-When I realized she was a virgin, I froze. I couldn't understand how this beautiful, delicate flower had gone untouched. She was too magnificent for me. The perfection of the creature is unparalleled. I can't believe I am going to get to keep this innocent for my own.
I know he must have felt my hymen. How he must hate me. How he must view me: as a pathetic and sad creature. I know a 22 year old, virgin girl seems unbelievable and ridiculous. Not completely innocent, and not entirely without needs. But I never wanted to go too far with a guy; true, part of me did want to wait for my husband to take me on my honeymoon but I had planned on that not being for years. He's stopped and is putting my clothes back in order. He might want to get rid of me. God, what will I do if that happens?
-I removed my finger and helped to put her to rights. She looks scared, why is that? Oh, how I want her right now. We should go back in, and let my father know we're ready to get married. But why is she afraid, she just pulled away from me?
-"What is wrong? Why do you recoil from me?"
"Do I have to say it out loud?" He must be trying to humiliate me.
-"I guess you do, Jasmine, what is wrong? Did I do something?"
"You...you realized I am a..virgin." I couldn't look at him. "You must think I'm pathetic, or that I'm not worthy of you any longer. You must be thinking how to get rid of me, right now. God, I'm just useless." I sank to my knees and started sobbing.
I didn't know what was happening, I was crying so hard that I didn't hear him walk past me. But I did feel him sink down behind me and wrap his arms around me. He held me to him while I tried to get my breathing under control. He pulled my hair away from my face, and continued to hold me. I heard him whisper,
-"I could never think you are pathetic. Just thirty seconds ago I was thinking how much I wanted to take you here and now. That I couldn't wait to go back in and tell my father we are ready to marry, so I can get you to a bed and take you slow and with little pain. When I found you were a virgin, I realized how much I wanted you."
"Oh, Andre, are you serious? You want me? Why? How? God, I want you too. I've wanted you since I first saw you. Your eyes, they looked right through me, like you were seeing right into my soul. I remember thinking it was heart wrenching, that I was to 'marry' this man, who I just met, but already loved. God help me, I love you even if you don't love me."
-"Good." I helped her up. "Let's go inside, and get married. I can't wait much longer for you. And by the way, I do love you."
*****
They were still smiling at each other when they walked back through the double doors, back to where his father and step-mother were waiting. Curled into each other's arms, they saw the couple approach.
-"Father, we're ready to begin."
"Excellent. I knew you two would match well together."
-"Yes, well." Ahem. "How do we do this?"
"Duncan, bring the Father in here please. Kat, go help her change."
Duncan had been sitting in a low bench in front of the window, all but forgotten by Alphonse till the moment he was needed. Kat moved to take my hand, and I followed her to a door opposite the fireplace. It was a bathroom, but it was huge. There was a massive tub that had to be a Jacuzzi, a shower with two glass walls and two shower heads. The toilet I assumed was behind a closed door between the two. We stood by the sinks and I saw through another open door in front of us a bedroom.
I saw then the amazing dress that hung behind the door we just came through. I could not have imagined a better one for me. It had long sleeved, it had layers of material that would cup gracefully and not show too much cleavage. The dress must be some kind of special satin-it was so soft. Embroidered around the waist was what seemed to be a belt of sparkling jewels, which subtly pointed downward that would accentuate my smallish belly. It then flowed down in beautiful cascades of the material. It was perfect.
Kat helped me out of the now, in comparison, lame blue dress. And I remembered the enormous bruise on my side, which must have been forgotten outside, with Andre. I smiled at the memory. We eased me out of the blue dress as I held in a gasp. Then the white dress, my wedding dress, was taken off the hanger with careful hands, and unzipped down the back. I stepped into it, and Kat raised it for me. My hands found the sleeves and then I had to squeal from the pain. The bruise throbbed, and I would swear it were on fire. Eventually we got it in place, and Kat zipped me up. I swept away the tears with the back of my hand, while we examined my reflection.
"You look amazing. Like an angel." She said smiling.
"Thank you." I smiled broadly.
It takes a lot long to write all this than it took to do it. We were opening the door again not two minutes later.
I stepped out of the door first, Andre had his back to me, he turned and all but ran to wrap his arms around me as I raised mine to wrap around his broad shoulders. We both knew that two minutes apart was too much.
Duncan returned moments later, flanked by a Catholic priest, carrying the Bible and a few folded papers. When he got in position, in front of the large desk, he started to open his mouth but Alphonse interrupted
"The way we're working this is that you'll be married by the church first, all the right documents will be filled tomorrow morning and legally you will be married, but publically it will look as though you two are just dating. In a few months, you will have a public ceremony of which, Jasmine, your family and friends can attend. We in this room, alone, will know the truth."
-"If it's alright with Jasmine, it'll be alright with me."
"Yes."
And with that the ceremony started, the priest, called Father Jim, nearly recited the words, only looking down occasionally. He asked us to sign, the document that read, "Certificate of Marriage" in bold old English script. There was a step, though that apparently no one remembered. The Rings.
"Have you the ring" Father Jim asked Andre.
Andre turned pale, which sat awkwardly on his usually tanned composed face. He turned to his father, who looked as though he were holding his breath to keep from screaming. Kat just hung her head, and never met my eyes.
"Hey, it is okay, Andre," I raised my hand to cup his cheek. "I got it covered." He looked so confused that I nearly laughed.
I put my right hand in my left, and pulled the Claddagh ring from my right hand, where it had sat for the last five years in the same position, with the heart pointing away from my body, indicating I was single. I put it into Andre's waiting hand.
-"I don't understand." He said with half a smile and a raised eyebrow.
"The hands represent friendship; the crown represents loyalty; the heart represents love. I promise them all to you."
"Awww." I heard Kat say.
