“You okay, beta?” Mom asked. The smell of fried onions and spices filled the room.
“Yeah, fine.” She took her snack, Mom’s dhokla and red chutney, to the dining table and sat where she could still see Mom cooking. Watching her mother cook had always been comforting to Jana.
“I’m making biryani and taking it to Kassim’s. I’ll leave some here for your dinner,” Mom said.
“Okay. Thanks.” There was still tension between them. Jana could feel it. She didn’t argue with her mother often—but the few times they did, they never talked about it. Things were usually a bit awkward for a while, then went back to how they were before. Jana kind of figured that that cycle would go on forever.
But awkwardly, this time, Momdidwant to talk about it. “I meant to ask you—did Anil hear about what Shelina said in Arusha? He didn’t say goodbye when he left.”
Jana frowned. “It wouldn’t surprise me if he heard. He was probably embarrassed everyone was talking about him. Maybe if people would stop telling lies about him at parties, then he would be more polite when he left them.”
Mom blinked. And again, Jana felt terrible for snapping at her mother. Jana was all her mom had. So what if Mom embellished her life a bit…told some tales so she could keep up with her friends? Who was she hurting?
Jana. That’s who Mom was hurting.
Jana stared blankly at her mother, having no idea how to have this conversation, when the doorbell rang. Saved by the bell.
Jana opened the door and was greeted by a stranger in a blue uniform. “I have a delivery for Jana Suleiman.”
Jana nodded. “That’s me.”
“Sign here, please, then I’ll get it out of the truck.”
Jana signed where he indicated, assuming the delivery was the box of souvenirs from Tanzania. She stepped back into the house to tell Mom, who was now spooning the biryani onto a large serving platter.
Jana headed back outside to find three boxes on the porch. Jana looked on in horror as the delivery person brought even more boxes out of the truck and stacked them up. Clearly, everyone had done a lot more shopping in Tanzania than she had. She started taking the boxes, eight in all, into her house one at a time.
Jana was on the porch grabbing the second-to-last box when suddenly and unexpectedly, Dr. Lopez was in front of her.
“Hello, Dr. Suleiman. Can I help you with that?” Dr. Lopez said.
What was he doing here?
Jana put on her professional smile. “Dr. Lopez! Hello! Nice to see you! I was just…The souvenirs from Tanzania just got here. And you don’t need to call me Dr. Suleiman! Jana is fine. I’ll just get these boxes here. It was a big delivery. My mom’s inside. Cooking.” Jana clamped her mouth shut so she’d stop rambling.
“Oh. I’m sorry it’s a bad time,” he said. “I probably should have called first. Farzana is in the car—we’re on our way to a dinner party at Kassim’s house, but I wanted to offer to drive your mother since she’s bringing the food.” He smiled. Because of course he was offering to pick up Mom. He was a kind man.
Jana had always been struck at how much Dr. Lopez’s eyes reminded her of her father’s. In other circumstances, she would have been delighted to have him and Farzana Aunty as members of her aunty-and-uncle circle. But she’d rather have him as her boss. “Oh, okay, I’ll ask her. She’s packing up the food.” Jana turned to put the box down, when he put his hand on her arm, stopping her. “May I speak to you for a moment first? I won’t take much of your time.”
Jana nodded. She was nervous…even shaking a bit. She took a deep breath, put the box in her arms down, and motioned for him to join her on the two little wrought-iron seats on the covered front porch of the house.
After they were both sitting, Dr. Lopez smiled. “I hope you’re not embarrassed about what I happened to overhear on our last day in Tanzania,” he said. “We should know better than to lurk around corners. And Farzana sends her love, by the way. She wanted to tell you there is nothing for you to worry about, and she’s sorry she didn’t get the chance to chat before we left.”
They were accepting and not judgmental? They didn’t think less of her for all the lies? These people were too good. She felt like she was letting them down. True, the lie that had sanitized her relationship with Anil into something more acceptable to the community was Mom’s doing, but Jana should have corrected her. She’d been afraid Dr. Lopez would see her differently if he knew the truth about Imani’s birth. She hadn’t wanted him to know about her scandal.
“I’m so sorry I wasn’t honest to either of you. I emailed you…”
“I saw that, but I wanted to wait to respond until I’d spoken to my colleague in HR. It was always a risky situation—you and I being on holiday together. I thought I could keep things professional and distant between us so it wouldn’t affect your application, but I didn’t take into account that Farzana would be so delighted with you. Or that seeing you with your daughter and friends would make me see just how intelligent, thoughtful, andrealyou are. I called HR immediately after getting home to tell them that you were who I wanted on my team. Today I received word that the rest of the board also wants you.”
Jana blinked, speechless.
He smiled. “Your references had nothing but praise for you, so I have been given approval to officially offer you the position of director of research and programs at Think Canada.”
“But…I lied to you.”
Dr. Lopez shook his head. “I know your personal life being exposed at the hotel was embarrassing, but please don’t let a little embarrassment stop you. And as for your mother telling me and Farzana you were married—your marital status has no bearing on your employment, of course. Neither does a little parental…gloating. I’m a parent—I do it all the time, too.”
The job was hers. Jana’s hand reflexively went to her mouth. “Oh my goodness. Thank you!”
