by Nia Arthurs
“I was nervous. But honestly, it’s not as bad as I thought. Most of your cousins seemed to accept me with no problems.” I think of Lisa and the other girls who acted like a black woman tagging along was no big deal.
“The younger generation isn’t as traditional as our parents. I, personally, don’t care what race you are as long as you treat my brother right.”
“You think the elders will be that accepting?”
She snorts. “Heck no. But on the bright side, they’ll be too busy raking Richie through the coals to care about some girl Danny is dating.” Emily freezes and ducks her head sheepishly. “Not that you’re just ‘some girl’—”
“It’s fine.” I chuckle and then sober up, staring at the carpet under my feet. “Mei An’s big day was ruined. Richie must feel awful. His mom and dad are humiliated...”
“Richie deserves it, and his parents will move on. I’m more concerned about Mei An. She’s probably wishing she never crossed oceans to get married to a stranger.”
“She shouldn’t have been put in this position at all.”
“What do you mean?
Curiosity gets the better of me. “How do you guys do it?” I rub my chin in thought. “How do you blindly listen whenever the elders give you an instruction? Isn’t it—I don’t know, smothering?”
“I can’t speak for other families, but it’s how things have always been done in mine. Most of the time, our elders only want the best for us. Sometimes we jump into things blindly and get hurt. It’s better to avoid those mistakes by listening to good council.”
“What if you need to make those mistakes to fulfill your best potential?”
“What if making those mistakes keeps you away from your potential?” she shoots back.
“Touché.”
It’s not like I can disagree too enthusiastically. I’m no poster child for rebellion. Since the day I was born, I was a huge Daddy’s Girl. My father’s opinion means the world to me.
It’s just… in this family the rules feel overwhelming. Like where does the dictatorship end?
“It’s not that bad.” Emily notes my expression and leans forward to explain. “There’s simplicity in order.”
“I’m sorry. I don’t want you to think that I’m pitying you.”
She waves away my concern. “It might seem strange to the world, but it’s not anything worth pitying. I, as a woman, have a voice. But I choose not to go against my family. I maintain the values I learned as a child. No one is forcing me into it. Even if they are not perfect, I love my traditions, my culture. It makes me who I am.”
“You—” I tip my water bottle to her, “are a wise woman. Even if I don’t agree with you.”
“You are a brave woman.” She scoots to the edge of her seat and lightly taps her bottle against mine. “Cheers.”
We exchange smiles and chug the water like beers. Before I can drain mine, a familiar ringtone blares. I rummage inside my purse until I palm my cell phone.
“Is it Danny?” Emily asks, her eyes wide.
I nod and put it on speaker. Danny’s voice fills the room. “Hey, Gwen. I found him.”
“What? Where?” Emily pounces on my cell phone and steals it away. “Is he okay?”
“Emily?” Danny sounds surprised.
“Yes, I’m with your girlfriend. Keeping her safe like you demanded.” Emily winks at me. “Thank God Richie’s fine. Where did you find him?”
“He was drinking on the sea wall.” There’s a sudden commotion on the line—what sounds like wind, a car engine and loud choking. “He’s plastered.” A pause. “No, Richie. You cannot vomit in my car. Hold it in!”
“Are you bringing him back to the hotel?” Emily asks.
“Yes, I’ll clean him up and then we’ll talk to the elders.”
“What about Mei An?” I hiss. “He needs to see her first.”
“I’m sorry, guys. I have to go. Richie needs to—noooo!”
The line goes dead.
Emily stares at the screen in horror. “He cut us off.”
“What are they going to do about Mei An? Are they just gonna send her back if Richie refuses to marry her?”
Emily rakes her fingernails through her hair. “I think the best option right now is postponing the wedding. Maybe Mei An and Richie can date a little longer before they marry? He only had a few weeks to get to know her.”
“What if he still doesn’t like her?” I ask. “Or what if Mei An’s so put off by what happened today that she doesn’t want him back?”
“That won’t happen.”
