“You’re coming home? Back here? What happened? Oh god Anna, what is it?”
“Um, no, not back to the states home—I meant back to his home—our home, um I guess I should say, my home now.”
“Where are you right now? What is going on Anna? Tell me darling.”
“I’m in the hospital mom.”
I heard my mom’s glass crash and break on the kitchen floor and her dramatic gasp of concern, “I’m coming to you. I need to get a flight. Anna, do you need help? Like can I send you money? Are you okay? Oh god darling, tell me you’re okay!”
My mom’s hysteria washed over me and I choked back a moment of panic. I finally gained control and used the voice I knew would settle her, “Mom, take a breath, I already told you I was okay. It happened four days ago and I am way better. I walked around the hospital today, under my own steam, so yeah, I’m doing way better. Take a breath mom. Stop crying. I am fine!”
She was crying and sniffing and clicking on a keyboard, “Mom, what are you doing?”
“I’ve just made a reservation for a flight that leaves first thing in the morning. I have to come to you. I have to take care of my baby girl.”
Then she panted as she climbed the stairs and I could hear the rattle of hangers so I knew she was in her closet.
“Mom, sit on the bed. Are you sitting? Now take three breaths. Good. Can you listen for a second? Yeah? Okay—first off, Omar can send his plane to pick you up. He can send a limo to the house so you don’t have to deal with taxis or any of the airport hassles. He can also send people to help you with all the little details. Okay? Stop crying mom, breathe through your nose, you’re going to hyperventilate. Okay, that’s better. You don’t have to come this second, but yes, I would love it if you could be here with me. Do you think you can handle that much travel without falling apart?”
My mom’s voice was soft, but assured, “Anna, you are my life, you are all I really have. Yes, of course I can handle it. Please have Omar send the plane and the car as soon as possible. I will be ready. Or I can just get on that plane in the morning.”
“No, I want you to fly private and with the help he can provide. I’ll call you back as soon as I know a time frame.”
“Anna, what happened?” My mom asked in a tone I knew she was faking as stronger than she really was.
“I was kidnapped.” She gasped and her tears began anew, “It was five days ago. I am okay now, or on my way to okay. Omar saved me.”
“Oh dear lord Anna, I think you should come home immediately. You need to be here, safe in the states.”
“Not yet mom. Maybe someday, but not yet. Omar and I will be getting married and I need to be with him right now. Will you please come though? I need you too.”
CHAPTER FOUR
Omar sat and held my hand while I talked to my mother and then when I was finished with her, I told him I needed to be held. He was tentative and treated me as if I was made from the finest porcelain, but he did crawl up on the bed and open his arms, which I crawled into. Initia
lly my heart beat hard against my ribs and I trembled. I was stiff in his arms, but I persevered and he said nothing, thankfully! He waited and then slowly wrapped me in his strong arms, holding me close.
After a bit, I did soften and relax against his broad chest and my tears subsided. He kissed the top of my head and softly stroked my back. I calmed down even more, and my rapid pulse diminished until the machine ceased the frantic beeping. We said nothing, but for the first time in days and days, I felt safe in his embrace.
“It is your home too Anna, you may always call it home for the rest of your life.”
I nodded against his chest and burrowed closer, “I love you.”
“I’ve set up a room at home, with fulltime staff—a doctor and nurses. Do you feel you can come back to the palace in the clouds? You will heal faster if you are safe and protected in our fortress.”
“Okay, I think I can handle that now.”
“How long before your mother will be ready?”
“She will be waiting and packed by tomorrow.”
“Excellent. I will send the plane tonight.” He kissed my forehead and then tilted my chin up so he could look in my eyes, “Are you okay with this amount of affection?”
I let my expression tell him all, and I gave him a weak smile, “Yes Omar. You are my safe place. If I am with you, I am okay. Soon I can feel that I will be able to join you in your bed.” My face fell, “Although you will have to be very careful with me, take it slow? I can’t tell you no, I mean I can, but I won’t, so please just be slow with me?”
He held me so tightly it choked off my air and I grunted, but didn’t pull away. He kissed my forehead again and I saw in his eyes that he would probably take it slower than I needed, which was fine with me. I ended up falling asleep with my head on his chest and his arms around me.
The next day they moved me to the penthouse in the tallest building in the world and into a room directly next to the big suite that Omar and I had shared just a short week previous. True to his word I was waited on hand and foot.