Page 67 of Dial A for Aunties

The bridesmaid does as she’s told, looping her hand through the groomsman’s arm and gripping it tight with her other hand, staggering a little when the groomsman sways and rests some of his weight on her.

“Stop,” Tom says, but it’s too late. All the bridesmaids, who obviously despise him, have rallied around and are helping the groomsmen off the stage. “No, wait—WAIT!”

It all happens in slow motion. I see Tom reaching out desperately, angrily, grabbing anything he can reach. I see it unfold so slowly, as though he’s moving underwater, or in a dream. Or a nightmare, rather. Because right then, the nearest man to Tom is groomsman number seven. One of the guys holding up Ah Guan. My mouth drops open, and a “Nooo” comes out, low and slow and much too late.

Tom grabs the groomsman, jerking him backward, and in his inebriated state, groomsman number seven tumbles over like a bowling pin. Groomsman number six, who’s propping up Ah Guan’s other arm, stumbles too, his feet staggering across thestage until he reaches the edge and falls with a dramatic splash into the infinity pool. Without any support, Ah Guan falls down onto the stage floor like a log.

I’m going to be sick. This is so bad—this is—it can’t be happening.

People are screaming. More groomsmen have fallen into the water and—oh god—they’re too drunk to swim.

“Save them!” someone screams. There are more shouts, but I can’t make any of them out. The world is a blur of noise and movement.

Several of the guests take off their jackets and plunge into the water. Nathan is running from the back of the ceremony, where he must’ve been standing, overseeing the proceedings. His security guards run ahead of him and jump into the water.

Reality comes rushing back and I realize that in the chaos, no one’s noticed the body. Ah Guan still lies on the stage, undisturbed while people clamber everywhere. This is my chance. I’ve got to get him out of here. I grab his arm and I don’t hesitate, not one bit. I put all of my strength into it, and the adrenaline coursing through my veins propels me up, up, up, and before I know it, I’m standing, Ah Guan’s arm flung across my shoulders. I grip his waist tight, not even grimacing a little at the fact that I’m holding a dead man, not giving my brain that space to freak out, and take a step forward. And another. I can do this. I can walk him out of here.

“Oh god, he’s completely passed out,” Jacqueline says, rushing forward.

No. No, no.

“It’s okay!” I cry.

“Let me help—”

She’s reaching for his other arm. Her fingers brush his hand.His cold, stiff, dead hand. The expression on her face freezes. “Wait—”

“No!” Instinct overtakes me and I shove her aside—I can’t let her find out, not beautiful, pristine Jacqueline, not like this, not—

She stumbles back, eyes wide, and before I know it, she topples over the aisle and splashes straight into the water.

27

For the first time in my life, I don’t hesitate. There isn’t even a split second of “What do I do now?” The moment Jacqueline crashes into the pool, I drop all of my precious camera gear and go in after her.

We’re in the deep end—the pool is about seven feet deep here, and all that tulle, the frothy layers of lace, they look light and airy, but on land alone the whole thing weighs over fifteen pounds. Underwater, her dress might as well be metal armor. I catch her arms and pull up, but it’s like trying to move an anvil. I don’t even have time to think “Oh my god, she might drown.” I yank up, my legs goingkick, kick, kickfrantically. Somehow, we both break the surface of the water. Jacqueline draws in a desperate, wheezing gasp before my strength gives out and we both go back down. My lungs are screaming, my chest is on fire, and my muscles are water. I kick again, but my legs are so feeble.

Bubbles froth around us all of a sudden. Feet and legs speardown. Bodies dive in. Hands reach out and catch us, wrapping around our arms with viselike grips, and before I know it, I’m breaking the surface for the second time. Air rushes in, clear and sharp and painful. I try to gulp it in. Cough, maybe throw up a little, try to breathe again.

“Easy, easy, it’s okay,” a low voice says.

My eyes keep rolling back in my head and I feel like I might pass out at any moment, but still, somehow, I recognize the voice and the arm wrapped around my chest, keeping me buoyant.

“Nathan—” I say. Or try to say, rather. It comes out as a choked gurgle.

Jacqueline. Save Jacqueline!

“She’s okay, she’s okay. The lifeguards got her.”

Sure enough, a few feet to my right, there are two lifeguards helping Jacqueline. They’ve thrown a float around her and are heading to the side of the pool. My relief is short-lived. I glance up at the stage, where about half of the bridal party is still struggling to rush off, and as though the entire universe has been waiting for me to look, it’s at this moment that one of the bridesmaids, in her hurry to run off the stage, trips over Ah Guan’s prone body.

She falls heavily; even from where I’m wading in the water, I can hear the thud.

“Nearly there,” Nathan says reassuringly, but I barely register it.

The bridesmaid scrambles up, her face a mask of horror. As she stands, she accidentally kicks Ah Guan. He doesn’t move, merely lies there like a sack of potatoes. Her mouth drops open. Her shriek pierces through my entirety, stabbing through all of the chaos and panic of the crowd.

“He’s dead!”

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