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“Where’s Sanjeev?” her mother asked. She stood in the doorway to the library and behind her, Neha could see her father sitting in his large leather chair by the bay window, scowling over the rim of his newspaper.
Neha did not reply. She quickly walked past her mother, up the stairs to get the suitcase she had packed earlier.
“Neha!” her father bellowed. Neha knew he would struggle with the blanket on his knees before he got up.
Her mother was faster and followed Neha hurriedly. “What happened?”
“Nothing much,” Neha said, taking the suitcase from the closet.
Her mother paled. “What…? Neha, what is going on?”
Neha went down again, her mother on her heels, demanding answers.
Her father had made it into the reception hall. “This has got to stop!” he bellowed.
Neha nodded. “It stops right now. I am done. When you had that heart attack, I felt I needed to help take care of you. And you had been quite sweet and appreciative. Do you know how long that lasted? Two days! Then you started to make decisions for me again and to manage my life.”
“I am sick!”
“That gives you no right to be a bully, to treat me like I was some property!” Neha yelled. Inhaling audibly, she collected herself and continued calmly, “The icing on the cake is Sanjeev. You had promised him I’d marry him, lured him here from Delhi. You made him believe he could marry me, and you’d make sure he became a US citizen just like that. That is so cruel.”
“You will not tell me what to do,” her father cautioned her.
“There is a cab waiting for me outside. If I’m not back in—” Neha calmly replied, looking at her watch, “two minutes, the cabbie will call the police.”
“Where are you going?” her mother wailed as she opened the door.
“You can try to ignore it as much as you want, but I am a married woman. Let’s find out whether my husband will have me.”
* * *
The entire flight, Jay had tried to make a plan for how to handle the situation. Even so, once he finally stood in front of the large mansion, he was insecure. This is how Neha grew up? Hallow Falls was famous for its gardens, but this here was more like a park, and a well-kept one at that. He decided to wing it and rang the bell. Soon after, a housekeeper opened the door. She gave non-committal answers when he asked for Neha and seemed eager to get rid of him. But Jay refused to leave and insisted on talking to Neha. The housekeeper caved in and went to get Mrs. Gupta, who showed up soon after, wearing a saree. She earnestly tried to shoo Jay away, waving her hands in front of her and shouting, “Be off with you!” He burst out laughing. “Does this usually work with people you don’t want to talk to? Either you let me talk to Neha right now or I will file a missing person’s report with the police.”
“I don’t have to talk to you,” Mrs. Gupta exclaimed.
Jay shrugged and reached for his phone. Before he even could wake it, Mrs. Gupta spat, “She left earlier today. Said she wanted to be with you.” She closed the door on him with astonishing force.
Neha was on her way to Colorado? Jay hurried back to the airport, desperate to catch the next plane home.
CHAPTER THIRTEEN
Neha got out of her new car and stretched. She had bought the four-wheel-drive truck with all-season tires in Atlanta, loaded it with all her possessions, both from her apartment and her parents’ home, and drove it to Hallow Falls all by herself. It had taken her four days to get here, and she hoped she didn’t have to hit the road for a few days.
She had been away just a little longer than a week, but the season had advanced in the meantime. The countryside was greener and lusher, and there were more flowers around.
Walking past the lilac bush she had planted, she wondered what had happened to it. Someone must have kicked it. “He hasn’t been quite himself lately.” Neha turned to the voice and saw Mrs. Brennerman by one of her flower beds.
Neha bit her lips. She was determined to try her best to make the marriage with Jay work, but worried she might not be welcome anymore—or not on the terms she would insist on.
Mrs. Brennerman smiled. “He’s in. He really is, hasn’t left the house in days.”
“Wish me luck.”
Mrs. Brennerman held up her crossed fingers. Neha took the last few steps to the door and rang.
Jay opened the door and wrapped her in his arms. “There you are! What took you so long?”
Neha got lost in his embrace, in his scent, in his warmth. For a long moment, they just stood on the porch, holding one another.
