Until Forever
Thereweren’tenoughcupsfor everyone to have their own, so the earthenware vessels were passed around for each person to take a few sips of the bitter and potent drink.I discerned cinnamon and cloves and a hint of spicy chillies.I coughed after taking my first sip as I wasn’t expecting the bite.I wasn’t certain that I liked the taste—the drink could have been sweeter.But after a few moments, the warmth and the spices spread through me with a pleasant heat.When the cups came around again, I drank more of the sacred cacao.
Finally, when we’d had all of the special concoction and Jimena had again made praises to Sibu, she raised her hands to the sky and brought them down to reach toward me and Dinesh as she smiled at us and nodded.
“Come,” she said, in English.“Come.”
We stood and walked toward her.We had put our shirts on to make the ceremony more formal, and I cupped the small shell in my pocket that I’d chosen as a wedding gift for Dinesh.
Francis came forward to meet us and turned to the crew.
“We have a surprise.Jimena is not only conducting a sacred cacao ceremony, she is also formalizing a marriage between your beloved Captain Martin and Mr White, at their most welcome request.
There were exclamations, a few chuckles, and a couple of groans.
I put my hand behind me, as we were facing Jimena, and gave them all the middle finger.
Now there was more laughing, and applause erupted as well as some muttered encouragement.
Jimena arranged us to stand to the side where we could face our friends, and she stood before us, with Francis on her other side to translate her words into English.
“Dinesh Martin.Simon White.You have come here before me and my family, your crew, and Sibu herself, to declare the love you feel for each other.Is this true?”
“Aye,” I said.
“That is true,” said Dinesh.
“And you each have a special gift for the other, to commemorate this moment.You may exchange them.”
I brought the shell from my pocket and presented the small treasure to Dinesh.
“I know a seashell ain’t much, but the one I selected reminds me of you.Stern and hard on the outside, but soft and smooth underneath.”
“Thank you, Simon.My Rooster.”He took the shell from me and put the gift in his pocket, then he pulled out a small grey and orange rock.
“This is not the gift you deserve, but this particular pebble represents your steadfastness and the colour of your hair.”
“Thank you,” I said, taking the rock from him and putting the gift in my pocket.
“Then give praise to Sibu in her greatness and show her the tenderness you feel for each other,” Francis translated.Then he leaned in and said, “Say a few words to each other and then kiss.”
We turned to face each other.Dinesh reached for my hands and I gave them over, his fingers encircling my palms and holding me fast.
I stared at him, the heat and comfort from the cacao drink, and the excitement of what was taking place, providing a sensation of euphoria.We had decided on the most basic and meaningful of declarations in advance, so I knew what he was going to say.
He stepped toward me, our joined hands cradled between us at chest level.
“Simon.You are my heart and my destiny.Will you join your life with mine, in sickness and in health, for richer and for poorer, for as long as we both shall live?”
“Aye.Of course I will.”My voice sounded steadier than my rapidly beating heart would have supposed.
My turn.I licked my lips, suddenly nervous, but only for the people watching and because I didn’t want to sound unsure.
I wasn’t.
“Dinesh, or as I like to call you, Captain Martin.”
There were knowing chuckles from the men who understood the dynamic of our intimate relationship.
