Ali awoke before Ardeth. Gently pulling back she watched him sleep. He truly was the most handsome man she had ever met. Her husband. The words hung in her mind and brought about a thought she had tried so hard to suppress. But she could not. She knew that soon she would have to make a choice. That is if Ardeth wanted her to stay.
She was so lost in her thoughts; she did not hear Ardeth stir. He reached out touching her face "Good morning my love"
"Good morning" she said smiling at him. But he noticed that the smile did not make it to her eyes.
"Are you alright, my love?"
Ali nodded. But she couldn't shake her thoughts. So finally taking his hand in hers and looking deep into his beautiful caramel eyes she simply said "What are we going to do when it's time for my family to leave?"
Ardeth let go of Ali's hand, let out a sigh and carefully set up in bed. "I was actually thinking about that several nights ago."
Turning to look at Ali, he wasn't quite sure how to say what he was thinking. Finally saying "I do not wish to make the decision harder, but I hope you know that I want nothing more than to have you with me. " He looked away from her as if not to see her reaction. He thought that she felt the same, and he was not normally a man who was insecure, but there was so much riding on this conversation. For 20 years he had missed her, had ached for her. He knew she loved him too, but just wasn't sure what their current lives would make possible.
Ali reached out and took his hand, but he did not turn to look at her. "Ardeth, please look at me". When he finally did Ali was unprepared for the insecurity she saw in his eyes. "Oh, Ardeth I know and I want to be with you too."
Ardeth smiled and leaned in to give Ali a sweet kiss. Pulling back he said "I am very glad. But I know you have to take into consideration your family. They will want to return back to America".
Ali nodded and a small smile came across her face "Well at least most of them will."
Ardeth spoke knowing whom she was referring to. "You think Elizabeth will want to stay?" At Ali nodding her head, he continued "She has taken a liking to Jahar."
"I think it's more than that. But yes she will want to stay. I just need to speak to everyone." She stopped and her mood changed "I don't want Jonathan and Peter and Caroline to think I abandoned them. I owe so much to John's family"
For a few moments neither spoke. Finally Ardeth said "When I go and make my way around the village today. Why don't you go to Basel's, or have your family come here and talk to them"
"That's a good idea. But are you sure you up to it?"
Ardeth grinned "Although I would love nothing more than to stay here with you I need to get back to my normal schedule"
Ali shook her head knowing there was no need to argue "Ok then I will talk to them today"
A bit later they made their way to Basel's home. After having a late breakfast Ardeth excused him.
Ali looked at her family and said "Peter and Jonathan, Ardeth did not ask you to go because….well I'd like to talk to you."
Sensing what Ali was going to talk to them about Basel spoke "Ali, I will be taking my leave as I need to vist Cuhrel today"
Ali started to speak but Basel walked over and kissed her cheek "I will be back by the mid-day meal"
Ali nodded and moments later she was alone with her family.
Peter spoke "Ali, I hope everything is alright"
"It is Peter. I just needed to talk to all of you." She stopped "This is so hard and I don't want to hurt anyone"
Peter spoke again "Ali, if I may?" Ali nodded so he continued "You want to stay. Ali, we can all see how much you and Ardeth still love each other. And we all understand. And John would want you to be happy"
Ali sat looking at Peter tears welling up in her eyes. Jonathan saw this and moved to set down beside her. "Mother, it's true, we just want you to be happy." He stopped and then added "I will be honest at first I didn't know how I felt Ardeth and your relationship" Seeing a look of concern on his Mother's face he added "But after talking to Basel, I understand him and what you feel for each other. And Uncle Peter is correct; Dad would want you to be happy"
Ali reached up and touched Jonathan's face. "My dear son, I just do not want you to think that I'm choosing Ardeth over you" By now there were tears streaming down her face.
"Mother, I don't think that" Jonathan said as he handed his mother his handkerchief.
Elizabeth sat down on Ali's other side and took her hand "None of us think that. We all talked and we understand. We really do."
Ali smiled at her daughter and then looked at Peter and Caroline "I owe your family so much. I hope you understand that I did love John. He was my lifesaver."
Peter knelt down in front of Ali "Ali my dear, we know you did. And we know what a hard life you had and that you and Ardeth should be together. Again, I know in my heart, John would want this for you"
Ali nodded and Peter stood up. Ali followed suit and hugged him. "Thank you" was all she could say.
A few moments past and the situation seemed less heavy so Peter spoke "And if I'm not mistaken" he stopped and then looked at Elizabeth "there will be someone staying here with you"
All eyes turned toward Elizabeth and she blushed. Ali spoke "My dear, I believe Peter is correct. Do you want to stay?"
Elizabeth nodded and finally added "Yes, I really do"
Ali spoke again "Then I guess it's settled, when the end of the 3 month visit Elizabeth and I will stay. I will speak to Basel but I am sure she will be fine with you staying here my dear." Then she added "Well at least until Jahar ask for your hand."
They all watched as Elizabeth turned a bright shade of red "Mother".
A bit later Basel returned and Ali told her of their conversation. She hugged Ali "Oh my dear, I am so happy for you and Elizabeth and of course she may stay with me. But like you I don't think she will be with me long." As she finished she smiled.
That night walking back to Ardeth's home Ali told him all of the conversation. As they entered his home he shut and the door and pulled Ali to him. "I am so happy, my love. I did not want you to have to choose"
She pulled back in his arms a bit so that she could look at him "Oh, Ardeth, I am too. Just a few months ago I would never have thought this was possible. But now we are going to be together."
After they made love that night Ardeth lay there holding Ali. He so wished that he could sleep. He knew he should be happy, and he was. But he had a nagging thought, a nagging fear. He kept playing a conversation between Ali, Caroline and Elizabeth in his head and it kept a fear that he had all along in the forefront of his mind. He knew Ali loved him but would being here again with him make her truly happy.
