Carmen
Carmen clanged the heavy exit door behind her as she left the Presidential Suite corridor. Her favourite place. The fire escape.
He’d burnt her again.
It was criminal to be that handsome and mesmerising. But at least she’d found out that Fadia was simply a pawn in his gold embossed chess set, and she, Carmen O’Shannessy, didn’t like the idea. Or him. If Fadia needed an ally then Carmen was her girl.
It brought back too many unpleasant memories. The way Carl had turned, as early as their honeymoon, swearing at her, keeping her awake with tirades when she needed to sleep, wearing her down, demeaning her after a year of desolation until she finally accepted the enormity of her mistake and ran away. Moved jobs, states, losing friends until finally she rebuilt her life.
Domineering men did not have a place in her life. She straightened off the door and began her descent. Unfortunately, she could picture Zafar’s wicked smile so easily and the warmth she’d felt when he turned it her way.
No. No trust, especially for men who could cool and heat her body with just a glance. So why did she want to run back and relive the sensation? How did that work?
When Carmen opened the door on the sixth floor, of course her friend the guard sat there. He stood from his chair when she appeared and nodded coldly as she walked past him towards her own room at the end of the corridor.
Made a good little enemy there, she thought, as she stared past him to the rooms of mums and babies that looked out over the beach. When she reached the end of the corridor the Midwife’s Room welcomed her with sanctuary from his beady eyes.
Didn’t matter if her room held only spare supplies. At least she could shut the door - which she did firmly - and lean back against it.
Unfortunately, the barrier didn’t help her brain.
Carmen pushed herself off the door and straightened the empty baby cots before energetically restocking the linen from the trolley into her shelves. Still needing distraction, she wiped over the bath equipment and scales she used to weigh the babies.
‘Done. Hmm.’ She rested her hand on her computer at the desk, but she didn’t see any of it. She could see Prince Zafar, though, in her mind’s eye, and he was smiling...
Not fair.
On Tuesday, refreshed after a full night’s sleep, back at the Baby Hotel, Carmen welcomed the new mothers freshly arrived from their birth at the nearby hospital.
It took at least half an hour for each new mother to be ensconced and resting. When she finally made it to the Midwife’s Room the phone shrilled, as if it were impatient with the neglect.
‘Midwife. Can I help you?’
‘Carmen? It is Fadia. I have been trying to phone you for ages. There’s a pink rash on Harrison’s leg that is new. I need you.’
She’d seen Fadia when she first came on duty but hadn’t stayed long. ‘I’ll come very soon. Is everything else okay?’ No word from Hassan she hoped.
‘The boys and I are fine, if that’s what you mean?’
Carmen relaxed. She just had this feeling of disquiet she couldn’t explain. ‘Is it okay if I check on one of my other mothers first?’
‘Oh?’
A little of the privilege she was used to had crept into Fadia’s voice. Interesting family. Carmen smiled into the phone. ‘I’ll be as quick as I can, but might be ten minutes or so. That way I can spend longer with you when I get there.’
‘Of course. I understand. I’ll see you soon.’
The time Carmen spent with the other young mum seemed to fly and she glanced at her watch as she waved goodbye.
She needed to arrange times for weights for those who were going home that day, but she’d better check the princess first. She made her way to Fadia’s room. With two babies to care for she needed the most help.
Carmen knocked, then opened the door with her key, and she almost walked into Zafar who again was with his cousin.
His black brows rose in disbelief. ‘You have a key?’
Carmen shared her own frown. That tone. That arrogance. She wasn’t sure why it goaded her so much but thankfully she wasn’t one of his underlings. ‘Yes. To all the mother’s rooms so they don’t have to get up to let me in.’ She tilted her head at him. ‘I always knock first. Do you?’
He didn’t answer. Instead, inscrutable, he said, ‘I’m sure you do,’ which left Carmen seething. What was it about this man that pressed her buttons? Normally the most easy-going person, just a glance from him was enough to raise her blood pressure, and yet his actions were reasonable in the circumstances.
Why wasn’t her response more tranquil?
She narrowed her eyes at him. Did he think she was in collusion with Hassan? Or whomever else he considered to be hostile dangers to his cousin? ‘Do you come often? I hope Fadia is able to rest between feeds.’
‘My cousin would be able to rest if the midwife came immediately when she was asked.’
Snippy. Tsk, tsk. Real world. ‘As it happens, your cousin is not my only patient.’
His lips tightened and he glanced at his watch. ‘Then I will arrange for it to be so.’
There it was. Yup. Red rag to her bull. ‘You will do no such thing, Prince Zafar.’
She stressed the title, more to calm her own urge to throttle him, than in respect. Was this guy for real? The most annoying part being she couldn’t let her feelings show because drama was the last thing Fadia needed. She smiled at her patient before she turned back to the royal pain.
‘Perhaps this topic is best saved for a time that isn’t taking up your cousin’s rest opportunities.’ She moved past him. Brisk, businesslike, ready to do her job. ‘Now, Fadia, would you like to show me your baby’s rash?’
Zafar’s voice floated over her shoulder. ‘I have told her it is erythema toxicarum and that it is normal in the first three days in newborns.’
