Sweet Obsession (10 page)

“When, pray tell, did you come here?” I asked excitedly.

“As soon as they took you from us, Nidal brought us here right away,” Abdul answered happily. “We have been here ever since. This is our new home. Nidal said we can stay as long as we like.”

“I am your new cook, Loula. Nidal put me in charge of the kitchen and the garden, and my son was put in charge of the stables. Loula, we have you to thank. It is all because of you that our lives have changed,” Abdul’s mother said excitedly.

“Where do you sleep?” I asked curiously.

“We have been given our own room, Loula. Your prince has been very good to us. God bless him,” Abdul’s mother announced.

Suddenly, Abdul and his mother both bowed at the same time, and I turned and saw Nidal right behind me. Nidal stretched out his arm.

“Come, Loula. Walk with me to the gardens. I need to talk to you,” he said in a serious, calm tone.

I hugged Abdul and his mother and walked over to Nidal, slipping my hand in his as we walked together to the gardens. “Nidal, that was very kind of you to bring them to the palace,” I said to him, teary-eyed.

“What else would you have me do? They took you in, fed you, and gave you a home. One good deed deserves another, don’t you think?” He smiled at me and made the butterflies in my stomach flap their wings.

I stopped in my tracks, turned to him, wrapped my arms around him, and kissed him sensually. The gardener dropped his tools and looked at me openmouthed. He was probably wondering how I dare display my feelings in public. Nidal kissed me back hungrily, and took my breath away. I was deeply and hopelessly in love with him.

“Thank you, Nidal. This means a lot to me,” I said wholeheartedly.

Nidal pulled me around the rose bushes to the other side of the garden, where thousands of colorful flowers were in full bloom this time of year. This place looked magical. There were three wooden benches, and I made my way to one of them and sat on it while Nidal walked around and cut the prettiest flowers. He then proceeded to make a wreath. When he was done, I was impressed. It was very beautiful.

Nidal placed it on my head. “You look like a princess, Loula. “Your beauty takes my breath away,” he said hoarsely. Then he kneeled down on one knee. I held my breath, knowing where this was leading to. “Loula.” He paused a second. He looked deep into my eyes. “I love you so much. Marry me. I want to spend the rest of my life with you.” Tears were in his eyes.

My mind slipped back to the last time he had asked me to marry him, and I closed my eyes. The tears started to roll down my face.

“I am sorry for the pain I have caused you, Loula,” he said sincerely. “Forget the past, and let’s start over fresh. A new beginning.”

“And who’s to say that history will not repeat itself? How can I be sure you will not go crazy with jealousy again? Your cousin is my friend. We will talk and laugh again, as friends do. How can you guarantee me that you will behave?” I knew that he would do it again.

Nidal lifted a brow, and I noticed his eyes turn a darker shade as he studied my face closely. I swallowed in disappointment. Things remained the same. He would never change. “You are mine whether you choose to marry me or not. I will not give you up!” he said with fierce possession.

“Then you will live a life of misery, Nidal. Why do you want to suffer in this way? I cannot be locked up in my room forever! I need to have friends and live my life as a free woman. I do not want to be punished every time I talk to a man!” I was angry at him for ruining such a beautiful moment.

Nidal grabbed my shoulders and shook me gently. “You are mine! I will personally kill any man who comes near you, cousin or not!” he warned.

That was the end of our beautiful moment in the garden. I stood and walked away from Nidal. I knew it was too good to be true.
Nothing lasts forever
.

“Loula, wait,” Nidal said impatiently. “You walk away from me acting like you do not care when I know that you love me. In the end, I will win, and you know that. I know you love me. I know you cried every day you were away from me. Loula, I cried too. Do you want to go through all that again? Can you live without me? Because I know I cannot live a life without you,” he said truthfully.

He was right. We were born to be with one another. We were soul mates. We completed each other. What was the use of fighting it anymore? I sighed, reached out, and caressed his face. “You are right, Nidal. I am yours, and you are mine.” And he looked at me and waited for my answer. I lovingly looked up at him and said simply, “Yes.”

Nidal’s handsome face lit up, and he lifted me and swirled me around. He filled my face with butterfly kisses.

News traveled fast, and it was buzzing around the palace grounds that I was out and about. We walked back to the palace and saw the queen walk toward to us excitedly.

“Loula,” she said excitedly and gave me a warm hug. “I am so glad to see you smile again. Come, I want to show you our new cook. She is wonderful. She can cook up a dream,” she said happily, pulling me alongside her and totally ignoring Nidal.

“Mother!” Nidal was not too happy to be left alone.

“Oh, Nidal, put a sock in it!” She winked at me with a smile as she pulled me toward the kitchen.

Chapter Five
Loula

A
s the days went by, we told no one of the marriage proposal or acceptance. It was our secret for now until we decided when the right time would be to make the announcement. I was very happy and felt like I was living in a dream. Everything felt so perfect.

The queen and I formed a beautiful relationship. She included me in all her conversations during dinnertime and even insisted that I join her for a few strolls in the rose garden on the evenings the men went to their meetings. I was happy to comply. Our conversations were pleasant enough, and I looked forward to them. The queen turned out to be a very nice lady. I felt much respect for her, and I knew the feeling was mutual.

During one of our walks with Her Majesty, she told me about the children in the orphanage. She was very fond of them. She called them “my children,” and she said they were absolutely adorable. I looked at the queen with admiration after I heard her talk so lovingly about “her children.” Although I felt sad that the children were without parents, I was glad that they were here because I knew they were taken care of in the best possible way.

