Aleeza:Oh wow. Do you think your aunt and uncle would ever hurt you or your mom?
Jay:No, it wasn’t like that at all. They’re good people. It’s just, you know how intrusive Desi families are.
Yup, I absolutely know what he means. My parents were born in Canada, so they’re pretty westernized, but my mom especially can be very intrusive.
Jay:Anyway, I loved living with them because I love my cousins. Manal is one year older than me, and Madhuri is three years older. They’re awesome. Like cool big sisters. Manal especially—she’s like a best friend and a sister at the same time.
He’s quiet again for a while.
Jay:I hope they’re okay.
Aleeza:I’ll figure this out, Jay. I’m not going to give up on you. Ever.
Jay:I know you’re not. I have faith that my octopus will save me.
Later, after we watch another movie, I’m in his bed and have turned off the light. My phone buzzes with a message.
Jay:Why can I feel you here when we’re both in this bed?
Aleeza:I don’t know. I feel it too.
Jay:Maybe it’s the anomaly’s consolation gift. I can’t kiss you, but I can at least feel you near me.
I squeeze my lips together. He wants to kiss me. I turn so my back is against the wall and clutch Ted close to my heart. And like last time, I feel surrounded ... enveloped, with warmth, comfort, and belonging. I pick up my phone.
Aleeza:Good night, Jay.
Jay:Good night, Aleeza.
SEVENTEEN
In the morning I have a text waiting for me.
Gracie:Manal agreed to meet me!
Aleeza:Oh my god, yay!
Gracie:I said it’s just to give her Jay’s stuff. I have no idea if she’ll talk. You’ll come, won’t you? We’re going to meet at a coffee shop near her college at four.
Aleeza:I’m absolutely coming. I have somewhere I need to go first, but I can meet you there. I’ll bring some of Jay’s stuff to give to her.
It looks like I won’t be going to class at all today, but I should be done in Scarborough in time to meet Gracie at four. I check ResConnect—Jay isn’t there. I know he has an early class. I’m glad he’s not here because I don’t want to tell him I’m going to be digging up information about his family today.
I reluctantly get up. Even though Jay’s not in it anymore, I still love being in his bed. It feels warmer, cozier than mine. Even though it’s got my sheets and blanket on it, there’s a subtle scent—cologne or deodorant, or laundry detergent—that’s not mine. I’ve never really been close enough to smell Jay, but still, it smells like the most comforting memory.
But now, despite what’s happening between Jay and me, I’m keeping something from him, and I feel terrible about it. He would not be happy about me going to his family’s house today. But this might be the only way to save him.
Before I leave, I sit on the floor near my closet to pick out some stuff from Jay’s box to give to his cousin. There’s no way I’m giving everything to Manal—partially because this is a lot to lug around all day, but also, I don’t want to give away anything that might be useful evidence. I tried not to look too closely at the stuff when I packed it because it seemed like such an invasion of privacy, but now things are different. I’m getting desperate to solve this.
There are clothes, toiletries, books, and some mail in the box—nothing of value. His mother must have taken his computer and anything important right after he first went missing. I put together a tote bag of things for Manal—some clothes and a few books.
All the mail is postmarkedafterthe date he disappeared. The don probably brought it up and left it in the room. Most of it doesn’t look important: some junk mail, a holiday postcard from a dental office, a letter from the school registrar. That last one I saw the day I moved in. I put the mail in the bag to give Manal.
I get dressed, shove the tote bag full of Jay’s things into my backpack, then head to the subway station. The weather is finally not brutal ... in fact, the sun is even shining. Most of the snow from the last dregs of winter melted, revealing the mud and dirt of early spring. But it’s still cold. I’m glad I have a warm sweater under my puffer jacket.
It takes me two subways and a long bus ride to get to Jay’s neighborhood in Scarborough. My grandmother’s sister lives in Scarborough, so I’ve been here a bunch of times before. Scarborough is the farthest east and the biggest of the six districts in Toronto. The whole city is considered to be one of the most multicultural cities in the world, and Scarborough is the most diverse part of Toronto. As I sit on the busy city bus, I wonder what it would have been like to grow up here instead of in Alderville. Here, where there are more nonwhite people than white. Where I would blend into the crowd instead of always being the odd one out. The food would certainly have been better.
Jay’s part of Scarborough is very flat, with strip malls and plazas lining the major streets. Most of the housing is old low-rise rentalbuildings, with some townhouses and small bungalows too. After getting off the bus, it’s a five-minute walk to Jay’s family house.
