubbed her pregnant tummy. “We’re doing just fine.”
    â€œIt must be so exciting to know that in a few months you’re going to have a new baby,” Cara said. Her heart expanded as she thought of carrying Omar’s child inside her. What a wonderful miracle that would be.
    â€œIt is,” Josie agreed, then looked down at the sleeping Lena. “Loving this baby inside me makes me wonder what on earth could possess her mother to abandon her.” She looked back at Cara and smiled. “But talk about exciting! I can’t believe you’re going to marry Sheik Al Abdar and fly off to Gaspar to live.”
    â€œHe thinks I’m Fiona.” The words fell from Cara’s mouth before she even knew she was going to confess her secret to Josie.
    â€œWhat?” Josie leaned forward in her chair and eyed her with surprise.
    Suddenly Cara wanted, needed to talk to somebody about the whole mess. She quickly explained to Josie about Omar being drawn to Fiona the night of the cotillion, and writing