Page 41 of Three Holidays and a Wedding
Maryam flinched at his spot-on description. “That Maryam sounds like a ton of fun,” she said dryly. “No wonder Saima calls me Bor-yam.”
“Your sister has no idea,” Saif said. “None of us do.” He took a step toward her, and then another, until they stood so close, their breaths puffed and intermingled in the crisp air. “You’re not boring or quiet. You’re fire and passion hidden behind a perfect face, and you certainly don’t do what you’re told. If someone asked me about Maryam Aziz right now, I would tell them: I’ve known her my entire life, but I don’t know her at all. I’d like to change that, as soon as possible.”
Maryam’s heart was beating so fast she thought she wouldfaint. Saif’s eyes had darkened, and heavy flakes of snow swirled, enveloping them in a cold blanket of quiet. She looked down, shifting, the weight of the moment suddenly making her shy. “Is that what you tell all the girls?” she asked softly.
Saif shook his head, eyes never leaving her face. “Only you,” he said.
ELEVEN
Anna
December 22
Anna headed out of the Turkish coffee shop toward a storefront across the street that had caught her eye: June’s Cauldron. She was drawn to June’s glittering window display of crystals, candles in unique glass jars, and essential oils in little brown glass bottles. Maybe she could find something in here for themehndipartyandsomething to help deal with the smell in her room.
Inside, Anna was immediately greeted by the scent of incense burning, and a striking woman with blue-black hair, dark lipstick, and a long violet velvet dress that swept the ground as she walked. “Come on in, warm up, have a look around! I’m June. Holler if you need me,” she said in a bell-like voice before returning to the ledger she was writing in.
Anna picked up a brown glass spray bottle labeled “Energy-Cleansing Room Spray,” which, according to the ingredients list, contained essence of palo santo, rosemary, clary sage, and hyssop.
“That is our strongest, most effective oil blend,” said June, glancing at Anna over the rims of her reading glasses.
“You don’t know what I’m dealing with here, but I’ll try it,” Anna said with a good-natured grimace, setting it on the counter.
“Oh, dear, some bad energy?”
“A badsmell,” Anna said, wrinkling her nose. “Actually, what’s your strongest-scented candle, too?”
June showed her the candle display, and Anna chose a pine-and-cedar blend. “Very festive,” June said, nodding her approval. Anna browsed around more, finding a box of brightly colored votives and some flower garlands she knew would be perfect for the party later.
As Anna stood at the register, preparing to pay, June looked at her appraisingly for a long moment before reaching under the counter and pulling out a little bottle of perfume oil, much like the one Anna had exploded all over Maryam on the plane. It had the words “Potion #9” scrawled in curlicue writing on a white label. The purple ink matched the inky purple of June’s dress.
“A gift for you, it’s the last of my batch.”
“What is it?”
“My exclusively formulated love potion number 9, but it’s also the most divine-smelling perfume oil I have—if you’re dealing with bad smells, as you said, it will help. Here.” June stood and lifted Anna’s hair, rubbed the oil on the back of her neck. Anna had to admit it did smell divine. “It has neroli, golden champa, cinnamon leaf... and a few secret ingredients,” June said.
Anna tried to pay her for the potion along with everythingelse, but June shook her head. “Potion number 9 can only ever be given away. Happy holidays, sweetie. Oh, and you might like the shop next door, too.”
Outside, Anna did as June had suggested and headed into Kate’s Kurios. Every letter was made of a different found object: teacups and saucers, candlesticks and thimbles, driftwood, netting, mosaic glass. When she pushed open the door of the shop, she saw that the chime that sounded above was made of tarnished old cutlery. Inside, Bing Crosby’s voice singing the “Holiday Inn Medley” flowed from the stereo.Happy holidays, he crooned over and over. Anna couldn’t help but smile at the familiar song.
“Hell-ooo,” trilled a voice from somewhere deep within the cluttered store. “Browse around, enjoy! If you need me, just holler an approximate location—as in, ‘Kate, I’m standing in front of a display of rude garden gnomes!’ or ‘I’m just to the left of the macramé giraffe!’ And I’ll come find you.”
“Sounds good,” Anna said, and set about the business of browsing through the crowded shelves and items stacked on the floor. As she did, Anna became certain this store had everything, from a set of iridescent glass paperweights shaped like a sweet little peacock-and-peahen couple, which she paused to admire, to cocktail glasses etched with scenes from fairy tales and fables, to boxes of postcards sent from all over the world by strangers possibly long dead who, at the time the cards were sent, only had to address them to the name of their friend or family member and then add “Snow Falls, Ontario” for the card to reach its mark. “Happy Holidays from Banff, Alberta!” “Mele Kalikimaka from Hawaii!”
There were inkwells and antique pens, a stained glass lampwith a deep blue shade covered in comets and constellations—and the most beautiful brass menorah Anna had ever seen. It was shaped like a golden tree, topped with softly blushing pomegranates, and studded with gentle green leaves. Once Anna picked it up, she knew she wasn’t going to be able to put it down again. It reminded her of the one Beth used to light during Hanukkah. As she held it, the sadness she had been keeping at bay returned—but it was okay, she told herself. Even if her life now was different, and certain people were missing from it—her dad, and now Beth—that didn’t mean she couldn’t rebuild in her own way. So maybe she would buy the menorah, even if she had been trying to tell herself something like this no longer had any place in her life.
She turned, looking for a clear path to the cash register—although she didn’t remember seeing a cash register, or ever making it to the front of the crowded store. Bing Crosby was now singing about beingcareful, it’s my heart. “Kate?” she called out. “Hello? I’m”—she looked around her—“in front of the life-sized replica ofVenus de Milo, across from the display of vintage brass goblins, and there’s a”—she turned to her left to check what was on her other side—“Josh Tannenbaum to my left.”
“Josh Tannenbaum?” Kate called back. “I just saw Chase Taylor walk in, I don’t know about any Josh Tannenbaums...”
Kate rounded the corner then. She was a slender woman with thick red-framed glasses and lime-green garage-style coveralls with a name tag that read “Biff.” “Oh, hello, Chase. Good to see you. Guess the film crew’s back in town?” She held her finger to her lips. “I won’t tell a soul, I promise.”
Josh smiled that full-lipped, crinkly-eyed smile and greeted Kate, then turned to Anna. “Hello, again,” he said, his smilewidening. “Fancy meeting you here.” Then he looked down and stepped closer.Swoon. Flutter.Her traitorous heart was at it again. “That’s the most beautiful menorah I’ve ever seen. And you smellgreat, by the way,” Josh said.
“Isn’t it?” She held the menorah out to him. Josh turned it over in his hands before giving it back—his hand brushing against hers as he did and sending what felt like a shower of electrical sparks up and down her skin.
“That really makes me think of home.” His eyes took on a faraway look. “My mom’s latkes are to die for. She uses leeks instead of onions—but don’t tell anyone, that’s her secret.” He winked.
