I checked that everything was ready, then Izan and I finished lighting the torches just as the first golf carts started pulling up. The musicians got into place and began playing as the ladies of the commune walked toward the quilts, but my eyes were looking only for my wife and daughter. At last, I saw Aggie’s cart and headed over.
Taking the baby carrier, I then helped Zinnie out with my free hand. Both my girls were wearing the dresses I’d left out the same ones they’d worn to Melitta’s blessing — and I couldn’t help
——
the smile that was threatening to split my face in two.
“You look gorgeous,” I said to my wife as I took her hand.
Branch had walked over to get Aggie, and gave her a smacking kiss on her cheek.
“None of that now, you old charmer. This better be good, Branch, dragging me out here just when I like to be dozing on the couch before bed.”
“Now, my sweet, sweet Aggie, don’t I always make losing sleep worthwhile?”
Then he whispered something that sounded like razzle–dazzle in her ear, but I couldn’t hear clearly. Whatever he said got a reaction. If I hadn’t seen it myself, I never would have believed that the hard–as–nails, no–nonsense woman could blush like that. Before she could scold him, Branch grabbed Aggie’s hand and walked her to one of the front quilts where I had Zinnie sit, too.
When everyone had arrived, Branch and I walked to the front, where the older man kicked things off for the evening once the musicians stopped playing that music that sounded like what you’d hear while getting a massage. But that new age shit worked for this evening.
“Old and new,” Branch began. “Old and new is the very life of this commune. We began by breaking away from the old way of living and creating a new way of living. Then our ways slowly became the old ways, and we evolved and adapted with the times and added the new ways that worked for us. New farming techniques, new animal husbandry techniques, new gardening techniques. We combined the old with the new while protecting our way of life here. But sometimes it takes new eyes to point out something that we’d been missing.‘
Branch looked around and all eyes were on him. He winked at Aggie before continuing.
“Our newest resident, Dash, came to me, one of the oldest residents, and brought something to my attention. Something that had always been and had never been questioned. And I agreed we’d been remiss, and we should do something to rectify that. Dash?”
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“Thank you all for coming here tonight. We’ll get to the reason in a minute, but first, some background. Not long after Zinnie arrived here, my wife was honored with a ceremony in which all of the women blessed her and her pregnancy. Then after Melitta was born, the women held a baby blessing for her. I don’t know all the details, but I know it was beautiful. Sacred. It meant a great deal to Zinnie and someday, when Melitta is old enough to understand, it will mean a great deal to her. Because it was about community, good wishes, love and starting our daughter’s tiny life surrounded by women who celebrated her.”
I looked at Zinnie, and her eyes were glued to me. I smiled at her.
“It started me thinking — why don’t the men have a blessing ceremony for the babies? Why don’t we have a ceremony for fathers–to–be? They might be feeling scared and uncertain, and they
could benefit from the wisdom of those who have gone through it and get advice that could help them. We should help celebrate new life, too.”
The women started clapping at that, and then the children followed suit because it was fun to be loud and cheer. The whole time, I couldn’t take my eyes off of Zinnie, whose face was looking soft
and tender.
“Now, under the full moon, we’re gathered here to celebrate each and every one of you, and to give our blessings to you…in our own way.”
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Sara Lili is a daring romance writer who turns icy landscapes into scenes of fiery passion. She loves crafting hot love stories while embracing the chill of Iceland’s breathtaking cold.