“This is fantastic.”
“It came out good, no?” she asks.
“Good, no, it’s incredible. Thank you, Mila, I know it means so much to Prende to have you here.”
“Wouldn’t have it any other way.” She winks at me, letting me know she’s got our back.
Mila leaves and as we’re getting ready for the family dinner at a restaurant, I present Prende with a long, thin blue box.
“What’s this?”
“Just a little something. I have to confess, it’s your something borrowed, but you get to keep it, Mama insisted.”
She opens the box and inside is a string of white pearls, delicate, like her.
She gasps, “They are beautiful.”
“Do you like them?”
“Of course, thank you.”
She smiles but the smile doesn’t reach her eyes the way I hoped. I’m at a loss as to how to make her truly happy. Maybe it’s not possible. She may never fall in love with me. In that case, we simply get a divorce at a later date, and I’ll just have to learn how to live without her.
My chest tightens at the thought of life without Prende and yet, I understand. This situation is not any woman’s version of a fairytale.
Arranged marriages still happen around the world. Ours was more of a push than an arrangement, but the fact remains, many people marry with less going for them and they make it work and grow to love each other.
I don’t understand why she doesn’t love me. All the women I’ve dated have taken what I’ve given them and been very happy. What does my future wife wish for?
Like Sunday dinner, tonight’s dinner starts with Dante opening a bottle of champagne. He stands at the head of the table and raises his glass. “To the bride and groom, may you always find happiness and comfort in each other.”
I nod and give him a nervous smile. I realize I’m helping the family by going through with this marriage, but Mama doesn’t know that. She’s not keen on Prende being Albanian, but we talked when she gave me the necklace. I told her how we met over the flowers for Juliet’s wedding and that it was love at first sight.
I don’t think she believed me, but she patted my hand as I sat on the edge of the couch and she wished me the best.
I check the streets as we walk from parking the car to our condo. Dante thinks we have nothing to worry about but I’m still vigilant. The trees cast long shadows over the sidewalks, and I find it unsettling. I’m not used to being out this late with so many unknowns swirling around us. I’m apprehensive, and I can’t wait to get inside.
We enter our condo and Juliet says she’s tired and retires for the night. We’ve been sleeping in the same bed and she’s nice but still guarded around me. I thought we had made headway with the handbag.
I might have overestimated our connection. Or it could be she’s still having a difficult time accepting the fact she’s been forced into this marriage?
I do some work on my encrypted laptop before putting it away in the floor safe. The break in at Prende’s condo taught me to never leave anything important just laying around.
I head towards the bedroom, lit only by the yellow glow of an old streetlight outside our window. Prende is asleep, with a blanket tucked under her chin and dressed in a white lacy nightgown, her long hair spread over the pillow.
I undress, slide my shoes under the bed for tomorrow, and crawl into bed. Laying there, unable to sleep, my thoughts drift to Besnik. He knows Prende more than anyone and he seemed more than happy to cancel the engagement with Lirim and have her marry me. What does he know about Lirim that he’s not sharing?
All fingers point to Argon’s murder not being caused by the Albanians if Prende is safe. I fall into an uneasy sleep. It’s become a norm now that I have Prende to protect, a responsibility that came earlier than expected. As much as I hate to admit it, I like protecting her.
The days waiting for our license passes quickly and our small wedding is simple but when Prende walks towards me in her beaded wedding dress and her face half hidden under a veil, she takes my breath away.
She hands her bouquet to Mila and stands next to me. Dante, my best man, pulls out a small ring box as we say our vows and we exchange rings. A glass is wrapped in a linen napkin, and I step on it as everyone cheers for our good fortune.
It’s fitting that we have a small event, so we don’t overshadow Dante and Juliet. Not that we would steal their thunder, but it’s good this worked out the way it did all things considered.
When asked about the honeymoon, we tell people we’re in no rush and it’s planned for next year. With the holidays right around the corner, it’s understandable to postpone.
Everyone leaves and I have to say something to Prende about her attitude. It’s late and we’ve had plenty of alcohol.