Adem scrambled to his feet in time to see his future in-laws headed for the door. Hadiya Sasaki was crying. Her husband put his arms around her and pressed his mouth to her ear. She wiped her eyes on her too-long sleeves. Before Adem could say goodbye, they were gone. “Congratulations,” Madam Toulouse said. “You have a bride.” Adem looked at the door the Sasakis had gone through. “Will they be alright?” The matchmaker’s mouth twisted. “Their representative kept as much as he could for himself, but they will be far better off than they were.” “Thank you for that.” Adem forced a smile. Marriage was supposed to be a happy thing, but what he felt was more akin to shame or embarrassment. “I should get back to my ship.” Madam Toulouse showed Adem where to sign his name and press his thumb. “Your mother has already transferred the funds to my account. Everything, minus our commissions, will go to your bride’s rearing and education.”
Preparations for departure were underway when Adem came aboard the Hajj and climbed to the environmental-control deck. He winked at the engineer in charge, a slim AfriD man named Sarat. “Everything all set in here?” “We are breathing, and we have hot water to spare.” Sarat turned from his workstation. “And you’re married.” “Betrothed. I’ll be married in a year.” Adem’s eagerness to see Sarat faltered. Making environmental-control his first stop had been a mistake. “Let’s not talk about this now. We’re about to leave orbit, and you know how my mother gets.” “Your sister can handle it.” “She’s the pilot. I’m the one who makes sure the ship moves when she tells it to.” They both knew he was dodging.