Abu Isra waved at them from the sled. “Merry Christmas surprise!” he boomed. Dressed in the red suit, his resemblance to Saint Nick was even more striking, and Sameera was grinning so hard, her cheeks hurt.
The rest of the party assembled outside. “Why is Abu Isra dressed in a Santa outfit?” Tahsin asked.
“Because it’s fun, Mom,” Nadiya said. “Get into the holiday spirit!” Beside Sameera, Esa filmed the whole thing; it would appear on his YouTube channel before the end of the day, she was sure.
“We wanted to prank you back! All the children in town keep asking if I’m Santa. We thought this would be a fun trick,” Abu Isra said in his big, booming voice. “We brought you some more baklava and gifts.”
Sameera laughed and accepted a pretty green box of the flaky dessert before climbing aboard the sleigh to hug Mrs. Claus, a.k.a. Hiba.
“I don’t care what my dad says. This is the best holiday!” Esa said, digging into his box of baklava. Naveed scoffed, but Rob beamed.
Esa continued, “Coming to Alaska helped me get out of my head. It felt good to spend time with my sisters, to hang out with my parents, and to meet new people. Plus, Wolf Run is a special place—it’s small and perfect, in its own unique way.” His tone was serious now, more than it had been during the entire trip. “To be honest, I’ve been feeling pretty down lately. My entire family are geniuses. My mom knows how to tame hundreds of teenagers. My dad is a neurosurgeon and a professor, too. My older sister is trying to save the world, and Sameera is the best and only lawyer I know. Meanwhile, what have I accomplished?”
Sameera looked at her sister. Silently, they flanked their little brother, putting their arms around his slim waist. He nodded at them, acknowledging their support, and Sameera was glad to be here, beside her brother, surrounded by everyone she loved best in the world.
Esa turned to Rob. “I think what you tried to do to Tom was a master class in manipulation, but I’m also really glad you weren’t serious about selling to Andy. He would have wiped out the soul of this place, and Wolf Run needs to be protected. My time here helped me realize I’m a genius, too, in my own way,” Esa said, smiling. “Thanks to Tom’s advice, my YouTube channel is starting to take off, and I’ve finally realized that while I might not be able to save the world, like my sisters, I can make them laugh. So, thank you.”
He beamed, and Tahsin and Naveed hugged their son. Sameera felt her heart grow in her chest. She was so proud of Esa, so proud of the man he was becoming. This trip had been magical in so many ways—but getting to know her brother again, as he teetered on the brink between child and adult, might have been the highlight. She nearly choked up again while she hugged him, but stopped herself in time—she had promised Esa no more tears, even if they were happy ones.
The expanded party trooped back into the house, happily chatting, the drama over breakfast not forgotten but set aside for now. Sameera watched as Rob put an arm on Tom’s shoulder, and pulled him back to say a few words. They looked so much alike, she thought—they shared the same blond hair and dark brows, the same jawline, but where Rob’sfeatures were more severe, there was something boyish and innocent about Tom. He looked up and caught her gaze.
There had been an irresistible attraction between them from the start, but the past four days, spending time together in such an intimate setting, had only deepened that bond. Except she saw something else on his face now—a sadness that made her heart clench. They drifted toward each other while everyone else moved to the sitting room.
“Sameera,” Tom started, but she shook her head.
“It’s okay,” she said. “Whatever you want to do, I understand. We only just met.”
Tom’s shoulders fell. “I was so invested in my anger and resentment, it was easier to focus on that instead of the reality. Dad and Barb are getting older. I mean, I knew they were, but it’s different when you see it, right?”
“In your defense, there’s plenty to be angry and resentful about,” Sameera said, earning a weak smile from Tom.
“That’s not the kind of person I want to be anymore. You made me realize that I could be different,” he said, and she felt a flare of something that felt a lot like the first glimmer of love’s spark. “I’ve watched you grapple with your own feelings of anger, love, and hurt with your family, and move through them, reaching for better. You’re a wonder, Sameera Ayla Malik.”
“Don’t blame me for your change of heart,” she said, trying not to cry.
Tom gripped her. “My heart is unchanged. You still have me completely enthralled.” He took a deep, juddering breath. “Rain check on that dinner?”
Her hand was intertwined with his. “I know you’re good for it,” she said, trying to smile.
The look of relief on his face made her feel slightly better. “How long do you plan to stay in Wolf Run?” she asked, because that’s what Tom was trying to tell her. He wouldn’t be leaving for Atlanta in the new year.
Tom shrugged. “Maybe a month, maybe more. I want to spend time with my dad, Barb, and Cal. We need to talk about what we’re going to do with the property, without feeling resentful and angry.”
There was a new set to his shoulders, now that he had made the hard decision, and if possible, Sameera felt herself falling even harder for Tom. “You’re doing the right thing. I know it won’t be easy. I’m proud of you, Tom Cooke.”
“I should thank Andy for forcing the conversation, really,” he said.
“Let’s not give him that much credit,” she said, laughing.
“Esa is right—if Andy had his way, he would only exploit everything and everyone; he wouldn’t be able to help it, not with the type of massive resort he was planning. I’ll stay and help them figure out what’s next, and the best thing to do with Cooke Place,” Tom said. “Maybe Calvin will want to come back after college. But I won’t force him. Trying to make me fill his shoes is what nearly destroyed my relationship with Rob. If Cal wants to live here, I’ll help. If not, we’ll figure something out.”
He looked into her eyes, searching for something. “I wish we’d met sooner,” he said.
Sameera’s throat felt tight. “We met at exactly the right time,” she told him. “I’ve heard good things about Zoom.”
Tom laughed. “With the crazy hours we both work, it would have been hard to stay in touch when we lived in the same city. I won’t ask you to wait for me.”
“You could ask,” Sameera said, but Tom shook his head.
