Because Maureen’s in love with Jacqueline.
My hands start flapping like Ma’s and Big Aunt’s and—come to think of it—the rest of my family’s do when they get excited. There’s a squealing sound emanating from somewhere. Takes a while to realize it’s coming from me. Oh my god, oh my god—
“Why do you keep saying ‘Oh my god’？” Jacqueline interrupts her crying to snap at me. “And why are you flapping like a chicken at a slaughterhouse?”
“Oh, sorry. I didn’t realize I was saying ‘Oh my god.’” I clear my throat. Gotta buy myself a bit of time, try to figure out how I should tell her—should I tell her? It’s not exactly my secret to tell, and would it help matters? I don’t know—my head’s spinning with so many different pieces of information, like the fact that Maureen is still back in my hotel room with my family as her hostages. Am I putting their lives in danger by telling Jacqueline the truth? What do I do? I’m not equipped to handle this, I can’t—
I can. All my life, I’ve told myself I’m incapable of handling whatever. Whether it’s moving east with Nathan or moving out of Ma’s house or breaking away from the family business and starting out on my own. Again and again, I tell myself I’m not ready. I still lack whatever skills are needed to strike out. But there’s nobody to count on now. Nathan’s been captured by a Podunk sheriff drunk on power, and the rest of my family’s being held at gunpoint. It all comes down to me. I’m the one who started it all. I should be the one who finishes it.
Deep breath. I force my hands to stop flapping. Inhale. I take Jacqueline’s hands. Look her in the eye.
“Jacqueline, do you trust me?”
She takes in a shuddery breath and then nods.
“Good. Then there’s something I need you to do.”
33
I knock on the door to my room and open it a crack before calling out, “It’s me, Meddy. Don’t shoot, I’m coming in.”
A few cheery shouts of “Oh, you back!” and “Ayo, masuk, masuk!” greet me. My family’s way too chipper for people who’re being held at gunpoint, I must say. When I enter, they’re all sitting around sipping tea, even Maureen.
“Seriously?”
“What?” Ma says, looking all surprised, like I haven’t just caught her drinking tea with the literal enemy.
“Nothing. Of course you’d be drinking tea with your kidnapper, because why not?”
“I’m not a kidnapper,” Maureen says, looking affronted.
“Yah, why you being so rude, Meddy? I raise you better than this,” Ma says.
I raise my eyes to the ceiling. “Whatever. Here you go. I got it.” I toss the duffel bag onto the floor, grimacing when it hits the floor with a loud tinkle. Shit, I hope I haven’t just broken some priceless Cartier watch or whatever.
“Hati-hati!” Big Aunt cries.
“Sorry, I wasn’t thinking—” It’s hard trying to make a statement.
“Oooh, exciting,” Maureen says, getting up from the chair. She starts to bend over, stops, then points her gun at me and says, “Open it.”
I do as she tells me and step back as she uses her toes to prod at the bag. Jewelry and watches glitter from inside it.
“Wow,” Maureen says after a pause. “I didn’t think you’d pull it off.”
“I tell you, my daughter is very smart,” Ma says, nodding and smiling proudly at me.
I feel a flush of pride before I realize how fucked up it is to feel proud about this. Still, it’s nice to be complimented.
“How did you do it?” Maureen says, staring at me. “How did you even get inside the safe? The bridal room must be full of people. How’d you get past them?”
“Well, let’s see. I told them I was there to talk to Jacqueline, and then I talked to Jacqueline alone and told her you wanted the gifts, and she let me have them.”
They all stare at me like I’ve just grown another head.
Maureen lets out a bark. “Oh, right, yeah, she just let you have them.”
“Yeah, she did. She said she doesn’t want them anyway, now that they’re tainted with all the bad stuff that’s happened, and she said you might as well have them.”
“You’re lying. Stop lying!” Maureen grasps the gun with both hands and aims it straight at my head.
There’s a squawk from my family. “Aduh, don’t point gun at people,” Big Aunt says.