really nice that the groom’s sister was so important like that for them.
My thoughts kept drifting to her brother and the way I felt with his closeness. I thought I was able to understand all the fuss about me then. Since they treated the bride’s brother that way, they surely treated the groom’s sister the same–that was why I was so important, right?
Women started dancing in groups as a small stage across from us was filled by no more than five women singing together in the sweetest voices. It was amazing, and I was once more disappointed I couldn’t understand any of it.
Janna took me to some of the tables and introduced me to princess after a princess, and a former queen as well. I learned it was Huda’s mother who’d given her title to her sister who was married to her brother-in-law when her husband died, the sister that was now my brother’s mother-in-law. I was confused as heck, but still made it look like as if I was getting something from what they were saying.
The queen gave me a polite smile, but didn’t say anything. I didn’t want to think of it as if she didn’t like me, but because maybe she didn’t speak English, is all.
It was confusing as to why I was to sit on a throne, while the queen sat just like anyone else at one of the tables. I didn’t think much of it; their traditions were giving me a painful headache.
After we ate wonderful food and drank amazing drinks, I noticed the women putting on their robes. I knew then that the wedding party was coming to an end. It just felt so weird that my brother had spent so little time with his bride, and seriously, it was kind of unfair.
Talking with Janna was so easy. She made it feel like it was the easiest thing in the world, by telling me that we were going to be best friends. I really liked the sound of that. I was never able to feel that pull toward some girl to become my best friend; Joseph was my best friend and all I needed. However, I knew that it was just a matter of days before I’d leave and if it wasn’t for the fact that Joseph might bring her to the US, I might not see her again at all.
I had to ask her if she was annoyed by the fact that she’d celebrated her wedding alone. She told me that she was celebrating it with every important person in her family and her friends, and later she’d have Joseph to celebrate their union for the rest of their lives.
I thought it was sweet.
I was surprised to see the doors being opened before Janna or I had a chance to put on our robes. I mean, weren’t we supposed to wear them when men were around? Wasn’t that the tradition? Everyone else was wearing one!
My surprise turned into confusion when I saw that only Joseph and Green Eyes had entered the hall, and the doors were immediately closed behind them.
They stood in the same place they had before they’d left, and then two women holding small boxes that seemed like the kind you’d put jewelry into stood beside them.
Green Eyes offered me his hand and I took it. He pulled me up so I was standing, and I noticed from the corner of my eye that Joseph did the same with Janna.
One box after another was opened, holding so much jewelry – as I’d expected – inside of them. All of it was placed on my fingers, wrists, neck, and even waist.
I felt as if the blood was going to burst out of my cheeks as my blush deepened more and more with every piece of jewelry Green Eyes put on me. I was almost covered with gold and diamonds when he was finished. Only my ring finger had yet to be filled. I appreciated the fact that he hadn’t put anything on it; it would be beyond inappropriate and just weirder than anything else. This was already weird enough.
When he was finished, one woman after another came to us and pinned my dress with a small bow that was attached to no less than a diamond.
A real diamond.
It wasn’t like I had never worn diamonds before, but I’d never even seen this amount of diamonds before in my life. They were all on me, pinned to my dress, making it so heavy