Male/ho’āo/Mer’ä #3
“Well, I’m sure there are a few people here who aren’t happy to see me. I plan to stay out of the way, but I wanted to tell you thank you in person. I… I wouldn’t have wanted to miss this for anything.”
She was fighting her emotions and I was honestly surprised she was feeling them.
I knew about her hanging out with Asha. The way she’d spoken up for her against her mother.
I was thankful and I knew that if she hadn’t been sincere then Aunties Safi and Babette wouldn’t have let her linger.
But they’d done more than that. They had gotten together and planned to meet up after the wedding to catch up with one another.
It threw me off slightly that women who were integral in ensuring that I didn’t become completely hard were now welcoming the reason behind my deficiency.
Not complete betrayal but I had questions over their actions.
Asking them would probably end up with a knife in my arm or a hex put on me. So I kept my mouth shut.
“It’s just all the other things you were okay with missing.”
She flinched and I hated that my words had come out the way they had. They were the truth, but it was still harsh.
“I deserve that. But I don’t want your today to be tainted by the past. I’m sorry if that happened anyway.”
“It’s not a you problem it’s a me thing. You wanted to be here, it felt right for you to be here, nothing else besides that matters. At least for today. Agreed?”
My heart was fully in what I was saying to her.
Maybe it was the excitement of the day but I couldn’t help but look at the woman who gave me life and admit that excluding her from this would’ve been the wrong thing to do.
We were building…something. And at a minimum, the relationship she had with my wife meant that I was going to be cordial to her.
I couldn’t guarantee that I would give her more than that but being open to it was at least there.
Damn, when did this shit happen?
I’d gone from only being concerned with my brothers to being open to a relationship with my cousin who was one of the groomsmen and now dealing with my mother. Asha must have put some spell on me to have me acting this way.
Faith smiled, my words seemingly the greatest gift I could’ve given her today.
She wasn’t sure how I was going to act today but she still came despite it.
That showed that whatever she’d endured while away made her stronger or more stubborn.
I wasn’t sure if I appreciated either quality yet but there was time to think about it and it wasn’t now.
“I’m thankful for any time you want to give me, Ori. Now, this place is beautiful and while I’m happy to occupy your time, you’ve got something far more important happening today. I’ve seen your bride and she’s going to take your breath away. Let’s get you married.”
She leaned up on her toes and I met her halfway into a hug. It was the first real contact we’d had in years and instead of fighting it; I did what felt natural. When she pulled back she had tears in her eyes which she quickly fanned away.
“I know you ain’t got cousin Faith in here crying?” Hakeem stepped forward since he was going to escort her to her seat before he took his place at the altar.
“Happy tears, Hakeem. C’mon, we need to get in position.
” Faith gave me another smile before she looped her arm through Hakeem’s and took her spot.
Everyone was paired up and ready to go. All my groomsmen were married and the only singles were Alec and Hakeem so Pappy was the natural choice as best man.
I followed behind him down the aisle trying not to wear my usual scowl as I took in everything.
The ballroom was beautiful. Set up to look as tropical as Hawai’i.
The wall behind the altar opened up so that nature was allowed in and I was thankful it was unseasonably warm this weekend.
Flowers in every hue formed a rainbow that matched the theme of each attendant having a different colored dress.
When the music switched up I knew it was time to turn my focus to the entrance of my bride and I was left breathless when the doors opened and she walked in on the arm of her father.
I should’ve known.
When I saw her wearing her traditional clothing last night I should’ve known that today it would only be worse.
I thought my emotions were out of this moment but they weren’t.
I felt my breath catch in my throat. Me, a man who had been a literal weapon.
Trained and used as a spy was left breathless, speechless and damn near mindless at the sight of a woman.
But she wasn’t just any woman.
I didn’t know who was more enamored with her as she walked, me or her father.
His chest was tall, his smile full reaching all the way to his eyes.
If I’d had any doubt of how much he cared about her it was made clear after the meeting at my condo and reaffirmed today.
Seeing him now almost made me feel proud.
