Priya in Heels (Entangled Embrace) (11 page)

Peacocks weren’t shy here. They cawed in the near distance. The female ones, as intended by nature, were small and brown and reclusive. The males, ridiculously endowed with feathers so elaborate and heavy it made me sad thinking about the burdensome weight, walked around like they owned the fields and gardens. Actually, they did. Humans weren’t allowed to touch or harass them. But still, they were so majestic, and today, that uplifted my spirits.

I spotted a peacock feather on the lawn and dashed toward it.

“Priya!” Mummie called after me.

Mummie scolded me for running like a child. I should be more ladylike, but I had to be an adult in front of patients who depended on me to find an answer and a cure to their ailments. I was an adult handling single life living on my own. I was even being adult by tamping down feelings for Ty.

The grass was a little moist from the sprinklers, but the feather was dry. I held it up to the afternoon light. It shimmered blue, green, purple, and gold, one of nature’s most beautiful creations.

Mummie scowled from the edge of the garden as I sauntered back to her. “You aren’t supposed to be on the grass, much less running like a child.”

I handed Mummie the feather. She took it after a moment of restraint and smiled.

She wandered off toward a small group of
aunties
when I spotted Papa’s sisters, the
foi
s, on the other side of the garden. I walked in their direction to greet them, as was the courteous thing to do, but I stopped short when I overheard their conversation.

“Have you heard Sita found a man for Priya?” one
foi
said to the other two.

“Hopefully a reputable man. No need to bring more shame to her own name.”

“At least Priya turned out okay, huh? Although, I’m sure there’s some fault in her, just by being Sita’s daughter.”

“Well, who’s to say Priya will finish residency and actually end up a doctor? If she’s anything like Sita, she’ll fail miserably and be another stain on the Patel name.”

I clenched my fists at my sides. I should have snapped at them and told them that Manuk was a great guy from a respected family who had his own practice and I could retire my parents on that alone. But I refrained.

“Sita’s nagging will drag in anyone, but it’ll push them out running and screaming. She’s so bossy.”

Like they had a right to talk.

“And manipulative.”

Nowhere near like them.

“Priya’s so perfect, huh? Not like Sita. How could that uneducated, emotional thing have married into our family? Just wait. Priya will misstep, and then we can put Sita back in her place.”

I fumed. This was why I worked so hard to make my parents proud, so no one could treat them badly because of my mistakes. I would not make a mistake so the
fois
could use me to tear down Mummie even more.

An
auntie
I didn’t recognize approached them. She said, “Nice to see you all. I saw Sita a moment ago. We should go to dinner together. What do you think?”

They gave one another smug looks before one
foi
started, “Oh, dear, you don’t know about Sita, do you?”

The
auntie
shook her head as if she braced for the worst of news. “Did something bad happen?”

“We don’t socialize much with her for good reason.”

The
auntie
creased her brow.

“You see, she likes to twist words. Whatever we say, she tells people we said something horrible.”

The
auntie
gasped. “She seems so nice.”

“That’s her evil trick. She sucks you in with kindness but turn your back, and she’s telling the world lies. She thinks she’s so superior because her daughter is a doctor, with her chin in the air, and expects everyone to cater to her.”

The
auntie
rolled her eyes, but when her gaze landed on me, she stiffened. “Isn’t that her daughter?”

One of the
fois
cleared her throat, and all three looked at me. They stared wide-eyed, caught red-handed, or fire-tongued in this case, but tried to play it off.

“Oh, Priya! How are you,
beti
?”

I twitched at her use of the endearment. She had no right to refer to me as her daughter.

“I thought I saw you earlier. Where are your parents?”

My stare continued, hopefully impassive and deadly, as my fists relaxed. The inner voice of reason sounded.
If you get mad and show disrespect, they’ll use it as fuel.

I didn’t want them to have a reason to go around telling everyone that I was a horrible girl with a sharp tongue and no respect. No woman in her right mind would allow her son to marry me. Not that I cared if they talked about me, but the gossip would trickle down and eventually fall back on Mummie. That Mummie was a bad mother, a bad person.

To hell with these gossip whores. I hadn’t done anything wrong, and even if I had, who were they to tell the world, to judge me? Or push everyone else into reproaching Mummie? This was how things worked within Indian communities. And Ty was right, it was BS.

I couldn’t help myself. “Don’t listen to them,
auntie
. They say those things because they’re the ones doing it.”

