He squeezed his lips together before smiling sadly. “He’s not impressed.”

Reena didn’t know if he wasn’t pleased that Nadim eloped, or if it was his choice of bride. Either way, she could see how upset Nadim was about the damage to the relationship with his father. Reena crossed the room and put her arms around her husband. She wouldn’t press—if he didn’t want to tell her what his father said, it was fine. She wasn’t fooling herself—she knew they were building something, and they weren’t there yet. But they would be.

They held each other tightly for several seconds. He inhaled deeply into her hair. “Love you,” he whispered.

“Love you, too.”

Shayne and Marley appeared soon after, squealing with joy over Reena’s texts about last night’s wedding. Amira and Duncan, who were still across the hall in Reena’s apartment, heard the squealing and came to join the party. And it really was a party, because she was still telling Shayne and Marley about their moonlit wedding when there was a loud banging on Nadim’s door.

Reena took a deep breath before opening it. She knew who it would be.

“Reena, is this some joke?” Mum said the moment the door was open. Her father was there, too. Both with tight faces and stiff postures. Saira stood behind them, a wide smile on her face. And Ashraf stood behind her, looking bewildered about this family he’d attached himself to. She didn’t blame him.

“C’mon in. The more the merrier.” She motioned her family into Nadim’s apartment. It was a tight squeeze. Ten people in a small apartment covered with boxes and suitcases.

Mum walked in, dropped her purse on the counter, and turned, glaring at Reena. “You really married him?”

“Yes. We eloped last night. I’m very happy, Mum.”

Mum somehow managed to make her frown bigger. “Without your family? And what is this … eloped! That is not a wedding! You need a Nikah in the Jamatkhana, and mehndi, and a big reception. Maybe at the Toronto Ismaili Centre, or—”

“Wait—so you don’t have an issue with who I married, or that I did it so quickly, only that I didn’t have a big wedding?”

Amira stepped forward. “It was a lovely ceremony. Outside, under the stars.”

Mum glared at Amira for three seconds before turning back to Reena. “She was there, but not us? Not your sister?”

“Actually, I was there,” Saira interjected. “I was sworn to secrecy, though. It was so romantic! Might think about eloping myself!”

Mum glared at Saira this time. She was really getting good mileage out of her frown today. This must be how Mum made those Vegas high rollers quiver in their seats.

“Um,” Marley said, inching awkwardly toward the door. “Hey, Duncan and Amira, why don’t we go upstairs to my place. Duncan said he wanted to see my … um … Gucci bag?”

Reena snorted. She couldn’t blame her friends for seeking a swift escape from the family drama unfolding. She only wished she could go with them.