Anna shook her head, looking abashed. “Not fasting, exactly. Mr. Dadu told me that since he is diabetic, he doesn’t fastthe same way, but makes sure to try to get something out of this special month. I’ve been dealing with a few things in my life, and he suggested I try to spend the day sort of fasting from worry? I have this idea that fasting is like an act of radical compassion, and I guess I was trying to apply some of that compassion to myself.” She seemed flustered at this admission, and Maryam tamped down her initial reaction, which was to tease Anna for her earnestness.
“I’ve never heard it described that way,” Maryam said instead. Then, more gently, “I think it’s great that you took Dadu’s advice and decided to be kinder to yourself today. I need to practice some of that radical compassion on myself, too.”
“I thought you would think it was a dumb idea,” Anna admitted, and Maryam felt another twinge. She had made Anna feel small, had made judgments about the woman, when Anna had been nothing but sweet—and, okay, also a bit annoying, but mostly sweet.
“I don’t think it’s dumb,” Maryam said. “Thanks for chatting with my grandfather. That’s what ‘Dadu’ means, by the way. His name is actually Mohamed Ali Mumtaz Aziz, but we call him Dadu.”
“Oh,” Anna said, looking embarrassed once more. “He never corrected me when I called him Mr. Dadu.”
“That’s because he wants to be everyone’s granddad,” Maryam said. They smiled at each other. Which was when two delivery cars pulled up to the curb, and Saif came running out of the front door of the inn, making the women jump.
“Surprise! I ordered Hakka foriftar!” he announced.
Maryam looked from the delivery vehicles back to Saif. “Iordered Hakka foriftar.”
Anna held up the box of pastries again. “And I have dessert.”
Maryam started laughing and gestured for the delivery people to follow her inside.
—
In the end, there was so much food they ended up sampling only some of it, leaving the rest to share with any hungry guests. With any luck, they would be on their way to Toronto tomorrow—the earlier, the better. Saima had calculated that if by some miracle they made it to Toronto the next day, the wedding could still proceed, though themehndiwould have to be canceled. Considering it was still snowing outside, Maryam didn’t like their odds, but she was loath to dash her sister’s hopes. At least not until they had finished eating, and she had an extra large cup ofchaiin her hands. Somehow, the idea that they would be stuck in Snow Falls for another day wasn’t horrifying to Maryam.
While the fire in the massive fireplace popped and crackled, the wedding party, plus Anna, shared dishes of spicy chili beef, black pepper shrimp, chicken Hakka noodles, fried rice, sweet-and-sour momos, and tofu in black bean sauce laid out on the large table in the foyer, plus the treats from the bakery Anna contributed. A contented air settled over the impromptu dinner party, and even Saima seemed more at ease.
Anna took a seat beside the sisters on the couch, and Saima studied Anna’s bright Christmas sweater. “Let me guess. Lost luggage?”
Anna nodded.
“Listen, we always overpack,” Maryam said. “I think it’s a genetic condition. We might all be around the same size, so ifyou don’t mind jeans and sweaters...” She trailed off as Saima jumped to her feet, suddenly energized.
“I’ll pick out a few outfits for you, Anna. Maryam, you don’t mind if I go through your stuff, right?” She moved for the stairs without waiting for an answer, but Maryam was so relieved to see her sister distracted, she didn’t object. She would figure out how to get her clothes back from Anna later.
“I really appreciate this,” Anna said to Maryam.
“It’s fine. This has all been... a lot.”
“At least you have your family with you. You’re so lucky, you know? To have a big family. And a sister...” Anna looked wistfully in the direction Saima had rushed off in and sighed. “I’ve always wanted a sister. Or a sibling at all. And a big family, like yours. It just seems so—”
“Trust me, it is not as fun as it looks from the outside,” Maryam said.
At her side, Anna stiffened. “I just meant it must be nice to have people around you for the big things. When things go terribly wrong and you’re stuck in a strange town without anyone. Anyways, I should probably”—Anna made to pick up a few stray plates on a table—“get these to the kitchen.”
“You’re right, I have a wonderful family and I love them very much,” Maryam said, smiling ruefully. “But they can also be overwhelming. They depend on me to solve all their problems, and blame me when things don’t go right. I guess sometimes I wish I didn’t have to always be available.”
Anna looked wistful, even as she nodded her understanding. “You’re a good sister. And daughter. And granddaughter. I imagine sometimes that must feel like a lot to be, all at once. Ithink you’re handling it beautifully, by the way. Saima appreciates you, and Dadu understands you.”
Maryam was touched by Anna’s words. She was about to respond, and ask what had happened with Nick and her foiled Christmas plans, when Saima returned with a huge armload of clothes.
“Okay, let’s get started here.” Saima dropped the pile of clothes on the couch and held a blue blouse against Anna. “Nope! Too dowdy!” She tossed it aside while Maryam muttered, “Hey, that’s my favorite...”
After just a few minutes, Anna had enough clothes in her arms to get her through an entire week in Snow Falls.
“Thank you so much,” she said. “I should get upstairs...”
“Stay a bit,” Saima implored. “We’re going to watch some Bollywood movies. You haven’t lived until you’ve watched Shah Rukh Khan’s smolder.”
Anna laughed. “I really can’t,” she said reluctantly. “I don’t want to impose, and you’ve all been so kind already.”
