“Subhanallah.” Wasim spoke in the same pained voice.
“Inna lillahi wa inna ilayhi raji’un,” Imani whispered. “Call me if you need anything.”
“I will.”
They said their goodbyes, and Imani took a seat on the edge of the bed.
Doreen quietly entered and stood in the middle of the room, her dark eyes searching Imani’s face. “Ambassador, is everything all right?”
“King Khalid has passed,” Imani replied.
Doreen’s eyes opened wide and her lips slightly parted. “Oh no.” She covered her mouth with her left hand, and tears filled her eyes.
They had expected his death, but that didn’t make the news any less devastating.
“When you speak to Prince Wasim again, please convey my condolences to him and his family.”
“I will,” Imani promised.
She heard the evening call to prayer through a loudspeaker from the minaret tower of the nearest mosque. The melodic sound had never been so haunting as it was right now, and heaviness filled her heart that the Barrakeschi people had lost their beloved leader today.
With King Khalid dead, Wasim would immediately ascend the throne and become the country’s ruler. He would be very busy, not only taking on the role of king, but getting ready for the funeral. Burial would probably take place within the next twenty-four to forty-eight hours.
Imani called her family in Zamibia and gave them the news. Minutes later, she went downstairs to her home office and pulled out cards and stationery. Then she began the painful task of handwriting messages to members of the royal family expressing her condolences.
12
Imani entered the administrative offices of The Grand White Palace, but her steps faltered as she anticipated the conversation with Wasim. He’d asked her to come here for a meeting because, according to him, they needed to talk about “next steps” now that the mourning period was over.
Since women didn’t attend funerals and burials, the last time she saw him was on television for the service over a week before. It had been a grand affair—if funerals could be called grand. With only twenty-four hours’ notice, world leaders, mostly from Arab nations, came to pay their last respects to the great king. The day after, because King Khalid had presided over the armed forces, there had been a military salute and fighter planes flown overhead.
Talibah, who had been notified she was on her way up, approached when Imani stepped off the elevator in the outer office. Today she wore a dark brown abaya and vibrant red hijab accessorized with a lovely red and gold pin on the right side.
“Hello, Ambassador. How are you?”
“Fine, and you?”
“Doing well, thank you. His Excellency is wrapping up a meeting. I’ve already told him you’re here, so he shouldn’t be much longer. Would you like something to drink while you wait—water, tea?”
At first, Imani had been taken aback by the honorific Talibah used, and then she remembered that Wasim was now king and had taken on the full title to go with his role as ruler.
“No, I’m fine. Thank you.”
She sat on the sofa and while she waited, thumbed through emails she hadn’t read yet. Only ten minutes later, two men dressed in suits came into the outer office, said a few words to Talibah, and then went on their way.
Talibah called back to Wasim, and after she hung up, smiled. “His Excellency will see you now,” she said.
Imani took the long walk to his new office, the sound of her heels providing a gentle thump on the floor, which was covered in white tile edged with gold. The white walls were also painted with intricate gold designs that reached up to the high ceiling, and the combination of those colors made the entire place seem as if it glowed.
At the end of the hall, two men in traditional dress stood outside the double doors of Wasim’s office. The gorgeous twenty-foot doors were made of a rich, dark wood where a local artist had carved scenes depicting ancient times in the country. At the very top, etched into the wall, was the image of a gold falcon, which appeared as if it was peering down at her as she approached.
Both men opened the doors simultaneously and Imani waltzed through. Wasim stood behind a massive wood desk that looked long enough to accommodate three people working behind it. His dark suit, dark tie and shirt, gave him a somber appearance that matched the grim expression on his face.
So much had changed. He was now king, and today they’d discuss how to bring their relationship to a close. She’d even thought of an idea on the way over. They could say that since he was caught up in the day-to-day responsibilities of being a new king, their relationship fell apart, which wasn’t far-fetched.
“Imani,” he said with a nod.
“Hello, Wasim.”
The expression on his face was almost more than she could bear. There were tension lines around his mouth and a hint of hollowness in his eyes, as if he hadn’t been sleeping well.
She walked over to the desk. “How are you?” she asked gently.
“I’ve been better.” A brief smile crossed his lips.
“I hope you know that I’m here for you, if you need me. I’ve said that before, and I mean it.”
“Thank you. That means a lot to me.”
Wasim took a deep breath and appeared uncertain about how to proceed. Uncertainty was not an emotion she was used to seeing in him. She decided to help him along.
“I know you have important issues to take care of, so this conversation only has to take a few minutes. You were right to call this meeting because I’ll only be in Barrakesch for a few more days, and the new ambassador arrives on Monday. What are your thoughts on how we should proceed with…” Imani glanced back at the open doors and lowered her voice. “Our relationship.”
No emotion showed on his face. “I’ve thought about that a lot since my father died.”
“And…how do you want to end this?” The words were more difficult to speak than she’d expected.
“Let’s talk over here.”
They walked along the expanse of the wall to the end where floor to ceiling windows overlooked the courtyard. Imani sat down, but Wasim remained standing.
“I have a proposition for you,” he said.
“Okay,” she said slowly.
He slipped one hand into his trouser pocket and walked slowly in front of the window. His profile was a study in deep concentration before he faced her again. “You saw how excited our families were when they learned we were ready for marriage. Everyone thinks we’re compatible and a perfect match. And I agree. I think we should get married. To each other.”
Imani let out a startled laughed. “What?”
His expression didn’t change, which made her laughter seem completely out of place. She immediately sobered.
“Have you never thought about it? You and me? You can’t deny there is something between us. We can build on that.”
Imani’s heart raced, and she licked suddenly dry lips. Had he really just offered her marriage? She didn’t want to reveal how deeply attracted she was to him and the way he made her skin tingle without touching her.
That night in Estoria had upended her world in an unexpected way. She’d always had a bit of a crush on Wasim, but they’d only ever been friends. Good friends. She appreciated all his help when she had become the ambassador to their country. But what he was suggesting was outside the parameters of their friendship.