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ALEXA’S CELL PHONE buzzed in her pocket but she ignored the notification. She stuffed another mouthful of shahi korma between her lips, thankful the food was willing to settle in her uneasy stomach.
Much to Alexa’s relief, neither of Sid’s parents had made a big deal out of her delay. They were too polite to ask questions once they all sat at the table. After the salad course, everyone seemed to have forgotten the incident.
“Dr. Diyani, this is just amazing,” Alexa repeated for the third time. So far, the conversation had revolved around Sid and Naija’s school day. Sid gave a detailed description of his Prom-posal that morning, beaming the whole time. Sid’s parents smiled and nodded while Naija giggled in the corner.
“Please, I’m not in the office. Call me Ira,” Ira said, sipping a glass of white wine.
“Honestly, I thought stuff like what you did, Sid, only happened in movies.” Alexa fought the urge to grab his hand and tell him how much she loved him.
“You can blame Mateo,” Sid said. “Last Wednesday, he announced you were going dress shopping this last weekend, and I better ask you to prom on Monday, or he would kick my a—er—butt.”
Naija giggled. “You were going to say ‘ass,’ weren’t you?”
“Naija!” Ira’s eyebrows raised while Sid’s father hid a smile. “You are not allowed that kind of language at the dinner table, young lady.”
Naija bowed her head and pouted. “But Sid says it all the time.”
“Sid, what kind of example are you setting for your sister?” Ira sat back in her chair, frowning at her oldest son, but her eyes sparkled.
“Sorry, Mom, won’t happen again.” Sid fought back a laugh by sticking out his bottom lip in Naija’s direction.
“Did you find a dress, Alexa?” Ira’s intelligent gaze seemed to take Alexa apart piece by piece.
Alexa nodded. “Yes.”
“Something black?” Umar smirked, then must have realized he may have been a little too presumptuous. “I’m sure you’ll look lovely in whatever you chose.”
“Actually, it’s not a black dress,” Alexa said. “Mateo found the perfect dress, even if it’s not the type of thing I normally wear.”
“What color, what color?” Naija wiggled in her seat.
Alexa leaned toward her conspiratorially. “It’s a surprise.”
Najia beamed. “I love surprises.”
Alexa’s phone buzzed again and, once again, she ignored it. “Did either of you go to prom? I mean, before you met each other in med school?”
Umar’s lips quirked. “I swear I didn’t hit puberty until my sophomore year at Northwestern. And no one wanted to date the skinny Indian kid at my high school. Ira’s experience was a bit different than mine. Didn’t you go with the captain of the football team?”
Ira shrugged. “I did. I was prom queen too. I would have been a cheerleader if my mother hadn’t thought it inappropriate. She didn’t care much for the uniform’s short skirts.”
Sid said, “You should see the pictures.”
“Have you figured out all of your prom night plans?” Ira said.
“We’ve got a short list of restaurants,” Sid said. “The limo is already booked. And we’re planning to crash at Ashley’s place after prom. I can give you Ashley’s parents' number if you want.”
This was news to Alexa, but she didn’t mind. She planned on going with the flow when it came to anything prom-related. They would probably go to some over-priced restaurant in Minneapolis, dance at prom, then head to Ashley’s for the afterparty, which would likely include a lot of booze.
“I would appreciate that.” Ira steepled her fingers. “You’re an adult now, so I promise not to helicopter you all the time. And over the past six months, you’ve rebuilt our trust. It’s only fair to let you live a little.”
Of all the parents, Sid’s were by far the most distressed over what had happened. While Alexa was in a partial coma, Ira and Umar pressed the police for a full investigation. After a long debate between the parental units, everyone agreed to keep the whole incident quiet. Shortly thereafter, a series of teenage drug overdoses within the community replaced any interest in three spoiled children gone missing from Riverview only to be found in Oregon.
“What are your plans for the summer, Alexa?” Ira fixed Alexa with her penetrating gaze.
“I’m thinking about getting a job.” Alexa tucked her trembling hands between her knees. “My parents and I agree that it would be good for me. You know, following a schedule, being a good employee, developing work ethic, and all that stuff.”
Alexa's phone buzzed again in her pocket. Was Mateo trying to get a hold of her? She didn’t dare pull it out in the middle of dinner.
“And then off to college,” Umar said. “You’re going to the University of Minnesota, right? And what are you planning to study?”
Alexa and Sid exchanged a long look. Alexa opened her mouth to speak, but Sid squeezed her leg and cleared his throat. “Actually, she’s planning to go to Boston University instead.”
Ira and Umar stared at them. Ira appeared stunned, Umar confused.
“I figured if I wanted to study art, I should go where I can find some of the greatest art galleries in the world. New York City is only a train ride away if I want to check out the MoMa or the Guggenheim. I think I want to study art education. I hope someday I can be an art professor. Or maybe study art and psychology. Art therapy is fascinating.”
“Oh, art therapy, huh?” Umar nodded, half-heartedly feigning enthusiasm.
“Do, uh, do your parents know, Alexa?” Ira smoothed her hair and threw back her last gulp of wine.
“I planned on telling them tomorrow.” Alexa swallowed the tight lump in her throat.
Everyone lapsed into silence. Alexa glanced in Sid’s direction, and he gave her a hopeful smile. Ira and Umar exchanged a couple more looks before Umar poured them another glass of wine. Naija was the only one unbothered by the quiet, munching on a piece of naan and humming tunelessly to herself.
Ira forced out a smile that didn’t reach her eyes. “Is everyone ready for dessert?”
Umar jumped up like a man looking for an excuse to leave. “Let me get it.”
“No, no, allow me.” Ira’s smile turned into a slight grimace, and she hurried back to the kitchen.
“Why is this such a big deal?” Sid whispered to his father across the table.
Umar sighed and settled back into his seat. “Your mother just doesn’t want you to have any—uh—she wants you to be completely focused on school when you’re at Harvard.”
“Are you saying my relationship with Lex is a distraction?” Sid’s voice rose in volume.
Umar shook his head. “Not at all. You know you won’t have the time for each other that you have now. The two of you are effortlessly sailing through this semester, from what I can tell. But college is different. It’s much more intense.”
Alexa’s phone vibrated again. Desperate for a distraction, she dug into her pocket and pulled out her phone.
“This is a great opportunity for Alexa too.” Sid’s jaw clenched. “Boston University is an excellent school.”
“Why are you so mad at each other?” Naija whimpered.
Alexa punched in her passcode, her thumb too sweaty for the fingerprint lock. She read the three messages on her phone then reread them. Her hands shook as she tried to understand who would send her such intimidating messages.
Alexa Baxter.
You cannot avoid us forever.
We know what you know.
Ira returned to the dining room carrying the dessert course. “Who is ready for some gulab jamun?”
Everyone stared at each other for several seconds until Naija shoved her hand into the air. “Me!”