“Mrs Williamson,” I hold out my hand politely.
“Lina,” she corrects, not standing on formalities and pulling me in for a hug. “You’re beautiful. Just like I expected.”
So’s she. She has the same facial features as my man, and the same long hair frames her face.
Lina and her mother couldn’t make me feel more welcome. Over the next few days I feel I’ve been allowed to open a window into their life. While Tse takes Drew off to visit Billy, with the strange promise to me he won’t let him ride, I’m prodded and poked with pins while the finishing touches are put on my wedding clothes, and the ceremony is explained to me. I’m filled with excitement.Thisis what was missing before. We might already have the marriage certificate to prove it, but this sense of preparation, people witnessing our union, being happy for us will make me truly feel like Tse’s wife.
If anything, Lina is even more excited than me. When I try to thank her for doing so much, while her mother looks on giving a snort of disgust, Lina explains she had a similar wedding to my first. City Hall in Tucson, no family around her. It’s then I remember she’d run off with Tse’s dad. Both womenseem to be making up for her lack of a proper wedding now. Their excitement is infectious.
I spare a thought for my own mom, missing her dreadfully, wishing she was beside me, but feeling she’s watching over me, and would be happy for me.
Tse’s grandmother surprised me, reverently showing me a wedding vase made of clay with two spouts. In days past, she explained, a medicine man would prepare a love potion made of holy water and nectar, nowadays herbal tea or water is used instead. I admired it when she told me it was given to her on her marriage. I was taken aback when she said it was mine now. I could well understand how a vase such as this is treasured, and never sold, but passed down when, like in her case, a woman has lost her partner.
I held it so carefully, frightened I’d drop it, as she explained that the spouts are joined together by a looped handle representing the bridge that joins two lives. During the wedding Tse and I will drink from it, blessings will follow if we don’t spill a drop.
Each stitch in my regalia increases the anticipation. By the time the day of our wedding arrives, I’m more than ready.
I wear a pleated cotton skirt with a Navajo pattern embroidered around the base, with a matching long-sleeve blouse topped by a shawl woven by Lina’s mother. Knee-high moccasins made from soft buckskin which I personally love. I’m festooned with silver jewellery, made here on the reservation. My hair has been plaited in a loose braid which hangs to one side.
Once I’m dressed, Lina and her mother leave me, and Drew enters. Having no father, he’ll walk beside me today.
“You know what to do?” Drew asks, a small frown on his face. He’s taking this so seriously.
“I think so,” I agree, hesitantly. Lina’s been through it so many times, but I’m still worried about making a mistake. “Has anyone turned up from the Satan’s Devils?”
“Yeah,” he grins broadly. “Blade arrived while you were getting dressed. Mouse’s uncle’s been showing him how to shoot a bow and arrow. Think he likes learning new skills. Oh, and Mouse shut him down fast when he asked about scalping.”
I shake my head, Blade’s bloodthirsty, no doubting that.
“You look beautiful, Sis.” He holds out his arm, and I link my free hand through it. Leaning over I pick up a special basket, one full of corn mush.
“Let’s do this,” I tell him. Worried I’m shaking so much I might drop my basket.
I know Tse and his family will already be inside the hogan that’s used for ceremonies such as‘ahé’éské,marriage. He and his mother will sit on the west side, his uncles and the rest of his family sitting to the north. All I have to do is enter and sit on his right side. Tse and I will both face east, toward the door. The basket I’m hanging onto so tightly will be placed in front of Tse. My relatives, or Drew and Blade in this case, will sit to the south.
I’m aware of voices behind me as I enter, but until I’ve placed that basket so carefully in front of Tse, I don’t look up. It’s only then I stare at my man who’s smiling at me, love beaming out from his eyes. I can’t fail to notice how handsome he looks in a velveteen shirt of a deep turquoise hue, his hair tied up in some sort of complicated bun, white wool keeping it in place.
I sit down, then hear voices. Looking up, I see numerous Devils and old ladies have followed me in. I see Sam and Sophie, both carrying their babies, Eli and Olivia toddling wide-eyed alongside. Then there’s Drummer, Wraith, Blade, Peg, Darcy and Noah. Bullet’s here with Carmen, Viper with Sandy.Road, Jekyll and Hyde. The compound in Tucson must have been left nearly empty.
Blade sees my mouth dropping open and winks.
A cough brings me back to the ceremony which is about to begin. Tse nods at me in encouragement. Carefully picking up a jug in front of me, I pour water over Tse’s outstretched hands, then he takes the jug and does the same to mine. That part of the ceremony completed, Tse’s oldest uncle sprinkles corn pollen on the mush in the basket I’d brought in.
Remembering the order I have to eat it in, Tse and I take pinches of the corn mush, eating from the east, south, west and then north sides of the basket. Then the basket is passed to Tse’s mom, his uncle instructs she’s to always keep it safe.
One by one Tse’s uncles stand and give us advice on our marriage ahead, the oldest and final speech talking about the fire we’ve lit between us that should never be allowed to go out. Reminding us that our marriage is a new beginning. A new life, a new family. Words said in Navajo then repeated in English.
Food is passed around, an Anglo style wedding cake appears from somewhere. People talk and laugh.
Tse leans over and whispers in my ear. “How do you feel, Mariana?”
I turn to face him, “Married.” It’s true. This time, I really do. Sitting forward, I address myself to the woman on his opposite side. “I don’t know how I’ll ever be able to thank you for this, Lina.”
She smiles. Reaching around her son, she pats my hand. “I’m so pleased to welcome you to the family. Just be good to my son, that’s all I can ask. Oh, and perhaps a grandchild or two?”
“In good time, Mother,” Tse answers on my behalf, giving a squeeze to my fingers. “All in good time.”
My brother clears his throat pointedly. Lina gives him a broad grin. “Oh, I’ve adopted you too, Drew. My first grandchild. Just a bit bigger than what I was expecting.”
