In a small room that Valery and Hana are occupying, there is a full length mirror and a dresser with a smaller mirror. There is also a closet for hanging clothes. Valery is excited and nervous. She should be. This is a greatest day of her life. Hana thinks she should not do any of her paranoid affliction in order not to ruin her friend's blissful moment. Nevertheless, she is not sure if she can act so skillfully that her friend will not suspect her mental bitterness. To avoid such thing, she must stay busy, get involved, and work. When Valery is ready with her help, she looks astonishingly beautiful. The wedding gown and the veil compliment her beautiful face with soft make up. She is wearing her hair up in a French twist with two strands hanging free over her ears. The drop pearl earrings are the only jewelry she is wearing. The high neck gown, covered with beaded lace makes her to look like a princess. The top part of the gown up to the chest area and sleeves are see through, beaded lace. The rest of the dress is lined with white, heavy satin. The dress is floor length without any train, the way Valery wanted for her small wedding. Hana stands there and looks at Valery for awhile. She is finally pleased with the job she has done on the gown and veil. Valery rains kisses upon Hana.
"Thank you, I love you. You've done a great job. Now I'm going to fix you up."
"First, don't mess up your make up and hair; and second what do you mean by fixing me up?" Hana, puzzled asks.
"I'm going to do you hair and make up."
"Oh, no, no, I don't wear make up."
"Come on Hana; it is my wedding. You must."
When Valery is done with Hana, none of them can believe what they see. Hana in her forest green, velvet, long gown looks startling. Her hair is braided in back with a bouquet of flower at the left side of her hair which praises her remarkable make up. They are supposed to stay in that room until everyone is seated and ceremony is about to begin. The only person who comes and goes as he wishes is John, Valery's son. One of Valery's sister takes care of him while the newly wed are in their honeymoon.
Hana begins shaking when she is called to leave the room and walk to the alter, where everyone impatiently awaits the bride in the company of her father to walk like a princess, and where all the eyes of standing people are fixed upon her. Today Valery is queen, like all brides are on the they of their wedding.
In the hallway, Hana sees Mario waiting for her. Her knee trembles by looking at this man, whom she had profound and hidden feeling for. He looks incredible in his black tuxedo, white shirt, white bow tie, and forest green, velvet cummerbund to match Hana's dress. In fact she made that cummerbund only by measurement from left over fabric of her dress. As they walk to enter the chapel, where all the guests are, Mario squeezes her arm.
"Oh, God, you're beautiful."
She perspires by a sudden shyness.
"By the way, I met your son. He is a very fine young man."
Standing across from each other, Hana searches in the crowd for her son and when she sees him, she sighs deeply.
After the ceremony, when everyone is gathered in the reception hall to have cake and punch, and take pictures with the newly weds, Hana feels to run away to the dressing room and change to her street clothes in order to avoid those inquisitive eyes, but can she? She notices that Mario is talking to Farhad and she wishes she could hear them. When the wedding is finally over, she changes to her normal clothes and before leaving, Mario gets hold of her. In fact, he has been waiting for an opportunity to have a moment with her alone.
"Hana, I want to see you again. Please don't say no."
Hana looks around to see if her son is gone which can not be hidden from Mario's eyes.
"Your son has already left. I want an answer."
"I don't know Mario. Don't put pressure on me. I am torn between what I want and what I shouldn't do."
"Why you shouldn't do what you want. It doesn't make any sense. We live only once, and that one time is very short."
"I don't want to upset my sons."
"They understand. They want your happiness."
Hana recalls her argument with Farhad and says:
"No, Mario, they don't. I've always been their mom."
"No one is going to take away that from them. You'll be their mom for ever; but you must have a life, too."
"Please, Mario, you're putting too much pressure on me."
"I'm sorry Hana. You're right. Can we just talk on the phone?"
"All right!"
To Be Continued
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