Marrying A Snapping Turtle

In The Eye Of The Beholder

When the movie ended, Ida was a frazzled bundle of nerves. Her heart was racing against her chest, if it weren’t for Kensley’s warm embrace, she would have been a sobbing mess.

“Are you okay?”

Ida shook her head violently and squeezed him tighter. She didn’t know when she had her arms wrapped securely around him, but she refused to let go. She closed her eyes, ready to weather his ridicule, but all she heard was his soft breathing, his large warm hands rubbing her back in gentle circular strokes.

“It’s getting late. We should go to sleep.”

Ida shook her head again; her arms like snakes coiled tight around his waist, exerting more force. Kensley tapped her arm gently and in a coaxing voice, murmured, “Come on, Ida. Let go. I’ll carry you to bed.”

Ida looked up into Kensley’s warm eyes and slowly let go. Normally, she wouldn’t cling to any man but the movie was terrifying; she regretted watching it.

Ida’s head drooped sadly as she let go of him. Kensley could sense her reluctance and wouldn’t let his little wife be sad for long. Standing up, he picked her up and strode to the inner bedroom.

Ida, blinked, baffled by Kensley’s soft nature. She was sure that they would be stuck in an abrasive relationship, the two clashing heads like mortal enemies established in their childhood years but the time they spent together was anything but. Feeling a little lost for words, Ida reached up and wrapped her arms against his neck pulling herself to his neck to indulge in his scent.

“Thank you,” she whispered into his hairline. She couldn’t bring herself to say it any louder but was grateful for his care.

Kensley didn’t respond and merely placed her in bed and lying down next to her. Once they were both under the covers, he held her against his chest and hummed. Ida’s eyelids fluttered weakly but she gave in and fell asleep instantly.

Kensley continued to hum until he felt Ida go limp against him. He looked down at his beautiful wife and slipped away quietly. Once the bedroom door was closed, Kensley made a mad dash for the bathroom, his bladder was already at its limit.

***

When Ida startled awake from a nightmare, she found herself in Kensley’s arms. In the past, she would have exploded and thrown his arms off but it was different now. She shifted slowly and turned so she faced Kensley. Ever so slowly her hand crept their way across his waist until her arm rested over his stomach. Ida gulped and nestled her head into his chest. With a soft sigh, she closed her eyes and went back to sleep, finally feeling safe.

When she woke again, Kensley was lying over the covers already dressed.

“Good morning, sleeping beauty,” he crooned.

Ida blinked her bleary eyes and stretched out her limbs. “Are we there yet?”

Kensley shook his head and went to lift the blinds to the window. “We still have an hour to go but that will give you enough time to freshen up and eat breakfast.”

Ida nodded and looked out at the endless sea of orange clouds before leaping out of bed and heading for the restroom. Going through the motions, the hour went by quickly and Ida followed Kensley through a private section of the international airport. Mindful of their identity, the two of them wore baseball caps and aviator glasses. Their clothing was generic non-branded clothing that was a dime a dozen helping them blend in.

“I got us a room at the Marina Bay Sands hotel. Since we just landed today, I figured we could drop off our bags in our suite then walk around and grab a bite to eat.”

Ida nodded, not really caring what they did. She didn’t like long flights so she just trudged behind him obediently. The moment the two of them stepped out of the air conditioning, they were swept away by a blast of humidity.

Ida’s expression soured as she craned her neck up to look at Kensley.

“What… is… this… torture?”

Kensley’s lip twitched as he wracked his brain for an excuse. All he could manage was: “It’s worse than I remember.”

Without another word, the two hurried into the waiting car, eager to get out of the heat.

***

The first day and a half, Ida refused to leave the hotel, citing the unbearable humidity. It wasn’t until Kensley plopped her over his shoulder like a sack of potatoes that she finally gave in and followed him out. They did a quick excursion and visited some major scenic routes and Ida finally felt better after seeing the Gardens by the Bay and the Aquarium. Whenever inspiration struck, Ida would plop down on a seat and sketch. Kensley patiently watched over her shoulder as she scribbled in her notebook. The two lost in their own worlds, admiring the beauty around them.

By the end, Ida stopped caring about her appearance and just went along with it. The humidity had done a number on both of them, their clothing clinging to their body in a soggy mess. Hungry and drenched in sweat, they decided to try hawker food. No one paid them any mind as they milled around the crowd, the heavy aroma of spices masking their not-so-pleasant scent.

Wide-eyed and eager, the two foreigners purchased various dishes they saw others enjoying and found a table to eat. Ida mimicking the locals, squeezed lemon juice over her noodle dish and dumped in a glob of red sauce on the side. Before Kensley could warn her, she took a large bite.

Ida’s eyes flared open as soon as her pain receptors registered the attack. Weak to any form of heat, Ida swallowed quickly and desperately reached for her sugarcane juice, chugging the sweet liquid in one go, ignoring decorum. The oppressive evening heat paired with the excessive spiciness threw her brain into overdrive on the verge of passing out.

Attentive as always, Kensley quickly swapped out her dish for a bowl of pineapple fried rice and some meat skewers. With a gentle but firm voice he coaxed, “Here eat this. It has peanut sauce so it should help mellow the taste.”

Ida grabbed the skewer and wolfed it down. The bustling world around her slowly came back into focus as she chewed and she regained a semblance of her formal training in proper dining etiquette.

Kensley watched Ida eat; his stomach growled but his heart was full. He took note of everything in front of him: the sheen of sweat that graced her beet-red skin and her hair, slick with moisture, that framed her bulging food-laden cheeks.

She was beautiful.