by Holly Rayner
“You’re getting married today,” Karima said. “That is a big deal to me!”
Mia giggled. “I already have a baby; all it’s going to change is legal stuff. Nothing is going to change in the way Rami and I feel about each other.”
“Look at her hands shaking,” Becky said. “She’s not as cool and above-it-all as she’s trying to make us believe.”
“Shut up, Becky!” Mia half-opened an eye to pin down her friend with a mock-serious glare.
“Someone bring a glass of champagne for the bride, please,” Karima said from several feet away, and Mia assumed she must be addressing the friends and family gathered outside of the room.
After a few moments, Mia felt her chair being spun around, and someone put a cold glass stem in her hand.
“You can open your eyes now, Mia,” the makeup artist told her.
Mia took a breath and opened her eyes. She was looking at the mirror, and the sight that greeted her was at once so startling and so familiar that she almost dropped the champagne glass. Mia turned her head one way and then the other, taking in all the details that had gone into preparing her for the day ahead.
The hair and makeup gown covering her shoulders did nothing to diminish the work of the two aestheticians. Looking in the mirror, Mia’s eyes began to well up with tears at just how beautiful she looked, even to herself. “Oh God, someone get me a Kleenex before I ruin this makeup.”
The makeup artist laughed. “Sweetie, you’re going to need an industrial solvent to ruin that makeup,” she told Mia, patting her on the shoulder. “I’ve got it set on there good—it ain’t budging.” Mia met the woman’s gaze in the mirror and smiled her gratitude.
Initially, Mia had wanted to do her own hair and makeup for the wedding, but Rami had insisted that she should at least have a little bit of luxury on one of “the most important days of your life.” As she admired the results of the women’s work, Mia had to admit that she appreciated it. She had also insisted that her small bridal party should also have a chance to look and feel glamorous. They had all gone before her, so that they could be ready before the bigger effort of Mia’s hairstyling and makeup was underway.
“All right,” Becky said, nodding to Karima. “I think it’s about time we got the bride in her dress, don’t you?”
Mia took a deep breath and stood, knocking back half a glass of champagne before she let her maid of honor and bridesmaids lead her to the corner of the room where her dress waited. She had almost argued with Rami about the dress, arguing that since the wedding was taking place so much after the fact of them having a child together—contrary to the traditional order of things—a simple, off-the-rack dress from a department store would be fine.
Rami had received valuable backup from Amie and Karima on his position that Mia should still wear a white or off-white dress for the ceremony. Both women had insisted that while they didn’t mind Mia choosing a fairly simple dress, they were not going to see her “married in something off of a mannequin at Macy’s.” Mia had, under their supervision, tried on dresses at a small bridal store.
As her bridesmaids helped her slide out of the robe and into her dress, Mia had to admit that there was something exciting about it. The gown had a halter neck, with cream-colored fabric as its base. The hem was trimmed in dark green, with the halter neck edged in the same color. Mia was tingling all over. She never would have admitted it to her friends, but she was secretly glad that they had convinced her to buy a gown that was actually intended for a wedding. If it weren’t for the fact that Rami was starting to make a little more money now, and wasn’t going to have to go into debt to pay for the ceremony and reception, Mia never would have let anyone convince her not to go the cheapest possible route.
They had actually managed to put together the simple wedding for much less money than Rami had intended to spend. Mia had curtailed some of his more costly ideas, pointing out that they didn’t have the budget for it. Rami, who had only rarely been used to having any kind of budget or constraint on his spending, sometimes forgot and went back to his old ways. They had saved money primarily by being selective about whom they invited. Rami had much more extended family than Mia, and there were some relatives who had resented being left out, but most of those who hadn’t been asked to attend understood that it was a matter of money more than lack of desire to have them there.
More than once, Mia had put forward the idea that they could just elope, but Rami and his mother had both insisted that there be some small amount of ceremony, some small reception at the very least.
“The flowers are looking great,” Becky told Mia as they finished tying sashes and straightening her train behind her. Becky’s gift to the couple had been organising all of the floral arrangements for the ceremony and the reception—her sister owned a flower shop, and she had insisted that since she could get “the family rate,” it would be her pleasure to make sure the flowers were as nice as anyone could afford.
