As she took in the space, a middle-aged woman in a crisp button-down shirt appeared next to Alex, asking if she could offer her anything.

“The tea will be served shortly,” she said smiling, “but if you would like a glass of water, or anything else, please let me know.”

Alex shook her head, and Danial shook his as well, adding a quiet, “No, thank you, Leena.”

His mother resumed, holding court about the morning’s activities—Benson ran out of the front door when the vegetables were being delivered!—and Alex began to relax, nodding and laughing along with the story. At one point, Danial gently placed his hand over hers.

“Do you have a dog at home?” Marjane asked, turning to face Alex. Her eyes were warm and friendly, the same rich mahogany color as her son’s.

“I don’t.” She smiled. “But my parents do. And I would love to have my own someday.”

“Mom loves dogs,” Danial explained, his tone exceptionally gentle. “Alex’s parents have a labrador named Bruce,” he added, turning back to face his mother.

“He’s named after a football player,” she added.

Marjane smiled, shifting slightly on her seat. “And Danial tells me you play chess?” Her soft accent danced over her words, and she nodded with encouragement.

“Oh,” she looked over at him as he broke into a self-satisfied grin, “Well, yes and no. He taught me back in college and we used to play a lot, but I haven’t played in years.”

“But…” he started, nudging her with his shoulder.

“But,” she continued, “we’ve been playing again. He even lets me win sometimes.”

Marjane nodded. “He’s very gracious this way. You know, I was the one who taught him how to play chess.”

“Oh, really?” Alex asked.

“Yes, well, and my father. He was an exceptional player, all of us had to learn as children. Danial was his number-one fan.”

Danial raised his wrist, tapping on the glass of the watch she’d observed a million times—the watch of a legendary chess player, it turned out.

“I was never as good as my sister, though,” Marjane continued.

“Aunt Darya has a rating of 2150.”

Alex knew that Danial had achieved the same rating in high school, and that you could still look up the old newspaper articles about the national tournaments he had placed in. She remembered one in particular that featured a photo of him at the board in his old glasses, his signature combination of confidence and modesty on his face. And talk of Aunt Darya led to talk of all the aunts and uncles, followed by the cousins—several of whom would be joining them for dinner that evening. Alex listened closely as Marjane listed off all their accomplishments with pride, delighting in every detail.