The
fois
gasped and began to lecture me. I held up a hand and spoke to the
auntie
. “I’m not a rude child or a vindictive one, but either I keep my mouth shut and you’ll think they’re telling the truth, or I speak up and you’ll think I’m a brash girl.”

I turned toward them. “How could you spread lies like this? Don’t you see that it only makes you look bad?”

One tried to save face. “I’m sorry you heard that, but the truth is hard. Your mother—”

“My mother is a saint compared to you,” I snapped. “Don’t let her name come off your tongue again.”

My glower never wavered, even when their shaken smiles quivered with unease. I raised a knowing brow, a sort of warning, and left.

“See, her daughter is the spitting image of Sita,” they said as I walked away.

I growled but tucked away the hatred when I approached Mummie. I maintained a super chipper mood and stayed close to her to show our unity. The
fois
didn’t come around. People talked about tiger moms, well, I was the tiger cub, the one who grew into a fierce and loyal predator to watch my mother’s back.

…

I was grateful to have generous parents, and I was even more grateful to get away from everything that had transpired last night. Today kept my thoughts clear and panic attacks at bay, even seeing my
fois.
Anger was better than helplessness.

At the apartment, I took a cup of
cha
to Mummie in the living room while Papa rested in my bed. The amount of caffeine in
cha
didn’t deter her from partaking before bedtime. This time, instead of masala, I added ginger to soothe Mummie and add a boost to her immune system.

She sat on the couch and I on the floor, my back against the couch.

“I saw the
fois
at
mandir
,” I said.

“Yes, they came to say hi when you went to the bathroom.”
Those cunning witches!
And after I had warned them to stay away.

“Can I ask you something, and will you tell me without trying to protect me?” I asked.

“What is it?”

“Are they mean to you?”

Mummie stiffened.

“Mummie, you can tell me. You’re not talking to a child.”

“Papa didn’t want you to know.”

“They don’t like you. It’s obvious.”

“It’s in the past.”

“They still do things, say things.”

“Did they say something to you?”

“Just tell me. Why defend them?”

“Why share someone else’s hate?”

“Mummie,” I groaned.

“Fine, but don’t let our history encourage your judgment. Family is everything.”

“Not when the family is mean and vindictive.”

“Do not become like them.”

“I already dislike them.”

“That’s not good.”

“You’re stalling.”

Mummie sighed. “Papa and I were arranged. He saw me one day and liked me. He asked his parents to arrange our marriage.”

I knew this.

“I wasn’t scared, even though I didn’t see him until the wedding day. My parents promised he was good. Parents usually know what’s best for their children. Their life experience and knowledge enables them to see the entire picture. Remember his Mummie,
Ba
?”

Ba
had died a few years back and had been the meanest old grandmother to ever walk the Earth. She had treated Mummie like crap and had dumped on Papa all the time, though he had shown nothing but kindness to her. She had played a major role in turning her daughters, the
fois
, against Papa, the reason the ridiculous sibling feud existed.

Mummie continued, “
Ba
hated me from the beginning. So your
fois
grew up spoiled. Their children were the most loved in her family. Papa suffered, huh? I cooked and cleaned for everyone while Papa worked. I ate last and only the leftovers.
Ba
gave me only two bottles of milk a day to feed you, and she made us sleep in the tobacco room when Papa left for business. You were so sick as a baby.”

I clenched my jaw.

“They made sure I wore rags and hid me when they had company. I was so happy when they went to America. When we came, it was still bad but not
as
bad because we lived on our own. Now, they speak horrible lies to others at
mandir
. Some people have stopped being my friends. I don’t know if it’s because they believe them or because they’re afraid of them. Maybe they just want to stay away from the drama. I don’t know anymore.”

“Are you happy now?”

Mummie braided my hair. “As long as I have you and Papa, that’s all I need.”

“You’ve been through a lot, Mummie. I’ll never let anyone hurt you.”

She laughed softly. “I’ve been hurt so much in the past, I’m immune now. You make me so proud, the woman you’ve become. The only people who can hurt me are you and Papa, and that will never happen.”

I rested my head against Mummie’s knees. “True. Not in a million years.”

“You can do no wrong. Manuk is lucky to have you, though I don’t want you to leave us.”

“Marriage isn’t leaving. Anyway, I can just move back to Austin. Maybe I’ll find a man who’ll live in Austin.”

