By the time Aunt Mary returned, Connie had seated herself and I’d served both her and Eddie their drinks. I was surprised, knowing how old-fashioned Aunt Mary was about certain things, preferring to welcome invited guests herself. ‘I’m so glad you could make it,’ she said easily as she came in. She was unreadable as she shook first Eddie’s hand and then pressed her cheek to Connie’s.
‘Eddie rearranged a few things,’ Connie said.
‘I hope I haven’t caused you any trouble,’ Aunt Mary’s voice sounded sufficiently concerned but not apologetic.
‘We hardly see you,’ said Eddie, ‘or your boys,’ he smiled at Dub. ‘Joey Robello was saying only the other day how you hide yourself away.’ Aunt Mary showed no outward tremor at Eddie’s casual mention of Judge Robello.
Beside Eddie, his wife fiddled with her necklace. Connie Casama’s face was somewhat heavy-set with age, but she was nonetheless a handsome woman. She looked eagerly at Lola Lovely, at her cast, her face twitching into sudden concern as she said, ‘Does it hurt still?’
‘What beautiful pearls,’ Lola Lovely said emphatically. ‘Quite symmetrical.’
‘Eddie bought them for our anniversary last year,’ Connie cupped the beads in her palm, displaying them. ‘In Singapore.’
‘Of course, old pearls have an incomparable lustre,’ said Lola Lovely. She looked Connie over, smiling. ‘Would I know your mother?’ she added.
They sat down to dinner late, for Lola Lovely insisted on more drinks all round and made no move to get up from the settee. When they finally moved to the dining room, all eyes were on the platters steaming at the centre of the table. Pastor Levi patted his belly. ‘America’s a real artist,’ said Eveline, at the sight of the food. America had excelled herself, for she knew instinctively that her skill in the kitchen was her only weapon and, moreover, that it was only through Aunt Mary that she might get to wield it. As a result, the conversation foundered as people started to eat.
After a while Eddie said, ‘This was my favourite as a boy. But you couldn’t have known.’
Aunt Mary looked pleased. ‘America decided on the menu. I rarely need to instruct her.’
‘She’s been with our family for years,’ Lola Lovely said. ‘I remember the day I employed her. Skinny thing she was then.’
‘Fresh from the fields to the market to the kitchen,’ Mulrooney said, through a mouthful. ‘Not packaged in plastic in some mall.’
‘Progress has its price,’ Eddie said.
‘Progress is an interesting concept.’ Mulrooney leaned forward. ‘We only measure our progress in relation to our fellows.’
Eddie smiled down at his plate. ‘You’re a revolutionary through and through, Father. Surely even your ideals must at times be checked by pragmatism?’
‘That sounds so completely reasonable. You’re a politician, Eddie, more than a businessman.’ Levi said cheerfully, spearing a piece of fried fish.
‘I’m not an evil man,’ chuckled Eddie. I wondered if he enjoyed his reputation.
‘How handsome you’ve both grown,’ Connie said looking at Dub and Benny. ‘You might even be courting now, Dominic.’ Dub blushed lightly.
‘You must have your pick of the local girls,’ Eddie said and I saw how Dub struggled to look at him. ‘No one special?’ Dub opened his mouth to speak and then stopped, glanced at his mother, then up at me. I felt helpless. Aunt Mary looked puzzled and her gaze lingered over her son, before considering me briefly.
Connie laid her hand over her husband’s. ‘Filipino men are famous for playing the field, I guess. But there comes a time when a man has to choose,’ she said. Her husband smiled evenly and let his hand rest under hers, putting his fork down to pick up his glass.
Once again, Dub started to speak and faltered. I saw Benny look at his brother, assessing him with his artist’s eyes. For a moment, Aunt Mary looked alarmed and then her gaze swept the table and she turned to me and said briskly, ‘More rice, Joseph,’ though the bowl was still half full. And to Pastor Levi and Eveline, ‘I don’t believe you’ve tried the pork yet.’
I didn’t return straight away. America needed my help to turn a sponge while she iced it. I wasn’t gone for long, but when I returned the air seemed charged and Eddie was flushed. A space had been cleared on the table and Pastor Levi was drawing an imaginary Esperanza with his finger. ‘But that area must have at least a thousand households.’
‘At least,’ said Eveline. ‘Why, there are several storeys all along the river.’
‘You can’t just break up a community that’s been there for generations and expect there to be no consequences,’ said Pastor Levi.
‘There’s no place in business for sentimentality,’ said Eddie.
‘You can’t dismiss it as sentiment,’ Mulrooney said angrily. ‘These are real lives.’
‘We’ve considered a number of alternatives.’
‘What will be your sacrifice?’ Benny said suddenly. ‘You said everyone would stand to lose something. What will you lose?’ The room fell silent. Aunt Mary put her fork down carefully. ‘Boys,’ she started.
‘Am I answering to teenagers now?’ Eddie smiled. ‘Antonio wouldn’t dream of interrogating his elders.’
‘Nevertheless, it’s an interesting question,’ said Pastor Levi.
‘I’d certainly like to hear the answer,’ said Mulrooney.
‘I grew up in Greenhills,’ said Eddie quietly to Benny. ‘There’s no point clinging to a history. We can move with the times or be left behind. It’s a choice.’
‘Not for everyone,’ said Aunt Mary firmly. ‘Not everyone has a choice.’ She looked at Benny, a fleeting pride in her face.
‘This should be a discussion for adults,’ said Eddie, catching her expression, ‘For those who will actually be footing the bill.’
‘It depends on what you mean by footing the bill,’ said Eveline hotly. Pastor Levi reached out and squeezed her hand. I saw Mulrooney look at their hands on the table. I wondered if he ever thought about getting married himself. I imagined Jaynie next to him, their hands side by side, almost touching, looks exchanged as they leaned together during the conversation.
‘Let’s not ruin such magnificent food with an ideological debate,’ laughed Eddie.
‘It’s a worthy discussion for a good meal,’ said Mulrooney.
‘It’s not as if I’m on my own,’ said Eddie, ‘as if I’m the only interested party. The scheme will go ahead with or without me. I’m simply making the best of an opportunity.’ I’d never imagined Eddie as a small fish and I wasn’t quite ready to believe it, but the table fell silent again after he said it.
‘Wasn’t it your idea?’ said Aunt Mary, eventually.
‘Well, ideas can’t be owned,’ said Eddie, sitting back, his hands spread out, like a picture of Jesus at the last supper. ‘They take on a life of their own in no time.’
‘Nothing can really be owned,’ I said softly.
Startled, Eddie looked round at me and then started laughing. Lola Lovely straightened up in her chair and said, ‘Perhaps you’re needed in the kitchen, Joseph.’
‘What a household you have, Mary,’ Eddie said. ‘Full of youthful romanticism.’ He stared at Dub. Dub met his eye but looked away again quickly and then, suddenly, pushed himself back from the table and stalked out of the room. Immediately, Aunt Mary excused herself; as she followed him I moved forward to start clearing the empty platters away, my body blocking the view of the hallway. When I came out with the plates, I heard her say, ‘Don’t you dare leave. I want to talk to you.’