Page 9

There’s a beep, and the Uber carrying Big Aunt and Second Aunt arrives. I greet them as they climb out, then go round the back to help with their bags, and—
Oh no.
No wonder Fourth Aunt didn’t snark back at Ma. Because Big Aunt and Second Aunt’s bags are matching Louis Vuitton suitcases. They might as well take turns punching Ma’s heart.
“So nice, yah?” Second Aunt says. “Is Class—”
“Class One, yeah, I know,” I sigh, pulling the first piece of brown luggage out. “How come all of you have matching ones except for Ma?”
Second Aunt blinks and stands there unmoving for a second. Big Aunt, coming back with a trolley, snaps, “Eh, why you stand there like patung? Come help.”
“Natasya not have same suitcases as us,” Second Aunt says.Wow, no snarky comebacks to Big Aunt. Second Aunt must really be worried.
Big Aunt pauses, then sighs. “When Mimi tell us to buy same suitcase, we should have guess she wouldn’t tell Nat. Aduh, aduh. Pasti Nat will get very upset.”
Dammit. I suppose it was too much to hope that the peace that had come with the whole Ah Guan ordeal would be permanent. It was nice while it lasted, but now it seems that the old grudges have crept back in. Still, even considering Ma and Fourth Aunt’s turbulent past, this is a low blow.
Just as I think that, Ma comes rushing over with another trolley. “Come, put your luggage here—oh.” She stands still and stares at the bags. “You all have Louis Vuitton?” Her voice comes out so small I want to run over and give her a big hug.
Big Aunt and Second Aunt glare at Fourth Aunt. “You didn’t tell Natasya we all getting the same luggage?”
Fourth Aunt doesn’t quite meet our eyes. “Did I not? I must have forgotten.”
“How you possibly forget such important thing?” Ma snaps.
I’m on Ma’s side here, but even so, I have to make a conscious effort not to roll my eyes at this. I mean, on the scale of what’s important, getting matching luggage strikes me as... not. But maybe that’s just because I’m an only child and haven’t grown up fighting silent and not-so-silent battles with my sisters. “It’s okay, Ma, you can order a matching set when we come back here.”
“But we never travel!” Ma wails. “This my only chance to have matching luggage with my family, but is ruin!”
“You guys go back to Jakarta once every year,” I point out.
“That not count as traveling.”
“If hopping on a twenty-three-hour plane ride doesn’t count as travel, I don’t know what does.”
Her nostrils flare and even Big Aunt takes a step back from her, but just then, there’s a honk, and two cars pull up next to us. One of the windows rolls down and Staphanie pops her head out, grinning at us. Saved! I run over to them.
Over the past few months, as Nathan and I have gone through the excruciating process of planning a destination wedding, Staphanie has been indispensable. She took care of details such as registering with the Oxford county hall so we could actually legalize the marriage, she helped us find the perfect baker for the wedding cake, and she even booked my family’s hotel rooms.
“So glad you’re here!” I give her a big hug.
Staphanie stiffens, and I kick myself. Is it weird that I hugged her? Maybe she only sees me as a client and not a friend? But then she hugs me back and the weird moment is over. When we let go, I greet her family in order of age, starting with her grandmother and ending with Third Uncle, while Staph does the same with mine. I can’t help but notice that Second Aunt immediately sidles up to Second Uncle to tell him she loves his fanny pack. I also can’t help but notice that she is wearing quite a bit more makeup than usual.
“You remember to bringing our hats, right?” Second Aunt says.
“Of course,” Second Uncle says with a smile.
“You gave your fascinators to Second Uncle?” I say.
“Yes, he say he going to sew more clip on them, make them more secure,” Second Aunt says.
“And I did. They very secure now. During wedding they will stay on your head very firm, I guarantee.”
Second Aunt practically swoons over that.Iiin-teresting. Staph catches me looking, and we grin at each other before going to get more trolleys.
“Can’t wait for this trip!” she says. “Everything going okay?”
“You arrived just in time,” I whisper. “My mom and aunts were about to start World War III over, of all things, luggage.”