Page 47 of Best Kept Secret

I sighed. She hadgas money? Christ! It was like she lived in a different world where she counted her pennies, and I had too many to count.

"Call or text me to let me know how it goes, okay?"

Pari toddled up to us, and Mira crouched. "Can I get a big-big-big hug, myShona?"

"Miramashi." My daughter launched herself on her aunt, and Mira held her like her life depended upon it.

No matter what my mother thought, one thing was clear, Mira loved her niece like her own, and Pari thrived on the unconditional love she received from her aunt.

Mira whispered. "Ami tomake bhalobashi." I'd heard those Bengali words often enough to know they meant, "I love you."

Pari giggled when Mira kissed her nose. "Ami tomake bhalashi," she responded in a sing-song manner.

"You be good for Bodaddy, okay?" Mira brushed strands of Pari's hair off her face.

I picked up my daughter and nuzzled her neck, tickling her, making her laugh, which was my favorite sound in the world—almost on par with Mira saying my name when she came apart for me.

"Roxy, Pari, and I will be just fine," I told her.

Mira walked to the door but stopped when Roxy called out to her. She came running to give Mira a hug. "You've got this. They'd be fools not to hire you."

"Thanks, Roxy."

We saw her off, and Roxy shook her head as she saw the car. "That vehicle is falling apart."

"She won't take one of mine. She's too proud for her own good."

Roxy frowned. "She's not proud, Beau, she's scared that she'll get used to all these things you give her, and when she loses you…."

"She told you that?" I hated that Mira was still so insecure. Every time I felt that we'd made progress, I found out that a part of her was still wary.

"Not in as many words," Roxy confirmed.

Pari got restless in my arms, and I let her down just as my phone rang. It was my mother, and I sighed. "You keep an eye on her?" I said to Roxy right before I answered the call.

"You need to come to my housenow," Mama ordered.

"You okay?" I went on alert.

"And bring Pari along.Do notleave herwith that girl."

"What?"

"Beau, just bring Pari with you."

"Pari is with Roxy. Mira is not at home. What's goin' on, Mama?" I asked wearily, heartily tired of my mother's issues with Mira.

"Just come over, will you?"

I told Roxy she was in charge of Pari, and drove to my mother's house. I wasn't sure what to expect—but I should've known that Donna Bodine would put her foot in it.

Sitting in her living room were an older Indian couple who I suspected were Mira's parents, Anil and Seema Sen.

Chapter 19

Mira

By the time I got downtown, my nerves had twisted my stomach into tight knots.

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