“No.”
“Guess we’ll have to agree to disagree, Detective.” Ninang Mae winked at him. “Ah, dessert! Perfect timing.”
Lola Flor set out bowls of shaved ice as well as the various halo-halo toppings, and I got up to fetch the nondairy milks from the fridge to serve alongside the usual evaporated milk.
Jae eyed the rainbow spread with interest. “What is this? It looks like pat bing soo, but with more stuff.”
I laughed. “Yeah, pretty much. We call it halo-halo. Getting to mix and match the ingredients is the best part. If it’s your first time, I suggest sampling a little bit of everything. Eventually, you’ll figure out what works best for you.”
Everybody served themselves, and I piled my bowl high with my favorite nata de coco, kaong, and sweet jellies. Coconut milk wasn’t traditional, but I’d already indulged in more dairy than my stomach could handle these last few days. I didn’t want to deal with the aftermath of an unhappy tummy around this crowd, especially with Jae and Amir right there. Once everybody was happily digging into their bowls, Detective Park brought the conversation back on track.
“Let’s circle back. Beth had a rivalry going with Sana Williams, professionally and personally. What do we know about Ms. Williams?”
“She’s a life coach and fitness instructor. Valerie seems to rely on her a lot,” I said, spooning some caramelized saba bananas into my bowl.
Amir frowned. “Adeena has gotten pretty close to her as well. She seems like a nice woman, but I could swear I’ve met her before.”
“Before she moved to Shady Palms, you mean?” Detective Park asked.
Amir nodded. “I wonder if my firm represented her or her former employer? Or maybe I saw her at a fundraiser?”
“Sana did say she volunteered with a nonprofit for a while, but she didn’t say where. If it was in Chicago, it could be possible. I’m not sure where she’s from though, and she’s been here for a few years. If this was before her move, how can you be sure it was her?” I asked.
“I’m not sure and that’s what’s bothering me.” Amir was always sure about everything. “But she’s a striking woman. It’s not likely I’d forget her. Uh, because I never forget a client! Or anyone work-related.”
Mr. Smooth was fumbling big-time trying to cover up that last bit. I should’ve been annoyed by that, but I wasn’t. Not the way I was with Jae and Beth, anyway. “I like Sana, but there’s something evasive in the way she talks about herself. Maybe you could dig up a little more about her past?”
Amir had tensed up, likely expecting the same interrogation I’d given Jae. When he saw I not only wasn’t mad but wanted him to look into Sana further, he smiled and helped himself to more of the halo-halo on the table. “I’d be happy to! Anything to help out.”
He shot Jae a smug look, clearly thinking he’d come out the victor in this situation. “So, Doctor, when will you next see Beth? I think it’d be best before the will reading to see if you can figure out whether or not she thinks she’s receiving an inheritance. If you wait till after, she’ll have time to temper her reaction.”
Jae glanced at me, then his brother. “If it’ll help Lila.”
Bernadette let out an exasperated sigh and set down her dessert spoon way harder than necessary. “How is my freedom at stake and everything is still all about Lila?”
I froze, my own dessert spoon halfway to my mouth. “What? The only reason we’re all gathered here tonight is for you. You’re the one who asked me to investigate.”
“Yes, to help me. And instead you’re twisting it into some quest your beloved suitors need to fulfill in order to win you over. Spoiler alert, Lila: Nobody likes love triangles. Nobody.”
OK, first of all, how dare she come for love triangles, one of my most beloved romance tropes. I didn’t care that it was on so many people’s loathe lists, I ate that stuff up. The tension! The drama. The angst. Second, count on her to call out the elephant in the room. I wasn’t insensitive to the fact that both Amir and Jae were serious about me—I just couldn’t handle that right now. I not only had recently broken off my engagement, but the events of the past few months had put me in a weird place. Focusing on myself and the cafe came first. Though I was messing things up with Adeena and Elena as badly as I was with Jae and Amir. The fact that they’d declined to come to this dinner was proof of that. I’d been honest with Jae and Amir from the beginning. I didn’t believe in stringing people along, and they’d both assured me no matter what I chose, they’d always be my friend. I couldn’t help that they still cared about me, and it was wrong of Bernadette to embarrass them and put us all on the spot like this.
But before I could let out this tirade, Ninang June stepped in and made everything worse. “Ay, Bernie, she can’t help it. She’s just like her mother. Cecilia was always papansin, diba? These Macapagal women, always wanting more and more attention, and then complaining when they get it. Like with the judging. It should’ve been you. And instead—”
“Tama na!” My grandmother slammed her hand on the table, making everything on it rattle. “You insult my family? In my home? Get out.”
Ninang June and Bernadette exchanged glances, as if just now realizing we had been privy to what would usually be their private, petty conversation. Ninang June tried to apologize, at a loss for words for the first time since I’d known her. “Ay, Tita Flor, no. You misunderstand me. I didn’t mean to—”
“So on top of insulting my family, you now insult my intelligence?” Lola Flor stood up. “Get out. Don’t you dare come by the restaurant. Your daughter’s so smart, so good? She can get herself out of trouble.”
Bernadette went over to her. “I’m so sorry, Lola. I—”
Lola Flor brushed her aside and pointed toward the door. “Lila, you want to stay with that pageant, that’s your business. But you’re done with this investigation. I won’t have you putting yourself at risk for these ungrateful . . .” And here she let out a string of Tagalog curse words. Several of the people around the table had no idea what she was saying, but we all winced at the vehemence in her voice—her feelings were clear, no translation necessary.
Ninang June and Bernadette left without another word, and the dinner party broke up soon after that. Detective Park took me aside before he and Jae left together.
“Lila, I think your grandmother’s right. I was foolish to get you involved, especially so soon after your previous trauma. The SPPD can handle this. You just focus on your new business, OK?”
I bristled, not just at the notion that I should follow my grandmother’s command, but at the way he referred to that past event as a trauma. I was doing just fine, thank you very much.
“Sure, Detective. Whatever you say.”