2
“Where is it?”
“You think I could keep that many boxes on me? Go over there and look on the table.” He pointed near the window and I saw the stack of boxes that littered the table and I could only smile.
All thoughts of my father’s family were gone as I looked at the gifts that would soon adorn my wife. “It’s time for me to get my princess.”
“ Khoda be man binayi dad ta betavanam in lahze ra bebinam . (God gave me sight to behold this moment.)”
I’d whispered the words to no one in particular but I could tell several people had heard it by the way Midas pat my shoulder. I guess my knees looked as weak as they felt, because his hand lingered there like he needed to steady me.
Shit, he might need to. My father walked toward me proudly, Vanya’s arm was balanced delicately on his forearm and he wore a wide grin on his face. He didn’t wear any of the items that would denote him as a royal choosing instead to be more proud of the two titles that he always said meant the most to him: Babette’s soulmate and my father. His jacket mimicked mine in style, but was black with the embroidery focused at the collar and with two heavy four-inch cuffs at his wrists. With shoulders back and an erect spine, he looked more like a king than the man who sat posturing at the end of one row attempting to steal the attention from the bride.
Which was impossible.
I studied every inch of Vanya but the part of her that made her truly beautiful was the smile on her face. It wasn’t nervous nor was she scared. Her smile looked peaceful, joy-filled and I had to wonder if she was drunk or if she was elated about today as I was.
But my God she looked so perfect. Her dress was white, her hair loose and flowing around her head. I loved that she hadn’t tried to confine it into a style that didn’t reflect who she was. Having to be constricted all her life, I loved seeing her hair surrounding her face and shoulders like the blazing flames of a torch. The details on her dress were something that I couldn’t have dreamed. I wasn’t sure if she knew what the symbols of her dress meant, but I knew my mother had a hand in it. The detailing was a brilliant gold embroidery covering the entire bodice of her dress. Her shoulders were exposed and the sleeve on her dress sheer and fitted to her toned arms. There was a modest slit that went down the front that was eye catching but not too revealing. This would be perfect with the items I had for her. The flowers in her hand were white and cream with trailing garlands hanging down in front.
The small ballroom of the Warren Hotel Uptown had been transformed into a vision. The wedding colors chosen were gold, French blue, a dusty light blue color, with light mauve to complement. It was soft and romantic, just like Vanya and the women in the bridal party wore blue dresses while Francesca wore a champagne gold. To honor the tradition of the sofreh aghed a large mirror was placed behind Jahmir’s spot at the altar. On the ground beneath it was a large piece of gold embroidered cashmere. I didn’t want to sit, as was tradition, but I had the bridal party flipped so that Vanya would stand on my right side, which was considered the place of respect. The seven plates with the traditional items used to protect us from evil spirits and defend us against envy were laid out. A large golden challis stood ready for the end of our ceremony. Vanya came to a stop a few feet away from me that grin still firmly on her face.
“I have seen how God has moved in the lives of those I love recently. He has blessed us abundantly and today I am honored to stand here and witness yet again His miracle in action. Vanya, I ask you as a man of God, are you here of your own free will, ready to walk with Xerxes in this life and the challenges that may come with it?” Jahmir’s voice was loud and confident and the joy at being here was heard in each of his words.
“No.”
That one word stopped the world from spinning and for mummers to break out among the crowd.
“Vanya—”
She ignored me and kept that smile on her face as she stayed focus on Jahmir. “I am here to join my life with his in this one and the next. For however many more come after, I will find him and stand beside him. He is my peace, I am his joy and I am ready to be his wife.”
By the time she said I was her peace, my chest was tight as her eyes met mine with unwavering love and devotion.
“AAAAAmen. We haven’t even gotten to vows yet and I see how God is moving today. Now, who here brings this woman to be joined with this man in this life, the next and however many more they are granted to experience?” Jahmir was grinning and the bridal party and the crowd chuckled while I was still fighting my emotions.
