“You’re doing bloody well for someone who doesn’t even like the language.”
Her face brightened when I spoke up and I didn’t believe such a simple compliment made her shine that brightly. “Despite your accent, I know you’re from the other side of the continent. Eritrean? Tigre or Tigrinya?”
“Tigrinya. People normally have problems pinpointing the country. They normally think I’m Ethiopian or Somali.”
“When you’re not beholden to western beauty standards the subtle differences shine through. Same people set apart and divided by an imaginary line but based on your age and your accent the idea of your immigrating to England coincides with the unrest in Eritrea. You were more likely to be Ethiopian if you had come directly to the States.”
“Nyima was a mail-order bride so she’d have a better grasp of unrest. The majority of us were beholden to the western slant on what was going on in the world.”
I was shocked because these men seemed stand-up. Ori didn’t seem the type to allow his friend to do something so vile. “Surely you jest.”
“Not entirely.”
The rest of the night was spent with them regaling me about the complexities of their individual love stories and I wasn’t sure if they were attempting to fortify Vanya’s decision or help me believe I was making the right one. I tried not to allow my thoughts to stray to Ori so often but they still went that way.
It wasn’t awful being surrounded by women who didn’t seem afraid of the violence of the men that they were attached to. For many, I could tell that the same ability lay within each of them. It was wild to say that I felt more at home among them than I did in my regular life but I did. No one outside of Nev, Tee and my twin made me feel as though I didn’t have to wear a mask. I’d walked in with one but somewhere along the way it had vanished.
“So, I have some ideas already for your wedding.” Jada’s excitement was something I was never going to mimic because, frankly, I didn’t have it in me. Nothing about me was ever excited about the idea of a wedding for myself. Even as a kid I thought the traditions from Eritrea were beautiful but never saw myself in the role as the bride. Although the position was being thrust on me, nothing had changed.
I gave her the nicest smile I could muster and followed it with a weak, “That’s nice.”
She gave me that blank stare that I was realizing was her way of keeping her temper in check. A handy way for her to giveherself a minute to reach for the proper response instead of her natural one.
A good way to cope if I had to say so myself. “Okay wait. Is this going to be one of those wedding where you all actually give me input or am I going to be doing this one solo dolo as well?” Despite her obvious love for her husband, I knew Frankie had been the reluctant and disinterested bride.
“You seem fairly calm with that realization. I’m glad to hear that you have experience with it so I won’t be putting too much stress on you. I’m glad you seem so calm.”
Her head tilted that masking smile deepening. “What do you mean?”
“What’s wrong with you?” Between the 19 arrests and the driving the man mad I knew she had to have a clinical diagnosis somewhere.
Teegan would love to talk with Jada.
“Again, what do you mean?”
I knew my question was impertinent but I knew she wasn’t sensitive enough to be bothered by it. “You’re answering my question with a question instead of simply answering it.”
“But if the response is a question aren’t you still getting an answer?” I could see the joy that she was deriving from my irritation so I let the matter drop completely.
“You’re going to drive me up a bloody wall, aren’t you?”
“Never that. I’m simply trying to understand what it is that we’re doing and what expectations y’all have of me.”
I didn’t believe that answer for a minute. “Speak plainly, please. I’m sure you’ve noticed that I’m not one to get offended in the slightest when people do so and I won’t start now. Contrary to popular belief, I’m not crazy.”
“Well, that’s not true.” Her laughter seemed to dance around me as though it were mimicking the joy that its owner felt at refuting my claim of sanity.
“What on earth is so funny?”
“Well, why wouldn’t I laugh?”
I took a deep breath and then audibly exhaled because I knew this was going to be a trial and yet it was more frustrating than I assumed it would be.
“Most of the time when people assume that they’re around someone who is… not mentally balanced, they proceed with caution. You, on the other hand, are trying to incite me to madness. So, I’m simply trying to understand what in God’s name I have done that was so wrong my punishment was to endure this. You’re such a trial.” For as much as everyone spoke positively about her, I knew she had to take some getting used to.
“I’m a trial?” The sparkle in her eyes made her russet hair gleam at the thought of stressing me out.
I put my hand to my forehead and rubbed no longer caring if I messed up my makeup since my duties were done. “Jada… Jada please. I’m beseeching you at this point—”
