Page 18 of The Good, the Bad, and the Aunties

“I’m so sorry,” Nathan says in his smooth, rich voice. “Meddy and I—it’s our first Chinese New Year as a married couple, and we were so excited to finally be able to give out red packets to the kids. I might have rushed her into doing it.”

I can’t decide whether I’m grateful or frustrated at Nathan for taking on all of the blame for us. I stare up at him, wanting to hug him and kiss him, and also smack his gorgeous face.

Julia Child’s gaze lands on him, and it’s like she’s taking him in for the first time. Her eyebrows rise just a smidgen, and her mouth stretches into a smile that reminds me of a shark. “What’s your name, boy?”

“Nathan. Nathan Chan.”

Her head tilts to the side. “Nathan Chan. Are you by chance Frederick Wong’s business partner?”

Nathan nods, smiling with obvious relief. “We have a lot of deals together. He and I go all the way back to grad school.”

“He’s a snake,” Julia Child says flatly.

Oh god. The dread solidifies into a fist and crunches into my heart. Nathan’s smile disappears.

“I do not like smarmy young men who think they know more than I do about how to run my own business,” she hisses.

“I—ah—I definitely don’t think that,” Nathan says quickly.

“Nathan is good boy,” Ma pipes up in English. “Very good boy. Very filial and very respectful.”

The other aunties all nod.

Julia Child narrows her eyes at Nathan. “Yes, I can see you’re different from that greasy partner of yours. You need to keep an eye on him. He won’t hesitate to stab you in the back, you know, you take my word on it.”

Nathan nods. “I will. Thank you for the advice.”

A corner of Julia Child’s mouth quirks up. “I like you. Come here, boy.”

With one last helpless glance at me, Nathan gets up and walks toward Julia Child. My insides clench, and I very nearly shout at him to stop but somehow manage not to do so. When he gets to her sofa, she pats a spot next to her, and he sits down gingerly, at the very edge of the sofa, as though he’s ready to leap out and make a run for it at any moment. Julia Child’s hand shoots out like a striking snake and grabs him by the chin.

“My, my,” she muses, “they don’t make jawlines like this very often.” She turns his face this way and that. “Oof, very good nose. Very mancung.” She smiles at me, her hand still clutched around his jawline. “He’s a good-looking one, isn’t he? He’ll give you very handsome children, my dear.”

“Aiya, this is why I always say, quickly have children,” Ma cries with enthusiasm, seemingly having forgotten that her son-in-law is in the literal clutches of a mafia lord. “Very beautiful grandchildren.”

“Yes, thank you.” I force a smile. “Could I, um, could I have him back, please?”

Julia Child lets go of Nathan, who sags with obvious relief. “I’m afraid not, my dear.”

It takes a second for her words to sink in. “I’m sorry?”

Julia Child leans back, looking relaxed, completely unperturbed. “My dear, I’ve been in this business long enough to know who has a killer instinct and who doesn’t.”

“What—”

“You, my dear girl, have it. So does your family.” She nods at Ma and the aunties, who smile like she’s told them they have beautiful eyes. I want to scream at them that it’s not exactly a compliment she’s giving them. She nods at Nathan. “But this one doesn’t. He’s an innocent babe. Look at him, so pure.”

Nathan squares his shoulders, trying to look—I don’t know—manly? Julia Child scoffs. “Oh, I’m sure you’re good at what you do, dear.” She pats his knee. “But you’re not a criminal.”

“We’re not criminals!” I cry instinctively.

Julia Child looks at me. Then she looks at Ma and the aunties very pointedly, and again, I get the feeling that she’s somehow reading our innermost thoughts. Somehow, I get the feeling that she knows exactly every bit of our dark pasts. The literal skeleton in our closet.

“You will get my title deed back no matter what,” she says with finality. “In the meantime, sweet Nathan here will stay and accompany this old lady.” She smiles at Nathan and pats his knee again.

“No.” I start to stand up, but Big Aunt grabs my arm and pulls me back down.

Julia Child laughs. “Oh, young love. So energetic. So full of drama. You remember what that was like, Abi?” When sheasks the question, her voice turns cold, all of the laughter leeching out of it.

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