I could not get the children out of my mind after that. One day, I asked the queen if I could spend some time at the orphanage with the children and teach them English. The queen was so excited about my proposal that she immediately agreed, and I was so thankful because Nidal lately spent every morning in training with his trainer to use the sword with expertise. I was left to entertain myself.
What better way to kill time than to be around the blessed children?

The orphanage was behind the palace to the east, about a hundred yards away. Many flowers surrounded the home, and trees and bushes of all shapes and sizes were planted everywhere. In the backyard, there was a huge playground, and I could not imagine the children not being happy here.

In the home, there were many rooms, including a few bathrooms to accommodate all the children. The queen went all out and decorated the rooms with only the best. No Persian rugs or crystal glasses were in this home, but everything here was of the finest quality to best fit the situation so the children could feel right at home. It was a warm environment, clean and cozy. I could tell that the children were very happy here.

The furniture was made just for them, and many servants cleaned, cooked, and took care of the children around the clock. They seemed well adapted here. They were nicely clothed and well fed, and they had many toys to keep them occupied throughout the day. They were like one big, happy family.

Each time I visited the children, their faces lit up with excitement. There were thirty-seven in all in this part of the country. Each child was more precious than the next. They were all adorable, but the youngest, Natalie, was a delight. She was about seven years old, and she had long, black hair that she wore parted in the middle with two ponytails. She had long eyelashes, and her eyes were the same color as Nidal’s. Whenever I looked into them, they reminded me of him. Her lips were full, and a sad smile was always on her face. The few times she smiled, I thought I caught a glimpse of Nidal. If I ever had a little girl with Nidal, she would probably look just like Natalie.

I started by teaching the children the ABCs. They were easy to teach. They were eager, and they learned really quickly. Then I taught them to write their names. Every day, they learned a few words. They looked forward to my teachings. Natalie always sat next to me, close enough where sometimes I pulled her into my arms and hugged her. She was missing a mother’s touch, and I knew she substituted me for the mother she never knew.

That was how the queen found me one day as she was visiting the children. She sat there in silence, looking stunned at the way I had all the children’s attention as they sat quietly listening to the lesson of the day while I held Natalie in my arms. I saw the expression on her face. It went from stunned to admiration. Tears were in her eyes as she covered her mouth with her hand. Natalie wiggled out of my arms and jumped to the floor as she hastily ran up to the queen and wrapped her chubby little arms around her.

Witnessing this, I knew the queen had a heart of gold. Clearly this was not the first time that Natalie had done this. The queen gave her a squeeze and then ruffled her hair, as the child ran back to me and snuggled onto my lap. Her Majesty apologized for the interruption, and I continued with the lesson. The queen stayed back and watched with a pleased smile on her lovely face. After a while, I gave the children a few minutes of recess. The queen walked up to me and said wholeheartedly, “Congratulations, Loula, on a job well done.”

“Thank you, my queen,” I said proudly. “It is a pleasure being around these adorable children,” I said proudly.

When she left, I realized that I had come to understand her and her ways. We had reached a new level of friendship, and it was surely going in the right direction. Pleased with that progress, I focused my attention on the children and continued the lessons.

Chapter Six
Loula

A
s the days turned to weeks, Nidal and I still had not told anyone that we wished to marry. It was our secret, something to hold dear in our hearts until the right time came along. Our love was endless as we cherished each moment we spent together. Our relationship blossomed into a fairy tale.

Each day that passed, I noticed that my prince was a rare jewel. There were many sides to him, and each one was better than the next. He taught me the true meaning of love, life, and laughter. He made me a better person and brought only the best out of me. I cherished every moment that I spent with him. And I knew the feeling was mutual. Whenever he looked at me, his eyes glowed with love.

Prince Nidal was a prince of honor, and he loved his people very much. And all his people loved him back. They welcomed him in their homes, and he gracefully accepted each and every invitation. Nidal always brought me along with him as we entered the homes of the rich and the poor. But it was the poor people’s homes we entered and spent the evenings with that revealed to me yet another side of Nidal I had not known. He was humble in their homes, ate whatever was served, and complimented the peasants’ wives on their cooking, even if they served only bread and potatoes. He drank wine with them and laughed and played with their children. I loved to sit back and watch him interact with these people, who did not have many material things, but they had plenty of love and happiness. They were rich in other ways that mattered to me the most. Nidal fit well with them, as if they were a part of his family. Never once did he look down on them. As a matter of fact, he talked, laughed, and shared stories with them. He seemed very comfortable around them, and to me, he looked like the great man that I knew him to be.

When it was time to leave, he bowed, thanked them for their hospitality, and dropped several gold coins on their table. He walked away quickly before they discovered the treasures, for he was not one to brag. He did not want the poor to feel like beggars or to feel unworthy. So he always helped them without blowing the trumpets. I did not think it was possible to love him any more than I already did, but I could not help it as I was overwhelmed with this new feeling of respect and adoration that I felt for my prince. My love for him overflowed until I was drowning in thankfulness to God for all the treasures he had given to me. I was very grateful.

A few times a week, Nidal still went to the private meetings with the king and his men. I never asked what the meetings were about, and Nidal never offered the information, so I kept silent, thinking for sure he would tell me on his own one day.

One day after dinner, as we walked into our room, Nidal surprised me by letting me know that he would be gone all night again because another important meeting was to take place. I tried to hide my disappointment, but Nidal noticed immediately that I was upset. He pulled me into his arms and kissed me fervently. The kiss did not last long. Nidal stopped abruptly and pushed me gently away as I looked questioningly up at him.