Her mother had gone silent, and her aunts stood on either side of her, a united front, waiting to see which way the wind would blow.
Finally, her mother sighed. "So, what would it be? Two weeks or three?"
Hope flared in Arezoo's chest. "Three, if it will make you less panicky. Two if you can handle it."
Her mother reached out and cupped Arezoo's face in her hands. Her palms were warm and slightly rough from years of hard work, and the touch was so achingly familiar that Arezoo felt tears prick the corners of her eyes.
"We will cook," she said firmly. "Your aunts and I will prepare the wedding feast, and I don't want to hear any arguments about it. The clan's fancy chef can prepare the wedding cake."
"Done." Arezoo hardly dared to breathe. "So, it's a yes?"
Her mother closed her eyes. "It's an acceptance of your choice. This is your life, Arezoo, and I'm no longer running it." She opened her eyes again, and they were fierce despite the tears. "But you will have a proper wedding. Not some rashly-thrown-together affair. You will have flowers and music and a dress that makes you look like a princess. Understood?"
"Understood." Arezoo threw her arms around her mother, hugging her tight. "Thank you, Maman. Thank you."
Her mother held her close, stroking her hair the way she used to when Arezoo was a little girl. "Just promise me something."
"Anything."
"Promise me you'll be happy. That's all I've ever wanted for you. Happiness."
"I promise." Arezoo pulled back, wiping her eyes. "I'm already happy. Ruvon makes me happy. And being immortal with him will make me even happier."
Her mother nodded. "Then go. I know you can't wait to tell him the news." She chuckled. "Now I know why he's been avoiding the store for the past week. He knew this conversation was coming and was scared to show his face here."
Arezoo couldn't deny it because it was true. "Can you be nice to him when he comes by?"
"Of course." Her mother clapped her on her back. "I'm always nice to him. Tell him that I need his help this Monday with a big delivery. It will be twice the regular size."
"Thank you." Arezoo hugged her mother again, then her aunts, and then she was out the door, practically running through the village toward Ruvon's house.
The sun was warm on her face, the air crisp and clean, and everything seemed brighter, more vivid, more alive. She was getting married. In three weeks, she would be Ruvon's wife. And shortly after that, she would be immortal.
She reached Ruvon's home breathless from excitement and rang the bell.
The door opened, and there he was. Tall, slim, with gorgeous dark eyes that always seemed to see right through her. He was wearing a simple t-shirt and jeans, and his hair was slightly mussed, as if he'd been running his fingers through it.
He'd never looked more handsome to her.
"Arezoo?" His brow furrowed with concern. "Have you been running? What's wrong?"
"Everything's perfect." She threw herself into his arms, nearly knocking him backward. "I talked to my mother."
"You did?" His arms came around her automatically, steadying her. "What did she say?"
"She hyperventilated, but eventually she said yes." Arezoo pulled back just enough to see his face. "We can get married in three weeks. My mother and aunts are going to cook the wedding feast, and my mother is going to order the flower arrangements, but Amanda can do all the rest. We're getting married, Ruvon. In three weeks."
For a moment, he just stared at her, as if he couldn't quite process what she was saying. Then a smile broke across his face, crinkling the corners of his eyes and making her heart flip in her chest.
"Three weeks." He pulled her inside and kicked the door shut behind them, then lifted her off her feet and spun her around until she was dizzy and laughing.
"I can't believe you did it," he said when he finally set her down.
"It wasn't easy. My mother nearly fainted, and my aunts had to calm her down."
"But she said yes."
"She said yes."
