Chapter Ten

“It was very kind of Jin to take the time to bring us out,” Nadia said. The Korean had anchored the rented sailboat and retreated below deck an hour ago, leaving Sayid and Nadia to enjoy an evening alone. “I have never been on a sailboat. Every time I was offered the opportunity, I had to work. I have wanted this experience for a long time.”

“I know,” Sayid replied. “I remember you telling me.”

He had also remembered all of her favorite foods, she thought, at least those to which he had access here on the island. He had brought with him a delectable dinner, and they had dined by candle and starlight.

They were now standing by the railing and gazing out at the gently rolling water, which seemed a profound black except for the tiny crests of foam that floated here and there, dotting the ocean with silver in the moonlight. The sky was a vast, plum-hued expanse. Sayid stood with his arm about her shoulders and remained quiet while she drank in the view and breathed in the crisp, ocean air.

Nadia felt Sayid’s warmth withdrawn from her, and she turned to discover the reason. He was fishing in his shirt pocket.

She felt her heart beat with an excitement that quickly turned to concern. It had been nearly two months since he had mentioned marriage, and, now, suddenly, the night after she had told him she was pregnant, here he was dropping to one knee. What if he had chosen this moment out of a sense of obligation?

“Forgive me, Nadia,” he said, “for taking so long to do this. I was waiting for my sister to send me my mother’s ring.”

He held out a plain, silver band. It must have been in the thick envelope he had received the previous day before he had known about the pregnancy. Nadia felt the concern give way to relief, the relief in turn to joy.

“My father gave it to her after twenty years together. They never had wedding rings. It is a very simple ring, I know, but watching them was how I learned what love is, and I want you to have it. Will you accept it? I have no talent for speeches. I don’t know what to say except that I love you, and I want to go on loving you as long as you will allow me. I did not get a traditional engagement ring because I do not want to be engaged. I just want you to be my wife. Will you marry me?”

She wasn’t accustomed to being at a loss for words, but she could only nod.

He rose and took her hand. His own was trembling lightly. When he slid the ring on her, it was the first time she had seen his deft fingers appear unsteady. His flesh was dark and beautiful against hers, his hand strong yet somehow yielding. He drew close to her, and she felt at that moment the expectation of a first kiss. His lips were supple as they moved slowly against hers; his tongue tasted both sweet and salty as he gradually parted her lips. She did not want that kiss to end, but it did. And when it did, he held her close against him, and she could hear his labored breathing in her ear, and she could feel its tickling heat before he asked, “How soon?”

“Now, if you want.”

“But…don’t you want an elaborate ceremony? Doesn’t every woman dream--”

“I don’t need anything more than your word. We can have a reception later.” She pressed her lips against his ear, kissed it, and whispered, “Right now this all I want—to be yours tonight.”

“I can get Jin to witness it, if you are sure. But if you prefer a ceremony--”

“No. Go get your friend.”

Sayid ducked below deck and soon returned with Jin. In the presence of that single witness, they made their simple pledge of lifelong fidelity to one another. They spoke in Arabic, but Jin understood well enough, and he smiled when Sayid kissed his bride.

When they returned that night, Nadia immediately took his hand and led him to the bed. Sayid made love to her more tenderly than he ever had before. Their lovemaking was so often passionate, and she knew it would be again, but tonight this was exactly what she desired. He took her almost as if she were a virgin, carefully, slowly, whispering how much he loved her.

Nothing practical had changed in their relationship. They lay together in the same bed in the same room in the same state of undress. There had been no grand wedding, no move to a new home, nothing different. And yet everything was different. She had only his word, but his word was everything.

THE END