“He’s no peach blush, eh?”
“Not in the slightest.”
“Then let’s get you married.”
DEV FOUNDMOHAMMADsitting on the deck of the house, overlooking the beach. He approached slowly, more than a little worried. Had this been a normal state of events, he would have already spent a great deal of time with his soon-to-be father-in-law. As it was, he only had time to get the man’s blessing before the ceremony in a couple hours.
Jia’s father glanced up as he approached and gave him a kind smile. He was dressed in a slightly baggy suit. “Dev.”
“Dr. Ahmed.”
“Please, no need to revert to formalities. Mohammad is fine.”
“Okay.” He took a deep breath, bracing himself. “I know this is all a little unorthodox.”
Mohammad laughed. “A little. I understand family dynamics, especially when there’s an elder who may or may not be sick, Dev. But I fear your family is using my daughter.”
Dev paused. “Is that what Jia said? That she feels like she is being used?” He hadn’t seen her since last night. Had she changed her mind?
“Not at all. She is ready and willing to marry you immediately. I know what you’re here for, for my blessing. I thank you for seeking it, but I am hesitant to give it.” Mohammad raised his hand and counted off each point. “You two barely know each other. We barely know you. I do not appreciate one of my daughters being pressured into a commitment, especially into a family that is so different from our own, one that has such a wildly different way of life. This inheritance business alone is strange.”
“I am well aware of that. My grandfather was a strangeman.” He spread his hands. “I don’t care about the money, at all, by the way.”
“Then why rush? We take marriage seriously. It is not something I want one of my children to enter into lightly.” There was a finality to Mohammad’s words that struck fear into Dev’s heart. It was scarier than if the man had yelled his opposition to this match.
“It’s not something I enter into lightly,” Dev said quietly. “And I think it matters how Jia feels. She wants this wedding now, and I want what she wants.”
“Jia has a history of jumping into situations with both feet, without looking.”
“And she always lands on her feet, does she not? The decisions she makes are good for her.”
Mohammad’s eyes narrowed, and Dev finally caught the upset the man had been hiding behind his easygoing facade. “Just because she gets lucky—”
“It’s not lucky. You only think she’s lucky because she makes things look easy. Have you watched her videos? I’ve watched every single one. She makes shadows appear on her face where there are none! She excels at making difficult things look flawless when in fact she is putting one hundred percent of herself into everything she does. She’s smart. She’s not flighty.”
“That may be—”
“No maybe about it, it is.” Dev shook his head, frustrated. “She craves your and her mother’s approval, but she can’t change who she is. And who she is is someone who propels herself into life without spending eons weighing all the prosand cons. I admire that about her.”
Mohammad studied him. “You’ve watched all her videos?”
“Yes.” Dev clasped his hands together. He didn’t know if he’d ever spoken so passionately in his life, off a stage.
Mohammad looked out over the ocean. “She is set on this impulsive wedding,” he said quietly.
Dev knew that, but his heart still soared. “Good,” he managed. “So am I.”
“Very well. I can’t stop you, and I’m not about to repeat history by opposing another daughter’s choice in a mate.” Mohammad’s chest rose. “I suppose once you are married, we will have plenty of time to get to know each other.”
The relief was overwhelming. “We will.”
“And this is only the formality. We want her to have a proper celebration as soon as possible.”
“That’s what I want as well.”
“I will want to spend some time with this imam your grandmother found, to make sure we approve.”
“Of course.”