“Manuk is perfect for you. Dallas isn’t too far. Maybe one day he’ll sell his practice or start a new one in Austin, huh?”

I hummed, though to myself, I groaned. Mummie was not going to let this Manuk business go.

Chapter Nineteen

Tyler

I knocked on Pree’s door during my nightly checkup on her. She said I didn’t have to, but I knew she wanted me to. She was still a little shaken, and her easy smile and ruffled look screamed appreciative more than annoyed.

I hugged her. And she let me. A real hug, as in all frontal contact. When she kept her cheek against my chest, I ran my fingers through her hair. “Does your head still hurt?”

“No. The pain went away after a few days.”

“Did you go to the doctor?” I kissed the top of her head.

She stepped back. “Did
you
?”

“I did see a doctor. You.”

“I’m doing all right.”

“You should come meet my parents,” I said. I didn’t want to leave her for an entire weekend, more protective of her now than ever.

“Why?” she asked.

“They invited you over.”

“They know about me?”

“Everyone knows about you.” I grinned.

“And what exactly do they know?”

“That I have this amazing neighbor who they’ll love. My friends conceded it’s true. My family will, too.”

“Not sure it’s a good idea to get all nice and cozy with your family.”

“It’s not like we’re getting engaged after you meet them. They know all my friends. Except you. C’mon, Pree.”

“Okay. When?”

“Right now.”

“What?”

“Yeah, I’m driving over. Get ready.”

“Did it occur to you that I might have plans or be dead tired?”

“Do you have plans, and are you dead tired?”

“Well, no.”

“Then what’s the holdup?” I turned her around and smacked her firm butt, encouraging her to run inside. “Forty minutes.”

She scoffed but didn’t argue. In fact, she was at my door in thirty-five minutes.

My parents lived two hours away. We passed the halfway mark when I mentioned, “By the way, we’re spending the night.”

“Ty! Did it occur to you that I might have plans or work tomorrow?”

“Do you?”

“Well, not work, but Sunday is my errand and laundry day.”

“You’ll have time when we get back.”

She sighed. “You’re insufferable!”

I laughed. “You’re barely tolerable.”

“You’re so lucky you’re not ruining any plans.”

“Or what? Will you beat me up with those little dainty fists?” I held her hand. The innocent contact sent shockwaves through me. “You need to get out once in a while. All you do is work.”

“Residency is all work. I don’t know if you know this, but it’s required to be a good doctor.”

“You’ll burn out before you’re done. No one wants a burned-out doctor taking care of them.”

“I didn’t bring pajamas, a toothbrush, a hairbrush, a towel, nothing.”

“That’s easy to take care of. My parents’ guest bathroom has an endless supply of individually packaged travel toiletries. Their house is like a hotel.”

“I guess I can sleep in these clothes, though this blouse wrinkles.”

Not meaning to, I glanced down the unbuttoned portion of her top. The collar fanned out and exposed some tantalizing cleavage in a beautiful caramel color. “Or you can sleep naked.”

Pree sucked in a breath and looked out the window. Maybe she was thinking the same things I was, mainly naked flesh and my mouth, hot and eager, all over her.

The quaint house near the woods welcomed me with a white picket fence and green shutters. The garden and mature trees added a homeyness the city and suburbs didn’t have. It wasn’t the house I grew up in as a kid, but it was where I’d spent my teenage and college years.

Mama opened the door before we made it to the porch.

“Tyler!” She hugged me.

“Hey, Mama.” I kissed her cheek and stepped aside. “Mom, this is Priya.”

Mama beamed. “Well, aren’t you gorgeous!” She hugged Pree, who sort of froze up for a second. “I’ve heard so much about you. Come in, dear.”

Pree shot me a look. I puckered my lips. Of course I’d told my parents all about the brainy, amusing girl down the hall.

Pree took her shoes off in the foyer.

“You can keep them on,” Mama assured.

“Out of habit.”

“Or you can take them off. Your choice. Whatever makes you feel at home.”

Good, because she’d already slipped them off. I knew for a fact Pree hated wearing shoes.

“I understand it’s an eastern culture thing. Do you mind explaining what that’s about?”

We followed Mama down a short hallway and into a living room as Pree replied, “It signifies respect. Also, shoes are dirty and track in all sorts of bacteria and fecal matter from outside, so it keeps the floors cleaner. Many people eat and sleep on the floor, or have kids who play and crawl on the floor, so it makes sense.”

