EIGHTEEN
Maryam
December 24
Back at the inn, Maryam paced her parents’ room, thoughts churning furiously while her parents and Dadu watched, concerned. They had gathered away from the others to figure out what to do about Saima’s disappearance.
“When was the last time anyone saw her?” Maryam demanded, and her parents looked at each other. Saima hadn’t come downstairs forsuhoorthis morning, and Azizah had taken her up a plate.
“She was still upset this morning,” Azizah said now. “I told her not to worry about the lost deposits, that we would work something out. I reminded her that this is all theqadrof Allah, and that things happen for many reasons, but we must be patient. She promised she would come downstairs later, and that we would come up with a plan together.”
“I guess she got tired of waiting and decided to do something on her own. But where did she go, and why didn’t sheleave a note?” Maryam asked out loud, running her hands through her hair in frustration. She had ransacked their shared room as soon as she heard Saima had vanished, but except for a missing toothbrush and Saima’s purse, her sister had left everything else behind. She had tried to track down Anna, but she wasn’t in her room, either. Maryam could have used Anna’s calm, cheerful optimism right now.
“Have we asked our hosts if they have seen Saima today?” Dadu asked.
Maryam and her parents looked at one another. No one had bothered to ask Deb or Kath; Maryam hastily donned her hijab and ran downstairs to the reception desk.
“Oh, sure, Saima told me she was on her way to the airport,” Kath said casually, sorting through a pile of paperwork before her. “Didn’t she tell you?”
Maryam gritted her teeth. “She left without a word to anyone.”
“Oh, dear. I wondered what was going on,” Kath said, looking up from what looked like a bill. “Deb talked to her for a bit, let me ask her.” She called her partner out from the back office, and Deb emerged, dressed in another bright Christmas sweater, this one featuring a large gold bow. Deb frowned, thinking, after Kath explained the situation.
“She seemed to be in a right rush,” Deb said. “I told her the two taxis that service Snow Falls were tied up, but we just had word that things were starting to open back up. Apparently, Toronto finally dug themselves out, though they had to call in the army reserve to help.” Deb and Kath exchanged amused glances. “Snooty Toronto won’t live this down anytime soon,” she said, laughing. She sobered in the face of Maryam’s worriedexpression. “Sorry, love, I wish I could tell you more. Saima seemed determined, and she didn’t really listen when I told her all the planes were booked up.”
“I thought she mentioned something about a... private plane, was it, Deb?” Kath said, and Maryam closed her eyes.
Nick’s plane. Of course. Saima must have been stewing all night over the fact that Anna’s rich boyfriend—or, rather, her ex-boyfriend—had sent a plane to rescue her. Maybe her desperate sister thought she could talk herself into a ride, or might be able to stow away somehow. It sounded like something Saima might do.
“When did she leave?” Maryam asked, her worry mounting.
“Shortly after you all left for Main Street,” Deb confirmed.
Which meant Saima had been gone for hours. There was nothing else to do but try to retrace her sister’s steps. A sudden thought chilled Maryam: What if Saima had gotten lost? What if she had never made it to the airport?
“I’m going after her,” Maryam said. “Please, can you tell my parents to stay here, in case she returns?”
“The streets still aren’t passable, I’m afraid,” Deb said, clearly dismayed at this plan. “Our snowmobile is out on a supplies run right now. If you wait, it will be back soon and maybe you could borrow it? Have you ever driven one before?”
But Maryam shook her head. “My sister might be stranded and all alone. She never had a great sense of direction, and now everything is covered in snow.” Plus, after what happened to Nick at the playhouse, she doubted he would be in the mood to give a random person a ride back to Toronto. She had a sudden vision of Saima trudging through snow, frozen, cold, lost. Fear gripped her heart. Her sister was in danger.
“I’m leaving right now,” she said. She tugged on the jacket she had brought from her room.
“I don’t know if that’s a good idea, love,” Kath said, still dubious, and Maryam opened her mouth to argue.
“She’ll be safe. I’m going with her,” Saif said from behind them.
Maryam turned to meet his gaze. She hadn’t even noticed him standing there. “You don’t have to—” she started, but he was already walking toward the door.
“Come on, Saima had a head start,” he called back.
She followed, a small part of her relieved to have company, even as another part couldn’t help but notice that he hadn’t looked at her. He must be hurt and embarrassed, but he was too polite and kind not to offer his assistance. Wonderful, frustrating man.
Outside, Saif walked ahead, clearing a path, while Maryam trudged behind, and they turned south instead of the usual north to the downtown core. Saima had said it was a ten-mile walk to the airport. In this snow, that would take hours. Worry over her sister hastened her steps, and soon she was dogging Saif’s heels, urging him forward.
“What if she—” Maryam started.
“She’s fine,” Saif said.
