“Ah, be quiet.” Elder Koh shushed his wife. “So how much?” His tone was jocular, but he wanted to know. There were four hundred guests at this location in Queens with parking—the nicest Korean wedding hall he knew of. His oldest daughter was twenty. Paying for a wedding couldn’t be that far off in his future. His wife would certainly chide him for being a ssangnom when they got home.
Douglas folded his arms, quiet until he held everyone’s attention.
“Two-fifty a head,” he said. The guests gasped loudly.
“Give or take fifty. Saved a fortune on no suhl, though. Being a Presbyterian can be economical.” Then everyone laughed. This cost wasn’t hurting him at all. More than envious, they were awed by his abundance.
Casey’s parents hadn’t yet looked in her direction. Naturally, she’d anticipated this before she’d approached the table. They were capable of great detachment. Jay continued to grin, believing that somehow they’d ultimately fold him into their embrace. At times like this, she found his optimism delusional.
Douglas cleared his throat. “I brought the beautiful bridesmaid and her fiancé,” he said. “Has everybody met Jay?”
“Whaaaaa—” the guests murmured, smiling at the Hans, who’d never mentioned this important detail. They smiled at Jay, assessing him privately and wondering how old he was. To the Koreans, he didn’t look young, but a little mild, as though he wouldn’t be much trouble for Casey.
“Hello there,” Jay said, waving like a royal. There were nine people at the table, and it would have been impossible to shake everyone’s hand. They tipped their heads, and Jay returned the gesture identically, but that was wrong. He should’ve bowed deeper from the waist, since he was the younger one. It wasn’t his fault—Casey didn’t blame him.
Jay spotted Leah. The short bald man to her left must have been Joseph. He and Casey had the same mouth.
The elders congratulated the Hans all at once, and Joseph gave them a clipped nod. All this was taking him by surprise. He could see no way to talk himself out of it.
From her seat, Deaconess Sohn reached over to clasp Casey’s forearm. She had a habit of touching people forcefully.
“He’s so cute.” She winked at Jay, feeling more comfortable with the American than the other deaconesses. “Congratulations,” she said to Jay. He shook her small, plump hand.
Again, she winked to Casey, then exclaimed, “I love your dress.”
“That’s very sweet of you to say.” Casey laughed quietly. The deaconess kept talking about the reception, but all Casey wanted to do was excuse herself. Jay was expecting to be introduced to her parents. No one at the table seemed to know that this was the first time Joseph was meeting her fiancé.
Casey swallowed. Facing her parents, she said, “Hi.”
The guests didn’t think much of it. Several men returned to their conversation. Leah smiled at Casey yet said nothing. Joseph would not look her way.
Wordlessly, Joseph pushed his chair away from the table and got up. The guests turned to him. Then they understood. One elder coughed as though he had something stuck in his throat, and the others sipped their 7 Up. Douglas then remembered how oddly Leah had behaved when he’d mentioned Casey being Ella’s bridesmaid. This awkwardness was his fault, but he couldn’t have imagined this possibility. He’d thought it would be nice to bring Casey and Jay to the table. He’d done so to make Jay feel welcome, but he’d made it worse. Joseph was visibly furious.
Douglas moved to Jay’s side, understanding that Joseph wanted to leave the wedding. He would take the boy away. Get him a soda.
Joseph smoothed down his suit jacket. He wore a two-button navy pin-striped suit, a white shirt, and a burgundy necktie—on it, a tie pin in the shape of a cross that Leah had given him when he became an elder.
Jay stepped toward him and stood right in front of him.
“Mr. Han, Mr. Han,” Jay said. “Hello, sir. I’m Jay Currie. It’s very nice to meet you, sir.”
Joseph stared at him. The boy was pop-eyed and tall—little was remarkable about him. Smiled too much for a man. If Casey wanted to throw her life away, that was her business. He was resolved on this point.
“Excuse me,” Joseph said, and tried to walk away.
Jay blocked him, continuing to smile. “Sir, sir,” he said.
“Excuse me.”
“No. Excuse me,” Jay said, refusing to move aside. He didn’t smile anymore. “I’m your daughter’s fiancé.” His voice was full of rebuke, reminding Joseph of his duty. At that moment, Jay hated fathers in general.