The Engagement

The warm, summer breeze seemed gentler than the harsh days that preceded it, making for the perfect picnic for the young couple. Everything seemed perfect for them as they sat alone, far from the worries of everyday life.

“My soul baby,” he whispered to her, his one true love as they sat by the lake on a blanket.

“Yes,” she replied as she leaned forward to look closely at him. Her action seemed eager as she hung onto what he could possibly say. Perhaps it was her hope of a marriage proposal. That glorious moment she had dared dream of, as the wind softly blew through her hair and flowed across her skin.

His dashing good looks had left her blind to all others and she loved him, dearly. He was her dream and all that she wanted. His dark features and neatly trimmed hair was always an enticement to her soft, slender fingers. Therefore, she eagerly awaited and hoped.

He leaned closer towards her and asked, “Will you pass me a soda…I can’t reach them?”

She tried not to let her disappointment show as she turned to reach behind her for a soda. As she turned back around, she carefully popped the top of the can and started to hand it to him when she saw his hand and the ring. The ring she longed for. It was the engagement ring, a universal symbol of everlasting love and commitment.

“Was this what you were hoping for,” he asked her with a sly grin.

 She found it hard to keep herself from throwing the soda and he could see her hands had started to tremble. Quickly, he reached around with his free hand and took the soda from her.

As tears welled up in her eyes, she forced herself to shake her head in a, ‘Yes,’ type, gesture.

Without taking his eyes off her, as he sat the soda down and said, “You know that I love you in ways I never knew existed and I know my life would mean nothing without you.” He paused for a moment and lifted himself up to one knee before continuing, “My love…my only love and the only woman I will ever love…will you marry me?”

By then, tears streamed down her face and, although she was, embarrassed by her own reaction, she mustered the strength to reply, “Only if you truly mean it?”

Befuddled by her response, he asked her, “Honey, we’ve been together now for quite some time…surely you know how much I love you and what you mean to me?”

Realizing she had hurt him, she quickly explained, “I didn’t mean that in a bad way. I just want to be sure this is really what you want, above all else.” Then she quickly added, “Because if you really do mean it and I accept your ring…it’s never coming off and I will never stop stalking you.”

His laugh was half-hearted from a mixture of, her humor and sheer relief. Finally, he said to her, “I cannot see me being without you. So, it might end up being me stalking you.”

She smiled and stuck her ring finger out for him to slide the ring on. Carefully, he took her hand, perhaps to get his aim right, he nervously slid the ring into place followed by kissing the back of her hand.

Then he teased her by asking, “So, where my ring?”

“Show up at the wedding and I’ll give you a ring, too,” she joked and quickly added, “I’ll also make sure to have a few tattoos planned like: property of, my man and don’t touch.”

He laughed with her, and replied, “Only if you get the same tattoos.”

“You know I hate needles,” she quickly shot back as she stared at the ring.

“Well, then I guess you’ll just have to trust me,” he told her softly as he leaned forward to kiss her tear covered face.

She pulled away long enough to dry her face, took another quick look at the ring on her finger and kissed him to the point he could barely breathe. Afterwards, she told him, “I guess I will,” and softly kissed him again.