I laugh. “It’s rough, confusing, and definitely entertaining. But anyway, yeah. He’s in Arizona. That’s where he was traded from, so he’s hanging out with his friends right now.”
“I still don’t like that he’s with friends and you’re alone.”
“It’s okay.” I’m definitely not going to tell him I hate it, either. He might fly out here or something dramatic. “I’m going to head downstairs later and check out the pool.”
“Is it warm there?”
“The pool is inside, but no, it’s not warm.” I glance at the window. The sky is clear, and the sun is shining brightly, casting the entire room in a bright yellow glow. “It’s nicer out today than it has been though, so that’s nice.”
“Very good. Have you been making wedding plans yet? I’d like to hear them.”
I chew the inside of my lip. “No, Dad. I just got here. It’s only been a month. We’re still getting to know each other.”
He hums in acknowledgement. “Your wedding will be this summer.”
He tries to inflect a question mark to the end of the sentence, but I hear the statement in it. “Maybe,” I hedge.
“Arush.” The absence of a stern tone makes me understand that he’s worried.
“Everything is going really well,” I assure my father, because I believe it to be true. It might have started off a little rocky, but I think we’ve found our rhythm. Every day we’re learning about each other a little more. “I don’t want to rush anything.”
“Rush,” my father parrots, a frown thick in his voice.
I get it. This is very different from the process that we go through at home. It’s not rushed, exactly, but my siblings have all been married within a handful of months of meeting their parental-picked spouses. Maybe it’s rushed in my family. Maybe that’s normal.
Jash married Chaaya pretty quickly, too. I think it was less than four months from the day they met.
“Please trust me.”
“Are you happy?”
The question surprises me. Am I? Right this very second, I could be a little happier if Julian were home, but… I am. “Yes,” I answer.
He sighs. “I trust you.”
It warms my chest to hear those words from my father. “What’s happening at home?”
“Navi has decided he doesn’t like Sayuri. He will be meeting Niyara in two days.”
I roll my eyes. “You ever think Navi doesn’t actually want to get married, Dad?” This is what, his fourth decline?
My father laughs. “Yes. That’s why I’ve not been giving him serious consideration for quite some time.”
“Oh! Sly.”
He laughs again. “I, too, can play that game.”
My smile feels like it splits my face. I love my father. He has such a rich sense of humor. He’s strict when it comes to business, but he’s also personable. He can have silly conversations and indulge his family. He’s a really great guy.
“I must turn in to bed or your mother will come looking for me. Keep me apprised on wedding details.”
My stomach flips. “I will when we begin talking about them,” I promise.
“Very well. Enjoy your day.”
“Sleep well,” I return, since the same sentiment can’t be returned right now.
We end the call and I find that I’ve been wandering around the condo while we’ve been on the phone. I stop in front of the windows and stare outside. The sun is so bright it gives the illusion that it’s warm out. The trees aren’t quite ready to agree, though. Julian says that they’ll turn green and begin to bud when spring is finally here. They’re still looking a little dark.
