can I do for you?” he sleepily answered the phone.
“Good afternoon my love,” the voice said in Arabic. “They have just left the house. The place is so empty without anyone here. Have you been able to arrange anything like a short leave?”

“Yes, I can make it by 1800 hrs, if that ok with you? Is everything set up with Worthington?”

“Yes it is. It is set up for Thursday afternoon. I am having some refreshments sent in and we will have a good first business meeting, I hope. Do you think you could make it earlier than six tonight?”

“Not much chance of that there are a few things I have to do first, but I will stay over till after Mosque on Friday. If that is okay with you, habibi?”

“That is even better, two whole days together. Darling, you don’t know how lonely it is here now that the women have left.” Fazzi said. “I can not wait to see you.”

Later that day, Joseph drove up to the main house and as he was getting out of the car Fazzi opened the front door and came out to meet him. He greeted him in the typical Arabic way by hugging him and kissing him on the cheeks. “Welcome my ‘Crusader Lover’! Welcome to your new home. I’m so glad to see you. Everything is all set up and you have just about enough time to unpack and wash up before dinner. I will have cook prepare something of a celebratory feast for us. I hope you are hungry.”

“Yes, habibi, I am hungry, but, but not for food alone. I had a small bite at the base, but, I have a deep hunger for something other than food right now.” Joseph said. “Perhaps we could eat later, if you don’t mind?

“Good, Come I’ll show you to your room!”

“My room??? I thought we were going to share a room as well as everything else.”

“We are. It’s just that I have set everything up so that it looks like you have your own place and I have mine. Mary and I had separate rooms and I thought you might like a little ‘private space’, as you Americans say. I just want to make you feel comfortable and incase Worthington should ask … I don’t think you should have to lie to him about anything. Besides we both have a public face to maintain.’’ The Arab said as he showed him upstairs and opened the door next to his room. “Here, I think you will find this very comfortable. If there is anything you would like to change – just let me know and I’ll have it done for you.”

The room was large with a full size bed, a desk and chair and a comfortable easy chair and ottoman. A large sliding door opened on to a porch that overlooked the driveway. There was also a door that opened into a large bathroom, which had a connecting door to the master bedroom next door. Joseph put down his overnight bag, looked around and then walked over to Fazzi and said, “Very nice. I assume that that other door leads to your bedroom. This is perfect, habibi.” Taking him in his arms he kiss him on the lips and his arms encircled him pulling their bodies together.

“I missed you very much Yussef and now that we are here together, I