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She shrugged. “Yes. No. But perhaps I will be.”

She cuddled him, resting her head against his chest. She wanted to breathe the scent of him forever. “I left him with Mum for her to cultivate what I’d sown.”

Sam stroked her hair. “What do you want to do?”

Maya hesitated, taking a couple of deep breaths. The idea of going over to Sam’s and cuddling with him on the sofa was tempting—the desire to hide away in a safe bubble with the man she loved. But she knew what she had to do.

“I need to go back.”

Sam tipped her face up to meet her gaze, giving her a reassuring smile, and it was apparent that he agreed. “I’ll come with you. Let’s start as we mean to go on. As a team.” He kissed her nose. “I’m your support buddy.”

Maya smiled as he put his arm around her and they turned to walk back toward her house. Not that it was very visible, in the whiteout.

“I appreciate that,” she said.

Sam cleared his throat. “You should probably know that I’m planning on applying for the support buddy position on a permanent basis.”

Maya grinned. “No need to apply. Position filled as of now.”

“Wow.” He glanced over with a smile. “Shortest interview ever.”

Maya laughed as they went up the driveway. “There’s no point beating about the bush. You’re a shoo-in for the job.” She reached the doorway and grasped the handle. “Time to face the music.”

They brushed snow from themselves in the porch, then removed their outerwear to head toward the kitchen.

Yvonne and Omar were sitting at the table, holding hands. The sight of that infused a little comfort into Maya’s veins.

“Sam,” Yvonne said. “Hi.” She glanced at Maya.

Maya had told her mum that Sam had ended things because he wanted her to feel free to go for the Edinburgh job. Maya gave her mum a smile, taking Sam’s hand, and Yvonne returned the expression.

“Come and have a seat,” Yvonne said.

“Thanks, Mrs.—I mean, Yvonne,” Sam said, taking a seat across from them as Maya climbed onto the one beside him. He took Maya’s hand again as Yvonne poured the two of them some tea from the pot. “Hi, Dr. B.”

Omar managed a smile, and Maya dared to let her small seed of hope grow bigger. “Nice to see you. You two been for a walk?”

“Yeah,” Maya said. “But then we got attacked by a yeti and figured it was best to retreat.”

Omar laughed, taking Maya by surprise. He shook his head. “I’m not sure if I’ve ever told you this, but your sense of humor reminds me of my mother’s. She was as quick witted as you.”

Sam squeezed her hand, and Maya swallowed. “I don’t think you have told me that. I wish I’d known her.”

Omar nodded. “Me too.” He glanced at Yvonne, who shot him a supportive smile. “She always did what was best for us, both her and my father. That was why they moved to the UK when my brother and I were small. To make a new life.” He cleared his throat. “They struggled to fit in, and elevating their social standing helped. It was impressed upon my brother and me how important that was. To be a person of good standing in the community, and I think I’ve let that color my guidance of you and your sister.”

Maya’s breathing hitched in surprise; her dad hadn’t voiced that before. Sam pulled her close, and she took hold of his knee.

Omar met Maya’s eyes. “Realizing that what I’ve actually done is to make you unhappy, that you put yourself through misery for me . . .” His voice tailed off. Yvonne leaned in to kiss his cheek, and he gave her a weak smile. “I feel terrible,” he said, his voice quiet. “I don’t want you to be like Hana. I love you for who you are. My clever, quick-witted, kind daughter who reminds me of my mother. And I love Hana for herself too, my fierce lion with a heart of gold, who makes me think of my father. I want happiness for you both, and whatever you need to do to be happy, I’ll support you.”

Maya reached across the table to take her dad’s hand, hardly able to believe what he was saying. Her voice broke. “Thank you. I can’t tell you how much that means to me.”

He squeezed her hand with a smile. Maya left her seat to go around the table, and Omar stood to give her a hug. She cuddled him tightly as he kissed the top of her head.

Maya pulled back to give him a wink. “Unfortunately, you do realize that this turn of events means I’ll be staying in town, close by. Ergo, you’ll probably end up feeding me every night.”

Omar laughed. “We’d love that.”

He looked at Sam as he released Maya and she went back to her seat. “I’m sorry if I made you feel unwelcome before. My judgment has been off, to say the least. I appreciate you giving me a second chance.” Omar sat next to Yvonne, taking her hand.