I continued.“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?”
“Yes.I absolutely will.”
We gazed into each other’s eyes, lost to the emotion and significance of the moment.
A whistle came from the crew.
Someone yelled out, “Come on now!Give us!”
I reached out, placed my palm against Dinesh’s cheek, and guided his lips to mine.As our kiss went from formal and chaste to deep and passionate, there were whoops, cheers, and applause.He tasted like cacao and kindness and adventure.I hoped I tasted of trust and gratitude.
We went back to our mat, holding hands and sitting even closer together than before.Dinesh put his arm around me and kissed my cheek.
Jimena stepped forward and raised her arms to the sky again as Francis translated.
“Great and loving Sibu.Let us come together beneath your shelter in love and in connection, so that we may carry your spirit within us as we embark upon our life’s path.Please take extra care of the crew and captain of theArrow, and ensure that they remain rooted in the things that matter: companionship, community, and care.”
She lowered her hands and looked at all of us with a huge smile, then said two words and laughed.
Francis turned to us.“Make merry.Enjoy the blessings of cacao and of Sibu.”
There were whoops and hollers as the men, not used to sitting still for such a period of time without the assistance of rum or other spirits, got to their feet.I was surprised to see a few of them embrace each other.Many came to congratulate us and we got lovely hugs from Domingo, Squid, Guthrie and a few of the others.
Then the strains of a fiddle pierced the night air, and I turned to see Darcy standing by the water’s edge, his bow flying over the strings as he played a lively tune.The men began to dance and bring out the rum and the whiskey.Perhaps we were lucky that they’d behaved themselves throughout the entire cacao ceremony.
Jimena and Francis joined us for the celebration, and partook of some spirits as well.I spent some time with my new husband and then went with Domingo and Squid to revel with the others.There was much joking and ribbing to be had, which I enjoyed as it meant the three of us, the last to join this ragtag group, were fully initiated into theArrow’screw.
I kept myself apprised of Dinesh’s whereabouts and at one point saw him chatting seriously with Jimena, Francis, and Mauricio.Mauricio nodded vigorously and pointed inland, and Jimena glanced at me with a broad smile.I waved and she waved back.
I had no idea what they were talking about, but I couldn’t care less.For the first time in a long time, I felt like the universe was on my side, and maybe life had much happiness in store for me.
Perhaps the lingering effect of the cacao, or the sense of optimism from my marriage to Dinesh, contributed to this feeling.Or, perhaps, both.
In the end, the revelry subsided with men converging in small groups, singing and laughing together, then most falling asleep on the beach, some of them returning to the huts.
Dinesh and I walked back to our cabin holding hands, and vowing to enjoy a proper honeymoon filled with copious amounts of tupping and other questionable activities once we were back on the ship.We kissed each other goodnight and went to sleep.
***
IwoketodaylightandDinesh kissing me awake with a love-addled smile.
“Good morning, husband,” he said, kissing me again.“How did you sleep, my love?”
I yawned and stretched like a contented cat, slowly coming to in the light of an overcast morning.
“Quite well, in fact.”
“No bad dreams, I take it?”
“None.I don’t think I dreamt at all.”I blinked at him slowly.“What’s the point of it when your biggest dream has come true?”
“Oh, Simon,” Dinesh said in a hushed voice, his eyes full of emotion.
I smirked.“I’vealwayswanted to get up to mischief in a tidal pool.”
Dinesh’s mouth dropped open, and he gave me a playful swat on the hip.“That’s enough.Get up, you layabout.We have things to do, people to see, places to go.”
“Do we?I thought we were on vacation.”
