Maria's Window. Karen Tatro
and went into the galley. She decided on linguini and clam sauce and a nice Caesar salad. She got all her ingredients together and started to get a pot of the water together for boiling. She could hear Sam up on deck listening to his music. He was playing Hotel California by the Eagles. The ocean made the music amplify. While he was on deck, Sumshi was setting the dinning table. Everyone was happy.
She started making the salad dressing. She tossed the fresh romaine lettuce in a small strainer and arranged the lettuce in a large red bowl. As she mixed her ingredients, olive oil and salt and pepper. She smashed 3 garlic cloves, laying her knife flat on the cloves and giving them a good whack. A little trick she learned; that was especially useful in separating the cloves from their shell. It worked every time. She diced them up and added them to the mix, and then separated the eggs and whisked the eggs yokes in, then she pulled out her sacred ingredient, the fresh anchovies. She found that fresh anchovies were so much better than the canned. She put them in a small bowl and ground them down, the best she could, until they made a paste and squeezed just the right touch of lemon in. That made all the difference. Then the other sacred ingredient, the hot mustard. It gave it a nice bite.
After she was done, she tossed the lettuce with fresh parmesan cheese and set that aside. By then the water was boiling for the noodles, giving her time to start the sauce.
The sauce was quite simple. She added olive oil and garlic and sautéed that for few moments, and then added the fresh clams, that Sumshi already had prepared ahead of time. She added salt and pepper and a little bit of white wine. The key was not to overcook it. Probably one of the few dishes that the longer you cook it, the flavor changes. At the very end, she added just a touch of fresh garden tomatoes. A small amount, for color and flavor.
She stood there, took a sip of her wine, and smelled the delightful clam sauce and thought out loud, “Life is good.”
“Okay, you guys, it’s ready. Is the table all set up there?” She yelled out to the guys.
“All set Maria, I’ll be down to help you.”
Sam came down and helped her carry the dishes up. The dining table was set beautifully. Two glasses of wine, a few candles lit all over the table and rose petals spread out on the white tablecloth.
“Wow, you out did yourself on the table. It is just linguini and clam sauce, not prime rib. This looks nice.”
Maria smiled at Sam, thinking he was up to something too.
They both sat down and started their dinner. It was incredibly quiet for a few moments, each lost in thought. Maria took a sip of her wine and started to sweat a little. She took a deep breath and took another sip.
“Hey are you ok?” Sam noticing her.
“Yes, I am just getting some sort of hot flash, maybe the wine. I’ll be right back.”
Maria went down to the galley and got a washcloth and ran some cold water over it and covered her face. She was a little flushed; she thought it was just the anticipation. Okay, she said to herself, let us get this over with. She made her way back up to the deck and there was Sam sitting so casual, sipping his wine. He was such a sweet man. He looked so fragile sitting there.
“Hey, are you okay?”
“Yes, I’m better now. This night is just so warm, and the wine got to me. Of course, it didn’t help with me drinking it so fast.”
“Okay, well this dinner is very delicious, and what is even better is that I have dessert already prepared for us.” He smirked.
Just then Sumshi came up with two glasses filled with chocolate mousse. A sliver of white chocolate and a dollop of whipped cream topping it off. Accompanying the moose were two small cups of espresso, all prepared for the two of them. In the center of the plate was a small silver plate with a red rose over it and a small jewelry box with a satin ribbon around it.
Maria just smiled, as she pulled out of her pocket a small jewelry box with a black satin ribbon on it, and she smirked back, as she set it on the silver plate next to his.
“Maria, what is this?” He was taken by surprise.
“What is this, Sam? Seems like we both have something on our mind, hah.”
They both just smiled, and each took their boxes and opened them. Sam had gotten Maria a beautiful 1.31 Caret Antique Diamond. It was beautiful, with engraving along the sides. Very elegant.
Maria had gotten Sam a men’s, white gold band with a solitary, square cut diamond set in the band. Sam loved it.
“Sam, this is so beautiful. This is way too much.”
Maria started to cry and got up and sat on Sam’s lap as he put his ring on. Tears welled up in his eyes.
“Oh, Maria, look who’s talking, doll, this is gorgeous. What a classy ring. You got me, you got me good.”
Sam was now crying and hugged Maria as hard as he could. He then started to shout out into the abyss of the ocean.
“She really loves me. She does. Yahoo!”
The two just sat there in each other’s arms, crying, and laughing at each other. They both had the plan, and wanted to wait until they reached the Island, but just felt this special evening seemed right.
They finished their mouse, which was to die for, and had their espresso and then headed to the wheel with Sam at his post and Maria wrapped in a blanket next to him. They chatted for a about another hour.
“Sam, I have another surprise for you.”
“What do you have up your sleeve now?” Sam thinking some romance, of course.
“Well, what do you say, we make this final?”
“What do you mean, final?”
“Well, I kind of had a plan when I gave you the ring, that you might be thinking the same thing and even if you didn’t, it didn’t matter, that we could figure a ring out for me when we get home, but I thought that if you said yes, Sumshi could marry us right here on the boat. I know that Sumshi can legally marry us, he told me that a long time ago when he and I were chatting one day. One of those things he got licensed for when he worked on the Cruise ship. I asked him if he would and he would be delighted to; that is if you would like to marry me.”
“Of course, I’d marry you now. I just thought you might want to have the whole kit and caboodle. A large wedding and the whole dress and cake and hoopla.”
“I don’t need that stuff, Sam. You know me.”
“Are you sure. I want to spoil you and show you off.” He responded in total shock of the turn of events.
“Well, we could still have a big party when we get home and have all our friends and family come; you can spoil me then. What do you think?”
“If that is what you want, then that is what I want. I have to say Maria, you have got me on this one. I was worried that you might not say yes. You not only want to say yes but want to marry me right now. Got to tell you, Doll, you keep me guessing.” Sam leaned over giving her a kiss on the forehead, while she cuddled in the blanket.
“I know Sam, it seems a little odd, but I have thought about this a great deal lately and you know I have always loved you, and I just wanted to be totally sure. Once my mind was set, well, why wait. That was one of the reasons why I was so into this vacation. I can’t wait to see the Island and have some nice adventures together.”
Sam took a break from the wheel and cuddled her. The two sat there for a moment just in silence, and then softly, Sam started to kiss the back of her neck. He brushed her hair away from her face and kissed her cheeks and earlobes and let his hand wander to her soft but firm breasts. She had perfect breasts, they fit comfortably in his hand and were taunt and firm. He unbuttoned her top and slid his hand in her bra, rubbing her nipples, with his fingers, until they became hard. He then slowly started to kiss the front of her neck, and down to her nipples where he rested there for a spell, taking his time, and feeling her