The Mermaid's Wedding

The Mermaid’s Wedding

When Jeanine was a little girl she would dress up as a mermaid and marry her prince at sea.

Her adoptive parents had her dream come true.  Steve, her father, the smart accountant that he is 

had made a few lucky investments and made a bundle and now he and his wife Patti could afford 

a cruise wedding and were now completing their daughter’s fairytale.  Patti has said to Jeanine

:” You don’t marry a person, you marry a family” and so she had invited  and paid for their entire 

family and a few friends to join them on the cruise, including grandma in her wheelchair and 

Jeanine’s biological mother, Elise, happened to be Patti’s sister.  It was quite a gang! 

Patti and Steve  had adopted both their two children from Patti’s sisters, Gloria  and Jeanine and 

her brother Jack had felt incredibly lucky to have had two moms, the more people in your life, 

the more to love you better.

Jeanine and her bridegroom Peter then exchanged their vows onboard the Freedom of the 

Seas cruise ship operated by Royal Caribbean.  In 2007 Freedom of the Seas was the largest 

cruise ship in the world..  Jeanine and Peter had been high school sweethearts and partners in 

crime having accepted whatever lay ahead.  Filled with so much joy and gratitude for the love 

Patti and Steve showed them, the generosity beyond their expectations.

 “This is a day we will remember forever::”  Jeanine said to her parents. Though she didn’t 

particularly like the rest of the family and she thought they were like cunning dogs, on one hand, 

they feign niceness then bite you.  Nonetheless, they were there to celebrate her special 

day and she was very happy indeed. 

An usher accompanied Peter to the front of the Skylight Chapel decorated by muralist Clarissa 

Parish where Jeanine was standing and the tall basket of flowers standing between the couple.

Jeanine’s voice was calm and natural and she never gleamed down at her script when she 

pronounced her vows.

“You look handsome”  she turned to her bridegroom

“Thank you for liking what I like”  She promised him to be his toughest ally>’

“I take you as my husband, my partner and my mate, you made me so excited to grow old 

together.”

Peter couldn’t hold back tears during vows.  Life gave him a lasting love much greater than he 

figured and promised to make her laugh and smile every day protect and console her.

“Thank you for choosing me.  Thank you for choosing us” he said standing tall and handsome.

There was a raft of screams., of cheers from the wedding party and then they were lead down the 

stairs to a space of reception.  At the reception, the guests wanted to eat everything.  

There is no way to experience a place than from its food so they tasted regional flavours 

from all around the Caribbean, favourite recipes chefs brought from home and discovered along 

the way. They didn’t just say “authentic” they served it!  Craft and cocktails and the finest wines 

from around the world and premium coffee were all part of the celebration.

The opulent and very formal dinner took forever and because it had been exciting and full

 the day the wedding party retired straight to their appropriate suites and staterooms.

Jeanine and Peter’s suite had a grand piano in the living room, goodies like a big screen tv and nice 

chairs.  The master bedroom had a king-size bed and there was nice vanity sitting area with both 

a jacuzzi and a beautiful view.

 Outside the balcony, there were two large chairs and a tub.

Jeanine was listening to all the sounds the ocean had to offer. She was wondering, watching the 

waves rise and fall.  Next door, a lesbian couple who had opened their suite into a gallery and 

were holding an Afro/Caribbean dance party.

“Most people are one-dimensional. Look at them letting their guards down.  Many promises 

tonight to make themselves feel in love but what was missing?”

Confusion set her quiet face in motion.  There was not the smallest detail that once recalled to 

her any of Peter’s charm.  Her bridegroom suddenly was a being she felt she could share nothing 

Something happens in the split second that changes your look forever.  Peter had little or nothing 

to do with the one she wanted to be with.  Whose image was she suppressing so that her 

image could come forth?  She couldn’t figure it out.  She must find the answer.  from there she 

could get a clearer picture…

Meanwhile, the guests in their stateroom were impressed with the 100% cotton high thread count 

linen, the flat TV, a refrigerator and spacious balcony and the conveniences that couldn’t be 

topped.  There is nothing more exciting than simply waking up in the morning in the world's 

most exciting cities. On their 7 days Caribbean cruise, they visited three ports of call: San Juan, 

Puerto Rico, St. Thomas in the Virgin Islands and St Martens. 

On cruising days the wedding party and guests paused through extensive art galleries and also 

attended an art history lecture, highlighting some of the greatest masters.  On the ship, the guests 

learned how to prepare gourmet specialties served on board and indulged in specialty wine 

tasting with selections from regional vineyards as well s varieties from around the globe

They took music and dance lessons with a deep understanding of the places they visited and at 

night they attended the live performance in the three-deck Broadway theatre.  The strip had an 

interior promenade called the “Royal Promenade” with public venues, restaurants and bars.

The ship had three swimming areas and a water park. The 13th deck had a sports area with rock 

climbing, the Flow Rider Surf, a miniature golf club and a full-size basketball court. Other items 

Included a ring and a casino. 

The wedding party and guests were also treated to a facial massage and then relaxed on the lounge 

chairs near the lime and coconut bar.

In San Juan the first port of call, Peter was standing by the beach disoriented.  The world has 

Suddenly careened in crazy runaway change.  He thought he knew Jeanine but couldn’t 

understand.  It seemed a sea of change had taken place but he had been clueless until the water 

started rising. Jeanine had not wanted him. His connection to her was so strong. He couldn’t 

hold on to the idea that she felt less than he did.  Which is what happened.

 Jeanine in sobs had suddenly felt the urgency to tell him. She was into ladies.  She liked ladies.

She didn’t love him she never loved him.  She had never intended to get married.  She had not 

intended to take this far.

Had it been all illusionary moments believing their experience was the same? He didn’t understand 

where. it had from her sudden behaviour. Was it something he did?  Could anybody else relate to 

what he was going through at this time? If there is a sad thing he knew, it’s that nobody's 

experience is ever the same as this.

“I am sorry for what I did to you!” he told her

“No, no you are not the one who needs to apologize. You didn’t do anything wrong.  It’s my 

fault, I don’t know what is happening to me.  You have been kind, You have looked out for me. 

You have not been wanton toward me. What other man would do this?”  she asked.

 “Are we going back in there?” he pointed toward the ship. 

“I think so,” she said with one last look around.

Slowly they made their way back into the ship. He stopped.

“Wait!” he said”

“Think!” he thought.

He sat in the foyer, got up opened the door and went out on the deck. Jeanine followed him.  

He sat on the bench, his feet on the deck, almost at eye level.

“What will do till we get off this?” Steve asks her as if asking her how many days till death. 

“I don’t know!” Jeanine felt half faint.

“They must know, we must tell them” referring to their wedding guests,  but he couldn’t see 

how. What were they going to say?  He still couldn’t believe what was happening to him!

“They are having such a good time. Let them enjoy this trip. Everything is ok! Everything will 

be ok.”  Though she knew that everything was a disaster, something had gone wrong and she 

could never put it right again.  She wished she had a magic wand and could erase all the pain she 

had. caused.

Rosa Arlotto