“Good night,” I say.

“Good night, Wife.”

I reach out with my hand across the bed space between us and take his. I don’t have words for what I feel right now. The only word running through my mind as I drift off to sleep is ‘wife.’

* * *

The next morning, I wake up and expect to be in my quarters. Then I remember what happened and look over at my Commander, my husband. He is still sleeping and holding my hand with both of his. I watch him and can’t believe he married me. But my friend’s comment ring through my ears. ‘I knew he loved you.’ I wonder how she knew. It makes me wonder how much of this culture I’m still missing because I’m human. Then my mind jumps through all the available information I have memorized from the Home Planet, and I wonder what I am missing, and I wonder why he won’t allow me access to everything. All I can think is that he did some terrible things that he doesn’t want me to know about.

Before I can think about this too much, he wakes as if hearing my thoughts.

“Good morning,” I say. I can tell he wants more than that, so I add, “Husband.” It feels strange on my lips. It’s not a word I’ve said in the Silver language more than a half dozen times.

“Wife, how are you always up so early?”

“The Water Planet has fewer hours than the Home Planet, so I’m used to less sleep, I suppose.”

“Hmm,” he says, closing his eyes.

“Shouldn’t we get up?”

“No.”

“This is the time you usually get up,” I say, just in case he has forgotten.

“I know,” he says lazily, caressing my hand, “but we have just married. People would think it was strange if I was quick to get to work.” Then he adds, “Yesterday was an emergency.”

“Oh,” I say, wondering if we will have sex now. I look at him expectantly, but I actually think he is going back to sleep. When his breathing becomes even, I know he’s asleep again. I think that I might as well enjoy this time too. His bed is much more comfortable than mine, and these pajamas feel like silk against my skin. I’m not tired, but I close my eyes and enjoy not having to work or do anything for a while. I’ve not had a day to myself since I left Earth.

I must have fallen asleep because I wake to my Commander saying, “Wife, wife, it is time to get up and eat something. You must be hungry.”

He’s right. I’m very hungry as I didn’t have lunch yesterday and nothing for dinner.

I get out of bed, and he has slippers for my feet and a dressing gown to keep me warm, although I’m not cold. Then he escorts me to the table and chairs in another area of his quarters where he always has breakfast. There are two places set now.