Chapter 225: Married – 3 Times

Sunday, July 25 – Sunday, August 1, 1971

All three ceremonies went off without a hitch. This was, I’m sure, due to the superior planning and implementation of those plans by my family, the marvelous amenability of the Tapatoans, and the Chamber-of-Commerce weather, for which Tapato was already famous.

Each wedding was held outside, at different locations, with Abby selecting the grassy meadow at the top of Palakalani’Ii Mountain, with its view of Manatiku and the southern part of Tapato. The only real drawback to the wedding site was the walk up the mountain.

After sleeping alone the night before (at the decree of all the girls) I was awakened early Sunday morning by Nicky and Izzy who fed me a breakfast in bed of toast and hot tea. When I requested coffee, I was told that coffee was a no-no because it would stain my breath. Go figure!

But I complied with my bride-to-be’s instructions. After a bath where they, with help from Mikeya and Amy made sure I was squeaky clean, I was dressed in white linen pants, a white linen shirt with some intricate stitching, and sandals.

Shortly before the wedding was to begin, I was driven to the base of the mountain and told to wait in the windowless van.

It seemed like ages, but finally, the van’s side door slid open and Hanna’s father, Robert respectfully asked me to follow him. Most of this had been gone over during the rehearsal, so I simply complied with the request and followed him over to the knot of girls surrounding my bride-to-be.

In the Haitian custom, before I could see the bride, I must answer questions from the bride’s family. All of my family, except for Deedee, were filling in for Abby’s family and had a good time asking me questions while Abby, with Deedee beside her, sit quietly behind the human curtain of my family.

“Do you Love her?” someone asked first. Followed by questions about my intentions, plans for both our honeymoon and our future life, and how I expected to take care of her. It seemed that my answers were not too important to my family because, after a few more, the questions begin to deteriorate into the risqué before Catherine finally called a halt to them.

Then, as the family parted, I was allowed to approach the bride. Offering her my arm, we then began the trek up the mountain. The trail had been cleared and widened in preparation for the wedding and we made it easily. And while everyone chattered behind us, the actual wedding party, consisting of Abby and I, along with Deedee and Nicky, remained silent the whole way.

Ileana, Vickie, and Adriana were at the top of the mountain to guide us to our places. Abby had chosen to honor her Catholic upbringing as well as her Haitian heritage, so there, in the middle of the plateau at the top of the mountain, was a small wooden table, on which had been placed a square of white linen cloth, on which sat a small wooden crucifix. Two candlesticks with lit candles sat to either side of the crucifix, and a small plate of bread and a chalice filled with wine to the outside of those.

We, as the wedding party, were led to four chairs that sat facing each other, in front of the alter, with Abby facing me, and Deedee, as the maid of honor beside her. Nicky was seated beside me. All the other chairs were aligned behind me, facing the alter. As the rest of my family entered, they were laughing and dancing in celebration as they made their way to their seats.

I noticed Kalani standing off to the side, dressed in a white chasuble with a colorful stole. She was conferring seriously about something with Vickie.

Finally, Kalani stepped behind the alter and smiled. “Welcome to Palakalani’Ii Mountain. This mountain has a very deep and meaningful significance to the people of Tapato, and today, we will add another important chapter to it’s story.

“The time when a young girl reaches her age of maturity and selects a mate, is always a special time here. It is a time of happiness, and of looking forward to a bright and prosperous future. It is a time for sharing her love for another with family and friends. However, unfortunately, our bride today, with the exception of her sister, has no family to share this moment with...”

I looked at Kalani in surprise, wondering where she was going with this. Then I looked at Abby. I didn’t need my gifts to see the sadness welling up in her eyes. Looking back over my shoulder at my family, I could see their surprise and sadness as well.

All of them except Vickie. And Kalani.

It was then that I knew something was up. But I decided not to scan either of them and to just let them have their moment.

As if on cue, an old jeep, driven by Kalani’s papa Ha’tu, crested the top of the hill. Beside Ha’tu sat an older woman desperately holding on to the dash, while behind them sat a younger woman next to Kip, who was armed to the teeth.

