Chapter Seventy-Five
The wrought iron entrance gate to Mishael’s palace, I mean house, is locked, so I ring the large bell. I ring it again. And again. And panic a bit, as well, when at the top of the steps, one half of the heavy front door opens, and a woman dressed in black and white appears. She’s not French, despite her uniform. A very proper looking housemaid, probably from the Philippines.
‘Is... could I speak to Mishael, please?’
She doesn’t answer and I could chuck table tennis balls into her open mouth. Easily. Straightening Kai’s shirt across my shoulders, I pull the hem as low as I can. ‘It’s Regina, isn’t it?’ I seem to have retained this from my visit. In any event, it appears to return her to her wits.
‘Y-yes, ma’am.’
‘Is Mishael at home? Mrs. Khalfan?’God, that sounds weird. Is that me now?
‘Madam bathing, ma’am.’ Her expression is immediately disconcerted. ‘N-not to be disturbed.’
‘I’ma... a friend of her son. A friend of Kai’s?’
This earns me a doubtful look, then the appalled utterance of “Mr. Kai,” followed by a slight tutting and an almost infinitesimal shake of her head. They’re all signs of her disapproval, and a profound misunderstanding, as she begins to close the door.
‘No, please! I came for lunch—a couple of weeks ago. With Mr. Kai?’
The door halts as I hear the unmistakable voice of Mishael from inside.
‘Is that you, Kate?’ The door opens under her instruction. ‘Quickly!’
Mishael’s startled look lasts exactly one beat before she voices some harsh sentiment in Arabic over my head with an imperious glare. I turn around in response and realise I’ve gathered a following in my bare-legged trek to her house: Half a dozen men in green overalls stand on the other side of the road, one minute agog, the next as busy as all fuck, clipping shrubs indiscriminately and sweeping sand from the road.
‘Come inside.’ She meets me at the bottom of the steps, encouraging a quick ascent into the cool, dark entrance hall. ‘What on earth—’
‘We had trouble at the airport. I don’t have my bags. Then this morning—Kai wasn’t there. I slipped in the hall, nearly fell, then this woman—black hair, scary brows?’ She nods her understanding and my torrent of knotted and tangled sentences starts again. ‘My phone went flat and she wouldn’t listen and I chucked my laundry at her when she chased me with a bloody brush!’
‘Did Kai collect you from the airport, is that what you’re telling me?’ My hand in hers, she speaks slowly, each word heavy with meaning. It’s then I realise I have an audience. Not just Regina but a younger girl in a similar uniform and another in chefs whites, which aren’t really white at all, are standing about. ‘Your bags got lost?’
‘No—’ Her hand tightens on mine, her gaze intense. ‘Yes, that is... the house is empty. Maybe she thought I was a thief?’
‘Kai must have gone to collect your bags. Come and sit down, what a shock you must’ve had. He’ll be so annoyed to find his guest treated this way.’ She feigns a soft chuckle, instructing someone behind me to bring tea and another to bring me a dressing gown.
Alone in her lovely drawing room, divested of my rubber footwear and swathed in a floor length silk robe, I begin to feel a little like I’ve stepped back in time. I must look like some delicate Regency miss, draped across the sofa. A thought reinforced as Mishael thanks me, a little circumspectly, I feel, presumably for not making a scene in front of the staff.
‘Now, tell me. Whaton earthhas happened?’ Placing a cup and saucer on a side table, she leans forward, a little too eagerly. ‘Out with it. What has my darling son done?’
‘You’re not angry?’ Clearly, that would be a no as she releases a peal of soft laughter. ‘Kai has never had anyone to stay over, not in his house, at least. Nothing is secret on this compound, so no... sleepovers. And I know he doesn’t have the proclivities of a monk. Silly goose, don’t look so shocked. I’m not a fool. Someone of his age, not to mention as handsome as he is, would never be short of company. But I told you he loved you, didn’t I?’ Leaning back at once, she smiles, almost with satisfaction, her expression pink and pleased. ‘Am I about to gain a daughter-in-law?’
‘You know, she almost clocked me with the brush!’ Distraction. That’s what’s needed because I’m not answering that. How can I?
‘Martha? Yes, she is an odd creature, but very loyal. She’s been with Faris’ family for years. All her own children in India are married now, her financial responsibilities at an end, but still she remains. Kai has personally sent her back to India twice, and each time she comes back saying her daughters-in-law cause her headaches and that she’s too young and healthy to retire!’
Young? Nah. But healthy enough to chase me around a table? For sure.
‘I’m sure she thinks Kai’s house would fall down without her presence.’
‘So she’s Kai’s maid?’ Seems almost cruel having someone that elderly cleaning your house.
‘Well, shewasmore like an ayah. Like a sort of nursemaid. She’s been with the family as long as we’ve been in Dubai. She’s very attached to Kais.’
‘Explains a lot, I suppose. She didn’t understand what I was saying, not speaking English, I suppose.’
‘Oh, her English is fine. She just displays a decided lack of understanding whenever it suits. Like her cleaning. She’s not supposed to do anything other than a little light dusting and the like. There’s a maid service rostered to clean the house thoroughly. So she’s not supposed to do anything too strenuous. You’re surprised?’
‘No, I... I suppose I’m still getting used to the concept of not having to wash your own floors.’
