Page 74 of Yard Sale

“You’re early,” I told her. “Is Ankita with you?”

“Yes. She’s getting our bags. We brought someone with us.”

Oh, good. More aunties. “Okay…?”

“Her name is Manisha. We met in Toronto last year. Her son is playing on your dad’s team. I don’t know if you know him. He’s a goalie,” she babbled, tugging me back into the house. Fuck. I needed to get back to Tiago before all hell broke loose. Or before he came back here with his dick out, looking for me. But then I realized what she was saying, and I froze.

“Wait. Ferris’s mom?”

Soma looked back at me. “Yes. I’m glad you know him. Your dad invited him and his husband to come stay with us too. They’ll be here on Wednesday. They’re planning a big wedding—a Pakistani wedding, which you know is just like our type of wedding,” she babbled as she began to unpack a massive cloth cooler full of plastic containers.

I didn’t need to ask what they were.

“The wedding’s becoming a big deal because people know his husband. Maybe you’ve met him? He used to play hockey too. Very pretty for a white boy. They’re looking for something private, so your dad suggested out here, of course. It won’t be big enough for the entire family, but there are places for them to rent, and oh! Manisha!”

An unfamiliar woman walked into the room. She was dressed in a yellow sari, and her hair was halfway falling out of her braid. And she looked a lot like Ferris.

“Come meet Aravind. Rohan’s son. He knows all about hockey players. He was born after Rohan got drafted,” Soma said.

Well, I supposed that if Tiago was going to give me any sort of real chance at a relationship, it was probably good he got thrown into the deep end. The last week had been the exception, not the rule.

“It’s nice to meet you,” I told her, extending my hand.

She tugged me in, kissing my cheek. “You’re very sweet. Ferris told me all about you. He was very excited to be playing under your dad.”

I smiled, which was probably more like a grimace because I really didn’t want to talk about hockey while we were here. But also, it was inevitable. “Ferris is amazing. He crocheted me this adorable elephant seal. I have it on my nightstand.”

Manisha immediately went soft all over. I could see it in her eyes she was waiting for me to say something about her son being weird. I got it. More than anyone. And it was probably why my dad liked her so much.

They could relate on that level.

“He’s a little nervous about coming out with us, but when I told him you’d be here, he felt better.”

It was going to be a tight squeeze. Everyone was going to be up each other’s asses, which was something I was used to, but Tiago…

“So, I kind of left my friend on the beach,” I told Manisha and Soma. “I’m going to grab him.” I started to turn, then froze. “Also, he’s blind. Not…not totally, but he doesn’t have a lot of vision left, so can we be super careful about leaving stuff on the counters and out around the floor?”

Soma’s eyes went wide. “Do you think we’re monsters, beta?”

I rolled my eyes. “No, Auntie. But you also don’t live with blind people, so I won’t assume you know what to do. I just want…” I let out a puff of air. “He’s here because his family is really horrible, and they were actively trying to make it harder for him to be there. I just want him to feel safe, okay?”

Soma nodded. “Yes, of course. He’ll feel safe, and you two will both be properly fed⁠—”

“We’ve been eating fine⁠—”

“—and we will make him an honorary Canadian Indian.”

“Fantastic,” I said flatly.

Soma patted my cheek as Manisha caught my gaze. “I know quite a few of the blind players. I’ve learned a lot about what to do.”

I remembered in the hospital, Tiago had told me he knew Ferris’s mom and that he loved her. I managed a real smile. “Okay. I’ll be right back. I need to⁠—”

I didn’t get the chance to finish my sentence. Ankita chose that moment to walk into the kitchen, holding the arm of a disgruntled-looking, very familiar teenager.

“Does this young man belong to any of you?”

I managed to get Oliver away from my aunties and outside with the door shut. He looked terrified and confused as we stepped under the bright patio light so he would be able to see properly.