Judging from Lulu’s nonchalant explanation, she clearly seemed fine with it. Besides, it wasn’t like helping someone with their education was a bad thing. As fraught as their relationship was, her mother had always cared about Hena’s education. She had paid for the best tutors. Encouraged her to apply to as many top colleges as she wanted.Education gives women choices,she would say. If her mother was setting aside school funds for Gita, who was Hena to object?
“All right, no more stalling.” Lulu nudged her toward the boat.
Reluctantly, Hena snapped on her life jacket. The midday sun was bright overhead; a gentle wind tousled her hair and rustled the reeds along the water’s edge. She looked at the murky water and tried to relax.
Lulu is fine,she reminded herself.This airboat ride will be over before I know it.
Stepping onto the boat, her shoes skimmed the boat’s aluminum floor as she wiped perspiration from her brow. San Francisco had blessedly cool year-round temps that required layers. Here, even in January, the Florida heat was oppressive.
Reza stepped onto the boat after her. He took Irum’s hand to help her board. Hena reached down to adjust her shoes as Irum sat next to Reza. He whispered something in her earHena couldn’t quite make out, but whatever it was made her smile—a real smile that Hena realized she hadn’t seen since she’d arrived.
Courtney hopped in next and slid into the other empty spot next to Reza. She shifted closer, her blond ponytail brushing against his shoulder.
“Look, I love my Lulu,” she said in a not-so-quiet tone. “But buying a property in the middle of the swamp and frog-marching us onto an airboat? The beach is literally fifteen minutes away!”
“Right?” Maheen chimed in from across the boat. “I think her eco thing is great and all, but this nature stuff is a lot.”
Hena frowned. Swamp chic wasn’t exactly her vibe either, but she didn’t appreciate the gripe session.
“Gotta disagree. The swamp’s growing on me,” Reza told them. “It’s got character. I think the beach is kind of overdone.”
“Overdone?” Courtney pretended to look scandalized as she playfully swatted him.
Heat rose to Hena’s face as she watched Reza grin. Just then, he turned back. Catching Hena’s eye, he smiled. She returned it before casting her attention toward the water. Reza was friendly. What was wrong with that? The whole point of this trip was for the wedding party to mingle, wasn’t it? Looking at Courtney and Reza, though, she thought of the gossip Maheen had shared. Courtney and Reza were getting friendly. Wasn’t there always a hint of truth behind every rumor?
She spotted Haris sitting at a middle bench. The sleeves of his salmon-colored shirt were rolled up, and his sunglasses were perched on his head.
“This spot taken?” she asked, walking over to him.
“All yours.” He patted the open space.
She sat next to him as Mansur stepped onto the boat; the engine hummed beneath them. The guide, a leathery man with a worn fishing hat and dog tags dangling from his neck, introduced himself as Bob.
“This airboat is the quietest of the fleet, but it’s not silent,” he warned as he handed each of them ear plugs to muffle the sound of the motor.
“Have fun, guys!” Lulu called from the dock as the boat pulled away. “Soak everything up for feedback later. I want complete honesty—that’s how we get better!”
The wind picked up as they gathered speed. Hena tried to steady herself as the boat rocked beneath her. The resort grew smaller and smaller before slipping out of sight.
“Shall we make a bet on who throws up first?” she asked Haris.
“I’ll go with me.” He gripped the side of the boat, a queasy look on his face.
“Oh, Haris.”
He grimaced. “I didn’t expect it to be quite this bumpy.”
“Me either,” she said. “This isn’t exactly a luxury ride.”
“I guess there’s a reason I haven’t been on one since we were kids. Remember that?”
She paused, caught off guard. “No?”
“We were, what, eleven or twelve?” He squinted, thinking back. “It was your dad’s idea. Lulu was maybe two years old. She kept demanding the captain let her steer the boat.”
His words sparked a hint of memory.
“The boat hit a rock or something,” Haris continued. “You were at the edge, and the whole bag of snacks you were holding fell into the water.”