An Unusual Christmas Story (Part 4)

   The driver pulled into a large parking lot. With the kids at my side he guided me to the entrance and then said that he and the kids would be right there when I got back from the visit."Really?" I wondered but my need to see hubby was so strong that I was willing to trust this man. Faith??
   Inside the entrance there was very strict security. First I was body searched. Then my purse was examined. Finally my ID was verified and only then was the question asked, "Name of patient?"  I answered. Some record checking took place before I heard,
"You will be escorted to the intensive care unit."
It was warm outside and I was feeing hot now. After climbing up three stories we arrived at several sets of doors, all well guarded. The guide took me through the door to the left. We entered a small room full of shelves stocked with gowns. I put one on along with some slippers and was requested to wait. Now it was getting stressful. The kids were outside somewhere and I was in here entitled to an hour's visitation that was being reduced by the minute. Through a speaker system I was told that some doctors were making their rounds so I'd have to continue to be patient. Inside I think I wanted to scream but on the outside I sat down on a stool. I began to silently pray.
  When my turn came I was led through another set of security guarded doors and then led to hubby. He lay motionless on a state of the art hospital bed and was plugged into many gadgets all flashing and some beeping. A staff of five was attending to him 27/7 for now. I walked over to him and took his hand into mine briefly because I was told not to. Apparently I could set off something. Scared, I complied. He did not recognize me. He did not even know I was there so after asking how he was doing I quietly exited. My tears were now flowing freely and I needed to get out of there. He was alive but barely!!
   I headed out the way I came in and the driver and kids were waiting to receive me. What a relief! As we strolled to the car I saw a few women in their burkas and wondered when I would get one. While the driver was taking us back to the hotel he began to talk. He must have sensed my anxiety. He told me I had lovely kids. I thanked him. Then he told me that just two weeks earlier he had backed up his car and accidentally killed his two year old son. Now I was sad for him. It must be ever so difficult for him to watch my kids. And I thought my life was tough.
   He asked if I had heard from the airline. He had heard that my baggage had gone on to the final destination. Well now I knew that!  Panic..?? No money , no clothes, no diapers, not much help. I asked him if the airline could please send me some diapers and he said he would try to get that done. If only I had some cash. That would have eased the situation a lot. Then the driver could just buy what I needed and I could compensate him. Later the airline called to confirm my wish. I was asked if the Canadian Embassy had been called. No was my reply. That's when they gave me a number to call. I dialed it but there was no response. I would try again later.
   It was dark now and I figured we should sleep a bit. My three year old and Buddy were glad to comply but not the baby. She was fussy. The change in milk was creating tummy trouble. I rocked her and softly sang her favourite tunes. I was so tired. Finally she dozed off as did I. However, my toddler was awake in no time. Seems much needed sleep was not to be.
   This madness (visitation to hubby, no change of clothes, no real TV, strange food, calls getting no response) continued on and on. And added to that was the fact that our visas were only good for three days. In Saudi Arabia one does not travel without correct documentation. That could lead to a 'go to jail directly'. It became the job of the airline driver to take us to to the airport to the office where a renewal could be issued. But only after I had received a certificate from the doctor stating that it was necessary for us to stay with hubby while he recovered. That took place on Saturday, December 8th. By now hubby was able to talk. All seemed more hopeful.
     I had accepted that the driver would stay with my kids and attend to their needs  so when he dropped me off at the visa office and he told me that I could find him in the car park when I was done seemed simple and agreeable. But it was not. Perhaps it was my western clothing , though they covered me from neck to ankle? I stood out. One airport official was not in a good mood. As I approached the visa renewal counter with my document he rudely told me to keep my paper and sit down on the bench behind me. I did. I waited a while and stood up. So did he. I asked what the problem was since there was no line up. And then I heard these words that  'shot' through me and stunned me!
" You are not Mrs. K. You are someone else. You arrived last night on the SAS flight from Sweden. I believe you are here on a spy mission! Sit down!"
  Waving my paper I pleaded with, "No way!! Check your records. You have my Canadian passport". He shifted and pointed to his rifle. I dropped silently back onto the bench. There were no tears. I could not cry. And I remained there motionless for several hours. Many thoughts went through my head. At one point I tried to get my driver licence from my purse but that made him point the weapon at me before I could succeed. I was shocked. How could this happen? And no one seemed to question his motive.