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we serve with tea in the afternoons. Sweets. Shall I pour your coffee, madam?”
    Trish nodded as she continued to smoke. Coffee and a cigarette. It was as American as you could get. She thanked Nada and reached for the cup. She sipped at the fragrant brew. Even back in the States, she didn’t think she’d ever tasted coffee this good.
    “Just ring the little bell on the tray if you wish anything else, madam. Before I leave, would you like me to bring the cell phone Sheik Malik left for you? He said yours will not work here and that you need a special one. He thought you might want to call your family or perhaps some friends from your home.”
    “Yes, thank you very much. I would like to call home.”
    “One moment. I will fetch it, madam.”
    Moments later, Trish was holding a cell phone that looked like any other cell phone. She clicked it on and pressed the country code for the United States and dialed the number. A moment later, she heard her sister’s voice. Trish squealed out a greeting, hardly stopping to breathe as she proceeded to describe the palace and the garden she was sitting in that very minute.
    She stopped for a moment to listen to her sister and responded, “No, no, I haven’t see him yet. I will tonight at dinner. Dinner is at eight, and it’s casual. Casual here might mean something different from what we consider casual back home. Yes, I am registered at the consulate. They did it for me.” She listened some more, then signed off, saying she wanted to call Connie. “Love you, sis. I’ll bring you a present from Dubai. Give Missy a hug for me.”
    Trish pressed in the digits of Connie’s number. She quickly calculated the time difference, knowing that Connie was about ready for the second show of the evening. When her friend answered, she could hear all the backstage chatter. She momentarily felt homesick. She started to babble as soon as she heard Connie’s voice.
    When she finally wound down long enough to catch her breath, she heard Connie say, “C’mon, cut to the chase and tell us the good stuff. What did he say? What did he do? Is he still as handsome as you thought? Did he kiss you yet?”
    “I haven’t seen him yet. Oh, Connie, I’m so overwhelmed. I’ve asked the most stupid questions. I feel like a hick. You would, too, if you could see this place. I don’t belong here. This is not . . . I could never get used to this kind of living.”
    “Trish, you’re just visiting. It’s a vacation of a lifetime. Can’t you just roll with it and enjoy it for what it is, a vacation of a lifetime?”
    “At the moment, I have no other choice. It’s all so new. I just can’t imagine all this wealth. It’s mind-bending, to say the least. I’ll call you tomorrow and let you know how it goes when I meet up with Malik. I have to figure out what to wear. What do you think casual means over here, Connie?”
    “Casual is whatever you want it to be. Wear the white piqué sundress. It will show off that wonderful spray tan you paid good money for. Wear your cross on the chain. This is no time to deny your faith. Are you listening to me, Trish?”
    “I am. I’m wearing it now, but it’s not noticeable under my shirt. You know I never take it off. My mother gave it to me on my tenth birthday. The white sandals with the inch heel, right?”
    “Absolutely. You’ll look like a million bucks, kiddo. No matter what they wear, you won’t be overdressed or underdressed. You’re a nervous wreck, aren’t you, Trish? I can hear it in your voice. Relax and just go with the flow.”
    “Easy for you to say. God, Connie, why do you think he invited me here? I know you said he likes me, but he’s half a world away. There’s no way we could have a long-distance relationship and make it work. Remember, he’s not a prince anymore. He’s the sheik. Just because Malik helped me when I was sick doesn’t explain this . . . this vacation. There has to be an ulterior motive somewhere. I just can’t