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“What if he doesn’t pick up? Or I text and he leaves me on read?” Dina asked.

“Then you’ll put on your big-girl sari and get on with your life,” Lisa said.

Dina heard the sound of someone calling her friend, and Lisa said, “I have to go, my mom is here to babysit. Rick is taking me out for steak. Call me after you make your move, whatever it is.” She hung up before Dina could protest that she had no intention of making any sort of move.

Except the moment she ended the call, she did something she hadn’t done in years: looked up Lucky in her contacts list.

The last message they had exchanged had been over five and a half years ago, when she had reached out to invite him to her wedding, after he didn’t respond to the formal invitation. He had left her on read back then. Knowing what she did now, Lucky’s father might have already been diagnosed at this point, and Lucky’s family grappling with a scary new reality. She stared at her cheery text from that time:

Hey Lucky! Long time! Arshad told me he shared our big news. We would love to have you join in our celebration. Let us know if you can attend any of the wedding events. You’re invited to all of them, of course!

Too many exclamation marks, she thought, reading over her message. She had been trying too hard: trying to sound happy, trying to ignore how awkward she felt sending Lucky that message, trying not to dwell on how hurt she was that he hadn’t responded to the invitation in the first place.

Dina hadn’t seen Lucky since their conversation in front of the Kamyabi earlier that afternoon. She had overheard Samir telling his father that Lucky had another commitment tonight, and she wondered if he simply didn’t want to be in the same room as her. Everything was a mess, and it was all her fault.

She took a deep breath. This type of thinking was what had landed her here in the first place. If Hania’s secret gave her another reason to consider her own life, maybe that was a good thing.

When Dina emerged from the bathroom, her new brother-in-law was loitering outside, looking down at his phone. He smiled warmly at her.

“Needed a break?” Samir asked. “I know my family can be a lot.”

“They’re wonderful,” Dina said. “Also, yes, I needed a little break. Family weddings are pretty full-on.”

Samir nodded, thoughtful. “They can also bring up a lot of things from the past,” he agreed. “People too. For instance, I had no idea you and Lucky knew each other back when he lived in Toronto.”

Dina shrugged. “It was a long time ago. We’re both different people now.”

Her brother-in-law looked at her intently. “He never talks about that time. Did you have a falling-out? I hope you don’t mind my asking. I’m trying to catch up on the family lore,” he said with a smile.

“I don’t mind,” she said, though she wondered at his interest. “After I married Arshad and Lucky moved to Chicago, we lost touch. These things happen.”

“But you miss him,” Samir said.

She was surprised at his question and stared at him. “Why the interest?”

He shook his head. “Just putting a few details together. Lucky has been a good friend to me, but he has a tendency to get in his own way. I suspect you might have the same problem.”

Dina had no idea what Samir was talking about, and she was starting to get annoyed. “Right, well, I should get back,” she said, moving past him.

“I didn’t thank you for all your help during the mehndi,” Samir said. “You and Lucky performed a miracle. I know Hania was very grateful.”

She nodded stiffly. “It was mostly Lucky.”

“That’s funny,” Samir said with a smile. “He said it was mostly you.” He was silent for a beat, as if considering something. Finally, he seemed to come to a decision. “Listen, I feel really bad about this, but I was wondering if you had time tomorrow to do me another favor? Lucky has something at his house that Hania really needs for the walima.”

“Can’t Lucky bring it when he comes over?” Dina asked.

He shook his head. “Lucky’s busy all day tomorrow. You can take my car. He only lives thirty minutes away.” He held out keys, and Dina accepted them, reluctantly.

“As long as Lucky knows I’m coming,” she said, uncertain.

“I already texted him, and he’ll have the box ready for you,” Samir promised. “Thanks, Dina, you’re the best. I know it will make Hania really happy.”

His smile was warm, but there was a flash of something in his eyes, a mischievous expression that vanished so quickly, she wondered if she had imagined it.

Chapter Twenty-Three

Usually Lucky cooked for himself in his converted studio apartment, but his mother had texted to let him know she was making haleem for dinner, a savory meat stew made with cracked wheat, lentils, and aromatic spices, his and Saleem’s favorite meal. Lucky knew his mother was luring him with food, and that he would have to sit through a lecture, but he considered it a fair exchange.