With her bouquet in hand, Mia and her bridesmaids moved to the position they had been told to wait in. Mia’s heart pounded in her chest; she could hear the guests just starting to settle down in anticipation of the event. Even though she knew there were fewer than fifty people inside the chapel where she would soon wed Rami, it seemed, from the sounds, like there were five hundred. Mia heard the music start up, and all at once the room went quiet. One after the other, her bridal party went in. Mia tried not to fidget, telling herself that there was nothing to be nervous about. After all, it was just family and friends; when the ceremony was over she and Rami would love each other the same as they always had.
A few seconds later it was time for Mia to make her appearance. The music for the bridal party cut out, and Mia stepped up to the closed door, swallowing against the tight feeling in her throat. She closed her eyes and took a deep breath, waiting for her cue to enter. She remembered the evening before—the rehearsal—and nearly convulsed in laughter at the memory of Rami rolling around on the floor, “practicing what to do in case someone gets lit on fire.” Mia pushed down the mirth she felt, forcing her face into serious—if joyful—lines. The music started up again and Mia took one final breath before the doors opened.
She had expected that the guests would turn to look at her when she made her entrance and began walking down the aisle, but she hadn’t anticipated just how she would feel with their affectionate, pleased gazes on her. Beginning to feel flustered, Mia looked up at the altar, and spotted Rami, who was watching her intently as she made her way down the aisle. As she moved closer to him, Mia realized that he looked absolutely stunning; the green accents on his expertly tailored tuxedo matched the trim on her dress exactly. When she was close enough to see his face clearly, Mia saw tears running down his cheeks, making his expression of complete and utter adoration all the more powerful.
Within a few heartbeats, they were side by side, facing the priest who would perform the ceremony. Mia’s family had never been particularly religious, and while Rami’s family were mostly secular, Rami and Mia had chosen the shortest possible religious service—basically as a concession to the older members of Rami’s family who were present. If it had been strictly up to Mia and Rami, they would have had the ceremony conducted by a friend.
“Dearly beloved,” the priest began, as everyone resumed their seats and fell silent. Mia’s hand tightened on Rami’s. She came out of her reverie once or twice during the ceremony, when Aziz took the opportunity to make some small noise, but mostly she was unable to pay attention to anything but the feelings welling up inside of her: a mixture of love, gratitude, relief, and pride. Mia and Rami were seemingly both so wrapped up in their emotions that they missed the priest finishing the first part of the ceremony, cueing them to the section where they would say their vows.
“Rami,” the priest said gently. “I believe you have your vows prepared?” Mia bit back a laugh as Rami started, patting at his pockets with his free hand.
“Oh God,” he whispered to her, glan
cing in Mia’s direction. “I forgot the card I wrote them on.”
Mia leaned in a little closer. “Just say whatever you feel like saying,” she told him in a murmur. “No one’s going to care what the vows are anyway.”
Rami’s lips twitched in a grin. He turned towards Mia and took both of her hands in his. “Mia,” he said, his voice loudly enough for their friends and family to hear. “I knew I wanted you to be mine about three hours after we met.” Mia grinned, her cheeks warming at Rami’s words. “I didn’t exactly choose the smartest or most direct way to win you over…”
Mia almost choked with laughter at the understatement. Rami glanced at their assembled friends and family with a mischievous grin. “But the fact that you forgave me for paying someone to stalk you told me that I definitely had to find a way to win you over.” At this admission, all of the guests laughed. “It’s been a long road for both of us, but I’m so glad to be here with you today.” Rami gave Mia’s hands a squeeze and she smiled back at him, her eyes brimming with happy tears.
“And now Mia Campbell will read her vows,” the priest announced.
Mia took a deep breath, reaching under her veil to dash her tears away. She took Rami’s hands once more and decided that if he could speak from the heart, then so could she. “Rami,” she began. “I have to admit that when we first met, it took me a little more than three hours to realize that I wanted to be with you.” A chuckle rippled through their friends and family. “I was intrigued by this man who had just run into my car—not because you’d rammed me at a stop light…” another laugh went through the group. “But because as soon as you’d seen me, you immediately insisted on doing the right thing. I’m so proud of the way you’ve grown into the kind of man you wanted to be, and that you’re the father of my child. I couldn’t be happier to be here with you today, making our life together permanent.”
