“While this is a minor cut,” the doctor explained, “it will heal better, be less likely to scar with stitches, but there’s nothing to worry about. And the stitches will come out before you know it.”
“Okay,” Rebecca said shakily. “Is there anything else I need to do?”
“Just make sure that he doesn’t scratch at them. Keep the area clean, watch for redness, tenderness, signs of infection. You know, the usual. The stitches will come out on their own when they’re ready.” The doctor patted her on her shoulder on his way out of the room.
Rebecca looked over at Zaid. He stood in the far corner of the room, watching with a guarded look on his face. You told me it was safe! You told me we’d be safe! she wanted to yell at him. You brought your son to this god-forsaken country against my wishes! If she hadn’t been crowded around a hospital bed, she would have shouted all this and worse, maybe pummeled him with her fists.
But looking at him now, he was just as stricken by what happened as she was. Probably more so that it happened while he was there with the envoy. She couldn’t imagine what was going through his mind as he fought to make sense of the chaos and violence that he experienced. At least for her, this wasn’t the first time she’d been so close to bomb blasts, but it certainly didn’t make it any easier. Particularly since Calum was injured.
She hugged their son to her as she watched Zaid finish on the phone. She still couldn’t believe how decisively he reacted pulling them through the rubble and getting them to the car. Thankfully, the nurse in admitting recognized him as they came in. If it wasn’t for him, chances were that Calum would still be waiting to be seen in the now very busy hospital.
Rebecca set Calum back down on the bed and walked over to her Sheikh. She stroked his strong, tense arms. “How are you?” she asked him, looking up into his dark, scowling features.
“I can’t believe I let this happen,” he answered.
“You didn’t let this happen,” Rebecca argued. “Someone did this. You didn’t let anything happen.”
“Of course I did. You were the one worried about protecting Calum. You warned me against bringing him here, but I didn’t listen. I thought I knew better. This happened on my watch, and it should not have happened at all,” Zaid continued. “I should have paid more attention. I should have seen this coming. We should have taken actions to prevent this type of thing.”
“So many shoulds, Zaid. You can’t blame yourself. You didn’t do this. You had nothing to do with it.”
The anger in his face scared her, as did his silence. He was obviously angry with himself for what had happened, and she needed to get his attention off that train of thought.
“Has anyone said what it was or who did it yet?” Rebecca asked.
Zaid shook his head. “All my father said was we needed to get everybody back to the palace as soon as we’re all checked out.”
“Well, I think we’re ready to go here,” Rebecca said.
“Good,” Zaid said, his voice tight, as if he were barely keeping himself in check. “I’ll check on everyone else so we can get back to the palace.”
Rebecca hated to see him go, felt less safe once the door closed behind him, but she’d agreed. He did need to check on the other delegates, the factory workers. They were his responsibility, but that didn’t mean she had to like it.
It was an eternity before he came back, his face still clouded.
Calum had finally calmed down and nearly stopped crying. He quieted more when Zaid put a hand on his son’s back. “Ready to go, kiddo?” he asked, his eyes on Rebecca the whole time.
“Yes, sir.” Calum sniffled.
Sitting on the bed, he rubbed the back of Calum’s head waiting for the little boy to look at him. “You just survived a terrorist attack, and you’ve got stitches. I’ll let you in on a little secret. Girls like stitches and scars and things like that. It shows them you’re tougher than whatever tried to hurt you.” Zaid told him.
“Yeah, I guess.” He sniffled loudly.
“You know what? Here.” Zaid scooped Calum up from the bed and held him to his shoulder. “I got you and I will never ever let anyone hurt you again. Understand?”
Nodding his head, solemnly. “Thank you.” Calum put his short arms around Zaid’s neck and held him tight.
Zaid dropped Rebecca and Calum off in his personal quarters and into the tearful arms of Amy. She’d heard the bombing from the palace but had been left in the dark as to what happened. Sitting in his office, he made the remainder of his calls including to the hotel to have the personal effects of all the members of the envoy brought to the palace, where they were now staying, He had barely hung up the phone when his security detail knocked at the door, ready to take him to meet with his father, his brothers, and Hazim, the head of security.