He seemed happy to hand his daughter over to me in marriage.
And although he was getting something out of the deal, I knew it was more than that.
He trusted me and with a man like him and a daughter like her, that was worth its weight in gold.
Her steps to me were carefully measured, not rushing or dawdling just the right cadence to tempt me to run down the aisle to scoop her up in my arms. Since we had a large number of guests, the aisle was long and I drank in every inch of her.
Instead of a traditional dress, Asha was wearing a full bridal lace pantsuit.
It had a halter neckline, no sleeves and a long tulle skirt billowed out behind her.
It looked as though it was attached at the sides of her waist to ensure she had more than enough room to walk.
As I requested, her glasses were on her face and a lace-edged veil perfectly framed her face and flowed down her back.
She looked perfect.
Angelic.
Mine.
Jahmir had walked down the aisle as a groomsman but had now taken his place at the front of the altar and out of the corner of my eye I could see that he was enjoying the emotions playing out on my features.
“Not a word.”
My threat was clear. Despite needing him to officiate, we’d be throwing punches and fucking up this elaborate altar that Jada had constructed and if she got upset then so would Smoke and we’d have all kinds of problems. It was better for everyone if he kept his observations to himself.
“Oh, I don’t need to say anything. Your lack of a poker face is confirming everything we already knew.”
He patted my shoulder as Asha made her way to me before he picked up the conch shell and blew into it. In royal times and for sacred ceremonies, this was always done and I would’ve been remiss not to keep the tradition alive today. The bridal party had been warned so no one flinched at the sound.
“Family, friends, colleagues and other honored guests. Today we are here to celebrate the joining of my brother Ori and his lovely bride Asha in holy matrimony. This celebration is one that holds special meaning to me. I’ve watched my friend grow and expand in ways that have shocked me.
All I can say to you Asha is thank you. Thank you for your patience with him because I know he can try the nerves of a saint.
Thank you for seeing him despite what he tries to hide from the world.
And thank you for accepting him, flaws and all.
You truly are a miracle worker and on behalf of his brothers, you have our never-ending gratitude. ”
Asha’s eyes watered but she held her composure and smiled and Mir proceeded on with the ceremony. When it was time for vows Pappy proudly handed me the ring box and I took out the band that had alternating diamonds and sapphires in a filigree before I took her hand.
“I, Ori Akoni Franklin Nakoa take you Semira Asha Avery to be my wife. I vow to stand with you, to protect you in the moments when you can’t protect yourself.
To entrust you with every part of me, even the broken, ugly pieces, to ensure this union is one that is successful and blessed in every sense of the word.
I call you Ka’iulani for a reason. It means the highest, most exalted one, the best. It is said to be the highest point of heaven.
That is what you are to me. The most exalted person in my life, as I take you for my wife, my partner and my person to walk this life with.
The best person who could ever have been formed by God to handle the intricacies and stresses that will be put upon us.
And the only one strong enough to see what I bring to the table and not turn running and screaming away in fear. ”
I slid the ring on her finger, which was custom made to work with her engagement ring.
It wasn’t the same sapphire since Kashmirs were so rare but the band was substantial enough to wear without her engagement ring.
I knew that once she returned to teaching she might not want to be as flashy as she could be now but I wasn’t about to give her a bullshit wedding band.
At least not for her official one. Nev had already made something more inline with her profession in case she wanted to be subtle.
For today, the five-carat brilliant-cut band slid onto her finger with ease and I never took my eyes off her.
She didn’t look uncertain but she definitely looked surprised again by the effort of everything that had gone on today.
I wanted to ask if she was okay but whatever thoughts were going through her mind seemed to vanish once she looked down at the ring I’d placed on her finger. As a sign of solidarity, I allowed my finger to rub the knuckle just above where I’d placed it pulling the softest smile onto her lips.
She turned and her sister who was waiting with my ring for Asha to take.
“I Semira Asha Avery take you Ori Akoni Franklin Nakoa to be my husband. I don’t believe in coincidence so fate throwing you into my path multiple times meant that we must be destined to have ended up here today.
