They chatted comfortably while Lekha showed Amala the saris in a variety of colors, as well as choli tops and many different choices of a skirt which Lekha referred to as a pavada, and also many scarves—all of which were used together in certain ways to create ensembles. Lekha proved her insight when she said, “Because you have lived in England since your childhood and have only worn English clothes, I am happy to help show you how to wear them.”

“I would be very grateful for that,” Amala said.

After Lekha had shown the clothing pieces to Amala, she carefully draped them over the backs of the chairs in the room, promising she would put them away properly in the morning. From the way she spoke, it became evident that Lekha would be available to Amala as her personal maid, and Lekha seemed pleased with the change of duties now that Amala had returned, as if she preferred caring for a lady’s clothing and personal needs more than serving tea. Pearl, who had once assisted both Amala and Kat, had become busier, focusing all of her attention and energy on Kat, whose needs were more complicated and likely would become more so. For that and many other reasons, Amala was glad to have Lekha as a new part of her life.

Once she was alone, Amala pressed her hands over the fine fabrics, allowing memories of India to filter into her through her fingers. She then succumbed to exhaustion and went to bed.

Amala hardly slept at all that night while she tried to accept Kat’s diagnosis as a reality rather than a horrible nightmare. She also had to recount how dramatically things had changed since she’d left here. This was still her home, and in some ways she felt even more at home here with the touches of India Henry had brought with him; yet her home and her life were considerably changed, and it would take time to acclimate herself to those changes.

Chapter Ten

SISTERS

Amala finally fell asleep at dawn and didn’t awake until nearly noon, which meant she’d missed breakfast and would likely miss lunch if she didn’t hurry and get dressed. She felt sure that Paulina or her mother would have peeked in on her and found her sleeping and left her undisturbed; they both had enough insight to realize she probably hadn’t slept well.

Impulsively, Amala decided to wear some of her new Indian clothing, and she was grateful when Lekha came to her room to offer assistance, as if she’d been sitting in the next room waiting for evidence that Amala was awake. When Amala came right out and asked, Lekha admitted she had been reading in a comfortable chair in the sitting room adjacent to Amala’s bedroom.