Chapter 48
I’d spent most of my life being watched. My modeling career had started early, and ever since, it had been like I could always feel the eyes of the world on me, from photographers, to press, fashion designers, family, friends, and even my father’s business associates—people like David.
Because of that, it had been a relief when Isaac had told me about my father’s suggestion to keep the wedding out of Cairo, and when Isaac had told me the idea he’d had for an alternative location, I’d agreed immediately.
Just for today, I didn’t want the world watching me.
I wanted only us and the people we loved.
So here we were, in the middle of the desert near the Bedouin camp.
In the dunes where Isaac and I had kissed for the first time.
A cream-colored tent had been erected for the ceremony.
The edges of the fabric fluttered slightly in the late afternoon breeze.
Rugs covered the sand beneath our feet and low cushions had been scattered for our guests to sit on.
Hundreds of lanterns flickered against the darkening dunes as the sun started sinking.
I watched from the tent we’d stayed in that night, standing on the open side of the canvas structure as I waited for our families and friends to take their seats.
This setting wasn’t what anyone would have expected from me, but that was probably why I loved it so much.
Deja and Colin’s wedding had been spectacular, the kind of event people spoke about for years after, but ours would be quieter, a lot more intimate, and a little wild, which was exactly what we’d wanted.
I glanced down at my dress next. Smiling, I smoothed a hand against the cream fabric.
It was soft enough that the breeze could catch it, with delicate embroidery and a few beads here and there but that was it.
I’d opted out of everything else tradition in my family stipulated, including a massively long train, diamonds, and a bodice that tried to crush my lungs.
“Are you nervous?” Deja asked as she came up beside me.
That was the other thing I’d opted out of, having an army here to dress me. Instead, it was just her and me. Nanna, my mom, and Isaac’s mother had been with us earlier, but they’d been in and out, the entire day just relaxed and surprisingly lazy.
I smiled as I lifted my gaze to my sister’s. “Nervous? Nah, not at all.”
“Really?”
I shrugged. “Really. I’m excited, a little impatient to get it done, and hungry, but I’m not nervous.”
She groaned. “Don’t even get me started on the hunger. How is it that they can make the entire desert smell divine?”
I chuckled. “Wait until you try their food. These people know how to eat.”
She smiled, but before she could respond, a burst of laughter drifted across the camp. I refocused my attention on the tent below. Isaac stood with his brothers, dressed in a dark suit without a tie, his jacket already hanging open.
He looked completely at ease, not at all nervous either. When he pointed up toward the dune he’d tumbled down, I grinned and his brothers started laughing again.
“Knock, knock,” my father said, appearing around the side of the tent with a grin on his face and no tie around his neck either. He swept his gaze across me, then tears sprang to his eyes as he opened his arms for a hug. “Look at you, my ruby. You’re gorgeous. Perfect.”
I smiled, biting back tears of my own as I held him. “Are they ready for us?”
“They are.” He hugged me tight before letting go, bringing his hands to my shoulders and looking deep into my eyes. “No matter what, you will always be my little girl. Remember that. I will always be here for you.”
I stifled a sob and reached out to give his arm a playful smack, my voice coming out tight and choked. “Stop! You’re going to make me cry more.”
“That’s my job today,” he joked but then straightened to his full height and offered me his arm. “Okay. Alright. Don’t fret. I know we don’t have time to redo your makeup.”
“What do you know about makeup?” I asked, still sniffling as I wound my fingers around his elbow.
A booming laugh slipped out of him. “I have two daughters, a wife, and a mother. I know more about makeup than a man has any right to.”
The sound of his laughter had drawn attention our way, and as we started descending the dune, Isaac’s eyes found mine. Even across the distance, I could see his eyes soften and suddenly turn shimmery, like he was holding back tears too. In that moment, it was like everything else just disappeared.
The sand shifted beneath my sandals as I crossed the distance between us, his gaze never leaving mine.
When I reached him, he took my hands, those blue eyes wide, bright, and happy.
His blond hair was already windswept and he looked so painfully handsome like this that all I wanted was to kiss him.
Unfortunately, today, I had to wait for permission to be able to do that.
Gah.
“You look…” he started but trailed off, simply shaking his head as he pulled me closer. “You look incredible, Jasmine. Just… wow.”
I smiled. “Right back at you.”
The officiant called us forward, keeping the ceremony simple while our families and the entire Bedouin tribe looked on. Isaac’s thumbs brushed over my knuckles as he listened to the man, a member of the tribe who’d graciously agreed to marry us when we’d learned he was the local favorite.
We quickly found out why, too. The man had the ability to make people laugh while bringing tears to all our eyes. He was charming, deep, funny, and most importantly, efficient.
“I believe you have written your own vows,” he said, glancing between us once his welcoming speech was over. “Isaac, why don’t you begin?”
Isaac swallowed hard, those eyes shining again as he looked right into mine. “Uh, yeah, okay. I can start.”
The officiant inclined his chin, his own eyes dancing with amusement and love. We’d gotten to know him pretty well over the last few weeks and he knew all about the speech Isaac had made at my other almost engagement. “Excellent. Let’s try to avoid repetition.”
