that I was sure it’d be hard to walk.
I couldn’t deny that this was the most generous act I’d ever received in my whole life. I couldn’t stop smiling.
Soon, we were covered with our robes again, but this time when we left the room, it was my arm hooked with Joseph’s, not Green Eyes.
We walked a little ways, followed by Huda, who was holding the empty boxes in her hands, then we entered an elevator that carried us up two floors. Huda guided us to a door and we followed her when she entered.
We were in a foyer and then were led to huge bedroom that was open to what seemed like a living room, and in the corner was a door that I assumed led to the bathroom. All of the furniture looked magical, just like the kind you’d see in movies that were filmed in mansions or castles. Wait …
“Is this a mansion?” I asked Joseph, once Huda put the boxes on the dresser and left.
Joseph offered me a small smile, “I thought you knew, Marie; we’ve been in the king’s palace since we arrived.”
“No way!” I said. “I thought we were in a hotel or something.”
“Well, we used the back gates since the ones in the front were busy.”
I didn’t know what he meant by busy and I wasn’t going to ask. I had a more important question to ask. “Why are you with me and not with your wife?”
He sighed, “She’s not my wife yet. Soon.” He nodded. “Do you need help with those?” he asked, pointing at the diamonds around my dress.
“I’m to sleep in here?”
“Yes, Sweetie.”
I smiled, “Please.”
I went to stand by the dresser and opened one of the boxes. Joseph stood beside me and started helping me with unpinning the bows.
“You know that I love you, Marie, don’t you?” he asked when we were almost done.
I looked at his reflection in the mirror and replied, “I do.” I smiled.
“Do you love me, too?” he asked.
“Of course I do!”
Why was he asking me that?
“Marie – I, uh…”
“What is it?” Worry touched my heart at the expression on his face.
“Do you want to keep those on?” He touched the back of my necklaces.
“No, take them off,” I told him, as I started to take off the rings and bracelets as well.
I turned around when I was only in the robe over my dress and my necklace that held my cross charm. I gazed into his suddenly deeply-saddened eyes.
“Joseph?”
“Marie, there is something you need to do–” My brother was cut off by the sound of a knock before the door was opened, and an elderly man gazing at the floor entered.
“You ready?” the man asked, after saying a word in Arabic.
I looked at Joseph with confusion when he replied with a ‘yes’ then guided me to sit on the couch beside him, across from the man who was sitting in one of the armchairs.
“If you approve, please sign here, Miss Marie Archer.” the man said, as he opened the thick folder in his hands.
I looked down at the pages, but I couldn’t read anything. It wasn’t in English or French, the only two languages I could speak, but there was a small picture of me on one top corner of the page, and on the other side was a picture of – Green Eyes.
What on earth?
“Joseph?”
“Sign the papers, Marie.” His eyes glistened with unshed tears. “Please,” he begged.
“What are these about?” My voice cracked for some reason, as if I was already aware of what it was, but still not able to believe it.
“It’s your marriage contract to Janna’s brother.”
It wasn’t shock that made me stare at my brother with a gaping mouth, it was confusion. It took me several moments to register what he really said before I asked, “Marriage? Me?”
“Would you please give us five minutes, Sheikh?” Joseph asked the elderly man, who nodded and left the room, leaving the folder behind him and closing the door.
“Marie, it’s too important for you to do this. It’s a life or death decision, believe me,” Joseph pleaded.
“What do you mean, Joseph? You’re telling me I have to get married? Right now? Are you insane?” I chuckled humorlessly.
“No, I’m not insane, it’s the only solution.”
“Solution for what? You’re confusing me. What is this?”
“Listen to me, I can’t marry Janna without you marrying Mazen. It’s the law.”
“Then don’t marry her. Are you out of your mind? I don’t even know the guy, and I couldn’t care less about