She still thinks I don’t want her here, Maryam thought. Then:Do I want her here?She thought about what Dadu always said:Reach your hand to others; you never know when you will need the same kindness extended to you.
“We would love it if you joined us,” Maryam said. “It’s a holy month—in fact, today is the twenty-seventh night, which is very special—but it’s also a month for reconnecting with family and making new friends.”
“Okay,” Anna said, settling back down on the couch. “So, speaking of movies, when your dadu comes down from his room, I can’t wait to tell him this: I think there might be amovie being filmed in Snow Falls—and it’s the sequel toOne Night at Christmas. Mr. Dadu said you liked that one?”
The sisters looked at each other in shock. Saima put a hand to her heart. “No way! Chase Taylor is my celebrity crush,” she said. “I’ve watched that movie ten times, and Maryam watchedMoonshinetwenty times!”
“Not that many,” Maryam muttered.
“You referred to Chase as ‘Mr. Maryam Aziz’ for about a month last year,” Saima said, and this time Maryam blushed. “You kept going on about being unable to resist an attractive man who could also write.”
From across the room, Saif raised an eyebrow at Maryam, then casually strolled over to join them. “Did I hear you mention celebrity sightings in Snow Falls?” he asked.
“Anna thinks Maryam’s future husband, Chase Taylor, is making a movie in town, and we’re trying to figure out how to set up the perfect meet-cute,” Saima teased. When Saif looked blank, Saima explained. “He starred in a holiday rom-com my family is obsessed with, followed by a stinker of a superhero movie, and then wrote and starred in Maryam’s favorite indie movie.”
Saif snapped his fingers. “I watched his big flop,Captain Eagleman! I actually paid for a movie ticket and walked out halfway through. I think it won the Razzies,” he said, referring to the Golden Raspberry Awards, given to the worst movies of the year. “But he showed up for the award ceremony, which was pretty big of him.”
Saima was sifting through a pile of magazines beside her, fingers landing on an oldUs Weekly. “Here it is!” she said, her excitement reaching fever pitch. “I read a few weeks ago thatthey were filming the sequel toOne Night at Christmasin some remote Canadian village.” She looked up, eyes wide. “They’re filmingTwo Nights at Christmasin Snow Falls!” she squealed, and Maryam smiled at her sister’s enthusiasm. This was the first time she had seen Saima smile since they landed in the tiny town.
“I walked past the restaurant they used in the film—remember, the cute Italian one? I recognized it after I watchedOne Night at Christmasthis morning with your dadu. I bet Josh would think that was hilarious, actually. I should tell him...” Anna was blushing, and Maryam wondered at her reaction.
As if reading her mind, Saima perked up. “Oooh, who’s Josh?” she asked, picking up on Anna’s obvious embarrassment. “Did you meet a cuteboy, Anna?” she needled, causing the woman in question to squirm in discomfort.
“It’s nothing, really, he’s just someone I met last night at a sports bar. We’re both from Toronto originally, and you know the Maple Leafs are a sore spot for every die-hard Toronto fan. Josh and I were just commiserating, no big deal, really...” Anna trailed off. Maryam’s sister smiled in delighted amusement.
“And?” Saima encouraged, her instinctive nose for gossip all but twitching.
Anna made a guilty face. “And... he might have carried me through the snow because I was wearing those silly heels yesterday, remember?”
The howl of delighted laughter from her sister echoed around them. For someone who didn’t flinch at treating severely wounded patients, her sister was helpless when it came to gossip and intrigue. Once Saima had regained her composure, she indicated Anna should continue with her story.
“We bumped into each other again on Main Street this morning, and he showed me around the town. But it was no big deal, obviously.”
“Obviously,” Maryam said, keeping her face neutral. She gave her sister a look, and Saima took the hint and changed the subject.
“It’s settled, we’re all going into town tomorrow to check out this film set,” Saima said. “You should see if your new friend Josh wants to come along. Right, Maryam?”
“I’m up for a little light celebrity stalking,” Maryam said, trying to spare Anna more teasing, because she knew that Anna’s romantic situation was more complicated than she was letting on.
“What about you, Saif?” Saima asked, her smile turning mischievous. “I’m sure you’d like to meet Tenisha Barlowe, and I know Maryam could use your company to chase down Chase Taylor.”
Maryam nearly groaned at her sister’s lack of subtlety. She clearly didn’t share their parents’ reservations. “Saima,” she hissed.
But Saif was gracious. “Since we seem to be snowbound in the Hollywood North Pole, we might as well make the most of it. Maybe one of us will be discovered by a casting director.” Eyes twinkling, he wished the women a good night, after making plans to meet in the morning. Maryam watched him go with mixed feelings. She respected her parents’ well-meant warning, but Farah’s words still ricocheted in her mind:Saif is a good guy. Don’t make assumptions.
Saima hopped up from the couch. “I need to plan my outfitfor our big trip into town and call Miraj. Hopefully the roads will be clear tomorrow, and we can leave right after I meet Chase and get an autograph. Good night, you two!”
Saima headed upstairs, and Maryam turned to Anna and smiled. “Thank you for distracting Saima. This is the first time she’s talked to me all day without scowling.”
“If my wedding had been derailed by a snowstorm, I’d be freaking out, too,” Anna reassured Maryam. Then, after a delicate pause, she continued in a tentative voice. “Did Saif say anything? About the conversation he might have overheard on the plane?”
Maryam put her head in her hands. Part of her had hoped Anna wouldn’t remember, but another part had been waiting for her to bring this up. Maybe it would help to have Anna’s perspective. “Yes,” she admitted. “He heard everything, but assured me it was no big deal.”
The glance between the two women confirmed what they both thought of that statement. The implicitMen!only served to cement their new friendship. “He seemed pretty friendly this evening,” Anna offered.
“A little too friendly. My parents told me this morning that he has a girlfriend, and he’s estranged from his family. Two giant red flags waving in the wind, and I can’t afford to make any more mistakes when it comes to love,” Maryam said.
Anna must have wondered what Maryam meant, but thankfully didn’t probe. “Have you asked Saif about any of this? I guess that would be pretty awkward, considering he knows how you feel, but you don’t know anything about him except what you heard from your parents.”
