David held Anissa's shaking hands to help steady them but let her do the work, fastening the clasp around her wrist. An instant later, her father appeared, kneeling in the driveway dressed in a white turban and full purple pantaloons.

"How may I serve you my mistress?" He intoned the ritual words without looking up, until he heard Miriam's happy cry. Then he stood and opened his arms as she ran down the steps and flung herself at him.

Anissa remembered every word of the ...