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WINSTON LEFT GAFFEY to preen in the car. As he opened the door to the restaurant, he noticed the Chan van pull into the parking lot. He decided not to wait for them because the smell of curry wafted toward him, making his mouth salivate.
He went over to Kristy and his friends seated at a long rectangular table. Twelve similar tables filled the dining area, and against the far wall, Sambal offered a bar that served exotic Asian drinks.
The configuration of the long tables in the dining room made for awkward moving around Sambal. It required dodging other people when trying to get to the restrooms, but at least large groups could sit together.
Kristy motioned for Winston to sit next to her. She pointed at the whole coconut pierced with a straw placed on a nearby placemat. Looked like she’d thought about him and already ordered one of his favorite drinks.
He couldn’t wait for the refreshing taste of the coconut water. Maybe it would take away the bitterness left by Mrs. Chan’s brush-off, and also overcome the sourness left by a car ride with Gaffey.
Winston gave Kristy a quick hug before he sat next to her. She smelled like sweetness itself. A hint of gardenia floated off her skin and intoxicated him.
Snatching the drink in front of him, he began gulping down the coconut water. Then he followed through with the niceties, greeting his two future brothers-in-law. One of Kristy’s brothers was single, but the other was married and had a toddler.
The little boy clapped his hands at Winston, and he smiled at the tyke. Huh. Maybe he could be a dad someday . . . with the perfect woman by his side. He squeezed Kristy’s hand, and she rubbed her thumb over his palm in return.
Carmen and Alex greeted him, his best man toasting him with a glass of bubbly. Did they usually serve champagne at Malaysian restaurants? Or maybe the couple had slipped in some BYOB by paying an extra fee. Money sure made things easier.
His Sweet Breeze friends greeted him, too. Anastasia wiggled her jewel-laden fingers at him while Jazzman tipped his top hat. Pete offered a small head nod.
Only Marcy frowned at Winston, followed by a prolonged look at her Rolex. Since she happened to be sitting on the other side of Winston, and he didn’t want her to start in on him, he explained his tardiness. “It took some time to get things settled at the hospital.”
Marcy’s husband, Gary, who sat on her other side, placed an arm over her shoulder. “Give Winston a break,” he said, pecking Marcy on the cheek. Looked like their relationship was on the mend. Winston grinned, knowing that his own romance with Kristy had reignited his sister’s previously faltering marriage.
Kristy leaned over and whispered in his ear. “Everything okay with the Chans?”
Winston shook his head. “They almost didn’t come, but—”
At that moment, the door made a loud swishing sound. Gaffey kept it open with a gallant gesture of his hands and ushered the Chan family inside.
They streamed in like a sinuous snake and made their way over to Winston’s table. He frowned. Why had that particular image cropped up?
Orchid paused in front of Winston and Kristy. “Thank you for dinner,” she said.
Then on seeing Alex at the table, she glared at him.
He made a clucking noise with his tongue. “It’s a shame about your husband’s accident.”
“Those stairs in the Mystery Shack are dangerous. I could sue the two of you.”
Carmen lifted her glass of champagne up. “Not after signing our detailed contract. No liability, remember?”
Orchid huffed and turned her back on them. She fumed, and Winston was glad he wasn’t the source of her displeasure this time. Her anger filled the air, choking the previous joyous mood.
Kristy invited the family to sit down, leave their worries behind, and enjoy the food. She placed a hand on Orchid’s back and guided her to a seat next to Pete. Hopefully, the vet would turn on his more charming side today. Or maybe they could commiserate about the trials of life together.
The rest of the Chan family then divided themselves around the long table, and Lyle ended up next to Jazzman. The two of them could talk about the arts. After all, didn’t Jazzman put up framed photos in his room? Winston could see Lyle already flipping through images on his camera and showing them to Jazzman, their heads bent over the device.
Once the Chans sat down, Winston breathed a sigh of relief. He realized that Gaffey’s chivalrous door opening would ensure that the cop get the last spot, a seat far from the center of the table where Winston sat.
Winston had drunk over half of his coconut water by the time the waitress appeared at their table. She wore a traditional dark-blue batik dress with many swirls adorning it. Her hair was pinned up, and a white plumeria perched behind her ear. Without needing to glance at the menu, he and Kristy put in the order for their celebratory dinner.
The waitress wrote everything down and then asked for people’s drink preferences. Most of the Chans stuck with water, but Orchid opted for teh tarik, the pulled milk tea. And Fort asked for a coffee.
“Caffeine doesn’t affect me,” he boasted. “I can drink five cups a day. Keeps my energy flowing.”
The waitress bustled away but came back within minutes, balancing a huge tray. She doled out the glasses of water and two steaming mugs.
“Do you have sugar?” Fort asked after he’d been served.
“On the table,” she said. Satisfied that everyone had their beverage of choice, she turned to Winston and said, “Now let me check on your food.”
After the waitress whisked away, Viv leaned across the table and dangled a spoonful of white grains in front of Fort’s nose. “Got your sugar for you, dai gor.”
Fort leaned back in his chair and practically put his feet up. “That’s right. I’m the big brother, and the youngest should always serve the eldest.”
She made her voice lilt. “Of course, Fort, my dear big brother.” Then she dumped the spoon’s contents into his coffee and stirred.
Fort licked his lips. Upon his first sip, he spat the drink onto the table and at the person across from him—Orchid.
His stepmom let out a few choice curse words in Cantonese before excusing herself to the ladies’ room.
Fort pointed to the offending drink and accused Viv. “You put salt in my coffee.”
“Oops, couldn’t tell the difference.”
Lyle stopped showing pictures to Jazzman for a minute and piped up. “But the salt’s in a bottle, and the sugar’s in packets.”
“Prankster.” Fort gnashed his teeth and glared at Viv, even as Orchid returned to the table. “You probably even ‘forgot’ to give Ba his pills, and that’s why he collapsed.”
“Stop spouting lies.” Viv took a napkin and mopped up the coffee mess on the table. “And look who’s talking . . . you’re the next in line to inherit.” She tossed the sodden napkin onto his lap.
Why would the Chan family even joke about Ming’s fall? Winston shuddered.
Fort looked shocked. He spluttered and let the cloth napkin slide to the floor. He also signaled for the waitress to return and asked for a new coffee.
Thank goodness Winston’s own family wasn’t so dysfunctional. It had been rough losing their parents, but through it all, he and his sister loved each other.
Turning to Marcy, he asked her about the latest herbology research. She gave a brain dump, and her use of scientific plant names, along with Gary’s rhythmic uh-huhs by her side, lulled Winston into a dazed state of boredom.
Only the smell of bread from the roti platter woke up his brain. Winston reached out to take one and split the fluffy, layered appetizer with his beautiful bride-to-be. Kristy flashed him a smile before resuming an intense game of peek-a-boo with her nephew.
Winston dipped his piece of roti into the fragrant curry and looked at Kristy playing with the little boy. She’d make an excellent mother. As he nibbled the bread and continued watching them, both his stomach and his heart felt an immense burst of joy.
Then a giant thump resounded. The table gave a small vibration.
Fort pounded his fist again on the wood and stood up in haste. “Get that away from me!”
Winston looked to where Fort pointed.