“Of course not.I’m the one who asked you.And let me tell you, I thought I’d made a big mistake when you didn’t answer right away.”
“Jesus, you could have warned me first.For such an important question, the idea kind of came out of nowhere.”
“That is true.My proposal was impulsive, I’ll grant you.But the feelings I have for you?They are well considered.”
“And you—” I glanced at Francis, then gazed seriously at Dinesh and swallowed thickly.“—realize this would be a…lifetime…commitment?”
“Aye.I want you for life, Rooster.I don’t think I could be happy without you at my side.”
I felt a lightness in my chest and a soothing warmth in my belly.
“I feel the same.”
Francis clapped his hands together.
“Well, this is a most excellent development!”
***
Jimenawasdelightedtoconduct a wedding, or what was called a ‘joining ceremony’ in their language.Francis translated as she gave us her blessings and said that all we had to do was follow her lead in the ceremony and verbally agree to commit our lives together when prompted.She suggested that we prepare some kind of symbolic gifts to exchange afterwards, although this left us perplexed.We had nothing but what we’d brought from the ship with us, and the shells and stones I’d collected on the beach.
But perhaps those would do?
“That’s a wonderful solution,” Dinesh said.“We’ll choose our favourites and exchange them at the end of the ceremony.And we can keep them in my watch box on theArrow, as symbols of our commitment.”
“All right.Quite the romantic you’ve become, haven’t you?”I said, gazing at him fondly.
“It’s you, Rooster.You’ve turned me into someone I never expected to be.”
He reached out and took my hand, pulling me against him.
“And once we’re back on the ship, and in the privacy of our rooms, I’m going to demonstrate the full extent of my adoration and desire.”
“Yes, please.”
Dinesh went with Francis to help prepare the meal, and I wandered over to the drying sand near Jimena’s canopy where Domingo was showing the older boy, Alejandro, how to make English words in the sand with a stick.
His gaze met mine and he smiled, and tapped Alejandro’s chubby shoulder, pointing at me.He said something to the little boy, who stood and ambled over, stopping in front of me.
“Oosta.”
I blinked.“Beg pardon?”
He pointed at me.“Oosta.Oosta.”
I looked to Domingo with confusion.
“What’s he saying?”
“I think he’s trying to say ‘Rooster’.That’s what I told him your name was.”
“Oh!”
“Thought that would be easier for him than ‘Simon’.Perhaps not.”
I pointed at the boy.“Alejandro”
He pointed at himself and laughed.“Alejandro.”
