They sampled bits of food and drink as they walked through the market, Hakim telling her more about the local specialties. The food was amazing and Lauren would have been happy simply spending the rest of the day there.
People were deferential to Hakim; he was part of their royal family so that wasn’t surprising. But they also seemed to like him. Lauren noticed that he was welcomed with a smile everywhere they stopped, and from the little kids to the elderly shopkeepers, he had a kind word for them all.
As they walked around one of the museums, Hakim told her more of Al Asaab’s history, how the tiny nation had forged its own path in the world, balancing rich natural resources with its strategic location on the globe.
“I’m surprised you didn’t go into government work; you’re so passionate about your country, I can just picture you as a diplomat,” Lauren said.
Hakim ducked his head and Lauren swore he blushed.
“It was an option. But we have enough family members in the government, and I’m really happier running my own company.”
Lauren nodded. “It’s good to be close, but not too close, right?”
“Exactly,” Hakim agreed with her. “So, speaking of being close… We’re going to go visit my sister and meet my darling new niece.”
“I was wondering when you were going to do that. I can make myself comfortable at your place while you’re visiting with her.”
Hakim shook his head and put his hand on her elbow to steer her to the car. “Oh, no. You’re coming with me.”
“Hakim, I don’t want to interrupt. You should have time with your family.”
“You’re my personal assistant on this trip, remember? And I plan to buy and bring lots and lots of gifts, so I need my assistant to help me pick out the right presents and carry them all to the hospital.”
Lauren saw that there was no way she could talk him out of his plan, so she happily went along to buy baby gifts. They stopped in a local department store, and before Lauren could blink, they had a store manager and three clerks following them around. Hakim would pick something out, Lauren would remind him that a few-days-old baby didn’t need six dresses, a play pen with a miniature set of musical instruments, and two giant teddy bears, and then the clerks would take the gifts away and wrap them up while Lauren watched, amused.
Hakim picked out a beautiful photo frame to give to his sister and got a matching one for himself, telling Lauren that he intended to have a good picture taken of his family while they were together.
Once they had acquired flowers and balloons to go with the wrapped gifts, Hakim drove them to the hospital. Lauren commented that they looked like the Birnam Wood of baby gifts as they walked down the cheerful hall of the hospital’s maternity ward.
Hakim knocked softly on the door to his sister’s room and then pushed the door open. Sadira’s eyes lit up when she saw who was walking through the door, and then she almost fell off her chair in gales of laughter as she saw how much he was carrying.
Lauren liked her immediately.
The siblings embraced, Hakim gingerly enveloping his sister in his arms. She laughed at him again, noting that she’d just had a C-section, yes, but that she wasn’t broken. Hakim laughed, too, and squeezed her a bit harder.
He then introduced Lauren as a fellow CEO and friend who was doing him a favor this weekend by traveling with him. Sadira gave Lauren a long look and then smiled before giving Lauren a hug as well.
“You have perfect timing, as usual. She just woke up,” she said, leaning over the crib next to Hakim.
“Can I pick her up?” Hakim asked uncertainly.
Sadira smiled. “Of course, you can. Little Nyla has been waiting to meet her uncle.”
Hakim carefully, reverently, picked up his tiny niece. He cradled the back of her neck as he settled her in his arms. He murmured soft and low to the baby, and although Lauren couldn’t make out what he was saying, she was moved by the sight: the cold, hard businessman cooing to a tiny girl, swaying back and forth as he told her how happy he was to meet her.
Sadira leaned into Lauren’s side. “He’s pretty good at that, isn’t he?”
Lauren tried to ignore the knowing tone in her voice. “He is. You know, he was so disappointed he couldn’t be here when she was born. He wanted to be here for her, and for you.”
“I know. She couldn’t wait, even a few more days. But that’s okay.”
“I think you’d probably better get ready for more gifts. I’m pretty sure he ordered several things from the store when he thought I wasn’t looking.”
Sadira laughed. “He can’t spoil her any more than her grandparents are going to.”