She supposed this was what happened when you no longer spoke to your family. You learned everything after the fact. Most days Hena had made her peace with this reality. It was the cost of breaking away. Starting her own life far from this humid, mosquito-filled state and the toxic people who inhabited it. But her kid sister bore no blame for any of the things that happened, and right now, Hena felt it deep in her bones—the cost of being absent.
“When did you buy it?” Hena asked her.
“It’s a wedding gift from Ammi. I can’t exactly access my trust yet, can I?”
Her tone was calm, but the words landed like a punch. After liquidating their properties, Ammi set up trusts for both Lulu and Hena. There were enough funds in there for neither of them to worry about money ever again. Lulu was supposed to have gained access to hers on her twenty-first birthday, same as Hena, but their mother had delayed Lulu’s by five years. Because of Hena. Because of the poor choices she had made.
“Ammi was pushing me to get a beachside property, but I liked the vibe of this place, and ecotourism is all the rage these days. You could call this the soft opening,” said Lulu. “The wedding party and most of our close friends and family are staying here. That way Ammi doesn’t have to move backand forth. I’m staying in the two-bedroom penthouse suite with her. It’s one floor above you.”
Ammi was staying here too. This evening got better and better.
Where is Ammi?Hena was about to ask. Before she could, a woman rounded the corner, heading straight toward them.
It was Irum. Nasir’s sister.
“Lulu,” she said as she breathlessly approached. She wasn’t the tomboy Hena once knew. Now she had winged eyeliner and blond highlights in her hair. Her silver dress shimmered beneath the lights. “There’s a snag with the table covers for tomorrow’s—”
She cut off, taking a half step back, finally noticing Hena.
“What are you doing here?” Hena blurted out.
Lulu gasped. “Hena, really? She’s only my maid of honor.”
Hena’s head spun. Maid of honor? Irum? Of all the things thrown at her tonight…
Lulu shot Hena a disapproving look before conferring with Irum. When they were done, Irum gave Hena a tight smile before heading off.
“Great going,” Lulu said once she was gone.
Was Lulu serious? “A heads-up would have been nice,” Hena managed to say. “I wasn’t expecting to see her here.”
“We were friends long before you and Nasir were a thing. After everything blew up—the gossip and bullshit—we leaned on each other.”
Hena cast her eyes down, chastened. She couldn’t imagine the avalanche of whispers following the wake of her canceled wedding. She had fled as soon as she could. Lulu and Irum didn’t have that option.
“By the way, I know this is last minute,” Lulu said. “But Ammi and I agree you should be a bridesmaid.”
“Oh.” Hena blinked. “Thanks, Lulu, but you don’t have to—”
“I actually do. People are talking.”
Of course it was about optics. Hena understood the logic, but that didn’t mean it didn’t hurt, much like the paper cut that still throbbed along her finger. Was this the real reason she’d been invited? To stave off whispers?
“We threw this week together quickly, so we kept the wedding party small,” Lulu continued briskly. “Khaled’s got his three groomsmen, and I have Irum, Maheen, and my college roommate Courtney.”
“Adding me is going to make your wedding party uneven,” Hena said.
“It is what it is.” She shrugged. “We’re flying by the seat of our pants. We didn’t even have time for matching outfits. We’re color coordinating instead.”
There was no point pushing back, was there? Lulu had clearly made up her mind.
“Sounds good,” Hena said.
She was edging toward the flowers and chatter when Lulu stopped her.
“They haven’t started dinner yet,” she said. “You have time to get ready.”
“I am ready,” Hena replied. “I changed in the sky lounge.”