They turned to the priest once more, and the older man took them through the more traditional vows. Mia promised to love and honor her husband, but refused—and Rami backed her up—to vow to ‘obey’ him. When the priest told Rami that he could kiss his bride, Mia threw her arms around his shoulders and for an instant, everyone else in the room disappeared as she lost herself in the feeling of Rami’s lips against hers; his arms around her shoulders, and the warm strength of his body.
***
By the time Mia and Rami arrived at the tiny hotel ballroom where their reception was about to begin, Mia was so tired that she had started to hope—in spite of her joy and desire to celebrate—that they could make a slightly early getaway from the party.
Within a few minutes of everyone sitting down at their assigned tables, the first course began to be brought out by the waiting staff. One of Rami’s friends, a restaurateur, had agreed to cater the reception at a rate that would have appalled any sensible event planner, and the guests were expecting a feast.
Mia ate her meal, holding her son on her lap and touching Rami’s arm whenever she could. She drank a few glasses of champagne and, when the speeches were over, let her new husband lead her onto the dance floor for the first dance. Although Rami and Mia had both insisted that no one had to buy them a gift, there was nonetheless a pile of boxes off to one side of the room. Mia felt a mixture of excitement and dread about opening them—particularly those from Rami’s relatives who were still well-to-do, thanks to their royal connections.
A few hours later, the night had begun to wind down. Mia was beginning to long for the bed she would share with Rami that night. The next day they would be setting off for a two-week honeymoon in Rami’s family’s home country. She couldn’t wait for them to be able to relax and enjoy each other uninterrupted in what amounted to a palace—one of the homes that Rami had access to as a member of the royal family, however distant. They would depart in the morning, but Mia could think only of their bed at home—not the one waiting for her on the other side of the planet.
Rami’s mother stood up, clinking her glass to get the guests’ attention. “I have given the best man his opportunity to speak,” Amal said, glancing at Rami’s younger brother. “And the maid of honor has had her chance as well; so I think it’s only fair that I have a shot at this.” The revelers called out their approval, and Mia and Rami both nodded their agreement. Mia wondered what Rami’s mother would say; part of her still wasn’t sure how much Amal approved of her.
“I believe this is possibly the least expensive wedding I have ever been to,” Amal said, pausing a moment while the friends and family gathered in the ballroom chuckled. “But it is also the happiest I have ever seen.” Amal looked at Mia and Rami, and Mia smiled at her new mother-in-law, feeling only a fleeting moment’s guilt at having doubted her intentions. “I’m delighted and grateful to be surrounded by so many close friends and loving family—both old and new.” Amal glanced briefly at Amie, and Mia wondered why. “I have been getting to know my new daughter-in-law’s mother recently.”
“Do you think she’s going to say something about the donation?” Mia asked Rami in a whisper. Rami shook his head, listening intently.
“Well, we discovered something interesting the other day,” Amal continued. “As I’m sure you all know, both Mia and Rami were adopted as young children. What you may not know is that they were actually adopted from the very same orphanage.” Mia turned to stare at Rami in shock, and saw his expression mirrored her own. “I hope Rami and Mia will forgive me for not telling them until today—with all of the last-minute wedding planning going on, there never seemed to be a good time. Anyway, Amie and I took it upon ourselves to dig a little deeper—something I’m sure will surprise none of those present.”
More guffaws erupted from the assembled crowd. “We got back in touch with the orphanage, and we couldn’t believe what they told us. It turns out that when Rami and Mia were both living there, they became each other’s first friends.” Mia looked up to see Amal watching them with tears in her eyes. “But they were both so young when they were separated—and so upset by losing each other—that it seems they must have both forgotten all about their friendship in the years that followed.”
“Well that explains a lot,” Rami said. Mia nodded, smiling broadly in spite of the shock she felt at the news.
“I hope you will all join me in toasting these two, who have finally been permanently reunited after spending so much time apart. To their future together.”
Mia, Rami and the guests obediently raised their glasses and took the symbolic sip.
“No wonder you always seemed so familiar to me,” Mia commented lowly to Rami.
He leaned in and brushed his lips against hers. “Now we’ll never have to be apart again,” he said. Mia gave his hand a squeeze; she fully intended, from that day forward, to hold him to that promise.
