Ruby chuckled. “Why would a dermatologist use flowery-scented soaps?”
He smiled. “My mother likes scented soaps.”
Ruby had been delighted to see him wearing the same suit he’d worn to the ballet, with a tie this time. He looked so good. She really wanted to ask him who made the suit—but she didn’t want to ruin the illusion if she found out it was an off-the-rack suit from a discount store.
“Can I have more sharbat?” Noor asked, holding out her empty paper cup.
Tara immediately downed the rest of her cup and held it out, too. “Me too!”
Jasmine rolled her eyes. She looked gorgeous today in a simple pale pink salwar kameez with gold embroidery, and the girls were in matching bright pink lehengas, the long embroidered skirts skimming the floor. Ruby’s salwar kameez was a muted turquoise with silver embroidery. Rashid hadn’t said anything about it when he saw her come out to the car—which was probably because of the girls and Jasmine—but she hoped she would get a moment alone with him at some point tonight so she could tell him how much she liked that suit on him.
“I’ll get it,” Jasmine said. “They drink it so rarely. Why not?” She headed back over to the sharbat line, leaving Rashid, Ruby, and the twins alone near the wall of the social hall.
“There are more people here than I expected,” Rashid said, looking uncomfortable. It seemed that he was uncomfortable in any crowded situation, not just Christmas events.
“Oh my, you’re Rubina Dhanji, aren’t you?” a voice next to Ruby said. She turned and saw an older woman, maybe in her fifties, wearing a light green sari. Ruby was almost positive she’d never seen the woman before.
“Um, yes? Do I know you?” Maybe she’d served her at Reid’s? But she never went by Rubina at work, always Ruby.
“Neelam Premji—I was a friend of your mother’s. You looksomuch like her.” The woman was quite pretty, with large dark eyes and glowing skin. “You’ve grown up so beautiful.” The woman put her hand out, and when Ruby went to shake it, she pulled Ruby in and kissed both her cheeks. She held on to Ruby’s hand, her warm smile making Ruby feel a little exposed. Ruby forced a smile. She didn’t remember this woman, but her mother had been quite religious and had lots of friends in the community.
“I had no idea you were in the city,” the woman continued. She looked at Rashid and the twins, who were staying close to him. They were more comfortable with Ruby now, but their shyness came back around strangers. “Is this your family? What beautiful girls.”
Ruby laughed awkwardly, taking her hand back. “Oh, no, this is my friend Rashid, and his nieces. Their mother just went to get sharbat.”
The woman nodded. “I always thought…” she said. “I mean, I was so sorry that I didn’t keep in touch with you after your mother passed. She would have wanted me to, but I had my own…” She smiled, clearly emotional. “Are you… okay? Happy?”
There was something there, like she was afraid that Ruby’s life had turned out something like her mother’s. Ruby wondered how close this woman had been to her mother. Ruby didn’t know if it was the abusive husband or the genetic cancer that the woman was concerned about. But to ask if Ruby washappy? That was a strange question from a virtual stranger.
But the answer was very clear to Ruby. At this moment in time? A few weeks from fulfilling a dream she’d had for years? With a big circle of friends who looked out for her? And at the very beginning of a fling that was making her holiday season a whole lot of fun?
She looked up at Rashid and smiled wide. “Yes. Yes, I’m happy. Life is good.” And the smile that Rashid gave back to her somehow made her happier.
Neelam smiled warmly and reached into her purse. She handed Ruby a business card. “Your mother meant so much to me. I wish she were here to see you, now. Keep in touch, okay? I would love to know how you’re living your life now. And if you ever need anything in Toronto, please reach out. I told your mother I would always look out for you, and I have failed there.”
After handing over the card, she hugged Ruby again.
Jasmine showed up then, balancing three cups of sharbat. Ruby was about to introduce Neelam to her, when Neelam smiled and told Ruby again that it was nice to see her, and then left.
Ruby frowned. That was weird. She looked at the business card. Neelam was apparently an investment banker. It had been a very long time since she’d met someone who knew her mother. And it felt like that woman knew her mother well, which meant that this stranger knew a lot more about Ruby than most strangers she met. It was the woman’s warmth that left Ruby feeling off.
While Jasmine was helping the girls with their drinks and cake, Rashid stepped close to Ruby. “You okay, Red?”
He was so good at reading her moods. She tilted her head, looking at those dark eyes, which looked so warm with concern. “Yeah, I’m good. I’m glad you convinced me to come. Look at all the beautiful outfits! Did I mention how smoking hot you look in that suit?”
A slow smile transformed his face. “I’m glad you came, too.” He leaned very close to her to speak in her ear. “I love you in Indian clothes. You are far and away the most beautiful person here,” he whispered before letting her go.
That warm, small, contented smile on Rashid’s face made Ruby’s knees weak. And she realized that she’d told that woman the truth. She really was completely happy right now.
After they’d had their fill of cake, chai, and sharbat, they headed to the cloak room to put on their shoes and coats. After Ruby had slipped on her silver stilettos and her red coat, Rashid and Ruby waited outside the doors for Jasmine, who had taken the girls to the bathroom before helping them find their shoes. “Will I see you this weekend?” Rashid asked.
Ruby had to work early on Saturday, so even though she really wanted to invite Rashid for another sleepover, she needed a full night’s sleep.
“I’m working Saturday and Sunday—but I’m leaving work early on Saturday for Marley and Shayne’s party. You should come. It’s their annual Caroling party.” She hadn’t asked them if she could bring Rashid, but she knew they’d say yes.
Rashid frowned, looking awkward. “Oh, um, I’m notreally into singing Christmas carols. I mean, you know I don’t celebrate—”
Ruby laughed, tapping him on the chest. “Oh my god,no. I forgot you don’t know Shayne that well. It’s not a caroling party, as in singing Christmas carols. It’s a holiday party, but the theme is the movieCarol. It’s Shayne’s all-time favorite movie, and it’s set during the holidays, so he hosts a screening every year.”
