Just as Sameera was starting to regret every decision that had led her to this moment, including her decision to apply to law school, Tom appeared in their backyard. Instinct took over, and she jumped to her feet and ran out the door, pausing only long enough to put on her boots.
Cold. It was freezing outside, and she wasn’t even wearing a sweater. She frantically waved at Tom.
“There’s a wild animal!” she yelled. “A snow leopard slash werewolf hybrid! Save yourself!”
Both Tom and the predatory fluff ball looked at her as if she had lost her mind. The creature yawned again, already bored, before butting Tom with its big head. Tom scratched the animal fondly behind its neck. “This is Atlas. She was at a neighbor’s house yesterday while y’all settled in. She’s an Alaskan malamute—her great-great-grandmother used to haul sleds around town. But Atlas doesn’t work for a living, right, girl? You’re a lady of leisure, aren’t you?”
Esa emerged from the house in snow boots and a warm parka and, approaching Atlas, proceeded to pet the big animal with enthusiasm.
Tom smirked at Sameera. “Are you afraid of dogs?”
“I’m afraid of mythical predators wandering the forest looking for bloodthirsty revenge. That thing looked like it was in the mood for breakfast, and I am not on the menu,” she said.
Tom’s gaze slid down Sameera’s outfit—a flimsy long-sleeve shirt and flannel pajamas. “You’re going to get sick dressed in that,” he said gruffly, and he was right: She was shivering. “I came to remind you all about breakfast at the big house.”
Sameera promised they would be there soon, once she had roused her parents, taken a scalding-hot shower, and put on several dozen layers of clothes.
“Come on, sweetheart, time to go,” Tom cooed, and Sameera’s stomach clenched in response before she realized he was talking to Atlas. Her hands were half frozen now. With a nervous smile at Tom, she retreated to the house to get ready for the day.
By the time she had finished taking a shower and straightening her hair, her parents and Esa were waiting for her in the sitting room, her brother regaling them with a highly exaggerated account of their morning brush with the local wildlife.
“And then Sameeraran outsideto protect her man, except the big cuddly beast turned out to be a family pet. Her name is Atlas, and I hope she has a sister because I know what I want for Christmas,” Esa finished.
“We’re not bringing an Alaskan sled dog home to Atlanta,” Tahsin said severely. “Come along, Sameera; we’re late for breakfast.”
Inside the main house, a feast waited on the kitchen island: eggs, roasted vegetables and potatoes, three different types of juices, mini quiches, a tray with pastries, and a carafe of coffee. The Malik family were assured that the meal was vegetarian—the Cookes hadn’t been sure of their dietary preferences. Touched by this consideration, Sameera loaded her plate with a croissant and some eggs before pouring herself a large cup of coffee with a generous dollop of cream and three sugars. She needed sustenance following her near-death experience. She didn’t care what Tom said—Atlas had definitely seemed hungry when she’d looked at Sameera.
Hovering by the stove, Tom gave her a small smile, as if he could read her mind. He was dressed in a rumpled blue shirt that brought out the blue of his eyes, hair tousled in a way that made her want to run her fingers through the short curls. Instead, she curled her hands around her mug and took a sip of her coffee.
The family made small talk about the Cooke estate, and her parents complimented the guesthouse’s many amenities. “There’s been a Cooke living in this town for over two hundred years,” Rob said proudly.“Once Tom returns, he’ll take up the tradition.” Sameera remembered what Tom had told her last night, about being his escape hatch.
“I have a life in Atlanta,” Tom said. “A business. Other ... relationships.” He looked at her. Not lying, exactly.
Rob snorted. “Cooking for other people, as if you were a domestic,” he said. “Nothing wrong with making meals. I’m a modern man. I just don’t understand why you would rather work around the clock for others, or post those silly videos, instead of staying where your people have lived for generations, and where everyone knows you. What’s so great about Atlanta? No seasons. Nonstop traffic. No mountains, no ocean. What kind of life is that?”
There was silence after he had spoken, and Sameera could sense something else beneath his words: a sadness and confusion she remembered from when she had been estranged from her own family.
“I guess you think being the king of nowhere is a better alternative,” Tom said tightly, arms crossed.
Barb hurried to interrupt the brewing confrontation. “We’re so happy you all could make it! Especially you, Tom, honey. We’ve missed you terribly, right, Rob?” Her cheerful smile was still fixed on her face, though it had tightened at the edges. Tom looked away, while Rob didn’t bother to respond.
Sameera’s father broke in. “Sometimes, it does not matter if you live across the country, or across the street. The pain of separation cuts deep either way. My family knows something of this.”
The silence stretched, and Sameera wanted to sink into the ground. Barb turned to her, obviously eager to change the subject. “Sameera, I hear you’re a lawyer. What sort of law do you practice? I used to work in marketing for retail companies before I moved to Wolf Run.”
The conversation continued in a different direction, Naveed and Tahsin chiming in between sips of coffee and tea, but the atmosphere remained tense. At the end of the meal, her parents rose to help clear the dishes, but both Rob and Barb waved them away.
“Our compliments to the chef,” Naveed said, making a little bow to Tom.
“This meal is all Barb,” Rob cut in. “Tom doesn’t cook for us.”
After breakfast was cleared away, Barb laid out her plans for the remaining days they would spend in Wolf Run. As she spoke enthusiastically, Sameera’s heart sank. Tom glanced at her once and immediately spoke up.
“Sameera and I have our own plans, but y’all go right ahead. We’ll join in when we can,” he said firmly, and Sameera felt a burst of gratitude for him.
Her parents and Barb protested, but she noticed Rob only scoffed and rolled his eyes. It made her mad. Tom had flown all this way to visit his father and stepmother, and so far, Rob had done nothing to warrant the effort. She reached across and grabbed Tom’s hand. “I promised I’d film a few videos for Tom’s social media,” she said, smiling at him. Esa perked up at this.
“I can help,” he said, and Cal chimed in that he was free, too.
