Page 59 of Dial A for Aunties

“Rob!” Nathan strides out of the bedroom and hurries toward us. “Stop that. Let her go.”

“But, sir, she’s the—”

“We don’t know anything yet,” Nathan says. His voice turns low and dangerous, his eyes narrowing at the security guard. “Let go of her arm.”

With one last scowl at me, Rob releases my arm. I rub at it gingerly. I swear my entire head is on fire. I’ve never been manhandled like that before. It happened so fast.

“Meddy, glad you’re here,” Nathan says. “I’m sorry about Rob.”

“What’s going on?” I follow him to one side, away from the crowd of security guards stomping all over the beautiful living room. “Where are all the bridesmaids?”

“They’ve been asked to go back to their rooms. The bride didn’t want them finding out.”

“Finding out about what?”

Nathan exhales. “The tea ceremony gifts—all those watches and jewelry and cash—have gone missing.”

I manage a small gasp. Let my mouth drop open, my eyes widen, my brows rise. Do I look genuinely surprised?

Nathan takes my hand, seems to remember where we are, and drops it. With another sigh, he says, “And the maid of honor claims you were the one who took them.”

“What?” Am I hitting the right mix of shock and anger? Should I even be angry? Or just shocked? God, I am so bad at this. I need to stop second-guessing myself. Yes, I should definitely be mad. “Why would she think that?”

He shakes his head. “She says you were the one helping her carry the box back to the room and you saw the safe code.” He lowers his voice. “Look, Meddy, obviously I don’t believe a word of it, I mean, Christ. But she’s pushing for them to search your room, and I need to follow protocol—”

“I understand,” I say, quickly. It pains me to see his face so tortured. It’s obvious he hates himself for having to tell me these things. “It’s totally fine. I’m okay with my room being checked.” As long as my mom and aunts manage to get the body out beforehand. I should probably give them more time.

“Are you sure?” Nathan’s eyes search mine, and his are filled with so many unspoken things. Worry, anger, but most of all, need. Seeing it sparks the need churning deep inside me, and god, I can’t believe we’re here in this moment and I can’t even touch him because of all these damn security guards. Well, and the thieving accusation against me. Keep it in your pants, Meddy. Now is so not the time. I tear my gaze away.

“Yeah, I’m sure.”

“Right. Let’s go inside.”

I steel myself as Nathan leads me into the master bedroom. Inside, it’s worse than I imagined. Or rather, it’s just as I imagined, but worse because now it’s real. I’m actually standing here, witnessing the fallout of Maureen’s crime.

Jacqueline is sitting at the foot of the bed in a fluffy haze of white silk and ruffles, and she’s crying. Maureen sits next to her,a protective arm around Jacqueline’s pale shoulders, handing her more tissues. Tom’s furiously tapping on his phone at the bay window, and both sets of parents are there. Mr. Sutopo is snapping at someone on the phone, and Mrs. Sutopo is snapping at someone else on her phone, and Jacqueline’s parents are arguing with each other—“You should’ve come in here to make sure everything’s fine after the tea ceremony.” “Me? YOU should’ve done that! What were you doing?”

It’s complete and utter chaos, and everything inside me squeaks to run the hell out. But Nathan’s hand is on my back, and as if he can read my thoughts, he gives me a reassuring pat.

At that moment, Jacqueline glances up. “Meddy!” she cries, standing up in a rush. She trips over her dress and would have fallen if Maureen hadn’t caught her. Maureen shoots me a glare as Jacqueline hurries over and clasps my hands. Her hands are cold and trembly.

“Meddy,” she says, her gaze boring into mine. “Meddy, Meddy, please tell me the truth—” Her voice breaks in a sob.

Mr. Sutopo strides toward us and shouts, “There’s the thief!”

“No!” Nathan says. “Calm down please, everybody. Let’s hear what Meddy—Meddelin has to say.”

The room goes silent, all eyes on me. Jacqueline takes in a shaky breath and says in a broken whisper, “Did you take the tea ceremony gifts?”

“No.” The word slides out easily.

The room collapses in a collective sigh, then everyone reacts at the same time.

Maureen: “She’s lying!”

Mr. Sutopo: “Of course she’d say that.”

Tom: “Come on, let’s just call the cops.”

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