He flew a jeweler in so we could pick rings. Despite his pressure for me to pick a gargantuan rock, I fell in love with a two-carat cushion cut diamond with a twisted rose gold band. When he saw the way my face lit up as I slid the ring onto my finger, Mal relented.
But he demanded that I pick out his ring. So I went with a matching rose gold men’s band with a center inlay of brushed black zirconium. It looked masculine and whimsical at the same time. Perfect for Mal.
The way he grinned down at the ring made my heart skip a beat. He was just so happy. Giddy even.
It was contagious.
When he offered to get some dress options boated over for me, I asked for fabric instead. I’d never made a dress in such a short turn around before, but I’d grown up watchingProject Runwayand was naïve enough to believe I could do it.
It was close, but I’d forgone sleep last night to make it happen.
Which was how I found myself walking down a flower strewn beach path with a bouquet in my hands and a short, flirty white sundress flowing around me. At the end of the beach, Mal stood under an arch made from branches with topical flowers twisted around it.
It felt like a dream. Or an out of body experience.
Was I really going to marry this man?
I hadn’t even told anyone back home this was happening.
I didn’t want anyone to talk me out of it—because they would’ve.
In contrast to my heartbeat thundering in my ears, Mal looked so calm and just awestruck. Like he couldn’t believe his luck that I was going to marry him.
Oh god. We were really doing this.
Before my doubts had a chance to multiply, I reached Mal, and he took my hands in his and grinned down at me despite the tears sparkling in his eyes.
A sense of peace enveloped me.
I could do anything with Mal looking at me like that.
“We’re gathered here to celebrate the wedding of Malcolm Holt and Saylor Tate.” Samu stood in front of us inside the arch with a mischievous grin. “And for some reason, Mal asked me to officiate this wonderful day for them.”
The few people standing nearby chuckled at his cute expression. But I couldn’t take my eyes off of Mal.
I jumped when Samu clapped three times. It felt like it was right next to my ear.
“The kava ceremony marks the official start of wedding celebrations in Fiji. During this ritual, we have both families gather in a circle as the village chief prepares kava in a tanoa bowl. Since it’s just the two of you here today, Mal has asked me to prepare the kava.” Samu turned and picked up a coconut bowl floating in murky water. “The ceremony strengthensbonds between families while seeking ancestral blessings for the marriage.” He took a drink from the bowl then turned to refill it and passed the bowl to Mal.
Mal let go of my hands to take the bowl and took a deep drink before passing the bowl to me.
No one mentioned this part of the ceremony to me. I swapped my bouquet for the bowl and held it in both hands. After taking a deep breath, I took a drink.
It didnottaste good.
Pretty much had the flavor I expected of murky water. But a weird sensation afterward had my tongue tingling and numbing a little. I passed the bowl back to Mal who gave me my bouquet and passed the bowl back to Samu.
Samu set the bowl back into the murky water then clapped once. Again in my ear.
I jumped and then scowled teasingly at Mal’s grinning face.
“It’s time for thesalusalu exchange. Thesalusalusymbolizes honor, love, and celebration.” Samu turned to Mal. “I understand Mal has written his own vows?”
Mal nodded. Samu passed him a flower garland made from hibiscus and grass. Mal turned back to me and laid the flowers over my head like a necklace. “Saylor, I promise to be there when you need me, to fill your days with sunshine, to comfort and encourage you, to help you reach your goals, to be your best friend, and to love you all my life with all my heart.”
The love and intensity in his eyes made tears well in mine. It was everything. Everything I didn’t know I wanted. Everything I needed.
My tears streamed unchecked down my cheeks, and I laughed, so full of joy and love for this man.
