She was right. Dark clouds gathered outside. The palm trees swayed ominously.
“They have generators,” her mother said. “I think it’s just—” She broke off, coughing hard.
Hena pressed a hand to her back. “Does she need an inhaler?” she asked Gita, a knot gathering in her chest.
“This happens sometimes.” Gita patted Ammi’s hand, though she continued to cough violently. “It will pass.”
Her mother’s knuckles gripped the wheelchair armrest so tightly, her fingers had gone pale. Guests looked over in their direction. Their worried expressions mirrored Hena’s own anxiety. How could Gita be so calm right now?
“I’ll get her some water,” Hena said.
“S-stop babying me.” Ammi wheezed as her coughing subsided. “I’m…all right.”
Before Hena could protest, Gita spoke.
“Get something to eat,” she told Hena. “Have you tried the pakoras? They’re fresh from the fryer.”
“I’m not really—”
“She needs a minute,” Gita cut in. “Please.”
Hena bit her lip but relented. Gita was a professional caregiver. She knew what her mother needed. The truth was, Hena needed a minute too. No matter how complicated things were between them, it cut her to see Ammi in such obvious pain.
Heading to the appetizer table, she spotted Haris at the bar. Pivoting, she approached him and tapped his shoulder. His face brightened when he saw her.
“Those were some nice moves out there,” she told him. “You’ve improved since I last saw you on the dance floor.”
“I better have. Khaled made me take bhangra lessons.”
“I’d say it’s a good life skill to have. Though I’ll personally be sticking to the sidelines.”
“Why? If I remember correctly, you had some good dance moves yourself.”
“I’d rather stay as inconspicuous as possible,” she replied. “The less gossip I can drum up, the better.”
“Why would they gossip about that? I like to imagine people around here are evolving beyond such petty stuff.”
“You mean like calling me a slut?”
“Whoa.” His brows lifted. “Who said that?”
“They didn’t say it to my face. They dropped a note in my purse.”
She filled him in on the message left after yesterday’s bridal shower.
“That’s disgusting.” His eyes darkened. “Who would do something that fucked up?”
“It could be anyone,” she said.Including your mother.
“It’s one thing to be snarky, but this crosses a line. Why?”
“To entertain themselves?”
“Well, it’s not funny.” He scanned the room, his jaw tight. “They should be dealt with. There are lines you don’t cross.”
Dealt with? He was upset for her sake, but the last thing she wanted was to escalate the situation. Before she could say more, he perked up.
“Wait. I know. They’ve got cameras all over the property. I bet the footage hasn’t been erased yet. We could check—”
