Omar told Bethany he had a surprise for her. It was a trip to the Al Maliq Oasis that he had planned to distract her from the departure of her mom.

“An oasis? It sounds so romantic.”

“I am glad that you think so, my love. It would take us two days to get there by horse. But the helicopter will take us there in just a few hours. What do you say we leave tomorrow and stay the rest of the week.”

“I think it is wonderful. This way I will have time to pack. What do we take to an oasis?”

He laughs heartedly and she finds herself in his arms all of a sudden. “Whatever you want, I guess.”

“Omar, be serious. I have no idea what to expect.”

“That is one reason for me to take you there. You will meet people who never lived in the city. They have a simple life but you will find them sincere and loyal. That land where the oasis is located belongs to my family for centuries. My mother loved