Accidentally Engaged(64)
A small tickle started behind Reena’s eyes. A beautiful sentiment, especially from her once cynical friend. She didn’t know if she had ever felt that strong a connection with anyone, let alone Nadim. And although she was happy Amira found it, a small part of her couldn’t help but be sad that Amira’s happiness took her away from Reena. She wouldn’t be Amira’s best friend anymore, not when Amira had a soul mate now.
She inhaled, straining to stop the torrent of emotions that threatened to pull her out of the warm comfort she’d been wrapped in all day. “Sunsets are fine and all, but how about we go out there and look at the stars? Without the city lights there must be millions visible.”
Amira smiled. “Yes, night skies here are spectacular.”
Amira and Reena were still sitting on the porch sofa with Reena’s head on Amira’s shoulder and a large blanket over them when Duncan and Nadim returned.
“Wow, look at that,” Duncan said with a grin. “They look like the Golden Girls after they ate the whole cheesecake.”
Amira laughed as she scooted over to let Duncan sit next to her. Reena did the same for Nadim, who immediately took her hand. “Well, you know,” Amira said, “Reena and I were supposed to grow old together, so in about forty years I’ll be kicking your sorry ass out so she can move in.”
Duncan chuckled. “Fair enough. Nadim here now understands the basics of Canadian football, so at least I won’t be lonely.”
Nadim squeezed Reena’s hand before lifting it to kiss her fingertips. Why couldn’t she just enjoy this? She leaned into him, kissing his cheek before resting her head on his arm, watching thousands of stars light up the dark night.
CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE
Doug and Shirley Galahad lived in a redbrick farmhouse on the outskirts of the tiny town of Omemee, Ontario, about fifteen minutes away from Amira and Duncan’s place. Reena smiled at the scenery unfolding before her.
The brilliant yellows, oranges, and reds of the wooded area behind the old Victorian house, and the pale straw color of the neighboring farmer’s fields combined with the azure sky would look frickin’ awesome in their video. Shooting it here was the best idea she’d had in months.
Nadim whistled as he got out of the truck. “Bloody hell, this place is really picturesque. You grew up here?” he asked Duncan.
“Nah. We had a house in Omemee proper back then. They bought this place when my brother and I moved out.”
The house was small, but cozy. With worn-wood floors and tall baseboards, it was steeped in the quaint country charm that felt so foreign to Reena but still as comforting as warm bread pudding.
“There you are, kids!” A short, plump woman with frizzy red hair and a wide smile greeted them in the kitchen. “I thought you were coming early?”
Duncan kissed his mother on the cheek. “It is early, Ma. It’s nine o’clock.”
“That’s not early. I was up at seven to walk the dog. And the princesses were bleating and hopping all morning. Exhausting.” Shirley reached up and patted Duncan’s shoulder before hugging Amira, then Reena. She looked to Nadim. “Welcome to our home. I’m Shirley Galahad.”
“I’m Nadim. Thank you for letting us film here. I’m sure the scenery will be amazing.”
“Oh!” Shirley said. “You have an accent! Are you from England?”
“Tanzania originally, but I went to school in the UK.”
“You and Reena have such a fascinating background. You know, we were in Turkey recently, and there was a mosque—”
“Ma, give ’em a minute to get in the door before bringing out the vacation pictures. Where’s Dad?”
“In the barn, feeding the princesses,” she told Duncan. “I’ll put another pot of coffee on. Make yourselves at home.” She smiled as she headed back into the kitchen.
“Princesses?” Nadim questioned as they made their way back outside.
“The goats,” Reena responded. “Careful with your fingers. Apparently they nibble.”
They found Doug in the barn. A strapping man with brown hair, he looked like he’d lived his life on this farm. After introducing himself, the princesses, and a Labrador retriever named Whiskey, Doug started chatting with his son about plans for upgrades to the building and the chicken coops, while Nadim scratched the dog behind his ears.
He dropped to his knees to get closer. “I miss my dogs in Africa. We always had German shepherds. Technically guard dogs, but they were always such sweethearts.” Interesting. Reena hadn’t been allowed a dog growing up.
A loud voice from outside prevented her from analyzing this new information. “This place is cuter than a Fisher-Price farm.”
Reena laughed. “Sounds like Shayne and Marley made it.”
After another round of introductions and a round of coffee served with homemade muffins, they were finally able to set up the barn. Doug found a large wooden folding table, which they placed in the middle of the room and covered with a cream linen tablecloth. A single-burner butane stove would suffice for cooking the egg curry, and Reena had brought her enormous wood chopping board for food prep. Marley added a few artfully arranged kitchen tools she snagged from Shirley’s kitchen and some cut flowers in old pottery, while Shayne plugged in the studio lights.