Several days nights later as they lay down for the night Ali noticed yet again that Ardeth seemed withdrawn, maybe a bit sad.
As Ardeth pulled her into his arms she said "Ardeth, is everything okay? You have seemed so distracted the past few days."
He nodded as he kissed the top of her head. But Ali wasn't convinced. Pulling back she said "Please Ardeth. I know something is bothering you."
They lay there for a few moments and finally he spoke "May I ask you about a conversation that you, Caroline and Elizabeth had the night you talked to them about staying"
Ali was confused, as she wasn't sure what conversation he was speaking of but said "Of course, Ardeth. You may ask me anything. But I'm not sure what conversation"
"You were talking about missing the upcoming…. season"
"Ah, yes."
"Tell me about what that means"
Ali thought the request a bit odd but said "During the time between the end of November and the end of year there are parties, everyone just calls it the season"
Ardeth pulled away a bit and reached into the nightstand pulling out a newspaper clipping.
"One of our contacts in America sent this to me"
He handed it to Ali. She let out a small 'oh' as she realized it was a picture of her and John at one of their galas.
"I didn't realize you kept up with me that closely" She didn't know quite how to feel about him having the picture.
"I didn't. Our contact was in Philadelphia working to get back artifacts that made it to America. He recognized you and brought it to me".
"Oh" Feeling a bit better about the picture she said "This was taken…."she stopped to think then finished "8 years ago"
Looking at the picture more closely she then said "My dress was emerald green"
She then turned to look at Ardeth and was surprised by the pained look on his face. "Tell me about the season, tell me about the galas"
"Every year on the first weekend in December the parties would start. Ours was always the 3rd weekend in December. That Friday night we would have a get together for all the workers at the Paper and their families. We would give the children a small gift, fruit and candies and give the parents a basket with everything then was needed for a proper Christmas dinner. Then that Saturday would be our party. She then added "Have you ever seen any of the gala's at the museum in Cairo?" Ardeth nodded so she continued "Those are similar to the parties we would have"
"That is where this picture was taken?"
Ali nodded. She still felt like Ardeth was asking or saying everything on his mind.
Ardeth speaking brought her back to reality. "You look very beautiful."
"Thank you" She then added "Ardeth, what is wrong."
"Those are the parties you were talking about missing?"
Then Ali thought she might know what the issue was "Yes, we were talking about those parties". She laid the picture down on the covers and reached up and touched Ardeth's face "But believe me I would much rather be here with you". She smiled as she finished but Ardeth didn't smile back.
"I can not give you anything like you had in Philadelphia."
"Ardeth I know that. I just want to be here with you"
Ardeth moved to sit up and then moved to sit on the side of the bed with his back to Ali "John gave you a life I never can"
Ali moved to sit beside Ardeth but he stood and moved to the window. As she was climbing out of bed she said "I don't want that life Ardeth. I want our life. The life we had before. I want that back"
He turned to look at her and the look on his face surprised her "You were a different person then Ali. I know you lived a comfortable life in Cairo with your Mother, Father and Brother. But it was nothing like the life you lived with John. I know by some of things you and your family have said you had servants. You lived a life a luxury. How will you be happy here?" He then looked back out the window.
Ali was stunned.
"I love you Ardeth, therefore I want to be here. It's that simple"
He turned to look at her again "It's not that simple. I just don't see how we can go back to what we were before."
"Do you think that I've truly changed? I still love you and I want to be with you, but if you don't believe me….." she trailed off not knowing how to finish.
"I just honestly don't think you will be happy out here in the middle of the desert for the rest of your life."
She couldn't believe he was saying that to her. So she lashed out "Maybe, the problem is you really don't want me here after all. Maybe now that I said I would stay you don't want me. Or maybe it's your ego. You can't stand knowing he gave me things you can't!"
He looked at her with anger in his eyes. He brushed by her, grabbed his robe, put his boots and was out the door before she even realized what he was doing.
Ali stood there dumbstruck. She had no clue what had just happened.
Lying down on the bed, she looked at the picture of her and John again.
She did understand how it would make Ardeth worry. She had everything when she and John were together. Anything money could buy they had. But she truly only wanted to be with Ardeth. That's all she wanted.
Somehow, she dozed off. A bit later the door opening brought her out of her slumber.
She didn't move but watched as Ardeth moved to shut the door. As he turned he realized she was awake. He sat down to take off his boots and said "I will sleep over there" and motioned toward the cushions, then added "or if you wish I will escort you to Basel's"
Sitting up in bed Ali said "Do you not want me here?"
"I thought you might not want to be near me tonight"
Shaking her head she said "Come to bed"
Ardeth took off his boots, made his way toward the bed. He then stopped and took off his robe but only sat on the edge of the bed.
"Ali…." But then he stops not knowing what to say. Finally he simply said "I am sorry"
Ali scooted over and sat on the edge of the bed beside him, but she didn't look at him.
So he spoke again "I do know you love me. And I do love you"
She nodded "I know, but do you believe me when I say I just want to be with you?"
Ardeth nodded then added "You were right, I let me ego cloud my thoughts. I am truly glad John made you happy and that you lived a good life with him. But it just bothered my ego I can't give you anything like that. I am truly sorry"
She knew how much that admission took out of him. He was a proud man.
"I understand Ardeth, I do. But please believe me I love you and I have thought about the changes in my life when I stay. None of those changes matter as long as I'm with you."
He finally turned to look at her. Taking her face in his hands he said "I do love you Ali Bay. And I am a lucky man that you love me"
Much later Ali lay in his arms sleeping soundly. Ardeth smiled and he too fell into a fitful sleep.