They laughed, and hugged, and when her mother pulled her in close, smelling of shower gel and her own particular perfume that always meanthome, she whispered, “EveryduaI make is for your happiness,” she said, referring to the Arabic word for prayer.
If nothing else came of this trip, Sameera would always be grateful for this moment, this perfectly imperfect feeling of peace.
“One last thing,” Sameera said, and they all looked at her. “I need you to listen and believe me this time: Tom and I aren’t together. We never were.”
She paused, reconsidering her words. Tom had kissed her; they had spent a lot of time together lately. There was something there. She needed to be honest with her parents, and with herself. “There might be something there, actually, but it’s all a bit complicated right now,” she amended. Behind her, she saw Esa shoot a knowing glance at Nadiya.
Her parents looked confused. “What is so complicated? He clearly likes you!” Tahsin said. “He made you samosas, and every time Tom looks at you, he smiles. That cannot only be friendship, Sameera. I am surprised he has not yet proposed.”
Sameera shook her head, even if her mother’s words made her heart sing. “I told you before, we agreed to help each other out. I met him for the first time at my firm’s holiday party. About fifteen minutes before you met him on FaceTime, Mom.”
Tahsin’s eyes grew round with a sudden realization. “Are you saying that if I hadn’t hired him to cater the Eid party ...” She trailed off.
“None of this would have happened.” Sameera nodded. “I probably would never have met Tom again. And you could have set me up with one of your friend’s sons,” she couldn’t help but add, feeling mischievous. Her mother face-palmed as her siblings laughed.
It was true—if it hadn’t been for Tahsin’s incessant meddling and jumping to conclusions, her and Tom’s paths might never have crossed again. In such a large city, working in two different industries, he would have remained the cute caterer who brought her cranberry ginger ale. Instead, Tom felt more and more like a necessity in her life. Assuming he didn’t hate her now, of course.
“I told you that interfering in our children’s lives would backfire one day,” Naveed said to his wife, and she shoved him playfully.
“Perhaps you and Tom were not together before we came to Alaska,” Tahsin persisted, “but things changed once you got here.” She pinned her daughter with a shrewd look. And since Sameera had promised to be more open, to stop hiding who she was from the people she loved the most, she couldn’t say no. Because her mother was right, of course. While she couldn’t speak for Tom’s feelings, especially in light of what had happened just that morning, she knew that for herself, she was halfway to falling in love with Tom.
Instead, she only smiled.
“We also have an update on Andy, too. I’m afraid the WhatsApp aunties will not be impressed,” Nadiya said, and her family settled in to hear the news together.
Chapter Twenty-Six
When the Malik family entered the main house for Christmas brunch carrying the presents they had purchased for the family, there was a lightness to their steps, despite the heaviness of the morning. It was the feeling of being on the same page, the clarity that came with a round of truth-telling, and also at having a common enemy: Andy Shaikh.
After Sameera had explained Andy’s plan, her parents had reacted in a suitably horrified manner. Then Esa picked up the story.
“Tom wasn’t far past Toboggan Hill when I caught up to him. He was kicking at the snow and muttering to himself. He was happy I brought him a coat, though,” Esa said.
“What did he say about Andy? Or me?” Sameera asked.
Esa looked at her as if she were foolish. “Not everything is about you, Sameera. He looked a bit grim, thanked me for the jacket, and said he’d be back soon, not to worry. Then I turned around and came here.”
“You didn’t try to comfort him? Get him to talk? Offer any advice?” Sameera pressed. Tom had been so angry and hurt. She hated to think of him in pain.
Esa shrugged. “He wanted to be left alone, so I let him get on with it. Not everything has to be about sharing your feelings andcrying.” He shuddered, and Nadiya and Sameera exchanged amused glances.
“I owe you an explanation and an apology, too,” Sameera said, and Esa looked horrified. “Which I promise to deliverwithouttears.” He nodded at her to continue.
“I disappeared from your life for three years. It wasn’t about you, but you still suffered. I missed you so much—” Her voice cracked, but she soldiered on. “I want you to know that I thought of you every day, and I hate myself for what I did. I hope you can forgive me, Esa.”
Her brother shuffled his feet, clearly uncomfortable with all this emoting. “’S’right,” he muttered. “Wish you had been there when I graduated middle school, that’s all.” He glanced up, a sly smile on his face. “It’s not too late to get me a gift for all those missed birthdays, though. You can Venmo me whatever your guilt is worth.”
“As long as we’re good,” Sameera said.
They hugged, and Esa even let her hold him close for ten seconds before wriggling away and announcing that he was starving.
The Maliks trooped inside the main house, where they found Tom stationed once more behind the counter, exactly where he had been when Sameera approached that morning with her unwelcome revelations. The set of his jaw was a tight line, but his hands were a blur as he chopped, diced, and stirred a pot on the stove. He glanced up when the Malik family entered, acknowledging their presence. His gaze softened when he looked at Sameera, and Tahsin nudged her.
“See? He likes you,” her mother whispered, and for once Sameera wasn’t irritated by the comment.
“As long as you acknowledge that you played matchmaker,” she whispered back. Tahsin had the grace to look contrite, and Sameera smiled mischievously. Really, she was relieved that Tom didn’t seem to be angry at her anymore.
Nadiya promptly disappeared to give herself a self-guided tour of Cooke Place. When Rob, Barb, and Andy entered the kitchen together, the older man seemed pleased to see Tom at the stove. The morning menu was inspired by their meal last night at Abu Isra’s, Tom explained: shakshuka, homemade hummus, akkawi cheese with honey, fresh fruit smoothies, eggs with feta cheese and olives, pluskheer puddingfor dessert. “It’s a fusion Christmas meal,” he said. Sameera noticed he didn’t look at Andy once.
