Accidentally Engaged(61)

“Ooh,” Angie said, turning toward the heavy wood door behind their table. “Looks like the women are done. You couldn’t convince them to let you join them today, Leon?”

He chuckled, standing. “I think I’m wearing them down, though. Won’t be long before I’m an official member of the NLBACC instead of just their sponsor and travel manager.”

What was this NL…whatever group about? Why would a book club need a travel manager? Reena opened her mouth to ask, when Angie smiled at Reena. “We book out the back room here, and this ladies’ group has been renting it for almost five years.”

“I’ve been angling for an invite into their club practically since day one,” Leon added.

She turned to the door, expecting to see immaculate, desperate housewife-types emerging.

But that’s not who exited the back room. The first woman moved slowly, a bright blue wheeled walker supporting her steps. The next woman had a cane.

“Olive!” Leon said, moving to greet the leader. She had to be at least eighty—easily a decade or two older than Leon himself. The other women after Olive ranged in age from fifties to eighties, some with mobility aides, all with wide smiles. Laughing and turning to each other, and joking with Leon, they were clearly a sharp-witted group. And they were completely not what Reena expected.

“And there’s Vanna,” Leon said, kissing the cheek of a woman with dyed violet hair and round glasses. “Who won?”

Vanna slapped him playfully on the shoulder. “No one wins in a book club.” She laughed until she noticed Reena. “Reena! Look at you! You girls have grown up so beautiful. Are you here to pick up your mother?”

What? Reena stood, dumbfounded. Did she know this Vanna? But a sharp exhale from the woman behind Vanna took her attention. And sure enough, it was her own mother.

Mum’s eyes were as wide as roti, and she held Vanna’s arm for support. “Reena! What are you doing here?”

Leon turned to Reena. “You’re Roz’s Reena?”

Roz?

“Mum?” Reena closed her eyes a moment, but sure enough, after opening them, her mother still stood in front of her.

Leon laughed. “Hey, now I have an in. Reena, convince your mother to let me in her poker group.”

Reena nearly fell to the floor. Poker? Mum? The hell? Gambling was against Islam—Reena might not be religious, but her parents would never openly go against the tenets of their religion. Or so Reena thought.

Mum smiled at Leon, like it was no big deal to get caught playing poker in the middle of the day. “We’ve told you, women only. How do you know my daughter?”

Leon beamed, looking at Reena. “She’s a lovely young woman. I see why you’re proud of her. Angie and I were interviewing her for Ginny’s role.”

“So, Ginny’s gone then? Such a shame, I hoped she’d change her mind. Imagine, enlisting in the army at her age.”

“I know. But she said it—”

“Excuse me,” Reena interrupted. Mum was talking so casually to Leon, but then again, she’d always had a superb poker face. And…now Reena understood where she practiced it. “Mum, can you please explain what’s going on?”

Leon chuckled. “Ah, daughters. I should head back to the office, anyway. It was lovely to meet you, Reena. Angie will be in touch.” He shook Reena’s hand and winked. “And keep an eye on that one.” He nodded toward Mum. “Your mother’s game face can turn even a softy like me into stone. You should have seen the Vegas high rollers quiver. Bye Roz, Vanna.”

And with that, the strangest job interview Reena had ever experienced ended, and she was left alone, with her mother, a half-eaten apricot brioche tart, and more confusion than she knew what to do with.

*



Of course, it wasn’t possible to avoid her mother now, so she had no choice but to agree to have tea with the woman before she could get out of the bakery. But after Mum got a fresh pot for them to share, she just sat in front of Reena, staring at her.

“So, are you going to explain?” Reena finally asked, narrowing her eyes.

“What about you? Why are you interviewing for a new job?”

“Why are you playing poker and flirting with a bakery owner in the middle of the day?”

“Flirting? Reena! Leon is my friend. I’ve been coming here for years.”

“Yes, almost five, I heard. You told me it’s inappropriate for men and women to be friends. Does Dad know?” She cringed. She sounded like Nadim.

“There is nothing inappropriate here. I’m a married woman. But why are you looking for a job? What happened to the clothes store?”

Reena slumped in her seat. May as well go for broke and tell the truth. “I was laid off a couple of weeks ago.”

Mum inhaled sharply through her teeth before saying a prayer under her breath. “Why didn’t you tell us? I’ll call Daddy, and you can work with him—”

Reena put her hand up. “This is why I didn’t tell you. I don’t want to work with Dad, and I can find something new on my own.”

“But, Reena! This is the third time you’ve lost your job! You need a new—”

“I’ll find one! I just had an interview with your poker buddy, remember? And since when do you play high-stakes poker?”