‘And why is your blanket giggling?’ Azam asked, coming closer. Then he pulled the blanket down, revealing Dania. She shrieked. ‘You found me!’
‘Did you sleep with Sonya?’ he asked. Dania nodded. ‘We shouldn’t bother her.’
Sonya frowned. ‘She’s not a bother.’
‘Yeah,’ Dania replied, sticking her tongue out at Azam.
He held his hands up in defense. ‘Alright, alright. Come on, let’s wash up.’ He held his hands out, and Dania rose to her feet on the bed. Azam picked her up, and Sonya watched them go, hugging her knees to her chest.
Before he left, Azam looked over his shoulder. He flashed her a private smile, and her pulse quickened.
She fell back onto her pillow, clutching both hands over her heart.
There was no time for swooning. Today was the big day!
14
When Sonya returned from the bathroom, there was a new dress hanging on her door. This one was custard-yellow with butterfly sleeves and a ruffled hem. Beneath it was a pair of new shoes.
She gasped, reaching for the shoes first: they were lace-up leather boots, a little worn-in and likely secondhand but when she tried them on, they fit like a glove. They were perfect!
Sonya got ready, twisting and tying half of her hair back with a ribbon: it had grown a little longer these past few weeks. When she entered the living room in the new dress and shoes, Azam looked up from the fire, face brightening. She noticed his outfit then, and how handsome he looked. He was wearing a cornflower-blue waistcoat and dark gray trousers. There was a small bunch of daffodils tucked into his breast pocket. They matched her dress.
They looked at one another, neither speaking.
‘You look lovely,’ Kiri said, breaking the moment.
Sonya smiled at Kiri, then twirled. ‘Thank you,’ she said, then turned to thank Azam, too.
‘How are the shoes?’ he asked.
‘Perfect!’ she replied, tapping her feet to show him.
‘I noticed yesterday that your shoes were full of water,’ he said. ‘I realized they were probably too big and went out to find you a new pair.’
Her heart warmed. ‘You’re too good to me,’ she said.
He furrowed his brow. ‘No, Sonya, it’s the very least you deserve. I wish I could do more.’ He looked down at his hands for a moment before meeting her eyes again. ‘I want to thank you truly for all your help with the shop’s reopening. I couldn’t have made it here without you.’
Her cheeks flushed.
‘Breakfast!’ Kiri announced.
The shop would officially open at noon, and they had plenty of time before then, so they all sat and had breakfast together: fried eggs and toast with tea.
Sonya cleaned up as Kiri prepared the food for the party: scones with jam and little cucumber sandwiches and small, sweet pastries. While Sonya set out the plates and teacups, Kiri made pitchers of lemonade.
Once they were finished inside, and it was nearly time, Kiri took Dania to clean up and get ready. Sonya went over to the shop, where everything should have already been in order.
Azam was standing in front of the main desk—hisdesk, now—gripping the edge, his knuckles white. His eyes were tightly closed and he didn’t even seem to hear her approach.
Sonya went to his side, touching his arm. ‘Azam?’
He released a trembling breath, then opened his eyes.
‘What if it’s all a spectacular failure?’ he asked, voice quiet.
‘What if it’s not?’ she replied.
