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It was over. After everything they’d been through together, Fai and Kaphrao were finally married. It had been a beautiful ceremony. Everything that they’d wanted. They’d shared a wonderful evening with their loved ones, and now it was just Fai’s cousins and their wives left. Kaphrao had left Fai to spend some time with Din, Lom and Nam. They hardly ever got to meet up just as cousins anymore. Not with all of them being married. That left her with Rose, Blew and Lada. She could hardly believe it. She’d spent so much of her life alone. Now she had more family than she could ever dream of.
“You doing ok?” Rose asked her. Kaphrao snapped out of her happy little daydream. She shook herself and looked over to see Rose smiling at her warmly. Almost like she knew.
“I’m ok.” Kaphrao responded sheepishly, embarrassed at being got in a daze. “I just can’t believe Fai and I are married.”
“No, I think even Lom is surprised.” Blew said with a soft chuckle. “Fai always lived up to her name the most out of the cousins. Or so I’ve been told.
“Oh it’s true.” Lada responded confidently. “I’ve seen her go off like a firework more than once…no offence, Phrao.” Phrao laughed.
“None taken.” She took a small sip of her wine. “I’ve seen it more than most. I know she has her moments, but she loves just as passionately.” Phrao defended her wife. She felt a small shiver. Wife. Not girlfriend. Not even fiancé. Wife.
“Oh is that so?” Rose said, a mischievous glint in her eye. Fai is a passionate one, is she?”
“Behave yourself, Rose.” Blew gently told her off. She could see Kaphrao was already beginning to blush.
“Oh I didn’t mean anything like that.” Kaphrao spluttered. “I mean. We just got married today. I haven’t. That’s to say we haven’t…” Lada gently placed a hand on Kaphrao’s knee and gave it a squeeze.
“It’s ok to be nervous.” She told her gently. “I bet Fai is too.” Kaphrao laughed. Fai was never nervous.
“She will be.” Blew assured her. “My Lom. She acted like that too. Worse, in fact. She was a regular flirt. Then on our wedding night she…” Blew smiled, not wanting to embarrass her wife. “Well, she wasn’t as experienced as she made out. It was still beautiful though. We took time and learned together. In the end, as long as you and Fai are happy, that’s all that matters.” Kaphrao nodded shyly, looking down at the floor. She couldn’t bring herself to look any of them in the eye.
“What if I get it wrong?” She said so quietly the other three wives had to come closer to be sure they were hearing her correctly. “What if…what if Fai doesn’t like it? I don’t want to start our marriage like that. Surely it’s bad luck?
“Trust me, as long as she gets her hands on you, Fai will be very happy.” Lada assured her. “Like Blew said, she doesn’t know what she’s doing either. You’re learning how to be married together. My Nam. Everyone assumed she’d be a nervous wreck.” At this, Lada shot a look at Rose that Kaphrao didn’t quite understand. “But when it was just us, alone…” A light blush spread over Lada’s cheeks in the dim light. “It was perfect.” Kaphrao could feel her anxieties shrinking. Clearly they had all been worried on their own wedding nights also. Their wives, so full of bravado, had all been nervous themselves. Maybe her Fai would be as well, after all.
“If you’re worried, I can have Din speak with Fai privately. Offer her some advice…”
“I don’t think that will be necessary, Rose.” Lada quickly interrupted. She remembered all too well her own wedding where Rose had tried to coach her a little too late. She’d eventually remembered a week later to ask Nam what happened with her older cousin. Din had been much more embarrassed than Nam when she’d cut her off and told her that the coaching was entirely unnecessary given she was already skilled in such things with Lada. “I think Phrao will be just fine.” She finished with an encouraging smile. Blew held up her wine glass.
“To love.” She suggested. The wives all clinked glasses with a nervous little giggle. Excited for their newest member. They were due to have breakfast together the next morning before they all headed for home. They were sure they’d be able to tell pretty quickly if things had gone well.