Isaac rolled his eyes, but the comment had broken the ice. When he looked at me again, he suddenly seemed a lot more confident. “You know, when I first met you, I never would’ve imagined that you and I would end up here one day.”
“Same,” I murmured quietly and he laughed.
“But now,” he said, his voice a little softer.
“I honestly can’t imagine my life without you in it.
I know it probably sounds like a cliché, and it is, but it’s also true.
You have brought me to life in ways I didn’t even know I was missing.
You make me feel alive, Jasmine. Just by being exactly who you are, you have opened my eyes to not only the beauty, but the possibility that exists in this world.
” He drew in a deep breath. “I never want to make you feel like you have to be anything or anyone other than your slightly bossy, very opinionated self.”
I smiled through my tears. “Thank you.”
He grinned back at me. “I promise that I’ll always have your back and that I’ll always show up.
I promise to go on every adventure with you and never to question whether we’re breaking into historical sites.
I promise to trust you, and love you, and to nurture that spark that makes you you, for the rest of our lives. ”
A couple tears escaped as I squeezed his hands. “Ditto.”
The officiant chuckled, then nodded at me. “Anything else you’d like to add?”
“Just a few things,” I said, and quiet laughter murmured through the gathered crowd. “I’m sure no one is surprised that there are some things I’d like to say, but I’ll keep it short. I know you’re all hungry.”
I glanced out at our families, winked, then turned back to Isaac. “It’s funny, because I didn’t particularly like you when we first met, but I’ve also always felt like you see me. When you look at me, it’s like you don’t see the model or the Ruby of the Nile, you just see me.”
I held his hands tighter, emotion clogging my throat. “At first, that was pretty scary. I wasn’t used to being looked at like that, and I wasn’t sure I could trust it, but then I got to know you and I realized that you’re what I’ve always been looking for.”
I smiled. “All I’ve ever wanted is someone I can count on.
Someone who loves me in spite of who I am on the outside, and not because of it.
Someone who would be my partner in every journey and adventure life has to offer and who doesn’t only want to stay on the beaten path. It helps that you’re pretty too.”
Another chuckle rippled through the crowd, Isaac grinning through tears of his own now.
“I promise that from now on, I will always fight for us. I promise never to run from you again and to stand by your side no matter what life throws at us. I promise to love you until you feel suffocated by all the love I’m heaping onto you and to follow you wherever you may go.
I promise that I will communicate instead of hiding and that I will be there for you, every single day for the rest of our lives. ”
There was a lot more I wanted to say, but I turned toward the officiant and smiled. “The rest is for his ears only.”
The man laughed again, then pronounced us husband and wife, telling Isaac to kiss his bride. The words hadn’t even fully left his mouth before Isaac’s lips were on mine and he dipped me down so low, I was sure the ends of my hair were brushing the rug, but I didn’t care.
I wrapped my arms around his neck and kissed him back, thanking every god out there, modern and ancient, for sending him across my path.
The next few hours blurred into a wonderful whirlwind of photographs, smiling, hugging, accepting congratulations, and finally getting to eat the food we’d been smelling all day. Fires had been lit and the locals were teaching our guests how to dance.
No one seemed particularly interested in leaving the party even once it was getting late. Isaac didn’t leave my side for a second, his hand in mine as we talked, laughed, and danced.
We were just coming off the makeshift dance floor next to one of the fires when I noticed Zara disappearing behind one of the tents. Joseph followed less than a full minute later, glancing over his shoulder like he was trying to make sure they weren’t being seen.
“Where do you think they’re going?” Isaac asked, obviously noticing the same thing.
I let out an exaggerated sigh. “I think they’re sneaking off. On our wedding.”
Isaac laughed. “Good for them.”
I leaned closer to his side. “Do you think they’re going to be getting married next?”
He slipped an arm around my waist. “I sure hope so. He really does love her, but it remains to be seen whether her father will let him do it officially.”
“I’ll talk to my dad,” I said. “Maybe he can help.”
Isaac grinned at me. “You can try. I do think your dad is going to be pretty preoccupied with something else soon, though.”
My eyes widened as I stared up at him. “You know something I don’t! What is it?”
“I know several things you don’t. Whole textbooks full, in fact,” he joked and laughed when I widened my eyes even more. “Fine, we’re not supposed to know yet, but the family gossip grapevine says Colin and Deja are having a baby.”
I blinked hard. “What?”
“Yep.”
I slapped a hand over my mouth. “Oh my God. How long have you been sitting on this?”
“Only about six hours.”
“Six hours?”
“Do you have any idea how difficult that was, keeping it from you for that long?” he asked. “They didn’t want to steal our thunder on the big day, but I almost died when I couldn’t run to you right away.”
I burst out laughing. “You’re terrible at keeping secrets.”
“Only from you, wife.”
I grinned, sliding my arms around his neck and taking a step closer. “I like the sound of that, husband.”
I pressed up onto my toes and kissed him under a sky so dusted with stars that it looked like silver glitter had been spilled across the cosmos. “I love you, Isaac Thayer.”
“I still can’t really believe I’m saying this, but I love you too, Jasmine Thayer.”