Page 80 of Four Aunties and a Wedding

As one, we turn to look at Third Uncle, and sure enough, the cable tie around his wrists is white, not black. “Apa artinya?” Ma says.

“It means...” It’s impossible to sort through the thoughts chasing one another like weasels in my head. But a thought bubbles up, rising through the murk ever so slowly. “Um, hang on.”

As Nathan and my family watch, I pick up my phone and make a call.

The call is picked up and a polite voice says, “You’ve reached the Randolph Hotel, Oxford. This is Daniel speaking. How may I assist you today?”

“Hi, Dan, it’s Meddy. The bride from earlier today, remember?”

“Miss Meddelin, always a pleasure,” he says in the tone of voice that clearly states that it is anything but. “What can I do for you?”

“I think my friend’s upstairs in my room, or maybe my mother’s room. Could you check both rooms, just to make sure? And pass her a message for me?”

“Certainly. What is the message?”

“Tell her that what she’s looking for is at the Christ Church room. And that I know everything.”

It’s as cryptic and weird as messages get, but Dan, first-rate receptionist that he is, doesn’t even skip a beat. “Perfect. I shall relay the message to your friend right away.”

I hang up and turn to find everyone gaping at me.

“Care to explain what just happened?” Nathan says.

“You may as well sit down. I think we have about ten minutes before Staphanie and Ama get here.”

The room explodes in a chorus of “WHAT?”

With a sigh, I gesture at them to take a seat, and then I compose myself and tell them my ridiculously far-fetched theory, hoping against everything that I’ve got it right.

•••

Even though we’re expecting it, we all jump when there’s a knock at the door. Well, more like a pounding.

“Open the fuck up!” Staphanie shouts from the other side.

Right. I take a deep breath and look at my family. They all nod. When I open the door, Staphanie barges past me. Or tries to, anyway. My humongous dress gets in the way and she ends up squeezing past me.

“Eh! Hati-hati!” Ma cries.

I want to laugh. Why’s she telling Staphanie to be careful, as though it weren’t painfully obvious that Staphanie meant to shove me out of the way?

Ama comes in behind Staphanie, not sparing me a glance. I close the door and remind myself to inhale again. They’re not looking at me. They’re distracted by the sight of Big Uncle, Second Uncle, and Third Uncle, all tied up in their various chairs.

“Big Uncle, Second Uncle!” Staphanie rushes over to them and gives Second Uncle a tight hug. “Oh, thank god you’re all okay. We thought—” Her voice ends in a small sob and she clears her throat before straightening up. “What’s going on? Why are they all here?”

“Jems, Hendry! Aduh, kok bisa begini? You let them go now!” Ama cries.

Staphanie glares at me. “You won’t get away with this. We’re going to report you to the police for kidnapping.”

Somehow, through the sea of terror and panic, I find my voice. I hear myself say, “No, you’re not. Because we didn’t kidnap Third Uncle. He kidnapped himself.”

31

Staphanie’s eyes widen and she barks with laughter, but not before I catch it—a split-second glimpse of the truth. My cheeks flush hot. I was right.I was right. My crazy theory was right. Third Uncle did plant himself in my room, and Staphanie knew about it.

“He didn’t—”

“Yes, he did, he already confirmed it,” I say.

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