Carmen blinked but didn’t turn to look at him. Obviously he had medical advantage he hadn’t mentioned. Typical to keep her in the dark.
‘Prince Zafar is a paediatrician and has established the new children’s hospital in Zandorro before he was recalled to his duty to the monarchy.’
Which would explain his knowledge and also why they’d let the twins out so early. Der. They had their own paediatrician. She looked at the red pimply rash on Harrison’s neck and arms. Okay. Correct diagnosis.
‘He’s right.’ She smiled at Fadia. Not at him. ‘You might find that the rash moves with heat. Meaning, if you were to hold Harrison’s leg while you changed a nappy, you might find the rash had suddenly become more prominent there and less prominent where it showed a minute ago.’
Zafar stepped closer. ‘I agree Fadia looks tired. Is there a nursery where the babies can go while she sleeps?’ Apparently His High and Mightiness was over harmless rashes.
‘I’m afraid we don’t have that option here.’ And who had made it easier for her to leave the hospital ward too quickly, Carmen thought? Hmm. ‘This facility is for transition to home. If Fadia wants to have the babies minded, she could return to the hospital or have a relative stay in the room while she rests.’
She spread her hands. Her look said she doubted Fadia would relax while he was watching over her.
‘Or I could hire a mothercraft nurse again. Surely that would be easier?’ Zafar queried his cousin, but Fadia’s eyes pleaded as she shook her head.
‘No. Please.’
Zafar frowned and Carmen wondered if he regretted hurrying her here. She hoped so. She watched his face but nothing showed. Typical. Well, Fadia needed rest. And it would be better if he left.
‘For the moment we will do as you wish.’ He turned and headed for the door before she could ask him to go. ‘I will discuss this with your midwife later today.’
And when would that be? To worry about later. For the moment Carmen was pleased she didn’t have to fight about asking him to leave.
Left to their own devices, the women had babies fed and settled within the hour, despite a tantrum from Harry that rattled the windows, and an inclination from Braxton to sleep though the feed. Finally the curtains closed so Fadia could rest.
‘Please ring me if they wake and you need help to get sorted for the feed.’
Fadia nodded sleepily.
‘Leave a voice message if you get stuck. If I get tied up, the other midwife will be here soon. In which case I’ll see you tomorrow.’
Fadia yawned and smiled sleepily and Carmen let herself out. She still had three more mums to check.
The day seemed to stretch forever but tonight was the second of the four in her week when she could fall into bed and sleep the night through.
As seven o’clock drew closer she found herself looking forward to finishing. Handover took longer than normal for the night midwife because the intricacies of Fadia’s case involved gentle handling of the confidential aspects of royalty and awareness of the new danger aspect. Finally, she was riding down in the lift to the basement on her way home, but she felt so wired she worried she’d just toss and turn in her bed.
When she stepped out below ground a deep voice commented, ‘Good evening, Carmen. You look fatigued.’
Zafar leant up against her car. Was that a coincidence or did he really know it was her vehicle? Weariness suddenly took a back seat to nervous energy. ‘I’m feeling a little jittery after my long day today. Don’t cross me.’
He smiled, unperturbed, but offered no explanation as he watched her. Dark eyes, amused mouth. Broad shoulders leaning.
She tapped her foot. Irritability, not nervous energy, now. She wished he’d go away. Really. Honest. ‘Did you want something, Prince Zafar? Apart from saying I look tired, which was very kind. Thank you.’
Zafar pushed himself off her bonnet and loomed in front of her. ‘I wish to invite you to walk with me. Even drained of energy you are lovely.’
Yeah right. Lovely with little sleep. She resisted the urge to brush her hair back. A walk? ‘Now? It’s almost dark?’ She narrowed her eyes. Kidnapping had been mentioned. ‘Why?’
He shrugged. ‘Because it would be good to get out of the hotel. Walk along the beach path. What is it you say? Blow away the cobwebs? That is one of the things I miss most about Australia. The graphic expressions.’ He’d lived here before then.
She wished it hadn’t been such an enormous twenty-four hours because his background and history couldn’t help intrigue some part of her. Most of her, really.
Had he lived here before he was a prince? As a young doctor? That made him more normal. She met those every day.
The idea of walking in the fresh air before driving to her solitary flat tempted. She could let the stresses of the day be whisked away into the salty breeze that blew a mere hundred meters away. Release held appeal, as did the idea of hearing more about this enigmatic man in front of her.
‘Perhaps a short walk. I do sleep better with exercise.’
‘Most obliging,’ he mocked gently.
Carmen glanced at her car, shrugged her shoulders, and added, ‘Or I could go home now?’
He smiled. And what a smile. The most spontaneous grin she’d seen. ‘I am walking. Would you care to accompany me? Please.’
It seemed she did want to go, because her legs made their own decision and followed him up the ramp, his request for company pulling her like a string.
The late afternoon light glowed golden as she stepped into it beside Zafar. Not long until sunset but the salty tang of ocean breeze reinforced her decision to get out into the world.
She didn’t know what made her look back, in truth she’d forgotten about his bodyguard, but the man was there in the lee of the building watching them. His eyes met hers coldly and a shiver tickled her neck.