“Why? Because your precious elders say so?”
Emily clamps her lips together.
I breathe out, allowing my frustration to seep away from my voice before I dip my head. “I’m not trying to be insulting. I’m just worried.”
“Everything will be fine. Danny is going to—”
The door bursts open, cutting off whatever it was Emily had planned to say. Five of the Kwan matriarchs storm in. I recognize Richie’s mom and Danny and Emily’s mom.
Most of the women have short, fluffy hair. Some are wearing traditional outfits with colorful tops and long, poofy skirts while others are in fancy Western clothes.
Almost all of them are wearing something red.
“Gwen?” Danny’s mother stops short when she sees me. “What are you doing here?”
“Hi, Mom!” Emily pops out of her seat. “Have you seen all the guests out?”
Richie’s mother nods.
The others gaze at the floor.
This was, obviously, not the day they were looking forward to.
“We came to see Mei An. Yeye wants to speak to her.”
Yeye? Who’s that? From the way Danny’s mom says his name, I’m guessing he’s important.
I stand nervously and bow my head the way I’ve seen the others do. “Danny called a while ago. He said they found Richie. He’s coming back to the hotel.”
“Oh, thank God!” Richie’s mother cools her powdered face with a beautiful fan. “I thought my heart was about to give out. When I get my hands on that boy…” The rest of her threat fades into a dark mumble.
“That’s good news,” Mrs. Kwan says.
“Do you still need Mei An?” Emily asks.
“We’ll talk to both of them and then discuss what our next step should be. Her family will be very disappointed to hear of what happened today. I hope we can come to a happy agreement before anyone gets hurt.”
I want to inform her that Mei An is already hurt, but I hold my tongue. There’s a time to make a stir and a time to make a good impression.
As the women file out of the room, Emily bows—a deeper, longer one this time. I follow her lead. My hair falls over my face, the long strands shading me from view.
At this level, all I can see is a bunch of sensible pumps and prim ankles—some in stockings others not. Just before the last pair of silver shoes leaves, it stops. Then it walks back into the room.
I glance up and collide with Mrs. Kwan’s sharp, brown gaze. Fear stirs in my stomach. I feel like a kid in the principle’s office.
I’m assuming this is how it is.
I’ve never actually been in the principle’s office. Not for something I did wrong. They handpicked me to join a debate competition one time, but I guess that doesn’t count.
“Mom?” Emily asks. “Is there something else?”
“Why did you say you were here again, Gwen?”
“Here on this planet or here in this room?” I chuckle. Danny’s mother narrows her eyes. My laughter turns into a tortured cough. “Um, I was invited.”
“By…?” She arches an eyebrow.
“By me!” Emily’s hand shoots up like a student in a classroom. “We’re such good friends. I wanted her to be a part of the festivities.”
“I see.”
They’re only two words, but I start to shiver from an invisible cold that creeps from out of nowhere.
Was Mrs. Kwan always this ter
rifying or is this side of her new?
“We’ll bring Mei An out when Yeye is ready for her.”
“Very well.” Danny’s mother dips her head and leaves.
As soon as the door closes behind her, I frown at Emily. “Why did you lie?”
“I’m sorry. Should I call my mother back so you can explain in this very stressful time that you and her precious son are dating?” Emily walks a few steps ahead and reaches for the knob. “I’ll go right now.”
I pounce on her hand and pull her fingers off. “It’s fine… I’m not complaining.”
“Thought so.” Emily pats my shoulder. “I’ll go check on Mei An.”
As Emily walks away, a weird sensation worms through my chest. It feels something like shame. In the heat of the moment, with Mrs. Kwan’s eyes slicing through me as swiftly as a samurai sword, I caved.
Completely.
In hindsight, I wish I had stood my ground and explained who I really was.
My jaw clenches and I stride out of the bridal room.
Mrs. Kwan couldn’t have gone far. It’s not too late to make things right.