“It is my honor to esay I have been afforded zhe privilege of escorting zhis lovely bride as she begins her life vith my son.” My father stood up taller and smiled even broader which caused Vanya to tear up.
“Please hand the lovely Vanya over to the man He created specifically to love and protect her from any weapons formed.” Priest was clearly taking over this portion of the ceremony sending that not-so-subtle word to my father’s people.
My father bowed his head slightly respect before taking Vanya’s hand in his. “It vill be my honor, Jahmir.”
My father leaned over and kissed Vanya on the cheek before walking her the few steps to me. I grinned as my father reached over and kissed both of my cheeks. “I do not need to tell you to be good to her because zhat is simply zhe man you are. Allow her to soften you. To slow you down. To discover beauty in being still.”
“I have and I will, baba.”
He pat the side of my face unbothered by the display of affection in front of so many people. My face was so similar to his and I knew the tears in his eyes reflected my own. “You have been my greatest accomplishment, X?ayār?ā Amádée Bijan. Continue to be zhe man your mozer and I taught you to be. Never back down, love deeply and protect vhat you love until your last breaz.”
I promised him that I would and only then did he step back and put Vanya’s hand into mine.
We turned to face Jahmir and as he started the service I leaned over to speak into her ear.
“I zhink you tried to kill me zhere wiz zhat no.”
She shrugged her shoulders regally as though she weren’t afraid that she had almost given me a heart attack. In fact, she seemed to glow even brighter because she’d kept me on my toes. “I cleaned it up nicely I thought.”
“You did. I have to tell you, jameelah you steal my breaz wiz your beauty daily. But today, you have been even furzer exalted into zhe heavens to reign amongst zhe most perfect of beings wiz how you look.”
“Wow. I was going to say you looked handsome but that no longer seems adequate.” She was trying to keep her voice down and I watched as the blush spread from her cheeks and down her neck.
“Any words of praise zhat fall from your lips and into my ears are beyond adequate and are extolling as zhe greatest bards.” I squeezed her hand wishing I could kiss her despite where we were in the ceremony.
“And they say I’m the poetic one.” Vanya and I looked at Mir having completely forgotten that he was even there.
“I’m sorry, Jahmir. I forgot myself for a minute. He has that effect.” Vanya looked contrite and her chest flushed.
Jahmir smiled benevolently at her and he had a way about him that could put anyone at ease. “No apologies needed, it’s beautiful to witness and makes me eager to get back to my dove . But first, let us proceed.”
Mir began to pray both in English and then in Persian so that everyone was included. I held Vanya’s hand tightly and sent my own petitions to God for us.
When it was time to say our vows, Vanya turned to me and went first.
“Xerxes, when I met you, circumstances were unique to say the least. To think that within a year I would be here impatient to become your wife isn’t something the Vanya that day would’ve ever imagined. But not because of anything that you did. It was because I could feel the power that radiates from you. The presence that you have whenever you enter a room, as though you enter to do the bidding of the universe and anyone standing in your way would be encompassed in your wrath. And I was worried about that. Being encompassed. Allowing you in and then being consumed by you. But I should’ve had faith. From the first day we met, you showed me respect. The second, you showed me your protection. And from then on, every meeting has been unveiling to me that you are the purest definition of a man that could ever exist on this earth. You’ve shielded me from harm. You have watered and nurtured my passions. The ideas that are in my head you refuse to let them rest there and do what you can to help bring them to life. You are Xerxes Amádée Bijan but to me you are an Adonis, because no more perfect man for me exists but you. Ghalbam faghat baraye to mitape. Dooset daram. ”
I had to take a deep breath when she spoke in perfect Persian that her heart beat for only me and that she loved me. I wanted nothing more than to fall deeply into those words and hold them close to my heart. She had never said them before and I would wait until later to ensure she meant them.
“Xerxes, it’s your turn.” I’d been too stunned to speak for a while and cleared my throat so that I could do as Jahmir instructed me.
