Alice is sitting down watching TV when Q and I arrive to tell her the news. Q approaches her first…
Quincy Jr.: Ma…we have something to tell you.
Alice stands up immediately…her face worried and unsure if we have good or bad news to share.
Quincy Jr.: *turns to Alida* Maybe you should tell her…
Alida: No…I think you should tell her.
Alice: If your news has anything to do with that big ring on your finger…I think I already know what it is!
Alida: Q asked me to marry him…and I said yes.
Alice: Well…let me be the first to welcome you to the family! If I didn’t have to work today…we’d go out and celebrate!
I study her for a moment. Her words seem sincere.
Quincy: We want to get married while we’re here…in Sulani.
Alice: That means you only have a day or two to arrange things.
Alida: Yeah…and we’re going to need your help.
Alida: I’d be honored. I’ll do what I can do during my break. Don’t worry…we’ll pull it together. People plan last-minute weddings all the time here.
Q excuses himself to take a shower. After Q has left the room…
Alice: So…tell me how Q proposed!
Alida: Well, first we went snorkeling…which was something I’d never done before. Then he took me to this little strip of beach across the way and asked me there.
Alice: Sweet and simple…I like that!
Alice sits back down…
Alice: Tell me a bit more about your style. Do you want a more traditional type wedding or something simple and informal?
Alida: I don’t know…I – I never really thought I’d ever have a wedding.
Alice: You never thought Q Jr. would propose?
Alida: It’s not really that. It’s just…marriage isn’t very common where I’m from. Most people I grew up with don’t even know who their father is.
Alice: Oh…I see. Well, trust me…I’ll help make sure your special day is something you’ll never forget.
Alida: Thank you! Um…can you excuse me a moment. I need to call my sister and give her the news.
Alice: Sure thing…
I move over to the middle of the room and dial-up Michelle’s number, but her voice mail picks up. I leave her a very detailed message, sure that she’ll call back as soon as she gets it.
Meanwhile, Peri wakes up in a very talkative mood.
Prosperity: We play gaanny?
Alice: Oh…I wish I could angel, but granny has to leave for work soon.
Prosperity: But…we play outside in the sand?
Alice: You’ll have to play with your mommy and daddy. Granny won’t be able to play until later.
I don’t think Peri is too happy that ‘work’ always comes before play.
Alice gives me a reassuring glance and walks out the door. I’ll just have to trust that she’ll help plan a beautiful wedding. I’d give anything to have Michelle here to help as well.
Q finishes up in the bathroom. It’s my turn to take a shower, so he takes over the task of getting Peri ready. While changing her clothes…
Quincy Jr.: Guess what…mommy and daddy are getting married!
Prosperity: Mar-wied? What that daddy?
Quincy Jr.: It’s uh…
Q’s not sure how to explain getting married to a toddler…
Quincy Jr.: We’re going to get dressed up and say some very important words to each other. Then we’ll be a family forever and ever!
Prosperity: I get mar-wied too?
Quincy Jr.: Not for a very, very long time!
Michelle calls back screaming into the phone once I make it into the bathroom…
Michelle: *on the phone* Oh my Gawd! I’m so excited! I can’t believe you two are finally getting married!
Alida: What do you mean by finally?
Michelle: I knew it was just a matter of time. Q’s not exactly the shacking up forever type. He’s the get married and grow old together type.
I never really thought about it, but I suppose she’s right.
Michelle: So when is this thing going to happen?
Alida: Well, we’re supposed to be returning to Oasis Spring on Sunday and Peri’s birthday is on Saturday, so that really only leaves tomorrow. Q’s mom is planning it all, but I wish you were here.
Michelle: I do too, but I have an important scene to film tomorrow.
Alida: *saddened* Oh…
Michelle: Don’t be sad babe…you become Mrs. Alida Wade tomorrow!
Alida: Wade? I don’t know Chelle. I don’t think I want to change my last name. You know as well as I do the reasoning behind us both changing our names. I don’t really want to let go of it.
Michelle: Have you told Q that yet?
Alida: No…
Michelle: You probably should…
What’s in a name? I finish the call with Michelle and run myself a bath. Rather than focusing on getting clean, I sit there in the warm soapy water thinking.
Q mentioned that he wanted me to take his last name when we were at the beach. Should I have told him that I want to keep my name then? I had no idea he was actually going to propose. It sort of caught me off guard. Now I need to figure out how to tell him that I don’t want to take his last name. I only hope that it’s not as important to him as he made it sound.
I leave the bathroom, ready to discuss the name thing with Q, but now is not really the time. He’s working on some new music and Peri is ready to eat. I take care of Peri instead.
(Generation 1a Chapter Summaries)
