“Ye-es,” she said. “We were supposed to fly to Toronto for my sister’s wedding. She’s getting married in a few days.”
“Bad luck, then,” Kath said sympathetically. “Let us know if you need anything,” she added, passing Maryam the room cards. “We’re new owners, took possession last year when Deb’s grandmother left us the inn in her will. Kind old lady, she knew we needed a fresh start together.” The loving smile she threw her business partner left no doubt that the two women also enjoyed a more intimate relationship. “She knew Snow Falls would be a welcoming place. Decided to try our hand at the hospitality business. We’ve been fixing the old place up, but it takes time.”
Kath winked at Maryam and turned to the next person in line.
Saif was chatting with her family when she returned, and she avoided his gaze as she passed out the key cards. Dadu agreed to bunk with her parents, while Saima and Maryam would share a room. To Maryam’s dismay, Saif offered to help carry the suitcases to their rooms. Stupid polite brown-boy genes, Maryam thought. She walked ahead, but Saif quickly caught up.
“Crazy turbulence on the flight,” he remarked as they maneuvered down the narrow carpeted hallway.
Not trusting herself to speak, Maryam nodded. Her parents, Dadu, and Saima walked slowly, caught up in conversation with the other guests; she wished they would hurry up. She didn’t want to be alone with Saif—who knew what fresh humiliation this conversation would bring?
“Yup. It really was so loud on the plane. So very, very loud, I couldn’t hear a thing,” he added.
He was trying to tell her something, she realized withgrowing embarrassment. Which could only mean one thing. “You heard me,” she said flatly. She had been pretty sure, but Saif’s clumsy reassurances to the contrary only served to confirm her fears. A new wave of humiliation warmed her cheeks.
“It’s no big deal,” he said easily. “Nothing I haven’t heard before.”
“Do you often witness near-death confessions about lifelong regrets and crushes?” Maryam asked.
Saif seemed surprised at her sarcasm but quickly recovered. “I mean, I am a lawyer. People tell me things.”
“Aren’t you in-house counsel for an insurance company? Besides, I thought you didn’t hear anything because the plane wasso loud. But just in case a few stray words might have slipped through, I hope you understand that was not meant for your ears,” she said, her face still flaming. She couldn’t even look at him.
“It’s fine, Maryam,” Saif said, and the kindness and pity in his voice was almost too much to bear.
“This is me,” she said, reaching for the suitcases in his hands. He had pushed up the sleeves of his hoodie, and her gaze lingered on his forearms, which were ropy with muscle now. He noticed and smiled indulgently.
And in that moment, Maryam started to feel the first prickle of annoyance. He was enjoying this. He thought her humiliation wasfunny, a little boost to his already healthy ego. Saif had turned into a man comfortable not only with his new, hot body, but also with its effect on others. She narrowed her eyes and held out her hand for the suitcases.
“I don’t need your help,” she said shortly.
Saif leaned forward, and that woodsy-citrus scent hit heragain, making her light-headed. “The storm might have unearthed all sorts of secrets, but don’t worry, Maryam, they’ll stay buried with me,” he whispered. He straightened and gave her another lingering smile. “Good night,” he said softly, and disappeared down the hall, toward his second-floor room.
FIVE
Anna
December 20
Snow Falls, Ontario
Nick, there’s nothing I can do about this. I’ll call you back as soon as I get to the hotel.”
“Fine.”
“I’m sorry.” Anna felt a pang at how angry Nick sounded—as if he couldn’t really believe she was stranded at an airport rather than on her way to him. But he was already gone. She sighed, then dialed Janey’s number and attempted to explain the situation again.
“Surely you can at least find a fax machine?” Janey asked, her tone clipped and cool.
“I...” Anna looked around the almost-deserted airport. “...will try,” she concluded. The fact that Janey had decided the next issue ofDenver Decorlived and died on the Malone Mansion spread having a new photo layout was a problem Anna didn’t know how to solve. She would, though. She had to. Because she simply could not get fired. She had to get rid of herdebt before Nick ever found out about it. Never mind that he could probably pay off everything she owed without even noticing the money was gone—that wasn’t the point. He’d see her differently, for who she really was: a very unperfect person.
Anna rushed through the nearly empty airport, toward the area where she had been told a school bus was waiting to take the stranded travelers to an inn in a town nearby.
But the bus was gone. There were only banks of snow and one lone taxi idling in the snow-frosted night. The driver appeared to be asleep, his toque pulled down low over his eyes.
Anna tapped on the glass. “Hello?”
The driver unrolled his window and mumbled a bleary-eyed greeting.