“My fazer often told me zhe story of when he first saw my mozer. How he got what he called an icy heat over him. And I would hear him speak about my maman and of course I could do nozing but agree. Because if you have met my maman you know zhere is nozing about Babette Cannon zhat is more accurate zhan praise.” I looked at my mother and she blew me a kiss from where she sat next to my fazer, looking perfect in her soft mauve dress. “I always felt zhat maman vas perfect. A one off zhat could never be replicated. And zhen I met you, Vanya.”
She gasped and the tears started to well in her eyes.
“I am honored zhat you use zhat phrase perfect for you when you speak of me. I feel zhe same way about you. You are a gentle breeze zhat can be turned into a hurricane with zhe right pressure. A woman of multitudes but even vhen she is showing me her anger zhere is a beauty to it. As a man zhat has spent years doing, I feel my world slowing down as a take in more around me and appreciate it. I crave it. Zhe still moments vhen you look at me and smile and zhe vorld slows. You asking me questions or reading me something zhat you find joy in. Slow dancing wiz you and speaking to you about zhe zhings zhat I love. Vanya, you have become my best friend. Zhe reason for me to put plans into place zhat I didn’t understand until I met you. All of zhis work has been so zhat I can grant you whatever your heart desires because you have fulfilled parts of me zhat have never seen zhe sun to grow. Zhe part zhat desired love and companionship. To find someone to spoil so beautifully. I am angry zhat you had not known zhe adoration zhat you deserve but I am proud to be zhe one to bestow it upon you for zhe rest of our days. Dooset daram. Az hala ta vaghti ke khorshid dige nasooze (I love you. From now until the sun ceases to burn .)”
“And now that the vows have been spoken Xerxes has a gift to present to his bride.”
Vanya looked shocked as he spoke and I felt her hands get clammy inside of mine. “What is this?”
We hadn’t discussed this part of the tradition, despite this being the most symbolic to me next to our rings. I wanted to include Vanya in all parts of my life and even though it wasn’t official until we visited Tehran, becoming my wife meant more than just becoming Mrs. Cannon.
“Zhis is zhe part of zhe ceremony where I present you wiz your bridal jewelry.”
She looked down at her exquisite gown and I could see the question forming like she thought I found it lacking. “My what? Is my dress not enough—”
“It is perfection. But it is custom in our family on boz sides to adorn a bride wiz jewelry. My mother got you started, but it is my honor to finish zhe job.”
I kissed her cheek softly before waving over Shoaib and Quentin. Each of their hands held boxes that were more like trunks and I could see that Vanya was nervous. One by one, she was presented with her bridal trousseau from our family and she stood in stunned silence. The most impressive piece was the gold and yellow diamond tiara that denoted her place in our family. Despite me not caring about titles, I still had them. And this marriage made Vanya a princess. So she would for damn sure get the princess treatment today and the rest of our days together.
“Is this?” She looked almost afraid to touch it and I had no issues letting her take her time. This was her day and despite the hundreds of guests we had here, they wouldn’t rush her.
“A tiara? Yes.” Sho stood close by so that Vanya could inspect the piece. In addition to the bracelet my mother had given her, there was a diamond tennis bracelet, several bangles and diamond studs that were a larger version of the ones she normally wore. My mother had gifted her the prettiest gold filigree earrings that matched the embroidery on her dress and I didn’t want her to remove those.
“For me?” She sounded breathless again as she stared at the box apprehensively.
“Yes.”
“And is it—”
I grinned and then leaned over to draw her closer. “Real? Yes. Yours to keep? Absolutely. Beautiful… zhat depends on your opinion of it. Of course, your new cousin might take offense to you not liking her vork.”
“It’s exquisite.”
“Nev will be happy that you like it.”
Her eyes darted over to her side of the bridal party, and Nev was smiling at her. “She made it for me?”
