Page 133 of Deadly Betrayal
Looking to Jake for support, Kaden said, “Ifit is all right with you, Mullah, I would like for us to exchangerings.”
Clutching his Koran to his chest, themullahheld his hand out. “Please, go ahead.”
Azita’s heart sank. She didn’t have a ringfor Kaden. Just as she was about to tell him, Jake nudged her armand put something hard and round in her hand. Her eyes welled whenshe met his gaze. He regarded her uncertainly and she remindedherself to talk to him later. She wanted him to know nothing he’dsaid during his PTSD episode had changed the way she felt abouthim. He was a wonderful friend to Kaden, and she hoped heconsidered her a friend too.
Kaden took her hand and placed a pretty bandof silver and lapis lazuli on her left ring finger. “Azita Seraj, Igive you this symbol of my love so you may know that I desire tolive with you from this day forward, and that you may rememberforever that I have chosen you above all others.”
His words went straight to her heart, fillingit, and making her warm all over. He’d chosen her. None other. Andnot for what money or position she could bring him. This amazingman wanted her because helikedher, because he wanted to bewith her and grow old together. She couldn’t ask for anythingmore.
Blinking away the moisture in her eyes, shetook his hand and slipped the matching ring on his finger. Hervoice shook with the depth of her love for him. “KadenChristiansen, I give you this symbol of my love so you may knowthat I desire to live with you from this day forward, and that youmay remember forever that I have chosen you above all others.”
They stared into each other’s eyes forseveral long moments, during which she saw their entire future.Kaden would always keep her safe. He’d always put her and theirfamily first. He’d always love her and look at her the way he wasdoing now.
The cleric cleared his throat. “I nowpronounce you man and wife.”
“Thank you, Mullah,” Kaden said.
Azita bowed her head. “You have my gratitude,Mullah.”
In a pure voice, Laila began to sing “AhestaBoro,” a traditional song, meaning “walk slowly.” The doors at thefront of the chapel opened and Laila saw that a group of localAfghans had gathered outside. They joined Laila in singing thesong. Kaden looked around, his bewildered expression endearing himto her even more. Her husband.
“We are expected to walk through the peopleas through entering a reception hall.”
“Ah… got it. Can I hold your hand?”
She flashed him a brief grin. “Not yet.” ButAllah knew she wanted to.
“In America, I’d already have gotten akiss.”
Now it was her turn to blush. As they madetheir way into the crowd, several servers appeared with food-ladentrays. Who had arranged for this? “Did you—?” Her question trailedoff when she saw Kaden’s raised brow.
Two women approached them, holding a gailycolored scarf with small inlaid glass octagons. They placed ablanket on the ground. When Azita knelt, Kaden followed her, andthe women lifted the scarf over their heads. A third womangraciously offered them a Koran. Her hands trembling, Azita took itand opened it to her favorite passage. It was one her mother hadoften recited to her.
As she read, the woman held up a decoratedmirror so they could see each other as a married couple for thefirst time. Kaden watched her read, his expression filled withpride. Love for him choked her. Swallowing, she shifted her eyesaway from him and back to the words she knew by heart. They soothedher and made her believe that the man kneeling beside her was infact real.
In the mirror, she saw him hold his hand outto someone in the crowd. Slowly, he tugged, until the other person,Laila, joined them beneath the scarf. He positioned her in themiddle and pointed to their combined reflection in the mirror.“Family,” he said. “Azita, you, and me, we’re a family now. Do youaccept this, Lailajan?”
Her startled eyes darted from him to Azitaand back to their reflection. “I accept, Kadenjan.”
“Then you have made me very happy.” He smiledand put his arm around Laila’s shoulders.
Strangled by emotion, Azita was unable tocontinue. Hearing Laila usejanwith Kaden’s name andknowing it signaled the affection she felt for him, made her eyesblur with tears. She closed the Koran and threw her arms aroundKaden and Laila. “I love you. I love you both so much.”
For the first time in years, she was exactlywhere she wanted to be, where she belonged—in the arms of her newhusband and daughter.
After the celebration, Kaden walked Azita andLaila back to the hospital to change and get ready for a far lessjoyous ceremony. Azita carefully folded her wedding dress and Lailadid the same. Kaden brushed his fingers along Azita’s cheek. “Iwanted to give you so much more. You deserve a special day that’sall about you.”
“It was a beautiful, heartfelt wedding, and Iwould not change any of it. Except…” Her voice faltered and herbottom lip quivered.
Taking her into his arms, he kissed the topof her head. “I know, honey. We’ll get him back. Somehow, we’ll layhim to rest.”
Azita wrapped her arms around his waist andheld tightly. He rubbed her back, hoping the warmth of his touchwould soothe her. He was there for her, and—God willing—he wouldcontinue to be until they were both old and gray. They would faceeach new challenge together. He hoped she understood that.
He pushed a lock of her hair under the whiteveil he’d given her. The paleness of her skin made her eyes seemeven larger and more amazing than ever. “We need to go. It’sgetting late.” When she raised her head, he said gently, “Show mewhere Freba is.”
After taking Laila’s hand, Azita walked downthe corridor, her spine straight, like a soldier marching off towar. Azita tried so hard to be the strong one, the courageous one,when what she really needed was to let go. He was here now. He’dtake care of her.
Freba’s body lay on a gurney, wrapped in aclean white cloth. Another lay below her. “We will need six men tocarry her to the graveyard,” Azita said. Her voice shook, andLaila’s eyes filled with tears that she valiantly tried to holdin.