24 Danny
“Come on, Richie.” I drag my cousin into the hotel elevator. Richie’s arm is draped over my shoulder. The scent of puke fills the air. The tourists trapped inside the lift with us send dirty looks over their shoulders and cover their noses.
Shame burns my cheeks.
I should have taken the stairs.
The elevator doors open, and I haul Richie out. He’s sobering up slowly. Part of me thinks he’s relying on the alcohol in his veins to get him through the next few hours.
Or maybe he’s acting drunk so I let my guard down.
No matter what happens, I’ve got a good grip on him. If he runs, I’ll be there.
“Danny…” Richie groans.
“What?”
“I think I’m gonna throw up.”
My gaze darkens. “After the mess you left in my car, you still have more?”
“Sorry.”
I take him to the bathroom and stand right outside his stall as he vomits. Again.
My reflection in the wall-to-sink mirror shows a haggard man. The harsh overhead lights reveal the wrinkles in my white shirt. My pants are dusty thanks to hauling Richie off the sea wall. Stress lines carve my forehead and around my lips.
I’m too young for this.
The stall door opens and Richie limps out. His brown eyes are small and blood-shot. Vomit stains the collar of his shirt. He lost his shoes somewhere along the way so I gave him the sneakers I keep in my gym bag.
The words ‘dreg up’ come to mind.
It’s a Creole term that means ‘one who looks like crap’.
Richie is a perfect example.
He stumbles out of the bathroom and into the hall. I follow behind, prepared for any missteps he might make.
The corridor is decorated in cream wallpaper. Thick carpets swallow the sound of our footsteps. The silence is disconcerting. Are these walls sound proof? Why can’t we hear anything?
Up ahead, a door slams. The thud echoes in the hallway. A small woman stalks out of a room. Her hair swishes behind her back as she power walks down the hall. My eyes linger on her.
Attraction zips through my body.
I’d recognize those thighs and that rounded rear end anywhere.
Gwen?
“Hey, look!” Richie laughs and points ahead. “It’s Gwen.”
She stiffens and glances over her shoulder. Richie leaps into action. Before I can blink, he’s by Gwen’s side. She turns fully toward us, her face twisted in shock.
Richie scoops her up and spins her around. “It’s Gwen! Hello, Beautiful.”
Annoyance unfurls in my stomach. I know Richie’s tipsy, but I won’t accept him hitting on her. My arms pump at my sides as I race toward them.
“Put me down, Richie.” Gwen pushes against his arms. “Geez, how much did you drink?”
“That’s enough, Rich.” I haul his arms off.
Gwen plops to the ground.
I lean over. If there’s so much as a bruise on her, I’m tearing Richie up. Family or no. “Babe, you okay?”
“I’m fine.” She huffs and climbs to her feet. “Are you sure he should talk to his parents and the rest in this state?”
I open my mouth to answer when the door Gwen just walked through opens again and all my female cousins pour out. When they see Richie, they freeze.
No one moves.
No one so much as blinks.
It’s like someone pressed PAUSE on a movie.
Richie grins, his cheeks bunching behind his eyes. “Hey, look. Everybody’s here!”
The crowd of ladies part, making way for a tiny woman. The jilted bride. Mei An.
She’s wearing a simple blouse and blue jeans. Her elaborate hairstyle remains, and her face is still shimmering with makeup. It’s the first time I’ve seen her all day. I’m stunned by how ashamed I feel.
What must she think of Richie? Of our family?
The hall falls silent.
Gwen inches closer and whispers in my ear. “Should we just let them talk?”
“Let’s wait and see.”
Mei An is in front of Richie now. The moment his gaze lands on her, tears crop in his eyes. I’ve never seen a man more undone. Beyond his disheveled hair, pink cheeks and vomit-stained clothing, he looks… broken.
Richie sobs, a pitiful sound. “Mei An, I’m sorry about—”
She slaps him. Skin meets skin in a painful echo that causes us to flinch.
Mei An lifts her trembling chin. She seems incredibly small and incredibly strong as she snaps, “You have no honor. I will not marry you.”
Richie bows his head in shame.
