Anna wanted to push Maryam, but she could tell this was a topic Maryam really didn’t want to revisit. “I’m sorry you’ve had difficulty in your past,” was all Anna said. “And I’m here to talk if you ever need to.”
“Thanks,” Maryam said. “Maybe sometime.”
In the silence of the night, Anna couldn’t help but feel like she was waiting—and she knew exactly who she was waiting for. Despite Maryam’s words of warning, she was looking into the dark, snowy night, willing Josh to appear and keep his promise of lighting the menorah with her. But the sidewalk stayed empty, and she and Maryam stood there staring into the darkness, together but alone with their thoughts.
The door to the inn opened, startling them both.
“Saima, I’m fine, I’ll be right in,” Maryam said.
But it wasn’t Saima; it was Kath. “There you are, Anna. I thought I saw you head out here. I have a call for you. Someone who says his name is Josh?”
Anna blushed as Maryam caught her eye. “I’ll be right there,” she said to Kath, then turned to her friend. “You’re sure you’re okay?”
“I’m really fine,” Maryam assured her—but Anna could tell that wasn’t quite true. She put her hand on Maryam’s arm.
“I meant it. I’m always here to talk. Anytime. Okay?”
“You, too,” Maryam said, shooting her a meaningful look as she headed inside to take the call.
“Hey, Anna,” came Josh’s deep voice on the phone line. “Hope you don’t mind I used my code name. The one only you and your friends know.”
“You mean yourrealname.” Anna tried to keep her tone light, even though the sound of his voice—and the fact that he had called her—was causing those now familiar flutters he always seemed to provoke.Be careful, Maryam had warned her. But where Josh was concerned, Anna was having a difficult time keeping a level head.
“I’m calling to apologize,” he said. “I stood you up for lighting the menorah tonight—sorry, hang on a second.” She heard some muffled voices, then he returned. “And I’m afraid I’m not going to be back for a few more hours. Rain check? Or should I say, snow check?”
“Sure, of course,” Anna said. “It was a busy night around here anyway. I hardly even noticed.” This wasalmosttrue.
A pause, and then he said, “Well,Inoticed. I was really hoping I’d get out of here on time so we could spend time together. But there’s always tomorrow. Good night, Anna.”
“Good night, Josh.”
—
Anna was smiling as she hung up the phone and returned to the sitting area—but then she saw Maryam’s grim expression. She was trying to keep it to herself, but Anna was observant enough to tell her friend had once had her heart seriously broken. Maryam’s somber eyes should be a reminder to staygrounded and realistic, Anna told herself. The problem was, her heart didn’t want to listen to reason. It took just a few seconds for the dreamy smile to return to Anna’s face as she drifted around the room, cleaning up after the party—still hearing Josh’s voice in her mind, telling her they always had tomorrow.
TWELVE
Maryam
December 23
2 days until Christmas
The 2nd night of Hanukkah
The 28th day of Ramadan
Maryam waited for Anna and Dadu downstairs the next morning; they had made plans to walk into town together. She was early—restlessness had pushed her out of bed an hour after falling asleep followingsuhoor—and now she paced inside the small recessed alcove-slash-cloakroom beside the main entrance, her mind racing.
It was silly to feel hurt, but Maryam couldn’t help it. She had organized Saima’smehndiparty—with Anna’s help—and how had her sister reacted? By declaring Anna an Aziz sister and humiliating her actual sister. As usual, Maryam had said nothing. Why had she kept silent? Maybe for the same reason she had remained silent after Saif’s confession outside the playhouse yesterday: because she was afraid. She had been too hurt to confront Saima, and she had been terrified to respond toSaif’s confession.Only you, he had said, and the words had thrilled her at first. Until overthinking had set in. Because his words weren’t true, not for either of them.
According to her parents, Saif had a girlfriend, even though he hadn’t mentioned her at all. She should just ask him; he would tell her the truth. But a part of her didn’t want to know the truth because then she’d have to do something about it. Her heart had been battered badly once, and she wasn’t sure she was ready to take a chance again with someone new, even if that person was Saif.
Maryam was so lost in these thoughts, she almost didn’t notice Josh and Tenisha walking toward the front door. She was about to step out and greet them with a smile, when something made her pause. They were an attractive couple; Tenisha’s warm brown skin glowed beneath the soft lights of the inn, her elegance matched by Josh’s more casual charm. Their heads were close together, bodies angled close. Her eyes widened as she realized they were holding hands. The actors walked straight past Maryam without stopping, and she caught a blinding flash just as the main door shut behind them, as if someone had been waiting to snap a photograph.
Maryam emerged from the alcove to find Anna waiting for her by the fireplace; she must have just arrived, and missed Josh and Tenisha’s dramatic exit by a minute.
“How are you doing this morning? Still tired from last night?” Anna asked.
