Q has another form of exercise planned for us this morning.
Alida: You sure about this?
Quincy: Yeah…it’ll be fun. I promise! Let’s go…
Q takes off swimming and I hurry behind him trying to catch up.
According to Q, right in the back of his parent’s house are the calmest waters and a beautiful lagoon, which is perfect for snorkeling. He insists that I’ll enjoy it. I’ve never snorkeled before so I have no choice but to take his word for it. But, it doesn’t take long for me to discover that he’s absolutely right!
After we get a good workout in snorkeling, Q leads me over to a small strip of beach located directed across the water from his parent’s house. He surprises me by grabbing me into his arms and giving me a very passionate kiss.
We take off our wetsuits and stare out over the water. Q is standing so close behind me that I can almost feel an odd sort of energy coming from him.
Alida: It’s so beautiful here!
Quincy: Very beautiful. *deep breath* We should get married here ma…
Alida: Married? What do you mean?
Of course I know what married means…it just seems so sudden coming from Q. And it’s not something we ever really talked about doing.
Q steps in front of me and grabs my hands…
Quincy: I mean…you become my wife, I become your husband. You take my last name…
Alida: Oh…I – I don’t know what to say.
Quincy: Don’t say anything yet –
Q takes another deep breath, pulls something out of his pocket and goes down on one knee.
Quincy: I’ve been thinking about this a lot lately, ma. You are the most important person in my life and I want you there for the rest of it. Will you marry me? *pulls out a ring and holds it up*
Now I’m the one taking deep breaths. Married? Besides Q’s parents…I don’t even know anyone who is married – not anyone I’m close to anyway. I mean…my parents were briefly, but my mom never talks about it and my dad died before I was even born. Is this something that I even want to do?
I take the ring from him and stare at it. If I place it on my finger…what will that mean? How will things change? I’m afraid…very afraid, but Q has already helped me conquer so many things I’ve been afraid of in the past. Like I said…I didn’t grow up around a married couple, but maybe it’s time to break that cycle. I place the ring on my finger…
Alida: Let’s do it. Let’s get married!
Q jumps up from the ground and surrounds me with his arms. We share a kiss as a newly engaged couple!
After our kiss, he bends down and lifts me up in his arms.
Alida: Q…what are you – ? Q!! I’m heavy…put me down.
I can tell from his expression that he’s just discovered that for himself.
Q puts me back down…and it’s nice to have the sand beneath my feet again. Now that I’m no longer afraid of being dropped, I realize something…
Alida: If you want to get married here…that means that it would have to happen within the next day or so. We leave on Sunday.
Quincy: I know. It would be a bit of a rush, but I’m sure my mom would be happy to help us out. Let’s go tell her…
I can only hope that she’ll be happy to help. This will be the test to see if her apology was really sincere.
(Generation 1a Chapter Summaries)
