Heat crept slowly but surely up Sam’s neck. “Dad.”
Father turned innocently toward son. “What? I promise not to take the baby pictures out until next time.” He winked in Maya’s direction.
“Baby pictures?” Maya bit her bottom lip. “Why wait until next time?” Amusement flashed in those honey eyes, and even that weakened him.
“Maya needs to see the house.” His father offered his arm to Maya again, and led her out of the kitchen, away from his mother. Sam threw his mother a questioning glance and followed his father.
His dad gave Maya the whole tour, ending up in the family room.
“Okay, Dad. You’ve met Maya. We need to go if we’re going to catch that game.” He took Maya’s hand and gave it a squeeze, immediately drawing comfort from her warmth.
His father held up his hand. “All right, just hold on a second. I’ll get your mother.”
Sam sighed his acquiescence. “Hurry.” He turned to find Maya studying a very old family portrait of the four of them.
She rested her gaze on him with a touch of sadness in her eyes. “You look like your brother.”
“Nah.” Sam didn’t even need to look at the picture. He had studied it himself many times. “Arjun looked like my dad.”
“I see why you think that, the blond hair, the beautiful blue eyes. But you have his smile—even that one dimple—though I think you’re probably taller.”
Sam shrugged. “Maybe.”
“His name was Arjun?” Maya asked, while furrowing her brow. “It’s a very strong name. You know in Hindu mythology, Arjun is...”
“...a great warrior,” Sam spoke as if reciting from text. “One of the five warrior Pandava brothers. Those brothers had a bond that was beyond reproach. And Arjun was most known for his bravery and skill in every facet of life, from swordplay to dancing.”
“You know the stories. Then you also know it’s a difficult name to live up to.”
“But he lived up to it.” Sam looked into Maya’s eyes, not sure what he was looking for. It wasn’t so much that he was jealous of his brother, as much as it was hard to compete with his ghost. Arjun had been the perfect son.
Sam drew a deep breath and continued. “He was headed to Columbia as an undergrad. The plan was Columbia Law after that. Then he was going to work for a huge firm and get recognition before finally entering politics. Arjun was as charismatic as they come. He would’ve done it. But he, well...he died a week before he was going to leave for college.”
Sam shifted his gaze to the portrait, his voice almost a whisper. “I adored him. As a big brother, he was everything to me.”
Maya stood next to him, their shoulders touching. She leaned her head on his shoulder. “I’m really sorry you lost him.”
Whether it was Maya’s proximity or gentleness, he didn’t know, but Sam’s muscles relaxed and his breath came easier. A serenity fell over him that he hadn’t even known was missing. “It’s been a long time.”
Suddenly, Maya lifted her head and turned to look at him, curious. “You said ‘big plans have been made for me’ and you went to Columbia as an undergrad, and you’re at Columbia Law School right now.”
Sam hung his head. He dragged his toe across the carpet for a moment before looking at her with chagrin as he spread his arms wide. “Well—” his words were tinted with sarcasm “—I’m living the dream.”
Maya faced him, her hand on his chest, concern narrowing her eyes and pursing her lips. “You’re doing everything he was going to do? But—you’ve never talked about going into politics. Is that what you want?”
Sam opened his mouth to speak, but Maya suddenly yanked her hand away as if burned. She stepped back and became keenly interested in the closest painting on the wall. Before Sam could ask what had caused this reaction, he found his mother behind him.
“It is in fact what Sam has always wanted to do.” His mother carefully placed a hand on her son’s shoulder. “He will make this family proud as he changes the world.” She gazed up at him fondly.
“Hema, we should let the kids get going. They’ll be late for the game.” Sam’s father came in right behind his wife.
“Of course.” She released Sam’s shoulder and he kissed her cheek.
“See you later, Ma.” He caught Maya’s eye and nodded his head toward the door.
“Well, Auntie, Uncle.” Maya turned to his parents. “It really was lovely meeting you. I see where Sam gets all his fine qualities.”
Sam’s father walked them to the door and gave Sam a side-armed hug. “Have a great time at the game.” The enthusiasm in his voice seemed forced to Sam. But his next words to Maya were genuine. “Maya, it’s truly wonderful to have met you. I can see why my son has fallen for you.”
