Just past ten, Jovan waltzes in with Danica by the arm. She looks frightened, confused, and like she's been crying all night long. Her eyes are puffy and red-rimmed and her hair is disheveled. The green sweater she's wearing is wrinkled, and when she gets closer, I smell the stench of alcohol on her breath.
He leads her right to me, and she stops and her hands tighten around a folder she's carrying. She doesn't appear to be pleased this morning to even be awake, let alone at the registrar's office where a reluctant marriage will take place.
"I wasn't sure you'd be smart enough to show up." She's not the only one on edge this morning. If this doesn't go exactly as planned, my trip to Serbia will be cut short immediately. Jovan and Vuk have already cleared the area. I know there are nopolice around, but that doesn't mean the registrar is innocent. The place could be bugged, or she could be wearing a wire. There's a lot riding on this. I can’t go back to Russia without justice for Yuri.
"I didn't have much choice." Her voice is flat and empty of any emotion.
"No, you didn't." I gesture toward the desk where the registrar is sitting hunched over paperwork. "Let's get this over with so I can get back to work."
Danica walks past me without looking up and approaches the desk. The registrar is a small woman in her fifties with thinning hair and sweat stains under her arms. She looks up when Danica reaches her and forces a smile.
"You must be the bride," the registrar says uncomfortably. Her eyes register Danica's fright and recognition passes across her face. She's starting to realize she's not the only one being forced against her will to do something.
"Yes." Danica sets her folder on the desk. "I have my papers."
"Excellent." The registrar opens the folder and examines the documents. "Everything appears to be in order."
Danica glances at me and then back at the registrar. "So we fill out the application now?"
"Application?" The registrar looks confused. She turns to me and asks, "I thought we were performing the ceremony today?" The slight tremor in her hands is evidence of just how scared she is, though I have to hand it to her. She's far more professional than I thought.
I nod at Vuk who nudges Jovan, and they begin searching the room for bugs. I stand quietly, waiting to respond before saying anything incriminating, but Danica has no concept of tact right now.
"What?" Danica takes a step back from the desk. "No, I thought we were just filing paperwork."
Ten more seconds and Vuk nods at me confirming we are clean, so I turn to the registrar who is now as white as a ghost.
"Plans changed." I move to stand beside her. "It's amazing what some money and a little pressure will get you. Isn't it?" I say, lifting my eyebrows, and the registrar's throat works as she smiles.
She shifts uncomfortably in her chair and won't meet my eyes. She knows exactly what kind of pressure I applied to make this happen. A few threats to her family and a stack of bills were all it took to convince her to manipulate the system. If she's caught, she faces stiff penalties.
"I'm not ready for this." Danica's shaking her head. "I need more time."
"You don't have more time." I keep my voice calm, but my hand slides to the small of her back where I nudge her forward. "Ten more minutes and we're done, and we can leave."
"But I thought…" Danica looks at the registrar desperately. "Can't we just file the application and do this later?"
"I'm afraid not." The registrar pulls out a thick book and opens it to a marked page. "Everything has been arranged for today."
Danica turns to look at me, and there's panic written all over her pale face. She's realizing that this is actually happening rightnow and there's nothing she can do to stop it. I almost feel bad for her being dragged into this. It reminds me of a time when I was a boy and life was very different for me. But there's no one else who can do this job with me, and if I find another woman, I'll feel the same way.
"Stand here." I point to the spot beside me. "And try to look happy."
"I can't do this," Danica whimpers so quietly. "Please don't make me do this."
"You already agreed." I grab her arm and pull her to the correct position. "Now stand still and be quiet." I can't say I don't feel something, but it doesn't matter what I feel. This is for the good of the family and it has to happen.
The registrar clears her throat and begins reading from a book in front of her. Her voice is shaking slightly and she keeps glancing at me like she's afraid I'll change my mind about letting her live. Danica's trembling. Every few seconds, she shifts her weight from foot to foot nervously.
The ceremony, if you can call it that, is nothing more than the registrar asking basic questions, to which we respond. But Danica's voice is quiet, and the woman has to ask her to speak up in order to appease her conscience. It takes longer than I feel is necessary, but at least Danica isn't throwing a fit.
"The rings," the registrar says and looks at me expectantly.
I reach into my pocket and pull out two matching gold bands I picked up out of a pawn shop for this reason. They’re not fancy, but they'll work. I hand one to Danica and keep the other for myself.
"Put it on," I say, and she cringes as I place it in her hand.
Danica stares at the ring like it's a live snake ready to bite her. "No," she hisses, gawking at me in disgust. "I can't wear that."
