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Santos
It’s hard to believe that I’m going to be a married man within the next thirty minutes. I’m already at the National Gallery, walking up the Portico Terrace, which leads into the art museum. It’s a grand entrance overlooking some of the best views in London. From the steps, you can see Nelson’s Column, Trafalgar Square, Big Ben, and Westminster.
Someone on the museum’s staff opens the door for me, and I walk into the Mosaic Terrace. It’s just as gorgeous as the first time we saw it, with a domed glass ceiling and marble pillars. Eset loved this the last time we came here because it holds works by Virginia Wolf and Greta Garbo.
From the Mosaic Terrace, I head into the gallery’s Central Hall. Romantic music plays subtly in the background as men in black-tie attire are posted at each door. There are bodies packed to the brim, and I spot Lom with a couple of children. One I know is Karim, who is Ruslan and Amelia’s child. He might be about five months old, but I’m not too sure. The little girl is Sierra, the one my father was so upset about the Umarova family taking, who is Emily’s child.
“Santos, are you ready for this?” Lom smiles from ear to ear, obviously happy for his sister.
“As ready as I’m going to be. Eset isn’t going to leave me at the altar, right?” I laugh a bit nervously, and Lom busts out laughing.
“With my sister, nothing is ever certain. Know this. If she did, she’d have a good reason for doing it.” Lom’s words do little to calm me down, but I am wondering if Eset is going to change her mind. Sure, I’ve done everything she’s asked… but in the back of my mind, I’ve wondered if she has the capability to have me make claims to my uncle, only to leave me high and dry, to face the music with my father by myself, without any Umarova protection. I know she is capable of it, but I’d like to think that she wouldn’t do something like that. Until she walks down the aisle, I doubt I’ll be able to ease my worries.
“Mr. Ramirez, we need you to come with us. The ceremony will be starting within the next few minutes. The guests will be finding their seats momentarily.” A woman dressed head to toe in black comes over to me, and I immediately follow her. She takes me from the Central Hall into the Barry Rooms. The Barry Rooms aren’t different rooms, even though its name might lead one to believe that. It’s a massive room in a cross shape. I know Eset wants to specifically get married in this room because she thinks it’s the most architecturally stunning place in the entire gallery.
There are two sides filled with multiple rows of seats going back, and the aisle is massive, with a red carpet leading up to the arch where we’ll get married. “I need you to go stand up on the right side, Mr. Ramirez,” the woman tells me, and I walk past all the people. My side is packed, as is Eset’s.
Surprisingly enough, I find my father sitting in the front row, as is my great uncle Alejandro, cousin Gia, and cousin Leticia with her husband, Keeran. There are multiple other cousins, business associates, and other mafia family members in attendance. My good friends Ariel and Emilio are my groomsmen. I’ve been friends with them since I was a small boy, and I couldn’t imagine any other men standing up with me on my wedding day than these two. They’re both already in position, smirking and extending a hand to shake with mine.
“You ready for this?” Ariel questions.
“She’ll be the boss for the rest of your life,” Emilio says, jabbing me in the side with his elbow.
“I’m as ready as I’m going to be.” I chuckle, and music begins playing around us, echoing beautifully in the vast space.
I swallow hard and turn my attention down the aisle while the priest comes up with his bible and stands on the other side of me. Emily comes down the aisle first, walking slowly to the beat of the music, and heads to her position. Then comes Amelia, smiling so brightly. She goes to stand in front of Emily, and for a moment, I expect Eset to be coming next, but instead, it’s Sierra with a basket of flower petals, spreading them on the aisle as she takes each step.
The music changes to another song, and Eset is being led down the aisle by Ruslan, the eldest of her brothers. They walk slowly, arm in arm, until she’s brought close to me. “Who here is giving this woman to this man?” the priest questions.
“I am,” Ruslan speaks as clear as day, and Eset kisses him on the cheek before Ruslan goes to find his seat.
I hold out my hands for Eset, and she steps directly before me, looking more beautiful than I could’ve imagined. Her wedding dress isn’t like anything I’ve ever seen before, and I’m wondering if she had it custom-made for today. There are sparkles over the entire gown and even these small pearl-looking things scattered about. Eset releases my hands, and I remember we’re going to join them very shortly into the ceremony.
“Santos and Eset, have you come here to enter into marriage without coercion, freely and wholeheartedly?” the priest questions.
“Yes,” we both say at the same time.
“Are you prepared, as you follow the path of marriage, to love and honor each other for as long as you both shall live?”
“Yes,” we both again say at the same time.
“Are you prepared to accept children in a loving manner from God and to bring them up according to the law of Christ and his church?” the priest asks.
“Yes,” we both say again.
“Since it’s your intention to enter into the covenant of holy matrimony, please join your right hands and declare your intention before God and his church. Santos, please ready the ring and state your vows.”
I grab the ring from my pocket and hover it over her ring finger as I speak. “I, Santos, take you, Eset, to be my wife. I promise to be there for you in whatever way you might need me. I promise to be true to you in good times and in bad, in sickness and in health, and to love and honor you for all of the days of my life.”
“Eset, it’s now your turn.”
Amelia hands her the ring, and Eset clears her throat before she begins. “I, Eset, take you, Santos, to be my husband. I promise to be there for you in whatever way you might need me. I promise to be true to you in good times and in bad, in sickness and in health, and to love and honor you for all of the days of my life.”
“Santos, do you promise to cherish and love Eset for the rest of her days?” the priest questions me.
“I do,” I tell him, and Eset slides the ring on my finger.
“Eset, do you promise to cherish and love Santos for the rest of his days?” the priest now questions my bride.
