“Good night,” Kayleen told her and walked back into her room.
Her good mood had faded, which she hated, but worse were the doubts. Was her mother right about As’ad? Kayleen needed him to love her. She hadn’t realized it mattered, but it did. And if he couldn’t…
She walked into her bedroom and sank onto the mattress. If he couldn’t, how could she marry him?
Chapter Thirteen
Kayleen huddled in the chair in Lina’s living room and did her best to keep breathing. She’d recently discovered that terror and anxiety tended to make her hold her breath. Then she ended up gasping, which was not attractive or likely to make herself feel better.
“She’s hideous,” she moaned. “Isn’t it enough that she abandoned me when I was a baby? Does she have to show up now?”
Lina patted her hand. “I am so sorry. My brother thought he was helping. Truly.”
“I know. I’ve already mentally flogged myself for not telling the truth, but I just hate talking about my biological family. It’s pathetic to be abandoned twice. What does that say about me?”
“That you rose above your circumstances. That you have great character and inner strength. That we are lucky to have you marrying into our family.”
Kayleen smiled. “You’re good.”
“Thank you. It’s a gift. Now about your mother…”
Kayleen’s smile faded. “I don’t want to think about her, but I have to. She’s everywhere. Lurking. She constantly shows up without warning. She has totally terrified the girls. Last night she made Pepper cry when she told her she was going to have to be smart in life because she wasn’t that pretty. Pepper wanted to hit her and I almost let her. Who says that to a little girl? Pepper’s adorable. I can forgive her being mean to me, but to little kids? Never.”
“Do you want me to tell her to leave the country?” Lina asked. “I will. I can be very imperious. We can ship her back on the next plane.”
Kayleen was tempted. Very tempted. “I can’t tell you how much I want to say yes. It’s just…she’s my mother. Shouldn’t I try to have a relationship with her? Don’t I owe her?”
“Only you can answer that. Although I must ask what you owe her for. Giving birth? You didn’t ask to be born. That was her choice. And with having a child, comes responsibility. If she didn’t want to be bothered, she should have given you up for adoption.”
“I wonder why she didn’t,” Kayleen said. What would her life have been like if she’d been raised by a couple who wanted a child? She couldn’t begin to imagine.
“Who knows. Perhaps the paperwork was too complicated for her tiny brain.”
Kayleen grinned. “I like that. But it still leaves me with the issue of what to do with her. While I appreciate your offer to get rid of her, that doesn’t feel right to me. I think I have to try and make a real connection with her, no matter how different we are. I’ll deal with her for another week. If we can’t find some common ground and she’s still acting awful, then I’ll take you up on your offer.”
“You’re giving her more chances than I would, but you have a kinder heart.”
“Or more guilt.” She sighed. “You don’t suppose As’ad thinks I’m anything like her, do you?”
“Of course not. We can’t pick our relatives. Don’t worry-he doesn’t blame you for your mother.”
“I hope not.” She rose. “All right. I need to go make good on my word and try to spend time with Darlene.”
“Let me know how it goes.”
“I will.”
Kayleen walked down a flight of stairs to her suite. She paused at the door, then moved to the next one and knocked.
“Come in.”
She walked into her mother’s suite and found her at the dining room table, sipping coffee. There was a plate of toast and some fruit in a bowl.
Breakfast, she thought, trying not to judge. It was after eleven.
“Oh, there you are,” Darlene said by way of greeting. “I just received the most delightful note from the king. I’m invited to a formal party. Something diplomatic. It sounds fabulous. I’ll need something to wear. Can you take care of that?”
Kayleen sat across from her at the table. “Sure. One of the boutiques is sending over some dresses. If you give me your size information, I’ll have them send over some for you.”
Darlene smiled. “I like the service here.”
Despite the fact that she hadn’t been up very long, Darlene was perfectly made-up, with her hair styled. She wore a silk robe that clung to her curves. She looked beautiful, in a brittle sort of way.
“I thought maybe we could spend some time together,” Kayleen told her. “Get to know each other. Catch up.”
Darlene raised her eyebrows. “What do you want to know? I got pregnant at sixteen, left you with my mother and took off for Hollywood. I landed a few guest spots on soaps and a few prime-time shows, which paid the bills. Then I met a guy who took me to Las Vegas. You can make a lot more money there. Which I did. But time isn’t a woman’s friend. I need to secure my future. I wasn’t sure how that was going to happen, when I heard from your king. Now I’m here.”
Kayleen leaned toward her. “I’m your daughter. Don’t you want to at least be friends?”
Darlene studied her for a long time. “You have a very soft heart, don’t you?”
“I’ve never thought about it.”
“You took in those girls. Now you’re adopting them. You’re going to be exactly the kind of wife As’ad wants.”
“I love him. I want him to be happy.”
Darlene nodded slowly. “You like it here? In El Deharia?”
“Of course. It’s beautiful. Not just the city, but out in the desert. I’m learning the language, the customs. I want to fit in.”
Darlene lit a cigarette. Her gaze was sharp, as if she were trying to figure something out. “The king is nice.”
“He’s very kind and understanding.”
“Interesting. Those aren’t the words I would have used.” Her mother sipped her coffee. “Yes, Kayleen, I
“Really?” Kayleen was surprised, but pleased to hear the words. “That’s okay. You’ve had a difficult life.”
“So have you. But a better one than you would have had if you’d gotten stuck with my family. I know you probably don’t believe that, but it’s true.” She rose. “Let me shower and get dressed. Then, if you have time, you can take me on a tour of the palace. It’s a beautiful building.”
“It is. I’ve been studying the history. I want to know everything about As’ad and his people.”
Darlene’s expression tightened. “I’m sure he appreciates that.”
As’ad took Kayleen’s hand in his and kissed her fingers. “What troubles you?”
They were having lunch together in his office. She smiled at him. “Nothing. I’m just thinking.”
“Obviously not about how you consider yourself blessed above all women for being engaged to me.”
She laughed. “No. Not that. I’m thinking about my mother.”
“I see.”
She looked at him. “You don’t approve of her?”
“I do not know her. What matters to me is your feelings.”
“I’m not sure of anything,” she admitted, wondering when everything had gotten so complicated. “I told her I thought we should get to know each other and try to be friends.”
“And?”
