AllFreeNovel
Share Us
I look up at him. He’s so beautiful. “Where would we live?” My heart says ‘yes,’ but my practical mind is trying to take some control of the situation.
“At the moment, I’m constantly moving, but I could be in New Orleans more.”
“You could move in with me?”
“Yes, we could find a place together.”
I can’t deny that my heart is leaping at this idea, but my mind is telling me to be cautious. “I want to marry you; of course I do. But I worry, it’s too soon...”
“I understand,” he says. “It was just a thought. My intentions won’t change because you said ‘no.’”
“I’ve not said ‘no.’”
“Ivy, I’ve wanted to marry you from the moment I met you. I know you don’t believe in fate, but I do.”
“You’ve said so,” I smile up at him, and he kisses me.
“Say you’ll marry me. We are meant to be.”
I kiss him back. I don’t want to say ‘no’ again because, in my heart, I want it to be ‘yes.’
* * *
After swimming, we walk back through the hotel and pass an advertisement that has a gorgeous couple getting married, and it says:
Get married in Greece. Exchange your vows in a gorgeous and timeless location. It doesn’t require any paperwork or legal documentation. Enquire Inside.
I stop. “Is this what you saw before?”
Sem looks at the advertisement. “No. But this would be acceptable to me. I want to marry you, Ivy. It doesn’t have to be with all your human paperwork.”
“Human paperwork?”
“I meant American paperwork. You know English isn’t my first language.”
Before we can continue the conversation, a beautiful young woman who introduces herself as the wedding planner at the hotel comes out of her office, and before I can say ‘no.’ She and Sem are already discussing a symbolic wedding.
In the next minute, we are invited into her office, still wearing our swimsuits, to look through symbolic wedding brochures and packages available on the island.
I point out the obvious to Sem, “None of our friends or family could come if we did this now.”
The wedding planner jumps in, “Think of it as a very private exchange of vows. You know many people prefer it that way, and in my opinion, it’s more romantic, just the two of you in this romantic location.” Then, she hands us another planner. “Greece is one of the most classically beautiful places to have an intimate exchange of vows.”
Her brochure of private packages, which include makeup, hair, photography, and a fantastic romantic dinner for two, are impressive. I look over at Sem. “As wonderful as this is, unfortunately, I can’t afford this.”
“Money isn’t an obstacle,” he assures me. “That shouldn’t be part of your concern. If you want to marry me symbolically like this here in Greece, of course, I want to do it.”
I look down at the brochure again and then back to Sem. “I want this too,” I say honestly, feeling like I’m publicly saying something so private, but I’m paying you back for half of it. I want this to be equal.”
Sem beams at me. “If that’s the only thing holding you back, then I agree wholeheartedly.” Then Sem looks at the wedding planner. “We want to marry tomorrow. Is that possible? We need everything. We aren’t prepared for anything but want to commit our souls to one another.”
I suppress a laugh. But it’s true we literally have nothing but our love.
The wedding planner doesn’t look put off by this at all. “As long as you both are a bit flexible, I can help you arrange everything by tomorrow, including clothing, which I assume you also need?”
Sem and I answer at the same time. I say, “Yes,” and he says, “No.”
I look at him. “I’m not getting married in a cotton sundress.”
