You're Invited(48)
Her smile faltered a little as Spencer took the microphone off its stand and held it to his mouth. Clearly, he was only supposed to accept the award, not make a speech. This was her moment, after all, not his.
The camera adjusted so that both of them were in the frame.
“Thank you for your kind words, Kaavi. I’ve always said you were too good, and you’ve proved, yet again, how selfless you are. It’s true that I’ve supported, and will continue to support, Pink Sapphires. Nothing makes me happier than seeing the smiles on those little girls’ faces. But I have something equally as important to ask you today.”
I felt the remnants of the cocktail party rise up in my throat.
The audience gasped as Spencer took a step backward, and then got down on one knee.
“Kaavindi Fonseka, you give so much of yourself to others. Will you please make me the happiest man on the planet by allowing me to give myself to you?”
Kaavi was frozen. Her hands went up to her face in shock.
“Kaavi, will you marry me?” he reiterated. As if the ring and him being down on one knee wasn’t clear enough.
Kaavi remained stone-still—eyes wide, hands covering most of her face.
Spencer turned toward the audience and flashed them a wide smile.
“Looks like Kaavi is having some trouble making up her mind. How about a little support, ladies and gentlemen?”
The audience erupted into loud cheers and catcalls.
“Marry him!” someone shouted.
“Say yes!” said another.
Finally, Kaavi uncovered her face. Her lips were curled into a smile.
“Yes.” She nodded. “Yes, Spencer, I’ll marry you.”
Spencer stood up and gave Kaavi a delicate hug. Just the right amount of affection for their conservative audience. The camera panned out to show the audience on their feet, cheering and hooting.
I paused the video and zoomed in on Kaavi’s face.
I’d known her since she was a child. Since we both thought boys were disgusting and daydreamed of being the next Britney Spears. I know her favorite brand of chocolate, and what movies make her cry. I know she hates hot showers, that she has to sleep with at least three pillows, that she loves the smell of rain but thinks the ocean smells like dead fish. That she pretends to drink coffee because she thinks it makes her look more grown-up.
And I know, as surely as I know myself, that that was not happiness on her face.
REBECCA (RED)
Interview Transcript: Rebecca Davies (abbrev. RD)
Date: January 25, 2020
Location: The Mount Lavinia Hotel
RD: My name is Rebecca Davies, but everyone calls me Red because of, well—
[Points to hair]
EP: And your address, Miss Davies?
RD: I live in Chicago. 344 Maladino Drive.
EP: And your address in Sri Lanka?
RD: I’ve been staying at the Hilton with the other girls from J.P. Morgan.
EP: And you are currently working at J.P. Morgan?
RD: I left six months ago to start my own consulting firm.
EP: But it was while working at J.P. Morgan that you met Miss Fonseka, yes?
RD: Yes. Kaavi and I both joined their internship program in Chicago at the same time. She didn’t stay on for longer than the internship, of course.
EP: Could you tell us a little bit about your relationship with Miss Fonseka? Were you close?
RD: Well, the internship was pretty stressful, especially for us new grads, so we blew off a lot of steam. Worked hard. Partied harder. Kaavi was friendly and fun. She never, like, bared her soul to me or anything. She seemed sad, at times, especially after a drink or two in her. I figured she had just had a breakup or something. But we never spoke about it.
EP: But you did keep in touch?
RD: Yes, in the way most people keep in touch these days. Through Facebook, mostly. I do follow her on Instagram, too, and I’ve donated to Pink Sapphires over the years.
EP: And she invited you to the wedding?
RD: Yes. Along with the rest of the group who interned at J.P. Mor-gan. Of course, only a couple of us could make it on such short notice.
EP: And how was Miss Fonseka’s demeanor when you arrived?
RD: The same as always, I suppose. Cheerful, though closed off. Of course, she’s put her partying days behind her, as most of us have. I do have to say, though, that I was a little surprised about her relationship with her family, especially her mother and sister. The middle one—Tehani, I think, the one who’s just a couple of years younger than her. She posts about them a lot online, about how close they are, about how family is everything to her. But the vibes I got from her, from them all, just weren’t the same.
EP: So you sensed tension within the family?
RD: Look, this is just my gut. It’s not based on anything. We’re all guilty of making our lives appear better than they are on social media, right?
[Pause]
Oh, and this might be nothing, but I also thought it was super strange that Tehani kept cozying up to this other girl—Amaya. Once at the cocktail party and then again at the bridal shower they were whispering to each other. It could be nothing. It’s probably nothing. But I thought it seemed a little off because of what came next.
EP: You said to the security team that you had overheard a threat being made to Miss Fonseka. Is that what you are referring to?
RD: Yes.