“Since the union won’t be a legal binding of our lives, then…what will the purpose be?”
He sighed, his cheeks red with embarrassment, or possibly with the excitement of the idea.“Oh, never mind.Forget I brought up the ridiculous idea.”
“For fuck’s sakes, I’ll marry you, you daft man.If you’re still asking.”
We stared at each other, then burst out laughing.
“My, we are romantic fellows, aren’t we?”He grinned.“The thing is, wearefellows, and I don’t see why we should have to be the same as a man and a woman would.We can do things the way we want.”
“Aye.That’s the only reason I hesitated.The last six months have been a dream, and I don’t want to ruin what we have.”
“Believe me, Rooster, neither do I,” Dinesh murmured, tucking the feathered hair behind my ear.“But I want to tell the whole world that I love you, and that I intend to spend the rest of my sorry and questionable life with you.And if I can’t do that, which would likely be ill-advised, I want to tell our friends.”
***
Werealizedthatagood portion of the crew were headed back to the ship the next day and decided that if we were to have a wedding, we should have the ceremony soon, so everyone could bear witness.The concept was wild and outrageous, but the more we spoke of our plan, the more excited we became.
When our clothes were dry, we pulled on our trousers and went to speak to Francis.
The group who had gone to collect the fish had returned in great spirits and with enough to feed a party twice the size of ours.We would be able to have a feast before the cacao ceremony, and everyone was looking forward to celebrating.Francis had recruited some of the men to help with the cooking, since Jimena was busy preparing the sacred cacao.
Francis was not as shocked as I’d expected when Dinesh made our request.
“I should have known there would be something revolutionary about your visit,” he said, shaking his head, but smiling with fondness at his friend.
“I simply don’t see why we have to limit ourselves to other people’s expectations.”
“I most heartily agree.Once the Spanish left our shores, Jimena’s people went back to the old ways in many things and we make our own choices now.I know that’s why you left the navy,” he said.He gazed back and forth between us.“I’m thrilled for you both.”
“We only need a modest affair on the beach in the morning.Whatever can be scrambled together.”
“Now wait a moment.Why don’t I ask Jimena if we can incorporate the ceremony into the cacao festival?”
I liked the sound of that but the captain protested out of decorum.
“Oh, but we don’t want to impinge on a sacred ceremony…”
“Nonsense.We often include such things in the ceremony,” Francis said.“And you may be surprised to learn that weddings between members of the same sex are not taboo.”
“Bollocks!”I said.“Truly?”
Dinesh was a little more polite than I.
“I beg your pardon?”
“Surprised?”Francis asked.
“Astonished,” Dinesh admitted.
“Truly?You mean, we could be officially married here in Talamanca?”I asked.
Francis laughed and shrugged.“Well, I don’t know how official any of these marriages are, since they aren’t registered anywhere.But everyone knows who’s with who and nobody minds.So your marriage will be quite legitimate here, among Jimena’s people.”
“Well, fuck,” I said, completely taken aback.
“I never thought…” Dinesh’s voice trailed off in amazement.
“Not backing out, are you?”I asked Dinesh with a raised eyebrow.
