“You are out of this man’s league,” Adam says.
“How you know? You haven’t see him yet,” Mebel says.
“I don’t need to,” Adam says. “I’ve seen you. Have you seen you?”
“You are a snack,” Bella says, nodding.
Mebel laughs. When she meets Bruce’s eye, her laughter dies a little. Bruce is looking at her like he’s slightly shell-shocked, like his understanding of her has shifted in some imperceptible way. “Your husband cheated on you?” he says finally.
Mebel picks at invisible lint on her dress. “Yes.”
“And you’re here to learn how to cook so you can win him back.”
“Yes.”
There is a pregnant pause, then Bruce says, “Well, that’s rather pathetic, isn’t it?”
“Bruce!” Bella snaps.
“What the fuck is your problem?” Adam says.
Mebel clears her throat, which, to her surprise, is somewhat thick with tears. “Yes, I think is quite pathetic if you look at it in certain way. I like to think of as me fighting for my happiness.”
Bruce shrugs. “I dunno, I just think it’s pathetic, is all. He doesn’t want you.”
“All right, that’s enough,” Gemma says. “Bruce, shut the fuck up. Mebel, you and I are going to the ladies.”
“I’ll go with you,” Bella says.
As they stand, Adam hisses to Bella, “You’re leaving me alone with him?”
“You can handle it,” Bella says, then she and Gemma tuck their arms into Mebel’s and lead her to the restroom.
Mebel, half-dazed by the wine, is only too happy to follow. She can’t remember the last time she’s had such a good evening. Even with the heaviness of the topics and Bruce’s judgment, it’s refreshing to be out with these people and not talk about the things she usually talks about with her friends back home. She tries to remember the usual topics of conversation she’d have with her friends. Ah yes, the subject of kids used to take up a huge chunk of their conversations, and when the kids grew up and started their own families, it turned to the subject of grandkids. Then there’s the topic of where to go on vacation. Most Chinese-Indos travel at least twice a year—once at Christmas and once during Ramadan. Even though most Chinese-Indos are not Muslim, most businesses in Jakarta shut down during Ramadan, which makes it a good time for them to travel overseas. Even then, the topic of travel is often dictated by “Well, Henk would really like to go to Turkey this year” or “Henk has been wanting to go to Guangzhou” and the other wives are the same. And because Henk’s choices have always been wonderful—whowouldn’t want to go to Turkey?—Mebel has never felt the need to voice her own opinions.
Inside the bathroom, Gemma and Bella study their reflections and dab at their faces with tissue. Gemma glances over and says, “I hope you don’t take what Bruce said to heart.”
Mebel shrugs. “Aiya, my dear, you don’t worry about that. If I take everything anyone say to heart, I won’t be here.”
Bella’s mouth quirks up into a half smile. “Are you really here because you want to win your husband back?”
Mebel nods.
“I think that’s kind of sweet, don’t you?” Bella says, taking out lipstick from her purse.
“I do too,” Gemma says. “But if you don’t mind me asking, why do you want to win him back? You’re fabulous all on your own.”
At this, Mebel has no answer. Well, that’s not quite accurate. She has too many answers. Because they’ve been married for forty years and that’s something worth saving. Because what in the world is she going to do without Henk? Because she’s spent her entire life being raised to become a trophy wife, and what is a trophy wife without a husband? Because of a dozen other equally compelling reasons. But somehow, none of them seems to suffice at this moment.
Bella finishes swiping her lipstick on, then offers it to Mebel. “I call this one siren red,” she says. “I think it’ll suit you.”
Mebel dabs it on and stares at her reflection. “Siren red” is an appropriate name for it. She looks brazen, dangerous, a wild creature. Henk would be very scandalized by it. Mebel decides she kind of likes it. Maybe it’s because of all that wine she’s been drinking tonight. Whatever it is, Mebel finds herselfwearing a coquettish smile as she and the two girls leave the restroom. God, just one month ago, if someone had used the word “coquettish” when referring to Mebel, she would’ve just perished. And look at her now.
As the kids would say, she does not hate it.
Chapter 12
The rest of the mealis just as decadent as the starter, and by the end of it, Mebel is so stuffed that she can barely breathe. Gemma, Bella, Bruce, and Adam apparently feel the same way, as they all lean back in their chairs with glazed expressions, rubbing their stomachs. The server had switched to a red wine with the main course, and Mebel is not only full but quite tipsy as well. She smiles with quiet pleasure when Alain shows up with a small plate of chocolates.
