“Yes. That’s totally why.” His eyes flashed gratitude. “I’ll just go…now. Thank you for the dinner invitation, and good to see you, Aunty. Nice to meet you, Saira.”
“Later,” Saira said, waving. “And don’t worry—I’m a pretty low-maintenance sister-in-law!” Saira laughed loudly at her own terrible joke (that was a joke, right?) as Reena gently pushed Nadim out of the room. She hoped he remembered to take his six-pack out of the hallway—and bring it back in half an hour. She definitely was going to need that.
CHAPTER NINE
Mum’s phone chimed loudly the minute Nadim left. Reena picked it up from the counter and glanced at it.
“Mum, who’s Giovanna, and why is she asking if you’re coming tonight?”
Mum snatched her phone. “Nah! Don’t look at my phone!” She walked to the far side of the living room, presumably to respond to her text.
“Mum has a secret?” Reena asked her sister. “Mum has no life. She can’t have a secret.”
Saira shrugged, noisily slurping the end of her mystery drink. “I try not to pay too much attention to what they’re up to.”
“Why exactly did you come here with her?” Reena asked.
“She was loading that stuff in her car when I got home from work. I thought you might need backup while you were ambushed. No one needs a surprise visit from parents. Anyway, I’m glad I came. I had no idea that Mum and Dad sold your hand in marriage for cold hard cash. This is juicy…”
“I’m not going to marry the man.”
“Obviously. Although”—she looked at the door—“I was right about him being bald, but he’s hotter than I expected. Doesn’t talk much, though. Anyway—”
Mum was back at their side, giving Saira a stern look. “This isn’t gossip, Saira. I don’t want to hear that you’re telling anyone the family’s personal business.”
“Give me some credit, Mum,” Saira said.
“We have to go.” Mum put on her shoes and coat. “You need to prepare yourself for your dinner with Nadim.”
Saira handed Reena her empty cup. “Toss this for me, will you? Later, Reena.” She followed Mum out the door.
And with that, Reena was left with two mysteries: one, what was Saira’s real motive in coming over again, and two, what in God’s name did Mum mean when she saidprepare herself? Actually, she shook the thought from her mind. She didn’t want to know.
Nadim reappeared at her door about three seconds after her mother left. “That was awkward,” he said as Reena let him back in. He placed the six-pack on the kitchen counter and held a bottle out to her. She nodded, so he took a glass out of her cupboard for it.
“Why did you tell them you wanted to borrow nail polish?” she asked.
He snorted. “I was so worried I’d spill about the contest that I spewed nonsense. You have varnish on your toes. It threw me. Why did you invite me to dinner?”
“Weren’t you here for dinner?”
“Of course. But now your mother knows that. Which means tomorrow your father will ask me how dinner went, and I will have to pretend things are going well and that you haven’t been saying you have no plan to marry me at least once per night.” He handed her the beer. “Your sister’s a little…”
Reena cringed as she sat on the barstool. “Sorry about her. She’s a lot.”
“Is she telling everyone we’re engaged?”
“Doubt it. Saira’s a huge gossip but doesn’t air our own family laundry. She’s more radio receiver than broadcaster.”
“You sure you two are sisters?”
“I’ve often wondered the same thing. I still can’t figure out why she was here today. My guess is it has to do with eggplant.” She sipped her beer.
Nadim’s hand shot to his mouth, stifling a laugh.
“That’s not a euphemism. I actually mean eggplant.”
“With your family, I believe it. Just to confirm, I can’t let her know about the contest, either, but your cousin knows, right? I’m having trouble keeping up with who knows what. Hard enough to come up with a story for why I shaved my head.”
