Page 91 of The Gambler's Prize
Before I can really fall for their teasing my mother arrives, in a cloud of perfume and all dressed up. She seems a little dazed, like she can’t believe she’s actually here. She thought she would miss my wedding, miss the rest of my life, thanks to my father. She would’ve been afraid to track me down, knowing my father would be perfectly capable of carrying out his threat to me. Familiar anger starts to churn inside me, dark and sickening, but this is my wedding day. I won’t allow him to spoil any more of our lives by dwelling on him. He’s irrelevant. Of the past. I give my mother a long hug and introduce her to Breta and family. Then I take Grimes aside, getting a little nervous. It’s time to tell him about my surprise.
“Boss, I have a little gift, I guess you could call it, for you too. I hope it’s okay. Maybe it isn’t kind of thing I should just spring on you...”
He grabs my chin and lifts my head the way I love. I meet his eyes, all sheepish and meek. He loves that, too. His eyes get darker and he lets go of me fast, remembering we’re in public.
“What have you done?” he says.
I point to the door, where a man is coming in, hand in hand with a woman. He looks tentative. He has brown Rhennian skin and black hair.
“Jos,” Grimes say, staring.
“Don’t be mad,” I plead.
Grimes told me the whole story of how he fell out with his best friend because Jos disapproved of his revenge plan. He wanted to invite Jos and his wife to the wedding, but kept putting it off. Obviously afraid he would refuse. Finally I wrote to him myself, knowing that Grimes was going to leave it too late.
Grimes clears his throat. “I’m not mad, flower, just… surprised to see him.”
And more than a little scared, I bet. I nudge his arm. “Well, go on, then, go and talk to him.”
Jos is holding a box in his hands, a wedding gift. He’s here in peace, not to continue the fight, yet Grimes is still nervous. His outward strength conceals a core of vulnerability. I’m honored to be one of the only people allowed to see it. He walks over slowly, and I watch as the two men embrace. They fall into conversation: fast, excited, like brothers who haven’t seen each other for too long. I’m trying to give them a little privacy, but Grimes is beckoning me over already. I approach, nervous. Meeting the best friend is a big deal. What if he doesn’t like me? But the warmth of Jos’ embrace dispels any worries.
“Thank you for inviting me,” Jos says. “And thanks for keeping this one out of trouble.”
He punches Grimes’ arm. Grimes happy grin is a sight to behold. I never knew he could smile like this when I first met him. Then his parents arrive, his father just an older version of him, his mother a tall, surprisingly jovial woman. I never used to be able to imagine him with parents, either. It was like he’d sprung fully formed from the earth in that forbidding cloak. But now I know him, inside and out, it’s not so surprising to see him hug them warmly and get them settled in their seats.
Finally, the guest of honor and officiant arrives: Judge Draved. He saved both of our lives when I was drugged. There’s no way we’d be here without him. He’s looking better than usual, or at least less drunk. He gives me a wink as he steps up behind the lectern. Grimes and I step up to the front of the room. Though I usually love the spotlight, my knees feel weak. This is so important. Marrying my soulmate. What if I start to cry and make a fool of myself, or I can’t get the words out, or…?
Grimes takes both of my hands and squeezes them. As I look into his eyes, all of my doubts fall away.
“Are you two ready?” Judge Draved says.
“Yes,” I say.
“Hell, yes,” Grimes says.
The congregation laughs. We’re conducting the ceremony in Rhennian. Judge Draved adjusts his glasses, which I’m fairly sure are only there for effect as they’re so low he isn’t even looking through the lenses. It’s cute that he wants to look serious for our big day. He flips through his big leather-bound book to get to the vows. Lots of people write their own, but we’ve chosen the traditional Rhennian ceremony, which has a kind of old-school, raggedy charm. My feelings for Grimes are too deep to put into words anyway. I know he feels the same way.
“This man, Lord Florian Southland, comes here today to demand Grimes Morse’s hand in marriage,” Judge Draved shouts with a striking air. Morse is Grimes’ real last name, whichhe had to conceal from me during his plan because of his boxing fame.
My dramatic heart loves the theater of it all. In Rhennian tradition, the person who proposed is portrayed as a brave adventurer daring to confront a dragon. Although, it’s been so long since I was called Lord Florian Southland, I almost forget that he means me.
“May I have your hand in marriage?” I ask Grimes. I know the lines off by heart.
“Persuade me,” Grimes says, with a wolfish grin.
The Rhennians know it’s all part of the script. I made sure to explain it to Breta and family, and my mother, so they wouldn’t be concerned.
Judge Draved looks at me severely. “You heard the answer of your beloved. Florian, what can you offer Grimes?”
“My undying love,” I say.
It’s the line everyone uses, but the intensity is all my own. Grimes eyes melt as I look at him. Maybe his kohl isn’t going to make it through the day after all. My own eyes are prickling with tears, but I keep them fixed on him.
“Grimes?” Judge Draved says.
He’s supposed to demand more: there are a bunch of things I’m supposed to offer to him, including protection, care and all my worldly goods. But he veers completely off script.
“I’m sold,” he says.