“Yes. I worked with her to incorporate all the elements zhat I wanted and she came up with zhis. May I?” I motioned toward her head and she softly nodded. Stepping down, Sho moved toward me and extended the box holding the tiara. I withdrew it from where it was nestled among the fabric, allowing it to sparkle briefly for the crowd, mainly the Mahdavis, to see before turning to my zibā. As though she knew her role, she balanced herself regally as she descended toward the ground so that I could place the crown on her head. The combs that were built in helped keep it in place, but Nev also designed small loops in the back of the crown and eighteen karat gold hair pins so it was always secure. The diamonds sparkled and I could tell that Vanya was holding her breath like this moment couldn’t be real.
I felt the same way but for entirely different reasons. Bending, I took her hand in mine, raising her from her lowered position so that she was fully erect. The crown fit her perfectly a thing of beauty amongst chaos. Much like the woman who wore it.
I wanted to place each item on her so that she was covered in jewels but I could tell by her face she was more than thrilled with the tiara so I saved my fantasy for another time. Quentin and Shoaib placed the jewelry back in the locked case Nev had commissioned for it and the guard we’d hired specifically to protect it rolled it back out of the ceremony. I could see the eyes of the Mahdavis were filled with envy as the jewelry was taken to the vault.
“I’m afraid to breathe too deeply.” Her whispered confession drew my eyes back to her face.
“Jewelry is meant to be enjoyed. Soon you’ll be dancing around zhe living room wiz your tiara on display, while classic R&B plays zhroughout zhe house.”
She bit her lip as though she could envision what I’d spoken. “That sounds beautiful.”
“Zhat is our future. Come, let us not keep our future waiting any longer. But I have one last gift for your adornment.”
I held my hand back and Midas put the box that he’d been carrying around for me.
The ring that was inside was a work of art. I wanted it to reflect my hopes of what this marriage would be. It was the creation of a flower in bloom. The center stone was a fifteen carat flawless yellow diamond my father kept in the family vault in Tennessee. It was his and my mother’s wedding gift to me. I had it set in the more durable 18kt gold since it was something I wanted Vanya to wear daily as a symbol of my love for her. She was a flower in bloom. A woman coming into her own in every sense of the word. The color yellow symbolized power and green of the leaves symbolized paradise and life. Both things that were synonymous with the union I wanted and the love I held for Vanya. My feelings were all-encompassing and made me feel as though I were experiencing paradise on earth.
“This is outrageous. Did you make this? This is priceless.”
“I had it commissioned wiz zhe rest of your parure. And zhis stone was part of my fazer’s mother’s possessions. Zhey went to him when she died and even his fazer would not dishonor zhe wishes of the dead.”
“So it’s an heirloom.”
“And now it is yours.” I kissed her hand before I slid the ring onto her finger. She had matched my ring to hers unknowingly, as it was inlaid with yellow and green diamonds.
Jahmir held out the cup and I dipped my pinky into it before placing it at Vanya’s lips. I expected this moment to feel sweet, but the monsoon of lust that overwhelmed me when her lips wrapped around my finger and she stared into my eyes was almost more than I could control. When her tongue started to flick against the tip I almost snatched my finger out and called her a demon.
But I wasn’t a fool.
If my wife wanted to play games I would enjoy teasing her until it was time for us to become one physically. It would only heighten the pleasure between the two of us when the time came. Vanya copied my movements and I gently sucked her finger before kissing the inside of her wrist softly.
“ Je sais que tu auras meilleur go?t que le iel le plus doux .” Vanya didn’t know French, but she still blushed as I told her I knew she would taste better than the sweetest honey.
Jahmir’s chuckle broke the moment and I knew he understood what I’d said. “Couldn’t help yourself could you?”
“Mir, zhis is me showing restraint. Will you finish zhis please?”
“By the power granted to me by the state of North Carolina, under the omniscient eye of God, Allah, and the fate that have intertwined and destined this couple to be bound by eternity, I pronounce them husband and wife. Shazadeh Xerxes Amádée Bijan Mahdavi Cannon, you may salute your shahzadah .”
The grin she gave me was so wide it stretched across her entire face. With each breath, I could feel the emotions she had for me becoming deeper. We kissed and the resolve to love this woman with every part of me was only strengthened as I saluted my wife.