“No, no.” He grabbed the reins. “This horse must wait here for the bride.”
“Listen, young man.” Naani wagged her finger at him as Rachel Auntie and Dolly leveraged my butt, hoisting me onto the saddle. “This is an emergency.”
“Emergency?”
“Yes,” Dolly said. “My daughter has a man to catch. Now you either cooperate or you’ll have to answer to the mother of the bride.”
She shoved Rachel Auntie before him. He didn’t look too convinced, so she added, “The father of the bride too. And wait until the bride and groom hear about this.”
“Okay, okay.” He conceded. “But I have to go too, so I can bring the horse back.”
“Well, go then.” Dolly handed him my suitcase.
“Hurry,” Naani said, as he led the horse down the street.
“Can’t you go any faster?” Rachel Auntie called after.
“This is a show horse,” the man said. “Not a racehorse. We’ll get there.Siga-siga.”
I turned around when we got to the end of the street. Dolly, Naani, and Rachel Auntie stood like three colorful flags waving at me from the top of the hill.
I raised my hand in return and caught sight of the small white box trailing alongside myduppata. I’d secured Alex’s takeout container to the end of my shawl before mounting the horse. Untying the knot, I opened the cardboard box, expecting to be wowed by one of his special midnight snacks.
Just like all the other times, I found a note, but this time, no snack. I unfolded the paper, holding it up to the streetlamps so I could read.
You said no to potatoes and pasta and bread, but you changed your mind about those.
I’m hoping you’ll change your mind about this too.
I frowned. Nothing else was in the box.
No. Wait.
I fished out a ticket for the ferry he was taking out of Hydra. I glanced at the departure time and then at my watch.
“Excuse me, can we go a little faster?” I asked.
“Almost there. You enjoy the ride.” He pushed a button and bright lights started blinking around us. His horse wasn’t just a bridal horse. It doubled as a carnival of moving lights.
Neon hues bounced off the white-washed homes as we clip-clopped along the street. I glanced at my watch again.
Come on. Come on. I’m going to miss him.
The prolonged blast of a ferry horn spurred me into action. “I’m sorry.” I grabbed the reins from the horse handler and gave the horse a little bump with my legs. “I have to go.”
“Hey, stop!”
I shot him a contrite look as the horse sped up. “Sorry!”
In my head it was a graceful gallop, the mad dash, the romantic airport scene where the main character is jumping over all the barriers to intercept her love. In reality, it was a bouncy, jarring trot that rattled my bones. I held on for dear life as we approached the terminal.
One of the ferries was sliding out of the dock.
No. No. No. Nooo.
“Wait!” I pulled up, my heart jumping in my chest. “Come back.” I waved my arms, trying to catch someone’s attention.
I glanced at the clock over the ticket office and then back at the ferry.
