Page 94 of The Art of Taking Second Chances

“You look tense. I’m sorry I asked you to change.”

“No, it’s not that.” I comforted him with a quick squeeze of his arm. “Come on, let’s go, I’m hungry.”

But instead of driving us to a restaurant, he made leisurely stops, first at a florist to buy me a beautiful bouquet, then at his favorite bakery to pick up cupcakes. He took almost fifteen minutes trying to decide what he wanted. When we finally returned to the car, he began to drive us out of the city.

“Where are you taking me?” I asked, befuddled by his behavior.

His response was a sly grin.

“Are we going to your family home?”

“Darn, you’re smart, aren’t you?”

“Why are we going there? I’m hungry, Sujit. There better be food, or I promise I’ll gobble you up.”

“You can gobble me any time you like,” he said with a naughty smile.

“Oh my god, what the hell happened to you?” I said, part annoyed, part amused. “Who made you into this raunchy person? You got a flush when I first used dirty talk.”

He only shrugged.

“Don’t say it was me,” I warned, holding up my index finger. “I do not take responsibility for whatever is going on right now.”

He burst into a throaty laugh. “Oh, Tara, how I’ve missed you. I don’t think I’ve laughed from my belly since you left.”

Suddenly, the hollow in my stomach wasn’t from hunger. “Sujit, maybe we should talk somewhere quiet first?”

“What’s on your mind?”

But I didn’t want to blurt it out so casually, so callously. Maybe going to his family home was the perfect idea. It would be isolated, and that’s where our relationship began, kind of. Although the awkwardness on our ride back would be painful. But then, I wouldn’t ride back with him, would I? I could call rideshare…

“What are you thinking?”

I smiled and shook my head. “It’s a beautiful day,” I said, looking at the bright sun and lush greenery floating past the car windows.

“It is.” I heard the happiness in his voice.

When we pulled up at the house, a strange feeling hit me. I saw no cars in the street or the driveway, but the house didn’t exude the same quiet quality as the other times we had been here.

“Is anyone else joining us?” I asked.

He evaded my eye and shook his head. “No.”

But when he pushed open the large front door, I noticed it was unlocked.

“What’s going on, Sujit?” I hesitated outside the door. “I’m not getting a good feeling about this.”

“Oh, come on in!” He held my hand and gently pulled me inside.

The house appeared still, but I smelled food and heard a clink from some distant corner.

“Sujit—”

“Surprise!” A unified roar sliced through the silence of the cavernous house.

I trembled violently. Sujit’s arms engulfed me before I spotted Sona and Aai among a room full of strangers. Of all the faces in the room, only my mother’s matched mine, a visage of disbelief and sadness. She looked as stricken as I felt, so I knew she hadn’t known about the surprise when I left her this morning. I also saw a young couple and an older one, who I guessed from the resemblance were Sujit’s family.

“Happy early birthday, my love!” Sujit planted a firm kiss on my cheek. I exchanged a quick, uncomfortable look with Aai. Sona had a bright smile on her face.

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