She glared at him over the top of her silver glass of lassi. “What? Just because I’m Indian I need to like spicy food?”

Hudson laughed. “No, you need to like it because it’s delicious.”

Her father chortled. “Hear, hear!”

Annika turned to him. “Daddy, have you been sleeping? You have bags under your eyes.” His hair was grayer than she’d noticed when he visited the Make Up office, too. For the first time, it occurred to Annika that her dad was … aging.

“Oh.” He waved his hand and took a sip of the wine Hudson had brought, instead of answering. “This is drinking nicely, Hudson. Excellent choice.”

“Thank you,” Hudson said, glancing at Annika.

“Dad. You don’t think you’re going to fob me off that easily, do you?” Annika pressed.

Her father sighed. “I’m fine, Ani.” He looked out past her to the swimming pool, which glimmered in the distance like an aquamarine jewel. The lantern lights reflected in his glasses. “This is just … a big house, you know? And sometimes I realize it’ll never be full again and it makes me think.”

Annika frowned. “Think about what?”

He shrugged. “Just … what I want to do now. Or in the future. Do I want to stay here in a year’s time? Five years?”

“You—you mean you might want to sell the house?” Annika tried not to show how much the thought unsettled her.

Her father shrugged. “Perhaps. Do I really need all this?” He gestured around the expansive backyard, with its neatly trimmed hedges and citrus tree groves and multiple seating and grilling areas.

Hudson studied Annika, a sympathetic look on his face. She took another sip of her lassi. “What about—but you bought this house with Mom,” she said softly. “I thought you didn’t want to move on from it because it’d feel like leaving her behind.”

“That’s what I’ve always told myself,” her dad said, finally meeting her eye. “But maybe that’s foolish. Maybe it’s time to leave the past where it belongs.”

“Is it?” Her heart was hammering in her chest. More talk of leaving her mom’s memories behind. “Or should we honor the past by taking it with us wherever we go?”

Her dad looked at her for a long time, his features soft and sad. “I don’t know, Ani,” he said, shaking his head. “But I wish I had the answers.”

“You’ll feel better soon,” Annika said firmly. “Maybe go golfing tomorrow. You’re probably just overworked.”

Her father smiled a little, his index finger circling the rim of his wineglass. “Maybe,” he said. “Maybe you’re right.”

chapter sixteen

Annika and Hudson stood on the deck with their glasses of port, looking out at the sparkling city lights. Her dad was in his study, calling a patient who’d come out of surgery a few hours ago and was asking to speak to him.