Dad was in the living room in a button-up shirt and slacks. Pree offered her hand, but Dad walked around the coffee table and gave her a big bear hug. She gasped. A brief look of discomfort exploded on her face.
Ha!

Dad laughed deep from his chest. “You must be Pree!”

“It’s Priya, and yes, I’m her.” She smiled.

Her correction didn’t faze him. He hugged me and invited us to sit on the big, blue couch. He took the recliner, and I helped Mama in the kitchen for a few minutes.

As she put together a porcelain tea arrangement on a silver platter, she commented, “She’s absolutely stunning, Tyler.”

“I know.”

“You say she’s a doctor?”

“Resident doctor.”

She put a hand to her chest and tilted her head while she gave me that I’m-so-proud-of-you look. “You’ve never brought a girl home before.”

“I haven’t?” I thought for a minute. “You’ve met my girlfriends from school.”

“We had run-ins. The lake, a game, study groups. Since college, no one.”

“Oh. Huh.”

“And never home for dinner. I can only imagine how special Priya must be.” She arranged triangular scones and patted my shoulder. I bet wedding bells and baby showers were ringing through her head.

I helped carry the bigger platter out.

“We didn’t know what to make to welcome your visit. I hope you like tea,” Mama said.

I chuckled.

“What?”

“You assume she’s into afternoon tea because she’s Indian? Mom, she’s not British.”

Pree slapped my thigh, hard. I jumped. My parents gawked at her. Pree forced a delicate smile and reassured them, “I’m not at all offended. It’s very flattering that you went through so much trouble. I do love afternoon tea! I don’t know why, maybe because it makes me feel classy.”

She continued talking. “When you’re in town, you’ll have to try this English afternoon tea place. You can get a three-tiered platter and tea for a pricy amount, but it’s so worth it. They serve these little sandwiches, tiny quiches, and desserts. It’s yummy.”

Mama commented, “We’ll have to visit you two soon.”

I liked the sound of that.

Despite knowing how we met and knowing about Pree’s life, my parents asked her anyway. She made it sound like a dull story. Then they probed to know more about her Indian culture, and why it seemed that all Indians excelled at math and were successful in America.

“Mama,” I groaned. “That’s stereotyping.”

Thank goodness my obnoxiously loud sixteen-year-old cousin skipped into the room. She was a younger, female version of me with the same wavy hair and green eyes.

She held out her hand to Pree. “I’m Miranda.”

“Nice to meet you. I’m Priya.”

“Pretty name. Are you Indian?”

“Yes.”

“I have a friend at school who’s Indian. Her name’s Preity.” She pronounced the name perfectly.
Pray-thee.
She didn’t say “pretty” like she used to. “And she’s super smart. We always tag team in math and biology projects and totally kick everyone else’s butts.”

She plopped down next to Pree. “I love your eyes! OMG! Are they contacts, or are they real?”

“They’re real.”

“Calm down,” I warned.

She rolled her eyes. “Anyway, so are you and my cousin dating?”

“Miranda, don’t harass my friend.”

“Friend? Right… So what do you do, cousin Tyler’s friend?”

“I’m a doctor,” Pree replied.

“No way! That’s awesome. Preity wants to be a doctor, too.”

“What do you want to be when you go grow up?”

She shrugged. “I haven’t decided. I like math and science.”

“Then you’ll have a broad spectrum of choices.”

“For sure! Ooh, do you, like, get covered in blood and guts and stuff?”

“Gross, munchkin.” I gently pushed her head away.

“Ow!” She punched my shoulder with a weak hit. I didn’t budge.

“Sometimes,” Pree responded. “Especially in surgery, or labor and delivery, otherwise the fluid is mainly vomit…or diarrhea.”

“Sick!” Mama gagged.

“Awesome!” Miranda shouted.

“Oh my.” Mama staggered to her feet and said to Dad, “Dear, come help me with the table.”

He jumped up after her.

“Why don’t you go help,” I ordered Miranda.

She stuck her tongue out at me. “Why? So you can be alone with your
girlfriend
?”

“Why are you so annoying?”

“Because it’s fun to annoy you!” She flung her arms around my neck.

“Yep.”

Miranda took Pree’s hand and pulled her up. “Come on, Priya! I can show you the house.”

“This isn’t even your house!” I called after her as they disappeared down the hallway. I followed. Sometimes I couldn’t trust the words that came out of Miranda’s mouth.

