Nadia’s Chosen Future

This thread follows Nadia from the unresolved injury of her marriage through a brief, deliberate love with Creasy to a future that includes his child and an imagined return.

increasingBearing stren­gth in each eventdecreasing

A Marriage That Cannot Continue

Life After Betrayal A broken expectation Nadia’s marriage to an English naval officer collapses when he accepts his homosexuality and is found with another man. She returns to Malta carrying a wound to her trust and sense of womanhood. An uncertain social position Her annulment case moves slowly through church procedure. In her close community, she fears that her past will leave her desired but not regarded as a possible wife.

The Stranger at the Farm

Attraction and Recognition Seeing a different kind of man Nadia meets Creasy as a guest in her parents’ home and recognizes his strength, reserve and directness. She is drawn to him partly because he seems unlike the husband who betrayed her expectations. A shared quiet They swim near the farm and talk without rushing toward explanations. Nadia’s interest grows as she learns that Creasy carries a serious purpose and may leave soon.

A Love Declared

Nadia Makes Her Choice An explicit offer Nadia tells Creasy that she loves him and understands their age difference and the lack of a future together. She asks to share the time he has left on the island rather than demand a promise. Family understanding She speaks to her parents, who recognize her decision even while knowing Creasy will leave. Their acceptance reflects a family that values Nadia’s agency over appearances.

The Child Conceived

A Future Kept Secret A deliberate pregnancy Nadia becomes pregnant after deciding that she wants Creasy’s child. She tells her parents but forbids them to inform him, leaving them uncertain whether to honor her request. A moral decision Laura asks The Cowboy for advice, explaining that Nadia conceived deliberately. He tells her that Creasy should know, but the choice raises questions about consent, care and the meaning Nadia gives to a future Creasy may never share.

A Return in the Dark

A Future Imagined The harbor vigil On a cold night, friends wait at Mġarr for a launch carrying a returning man. Nadia stands at the jetty with her community, keeping watch without knowing whether Creasy will come. An embrace beyond the ending Creasy steps ashore and takes Nadia into his arms. The epilogue frames this as a return after his recorded death, offering a hopeful resolution to the pregnancy and their unfinished love without explaining the intervening events.

Before Nadia returns to Gozo

After Nadia comes home to Gozo

Several weeks before Creasy leaves Gozo

After Creasy departs for Italy

After the winter funeral, in the new year