I promise to show the side of me that is reserved for those I trust. And you’ve become that person without question.
That is what I endeavor for us to be. An impenetrable united front that …
no one can break. I give you my trust, my independence and my person.
Don’t make me ever regret the faith that I’ve placed in you by saying yes then or again today.
You are my person who has been my safe space and proved to me repeatedly that I’m safe with you.
I pledge to be with you until death do us part. ”
As she slid the trillion-cut diamond band on my finger I leaned toward her and spoke softly enough that only she could hear.
“Your independence is something I would never want you to be parted from. It’s made you who you are. A woman I desire, one I can be proud of and one who will bear my last name. Cooperation, not domination, Ka’iulani. At least not outside of the bedroom.”
I leaned back and caught the smile that was on her face and the bashful way she kept her eyes on my hand. I knew I had my answer when her fingers grazed the knuckle above the band the same way mine had done hers.
We were in agreement.
I lifted her hand to my lips and pressed a kiss to her knuckles. A sign of respect but also a promise. A promise of a new beginning that we were both pledging to do our best to achieve. Something that simple meant everything to me.
“Who is that?” Alejandro’s entire body tensed up as his eyes focused on someone in the crowd. Immediately, every man was on alert as hands dipped into pockets, through suit jackets and to ankle holsters.
“Who?”
“No, not like that. Who is that bridesmaid with the curly hair?”
“What the fuck is this? Are you about to use my wedding as a place to hook up with people too?”
He looked around pissed that he wasn’t the only one trying to steal my shine today. “Who else did it?”
“The king did. I hope you’re not looking at my wife’s sister, she’s already been marked.
And seeing as how he’s got a literal kingdom to put at her feet, I think you’re outmatched head to head.
” I patted Alec on the shoulder but I saw the way his eyes kept darting around the room, wondering who he was tracking.
“Your wife and her sister are stunning, but I’m talking about the girl on the floor dancing with the Scot’s daughter.”
We looked toward the dance floor and saw that it was Jemma Marie who was swinging Baby Skye around as she laughed.
“Oh, hell no. That’s our sister.”
“Sister? Since when? I thought you were an only child.” He took a step back looking as though he were ready to do battle for Jem’s hand right here.
“She’s all our sister. But that nigga who looks like he’s about to slit your throat? That’s his blood.”
I nodded toward Angel who had obviously picked up on the way Alec had been staring at his sister. I didn’t get involved in family shit but I prayed they got it together. She needed him and despite him not wanting to admit it; he needed her.
This shit has made me soft. Since when do I care so much?
That wasn’t true. I normally cared because we were stronger as a collective when each branch could withstand a storm.
That was still true. But I was worried about the emotional toll all this was taking on both of them.
Angel had been confirmed as a blood relative almost a year ago and yet hadn’t made a move.
Jem was in a precarious place herself and needed people she could trust to have her back constantly.
Vega only smirked at Angel unbothered by the warning. “It’s not disrespect but you have to admit your sister is a beautiful woman.”
“I don’t have to admit shit. Stop looking at her that way.” Angel’s anger at Alec’s interest was surprising based on how he’d been moving. Maybe his parents were finally getting his ass to see that he needed to take his spot in the family once and for all.
“What way? The way you’ve been looking at your wife?”
“Key difference, bruh, wife. She has papers on me now.” I held up my hand like a man who’d just been proposed to and I didn’t care. Those vows had solidified a lot. I felt light as fuck and it wasn’t the Cuban I’d smoked after the ceremony.
Vega slowly blinked and I swore he was debating on being happy or being worried I’d been body snatched. “If I hadn’t supplied the cigars I’d swear them shits were laced.”
“Cheer up. We're about to talk business and then who knows, maybe you’ll convince us you’re worthy of Jemma Marie.”
“I couldn’t give a fuck less about what you all think.”
I patted his shoulder because he had no idea what he was signing up for. “Yeah, I wouldn’t either. But you might as well get your practice in with us because Jemma Marie is worse than all of us combined.”