From the conflicted look in Gwen’s eyes, I know this moment needs no translator.
Emily pulls ahead of the feuding couple and tugs on Richie’s arm. “Let’s go. Yeye wants to see you.”
I watch my cousin walk off like a man on death row. The others fall in line behind him.
Is this a cancelled wedding party or a funeral procession? It’s hard to tell.
Gwen takes my hand. Worry fills her brown eyes. “Is he going to be okay?”
“I don’t know, but I need to go in. Will you be okay by yourself?”
“Of course.”
My heart tugs me toward her, but I made a promise to Richie. I can’t let him see the elders alone. “I’m sorry about leaving like this. If you want, I can call Aiden and have him pick you up.”
“Danny,” she squeezes my fingers, “I’ll be fine. I’m a big girl. Just...” she wiggles her cell phone, “text me when you’re done.”
I nod and run behind Emily. Before we enter the suite, I glance over my shoulder and take one, longing look at Gwen before plunging ahead.
The door slams behind me, ringing with a note of finality.
I swing around and face a room full of my family members. Yeye sits in the center, perched in an ornate chair, his black eyes glued to Richie. He holds his walking stick between his legs. It’s a simple wooden cane with a golden top—a gift from the Prime Minister.
Mei An stands on the opposite side of the room, small hands clasped together. Her gaze is on the floor, but the way her slim shoulders are heaving tells me she’s not as demure and soft-spoken as she lets on.
That slap was… man, I felt that.
It’s not like Richie is innocent, yet I can’t help sympathizing with him. He’s only in this position because he felt like there was no other choice.
Richie falls on his knees in front of our great-grandfather. His parents glare at him. Aunt Dina looks heated enough to burn the entire building down.
“I’m sorry, Yeye.” Richie bows his head. “I can’t marry her.”
“How dare you!” Aunt Dina shrieks. “Do you know how much we’ve spent on this wedding? More than the money, you embarrassed us in front of our friends, our associates. Everyone!”
Murmurs of agreement
filter through the room. The air thickens with disapproval.
Richie is shaking like every word is the lash of a whip.
“Yeye,” I walk forward, “he made a mistake, but he came back to explain. Please hear him out.”
“Be quiet, Danny,” Mom hisses.
I swallow. “Mother…”
“I said be quiet!” Her lips flatten into a thin line. “I’ll deal with you later.”
Me?
“Everyone leave the room,” Yeye says. His voice cracks slightly.
“What?” Aunt Dina hooks a thumb at her chest. “Even me?”
“Now!” Yeye clops his walking stick on the ground.
The exodus begins at once.
“Except you, Mei An.”
Mom, Dad and I are swept out of the room by Yeye. While Aunt Dina and her husband lean against the door and try to eavesdrop, most of us disperse.
Before I can make a break for it and try to find Gwen, Mom calls me back. “Danny, can I see you for a minute?”
“What about?” Dad asks.
“None of your concern,” Mom shoots back. “Danny?”
I follow her to a quiet part of the hall, far from prying ears and eyes. “What’s wrong, Mom?”
She folds her arms over her chest. Mom is barely five feet, but she inspired more fear in us than our father ever did. That effect has not worn off even though I’m twenty-five, and I’ve moved out.
“It’s about Gwen,” Mom says.
“Gwen?”
“Did you invite her to the wedding?”
I shuffle my feet. “Yes.”
“I knew it.” Mom sighs. Hard. “How could you, Danny? What if Yeye or the rest of them found out?”
“That was the point.” I raise my chin and, fueled by Richie’s courage to step out, I admit—“I like her. A lot.”
“You like her?” Mom says the word like it’s a disease. “Is that your excuse?”
“I might even love her, Mom.” I mean that. Gwen and I haven’t dated for long, but my feelings for her are stronger than anything I’ve known before.
“You might love her?” Mom laughs. “Danny, do you think life is a game? A marriage isn’t built on half-cocked declarations of love. They are built on shared values, morals and beliefs.”
