Chapter 42 One Incredible Night Only

And so Amira let herself be carried along once more by the women; she didn’t protest when they dressed her in a gown of silvery blue, lined her eyes with kohl, placed copper bangles on both arms and a veil of coins over her face. She understood they wanted to celebrate her recent marriage, just as the young bride was celebrating hers, and she didn’t resist.

She wanted to celebrate it too.

The sky was deep indigo and studded with millions of stars when the ceremony began. The entire tribe had assembled and Amira watched, enchanted, as the ceremony played out amidst a riot of color, music and dance. The women and men sat separately, and although she looked for him she could not find Abdullah amidst the men gathered under a tent. She wondered if he would even recognize her in the Bedouin dress, headscarf and veil, wondered what he would think of her like this.

After the ceremony people circulated freely to enjoy food, music and dance. Several giggling women pushed Amira towards a group o