Abby, who was sitting with her back to Kalani and the alter, was the first to spy them. Her eyes went wide in astonishment, while Deedee’s mouth just flopped open. Then, with a shriek, she bounded out of her chair, rushing past me and down the aisle to the still moving jeep.

“Grandmamma!” she cried hugging the old lady in the front seat before Ha’tu could even turn off the engine. Deedee, who was right on her tail, simply reached over the back of the jeep and threw her arms around the younger woman.

The rest of us were quickly out of our chairs and crowding around Abby, Deedee, and the two women. I tried to scan Abby, and then Deedee to see what was going on, but their emotions were all in Haitian. Then I noticed a very smug Vickie still standing beside the alter with a very smug Kalani. And an equally smug Anna!

I could have scanned them, but what’s the fun in that? So I made my way over to the three ladies and tried to arch my right eyebrow questioningly. But I couldn’t do it.

After showing me that they could all arch a single eyebrow and laughing at my inability to do it, they began to fill me in. It seems that Izzy, in the course of researching any benefits the girls might be eligible for because of their American father, had come across a slew of notes and records that Abby and Deedee’s father had submitted to the state department back when he was stationed in Haiti.

Then Anna got her dad to assign an agent in Haiti to do some digging to see what he could find concerning the girl’s grandparents’ estate. What he found was even more valuable. He discovered that their grandmother, their mother’s mother, was still alive! And that the young woman taking care of her was a priestess named Donateura, who had been Deedee’s trainer and Abby’s nurse.

The agent quickly arranged to clandestinely spirit them off the island to America. Where the General, who knew exactly where Abby and Deedee were, flew them straight to Tapato. They had arrived just this morning, with Ha’tu and Kip sent to pick them up at the airport.

Needless to say, it was over an hour before the wedding could get started, but I am given to understand that that is not unusual in Haiti.

The ceremony was beautiful in its elegant simplicity. Sunny was Abby’s flower girl but Deedee quickly abandoned her seat to her grandmother so she could serve as Abby’s matron of honor, while Nicky insisted that Deedee take her place next to me.

Before we got started, Grandmamma Montclair spoke briefly with Kalani and Vickie and then hurriedly rearranged the altar, removing the plate of bread and the chalice of wine, and moving the candlesticks to better suit her.

“She said that Kalani was not allowed to serve the sacraments because she was not ordained by the (Catholic) church. So we’re just going to skip them,” Vickie explained.

Kalani preformed a modified Tapatoan ceremony, in that it included a few Haitian wedding traditions, including the traditional (and lengthy) Haitian intonation of fertility blessings. She also included the Haitian tradition of having all the family sign the marriage license as part of the now lengthy service, except she substituted a ‘mating license’ to stay within the spirit of Tapatoan law.

And finally, she also added the distinctly American tradition of kissing the bride at the end. I later learned that this tradition became a regular and popular item at many Tapatoan weddings.

There was a reception/luncheon awaiting us when we returned to The Royal Residence, but it was much later that evening, and at the insistence of her Grandmamma Montclair that we finally retired to my rooms.

“Thank you, Michael,” she told me softly late that night.

“For...?” I asked.

“It was only a couple of months ago that Deedee and I were orphaned and living in fear in a bathroom stall or a cardboard box in the ally. Now, I have my grandmamma and Donateura back. I am married to a real prince, with his own tropical island and magic sword. And I am carrying his twin sons who will also be gods. Just like their father. I mean, what more could any girl possibly want?” she whispered. “My only sadness is that Mother couldn’t be here to see it all.”

I just held her as she cried her tears of sadness and then, of joy.

“Thank you,” she finally said again.

I told her she was welcome, but in my heart, I knew I should be the one thanking her, for her love is what made my life.

Monday morning, Abby was torn. She wanted to stay in bed with me, but she also wanted to spend time with her Grandmamma. I explained that we would have many more opportunities to celebrate our marriage and our love, but for now, she needed to catch up with her family.