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‘I want you to enjoy today instead of wishing it was over. We become a family today, and I want you relaxed enough to celebrate that.’
It was the nicest thing he could say to her.
‘What are you worried about?’ he asked.
‘All the people,’ she admitted. ‘What they will think because, as lovely as the gown is, I look pregnant...’
‘Do you remember when I said that the people would not be shocked that I have a healthy sexual appetite?’
She laughed again.
‘They know that change is taking place and they are excited to see it happening. I hate the balcony,’ Ilyas admitted—something he never envisaged he would. ‘When I was a child I would always be scolded for not standing straight or for looking around. Today, Iwantto step out there and have the people meet you. And I shall smile and I shall wave, which I don’t usually do, and I shall look around to my wife, and they will see that there is love between us. They will adore you because they will see today just how much I love you. They shall be as thrilled about the baby as I am.’
Maggie sat there with her eyes closed, soothed by his words, but the tears were still trickling down.
‘Youcancry,’ he told her.
‘Not today,’ Maggie said. ‘My eyes will be all puffy and my face will be red.’
‘And I will still love you.’
‘I miss her today...’ She couldn’t finish. The dam had burst, yet when she finally cried, it was not the deluge she had thought it would be. Instead, deep shudders racked her body and it actually hurt in her chest to let go.
And for Ilyas, it hurt to sit and do nothing other than hear her cry.
But then the hurt stopped for both of them; her tears dried and Maggie felt as if a great weight had been lifted from her.
She had cried alone.
Yet not alone, at the same time.
The grief inside her lifted and she knew her mother would be so excited and proud today.
‘I know you miss your mother and I cannot make that go away, but you are not alone today. You have friends here who love you and I will be waiting for you too.’
‘I know,’ Maggie said, and she no longer felt scared.
‘I shall see you soon,’ Ilyas told her. ‘And I love you.’
‘I love you too,’ Maggie said, and the words came so easily when she had never thought that they would.
It was a smiling Maggie who looked up when Kumu returned.
‘Better?’ Kumu asked.
‘Much.’
The maidens worked their magic and all traces of puffy eyes vanished, and then it was time to put on her silver robe.
It was heavy and intricately beaded and Kumu helped her put on little silver jewelled slippers. Then it was a slow walk down to the oasis inside the palace where the service would take place.
She smiled at Flo and to Paul and Kelly and then walked over to where Ilyas waited.
And because of that time with him, that time he had given her, Maggie was truly able to enjoy this most wonderful day.
Even the fact that Hazin was missing could not dim the joy.
They stood and faced each other. Maggie looked right into those gorgeous hazel eyes and saw the amber in them glimmer with love as his rich, deep voice delivered its vow. ‘I pledge, in honesty and sincerity, to be for you a faithful and helpful husband.’
