“Stop eavesdropping, Ma.”
“It’s not eavesdropping if you can hear it out in the hallway. You missed the whole thing. The shit hit the fan. Big time.”
I could hear Joseph Uncle and Isabelle shouting. Rachel Auntie was sobbing.
“What’s wrong?” I asked.
“We were all hanging out in the salon when Joseph said he had a gift for Thomas’s parents. He came back up with a huge heart-shaped box filled with underwear and presented it to George and Kassia. He said it wasn’t much, but it was his way of thanking them for the cruise. Isabelle was utterly humiliated. She was livid Joseph didn’t check with her first. Apparently, she’s been too ashamed to tell Thomas and his parents that her father sells underwear for a living. She said he’s a successful entrepreneur and left it at that.”
“All my life!” Isabelle was screaming inside. “Laal chadi, pili chadi, neeli chadi.”
Red panties, yellow panties, blue panties.
“I’m sick of it. I’m sick of explaining what you do to everyone.”
“What’s wrong with what I do?” Joseph Uncle said. “Covering your privates is an honorable thing. I’m providing an excellent, humanitarian service, and I make good money doing it. Why should I keep it from anyone? You have no problem walking down the street with bags full of stuff from La Perla. Why is it okay for you but not for me?”
“Because! It’s not the cheap, polyester stuff you sell, Dad.”
“Let me set you straight. The cheap, polyester stuff put you through college. The cheap, polyester stuff paid for your car. And your hair. Your nails. Your bags. Your shoes. The cheap, polyester stuff keeps a roof over our heads. And you’re telling me you’reashamed? Now? Because you’re all set, and you don’t need your father anymore? This is the thanks I get?”
“You should’ve told me what you planned to do. What are Kassia and George going to do with a bunch of neon thongs? What are they going to think?”
“If you’re so concerned about whattheythink, why don’t you just leave me out of it? Why bother inviting me? I didn’t come here to be humiliated by my daughter. In fact, I’m getting off this boat right now.”
“Joseph!” Rachel Auntie spluttered. “You don’t mean that.”
“I do. If she’s so ashamed of me, she can get someone else to walk her down the aisle because I sure as hell won’t be doing it.”
“You can’t!” cried Isabelle. “You can’t back out now!”
“Jose—”
“You.” Joseph Uncle cut Rachel Auntie off. “This is allyourfault. Always siding with her, always spoiling her. And now this. She insults me, belittles what I do and you’restillsiding with her.”
“I’m not siding with her. I’m just trying to stop a bad situation from getting worse—”
“Get out of my way. Both of you. Where’s my bag?”
“Dad. Stop!”
“Joseph.” This time there was steel in Rachel Auntie’s voice. “Our daughter is getting married. You arenotgetting off this boat and neither am I. I know you’re angry, but—”
“I said get out.” Joseph Uncle swung the door open. Dolly and I took a guilty jump back. He scowled at us and then glared at Isabelle and Rachel until they left the cabin.
We were all squirming in our skin when he shut the door on our faces. A few awkward beats passed before Rachel Auntie knocked on the door.
“You’re not leaving, are you?” she asked, when Joseph Uncle cracked the door open a slit.
“No. But you can go bunk with your darling daughter. I want nothing to do with either of you.” The door clicked shut.
A moment later, it opened again. “And get rid of this. I got it for you and Thomas, but it’s obviously not wanted.” He thrust a clear, plastic, wedding-ring-shaped tube into Isabelle’s hands and slammed the door. It looked like an inflatable pool ring, filled with matching His and Hers underwear in black and gold. The ‘diamond’ part was stuffed with personalized accessories—luggage tags with the couple’s initials, a fridge magnet with their photo and wedding date, a handwritten note congratulating them.With love from Mom and Dad.
Rachel Auntie started crying again.
“Let’s get you some water.” Dolly steered her into our stateroom. “Just give him some time. He’ll cool off.”
“I can’t believe this is happening!” Isabelle wailed. I caught a glimpse of Naani as Isabelle walked into their cabin and broke down.
