to nod her head in agreement.
Draden worked hard on the bower surrounding the door to the lab. He had already twisted the fig branches together. He used green, leafy vines to bind the branches and then filled them with fresh orchids. The arbor looked amazing by the time the helicopter got there and Joe emerged along with three other soldiers, all wearing hazmat suits. Even that didn’t deter his happiness.
The supplies kept coming; everything he’d asked for, Joe had managed to find. He handed Joe the samples of blood and saliva and then saluted, agreeing once again on the time of the ceremony. That was critical. He needed the rest of the time to set everything up and then get ready himself.
Draden decided the small wedding cake couldn’t be a surprise because he wanted it in the cabin’s refrigerator rather than in the lab. He took Shylah her dress and the cake. His present for her was already wrapped and he put that in the closet and ordered her not to touch it. Then he went to work. The first thing he did was set up cameras so that those watching the ceremony could see his bride walking toward him just as he would see her. He set up screens, so she could see Bellisia and Zara were there with her.
He went at each task the way he did everything, working fast until it was done. He decorated the inside of the lab. He’d already put equipment away and now he hung the large reed woven mats in colors of deep rose, red, black, green and yellow on the walls, draping them so that they covered every dingy nook and cranny. He put up the small shrine to Buddha in keeping with tradition. He placed the candles, incense, the small statue of Buddha and a floating garden of peonies at the far end where they were in plain sight of the cameras, so the observers could see they were following the Buddhist tradition as closely as possible. Joe had told him the monks would give them their blessing and an official would make certain they exchanged their vows properly.
After transforming the small room as best he could, he glanced at the time. He was cutting it close. He had just enough time to shower and get dressed. When he got back to the cabin, he knocked to make certain she knew he was coming in.
Shylah’s hair was swept up in a swirling updo with tendrils falling inevitably out. It was impossible to tame her hair completely, and he liked that. He thought she looked sexy with the heavy gold bracelets adorning her arms and the necklace of fiery rubies around her neck to match the red of her nails. She wore only a tee, so he wouldn’t see her in her wedding dress.
Mindful of the time, he showered, taking a few extra minutes for himself under the cool water. He didn’t want to get there too early and blow their time with the others. He dressed in his brocade gold bhaku, rich with tiny red embroidered protections scattered artfully, the shirt with sleeves that fell to his ankles. His waistcoat was ivory brocade with beautiful golden embroidery outlining it. His trousers matched the golden bhaku. It was strange to dress so differently, but the clothes made him feel formal and that the ceremony had weight to it. He wanted that for Shylah. Something memorable whether they lived or not.
He glanced at the time. “Don’t forget that after the actual ceremony, we have to do the paperwork with the clerks. That will make it legal. Use your name. Peony Cosmos.”
They had settled on Cosmos because that was the last name Bellisia and Zara had helped her choose when she was sent out of the compound.
“I want this to be legal. It’s important to me. The government is cooperating because of our sacrifice.” He winced when he said it. He didn’t want to think about dying, only living with her.
“You explained the process. We’ll get it done.” She smiled at him, a smile of reassurance. “I want our marriage to be legal as well.”
He loved her all the more for that. “I want you out there in ten, Shylah. Make your way to the lab precisely at six. When you’re near the lab, I’ll start the music for your walk to me.”
She nodded, her eyes bright. His heart turned over. He had started out marrying her because it was what he wanted,