Rhea’s face lit up. “Emmeline!” She opened her arms, and Emmeline leaned forward to give Rhea a hug. She really was frail. While Luke and Farhan were both tall, their mother was petite, though the boys clearly looked like her with their deep brown skin and dark hair.
“I’m so glad to finally meet you!” Rhea said, and Emmeline’s brows twitched. She glanced over at Luke, who looked embarrassed.
“Emmeline,” Farhan said, grinning at his mother.
“Ignore them,” Luke implored her. “Please.”
She didn’t say anything, but that didn’t stop her from recalling how Farhan had also acted like he knew who she was. A sneaking suspicion rose within her: Had Luke spoken about her to his family members?
And if he had, what had he said? She was afraid he’d left a bad impression, for surely she had been a thorn in Luke’s side, but Farhan and Rhea were both perfectly kind with her. They were practically... giggling.
“You are staying for dinner, aren’t you?” Rhea asked.
“I don’t want to impose,” Emmeline replied. “I should get going.”
Luke gave her a funny look. “Don’t be ridiculous,” he said, voice non-negotiable.
“Yeah, don’t be ridiculous,” Farhan said, mimicking his brother.
Were all younger siblings certified menaces? Before she could try and protest, Farhan ushered her to the dining table, while Luke helped Rhea up.
“You sit here,” Farhan said, depositing her in front of a chair.
“Well, let me help, at least,” Emmeline said, not sitting yet. “What can I do? Should I set the table? Cut a salad?” She was about to head in the direction of the kitchen when Luke shook his head at her.
“No,” Luke said, bringing Rhea to the table. “The only thing you can do is sit down.”
Emmeline opened her mouth to argue, and he slightly shook his head at her. “Sh. Sit.”
She had never realized just how bossy Luke was, but she found she didn’t hate it. Obeying, she sat down as Luke helped his mother into the seat across from her. Then, he set the table while Farhan brought over a bowl of raita, a spiced yogurt dish with sliced cucumbers, tomatoes, onions, and cilantro.
Emmeline could guess what they would be eating, as the cold salad was usually an accompaniment for only a few things. Her stomach rumbled, and she was glad she was staying for dinner, after all. It had been a long day.
“Is Baba coming?” Farhan asked, going back to the kitchen to grab the pot from the stove. He brought it over as Luke finished setting the table, setting down a trivet for the pot to sit on.
“No, he won’t be in until ten,” Luke said. To Emmeline, he explained, “Our dad works late.” Luke sat down in the seat next to her as Farhan put the pot down.
“Here we are,” Farhan said, lifting off the lid. Steam rose from atop the brothy rice dish, filling the air with the comforting aroma of browned onions and cumin.
“Did you make it?” Emmeline asked Farhan as he sat down across from Luke. He nodded.
“Apologies in advance,” Luke interjected, and Farhan rolled his eyes good-naturedly at his brother.
“No, it looks great,” Emmeline said, thoroughly impressed. “You could teach my brothers a thing or two. The best they can do is instant noodles, and even that smells radioactive. I have to air out the entire house whenever they’ve cooked—the wordcookedbeing used quite loosely here.”
Rhea laughed. “These two had an instant noodle phase, too, and you’re right, the smell ishorrible. I banned it for precisely that reason.” Rhea reached for the spoon, offering it to Emmeline. “Please, take first.”
Emmeline wanted to protest, but she had a feeling none of the Hayward family members would allow that, so she acquiesced, putting a serving of the chicken pilau onto her plate. She offered the spoon back to Rhea, and Farhan took it, plating a serving for his mother before making his own plate.
Taking a bite, Emmeline sighed. It was delicious, warmingher to her core. Pilau was a perfect comfort meal, especially in winter, the rice soft and soupy with the spiced broth.
“Good, right?” Farhan said, gloating. Luke rolled his eyes as he piled food onto his plate.
“Don’t be too impressed,” Luke told her. “It’s pretty much the only thing he knows how to make.”
“Not true and you know it,” Farhan said cheerily, unperturbed by his older brother’s commentary.
“Did you learn from your mom?” Emmeline asked, as Luke poured water into her glass.
