But Rob wasn’t finished boasting about the guesthouse. “There’s a gourmet kitchen, too, top-of-the-line appliances. I know how Tommy likes to fiddle around with his recipes, just like his mom used to do.”
“I never asked you to build me a house,” Tom muttered. His father ignored him, and Sameera caught the strained smile Barb exchanged with her mother.
Inside, the house was airy and bright, and obviously well maintained. A large wood-burning fireplace took center stage, and though the ceilings were not as impressive as in the main house, the sofas looked comfortable and the colorful wool rug inviting. The walls were adorned with framed photographs of the Alaskan sky, regal mountains and crystal blue and green lakes, but the real showstopper was the entire back wall, which consisted of floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking forest and a frozen-over creek. Her family exclaimed over the view, but Sameera noticed that Tom’s eyes lingered on the appliances in the kitchen before firmly looking away.
Once the house tour came to an end, Sameera hoped her hosts would take the hint and leave them to settle in. She had spotted an espresso machine in the kitchen. Instead, Barb and Rob stood in frontof the fireplace, grinning. “We wanted to make y’all comfortable,” Rob announced in an exaggerated Southern twang before reverting to his normal voice. He gestured to the stained oak mantel, and Sameera focused on the three figurines neatly arranged across the top. Frowning, she stepped closer to take a better look.Was that ... surely it can’t be ...
“Lord Ganesha; Kali, the destroyer and creator; and the god Vishnu!” Barb said proudly. “I know how important it is to have your deities with you, so we made you a shrine, right here!”
Sameera wanted to face-palm. Behind her, Esa stifled a laugh while their parents looked at the idols in shock.
“Dad,” Tom started, and she was relieved that he had taken the initiative. For her part, she wasn’t sure what would come out of her mouth—hysterical laughter or a groan. “Sameera and her family are Muslim, not Hindu.” He waited expectantly, but Rob and Barb only looked at him. With a sigh, he continued, “Those aren’t their gods. I mean, it’s all one god, really, but their worship is more ... reincarnation-free.”
Understanding seemed to dawn on Rob’s and Barb’s faces simultaneously, followed by embarrassment.
“You said they were Indian,” Rob muttered while Barb carefully removed the statues from the mantel.
“India is a country with many different religions. Sameera’s family are Muslim Indians,” Tom said, his face flushing further, and this time Sameera really did want to laugh. She stepped forward with smiling reassurance.
“This was very kind of you,” she said. “My parents grew up in Hyderabad, India, and many of their close friends are Hindu, Parsee, even Christian.”
“I’m so sorry for the confusion,” Barb said, flustered. “I’ll find these beautiful statues a good home. There must be a temple somewhere in town, right?”
“Maybe in Anchorage,” Rob said doubtfully.
Behind them, Tahsin was rummaging through their largest suitcase. “Since we’re exchanging gifts, I had this custom-made for your family.”She pulled out a large navy-blue box tied with a red ribbon, so wide it nearly engulfed her small form. Intrigued, Sameera helped her place it on the wide-plank oak coffee table with a live edge. Both Rob and Barb made appreciative noises, no doubt eager to move on from their gaffe. Tahsin pulled off the lid with a flourish, and the group gaped.
Inside, nestled in white tissue wrap, was an enormous chocolate crucifix. The Cookes turned to Tahsin, confusion writ large on their faces, and Sameera felt a foreboding fill her. Behind her, Esa raised his cell phone to film their hosts’ reaction.
“It’s filled with cherry cordial,” Tahsin said, beaming at them. When they didn’t respond, she continued, “Because Christians eat the blood of Christ!”
There was another shocked silence, broken only by Cal’s muttered, “So awesome.”
“Okay, I think we’ve had enough of the welcome gifts,” Sameera said, hastily putting the lid back on the chocolate box. “Rob, Barb, thank you so much for the warm ... um ... welcome. I’m sure you have a lot to do, and we wouldn’t want to keep you ...” She ushered the elder Cookes outside, Cal and Tom following a few steps behind. Tom turned to her at the door.
“I think it’s going really well,” he whispered, eyes twinkling.
“Our parents get anAfor effort and anFfor research,” Sameera agreed.
He grinned at her, and a thousand butterflies took flight in her belly. “Why don’t you come find me after you’ve had a chance to relax? We should talk.”
Sameera watched him return to the main house, and tried to fight the urge to follow.
First, she had to talk to her family.
Chapter Eight
“Esa said it was Christmas tradition to give a gag gift to your host!” Naveed said, eyes wide. Sameera’s parents and her unrepentant little brother were arranged on the couch like recalcitrant children, facing the fireplace, where Lord Ganesha had so recently blessed them.
“It’s probably not a good idea to take holiday gift advice from your teenage son,” Sameera said severely, though she was relieved to hear the chocolate and cherry cordial crucifix had been a joke, however ill-advised. They would have needed a longer conversation if her parents had thought the chocolate a genuinely tasteful gift for the holidays. She fixed her gaze on her mother. “You know what kids are like, Mom. You were a school principal!”
Tahsin hung her head. “I like chocolate with cherry cordial filling,” she admitted. “I might have been having a craving.”
Sameera threw up her hands in frustration before wheeling on her brother, who seemed completely unmoved.
“I’m going through your bags to vet the other Christmas gifts,” she said.
Despite Esa’s protests, she started with his bag first, but she couldn’t find anything. From his innocent expression, she was sure she must be missing something and vowed to keep a closer eye on him.
