Theo

September 4, 2005

Time 1635

Indian Ocean, southeast of the Comoros

“Wanna play a game?” Sunlight glints off the gun lying on the table.

I glance at my husband. Sweat trickles down Harry’s soft Scottish face. His tan has deepened since we left southern Italy; alas, his paunch remains.

“I said, want to play a game?” The South African drawl heightens the menace behind the words.

I turn back to our guest.

August 22, 2005

Mtwara, Tanzania

We met Theo in Mtwara the week before. He was a biologist, mid-30s, charming and worldly, and he provided the bit of excitement our marriage had been missing. He’d studied in Australia, where we had spent a gap year after uni and before getting married. Theo reminded us of those happy early days.

We quickly became a trio. Evenings spent at the cricket pitch with icy-cold Tuskers in hand; days spent exploring above and below the water, Theo daring us to go ever deeper. Soon we were calling ourselves the Three Amigos.

I convinced Harry to invite Theo along to the Comoros.

September 4, 2005

Time 1713

Indian Ocean, southeast of the Comoros

The gash on Harry’s head flows bright red. He’s slumped on the deck, right-hand tied to a stanchion.

My stomach lurches.

August 25, 2005

Mitsamiouli, Comoros

Theo proved himself an expert sailor, as he had boasted. Harry had caught a 25-pound mahi-mahi shortly after leaving Mtwara and Theo had blackened it in the Mozambique-Portuguese style. We dined on deck each night, reveling in the stars, the champagne, and each other. A carefree happiness and sense of freedom radiated from our new friend, and I was enthralled.

Our first day on Grand Comore, Theo took me to Ndroude National Park in search of Livingstone’s fruit bat. Harry stayed behind to fiddle with the yacht, though I suspected he was actually checking work emails.

September 4, 2005

Time 1754

Indian Ocean, southeast of the Comoros

The gash on Harry’s head has darkened and crusted. The sun closes in on the horizon.

Theo had slackened the sails earlier; the streamers hang impotently as shadows grow along the mainsail.

I struggle for words while Harry moans pitifully.

Theo checks the fuel in the dinghy.

August 30, 2005

Petite Terre, Mayotte

Theo took us hiking to Lake Dziani to marvel at its green coloring. Hiking back, Harry nearly stepped on a snake and very nearly shat his pants. Five months of sailing and exploring and still Harry preferred the security of the deck to the unknown wilds.

Theo had grabbed the snake and gazed at it before lovingly placing it in my hands. “Spotted tree snake! We’re lucky to have seen it, they only exist on Mayotte!”

Harry had shuddered as I gently placed the snake into the bushes.

September 4, 2005

Time 1815

Indian Ocean, southeast of the Comoros

The sun has fully set now. I shiver as the wind picks up, sitting next to Harry as he passes in and out of consciousness. I want to wrap my arms around him – my sweet, doting husband. I lean towards him, thinking of all that led us to this moment.

We met at uni a decade ago, then at my urging spent a year in Australia after graduation. Harry had proposed as soon as we touched back down in Edinburgh.

This sailing trip was Harry’s attempt to make up for the last five years he’d ignored me while climbing the ladder at his firm. After months of scheming, I convinced him to take a year’s sabbatical, to try to rekindle our spark.

Theo throws two suitcases into the dinghy and stalks back into the galley. Heaven knows what else he is looking for.

I run my fingers through Harry’s damp, thinning hair. He mutters my name, stirring back into consciousness. I wish he had known what to do, known how to stop Theo.

But Theo had been too quick, too strong.

I wish Harry had known life was more than just the office. I wish he had sought out the hobbies Theo seemed to excel at. Maybe then Harry could have fought back, could have saved us.

Saved our marriage.

November 20, 2004

Edinburgh, Scotland

Harry was thrilled with news of the pregnancy. And immediately began planning our child’s future. The best schools, then St. Andrews. A gap year before joining the family law practice. A future planned, but not a future yearned for.

So, I made the call. Told Harry I’d miscarried.

September 4, 2005

Time 1930

Indian Ocean, southeast of the Comoros

Theo walks back onto deck and lends me his hand. “It’s time, my love.”

I put on my jacket as Theo empties the fuel canister. I kiss Harry goodbye.

Theo lowers the dinghy into the water and we get in. He throws a lit cigarette as we roar away.

A few minutes later, I peek back at my former life, now ablaze in the inky black darkness of the Mozambique Channel. I turn forward and lay my head on Theo’s shoulder, excitement coursing through my body. Finally, I’m able to choose the future I’d always wanted.

*********

August 14, 1998

Lizard Island, Great Barrier Reef, Coral Sea

My face was glued to the window as we approached the island’s runway. I couldn’t believe I would get to spend six months living and working on this gorgeous, heaven-drenched paradise. I was on the second half of my Australia working holiday and had left my other half back in the cubicles of Sydney. Harry could be such a dud. He didn’t see this year as an opportunity to expand our lives and our worlds, just as an opportunity to expand his career.

That first evening, my fellow resort workers took me to the island research center, where I was told the biologists had a lot more fun. I was immediately handed an icy cold Great Northern by the hottest man I’d ever met.

“Name’s Theo,” he drawled in the cutest South African accent.