“So the foyer, family room, and living room are pretty boring.” Miranda jogged upstairs and showed Pree the bedrooms and bonus room, which served as a huge library.

“Oh my God,” Priya whispered.

She ran her fingers along the cherry wood bookshelves and the spines of worn-out books. We had everything here, including a large selection of scientific books. This had been my favorite room growing up. A brown leather couch gathered a few specks of dust against one wall beside an amazingly comfortable bamboo and white padded Papasan chair.

“Those are Tyler’s old books.” Miranda eyed the large, flat-screen computer. “That computer screen is so big, I can read three books at once, but I like tablets to read on instead.”

The last stop was my old room, a classic bedroom with maroon bedding, a study desk, and a bunch of nerd memorabilia on the dresser and movie posters on the wall.

“I guess you’ll be sleeping in here,” Miranda sang as if she were speaking to one of her teenage friends about a boy.

“Um, and where will Tyler sleep?” Priya asked.

Miranda gaped at Pree as if she were a loon, then snapped out of her daze and skipped downstairs when Mama’s voice rang for dinner. I shrugged when Pree looked at me for an answer.

“Do they think we’re…?”

“Dinner’s ready,” I said.

The downstairs smelled like childhood. Mama had made lasagna, goat cheese salad, garlic bread, and steamed veggies. Thank goodness she didn’t serve hummus and curried lamb. That wasn’t even Indian cuisine, but Mama thought it was all the same.

According to Mama’s instructions, Pree sat between me and Miranda, while Mama sat across from us next to Dad. They spoke about my childhood and reminisced about the rascal I’d been in high school. Then the conversation shifted toward Jenny’s wedding.

“Jenny’s my sister,” Miranda explained. “She’s getting married in a few months. Are you coming to the wedding?”

“It’s not your place to invite people,” I scolded.

“You can bring a date. Your date should be Priya.”

I winked at Pree. “I’d love a date with you.”

Everyone watched for her reaction, waited for an answer. How could she say no to me? “Sure.”

“Don’t have a heart attack with all that unbridled enthusiasm.” I grinned, squeezed her thigh under the table, and left my hand there.

After dinner, Pree tried to help Mama with the dishes, but she insisted, “Don’t try to touch this mess. Go! Sit in the living room, hang out in the backyard. Go for a walk.”

“Are you sure? I feel so bad that you went through all this trouble and I can’t help.”

“Yes, yes!”

I took her by the waist and swept her out of the kitchen. I held her hand as we strolled outside.

“How about a walk down a country road?”

My parents didn’t live in the heart of the city, or in a major subdivision. They lived in a nice, upper middle class suburb steering toward ranch country. The lots were large, near an acre each. Towering oak trees lined both sides of the street. Dry grass splotches dominated front yards, and prickly bushes replaced absent flowers.

A few cars were parked on the street, but most were in driveways where they belonged. Some neighbors were out watering their yards. Kids played on the sidewalk. A couple of children teased two puppies.

“Can I come!” Miranda’s high-pitched voice echoed from behind us as she sprinted past three houses to reach us.

I groaned as she squeezed in between us. “I told you she was your girlfriend!”

Pree sidestepped away from Miranda, hands down the craziest girl in my family. Miranda hooked arms with hers and skipped along. I half-expected her to call Pree “bestie” and giggle over the two boys who were washing a car and checking her out. Miranda waved at them, and they whistled.

“What the hell, Miranda?” I snatched her arm down. “Don’t get flirty at your age. Boys are only after one thing, and they sure as hell ain’t getting it from you.”

“You’re so old school.”

“For the love of all that’s sacred in this world, please tell me you’re still a virgin.”

“That’s TMI.” She looked at Pree. “Besides, girls do it young now, right? Nothing wrong with it.”

Pree glanced at her from the corner of an eye. “I’m not getting into the middle of this.”

“You have to tell Tyler it’s normal, and natural, for girls my age to be doing things. I’m sure you did, right?”

“No.”

Through clenched teeth, I said, “She didn’t. It’s rude to ask someone you barely know about their sex life.”

“It’s girl talk. When did you lose it, anyway?”

Pree opened her mouth to reply but snapped it shut.

I answered on her behalf. “Maybe she hasn’t. You could learn something from her.”

“For real? You’re old.” Miranda twisted her lips and Pree snickered.