We arrive at the botanical park where we had our first date. My mind floods back to all the wonderful memories that this place holds—me falling on the deck, the condoms falling out, our first kiss—all these memories make me feel like the same giddy girl who showed up here all that time ago.
Mike drives along the winding road, and I notice cars filling the roadside as we make our way through the park. The sun’s setting when Mike pulls up next to the cobblestone path, the same one I walked down.
Peering down the path, I notice red rose petals leading the way, along with tiny tealight candles illuminating the path on either side. My eyes widen. “He’s outdone himself,” I tell Mike, who gestures for me to head on down the path.
I nod and follow it nervously, steadying myself so I don’t fall like last time. I put my hands out to touch the ferns on the side of the hill again. The smell of greenery is all-encompassing as I hear the sounds of the waterfall up ahead.
Turning the corner, I see Aiden standing with a bunch of red roses, wearing the suit he changed into earlier, only this time, he has on a baby pink tie. Behind him is that gorgeous waterfall cascading down the cliff with the lush greenery surrounding us.
As I take a step closer, “Thank You for Loving Me” by Bon Jovi is playing somewhere in the background. It instantly makes me smile. It’s our song.
I feel my eyes welling up as all the emotion and love I feel for this man becomes too much to bear.
His smile beams from ear to ear as I approach. Finally, he holds out his hand for me to take and pulls me into a tight embrace.
“This is perfect,” I whisper.
“Perfection for perfection, my love.” He kisses my cheek and places the bouquet of flowers on the railing.
I can’t hold back the tears any longer, and they flow freely down my cheeks. He pulls back, and wipes my tears away with his thumb, caressing my face.
“I don’t know what I’d do if I ever lost you.” He leans in kissing me softly.
“You won’t ever have to find out, Aiden. This is incredible. But why all the hearts and flowers?” I ask, wondering what this is all about.
Smiling, he leans in again for a quick kiss. Then, in one swift movement, he’s down on one knee, holding my left hand in his. He gulps, and his breathing quickens. His hands are shaking against mine, and that’s when I realize what’s happening.
My eyes widen, and my hand shoots up to my mouth in shock when he pulls out a tiny blue box from his jacket pocket. My heart thuds ferociously making me anxious, but also tremendously ecstatic.
Letting go of my hand, he opens the small box, revealing a gorgeous platinum ring—the center stone is a sparkling pink diamond surrounded by a circle of white diamonds. The band is encrusted with white diamonds as well and glisten in the evening sun. It’s so beautiful, completely perfect, and exactly what I imagined my engagement ring to be.
He clears his throat while tears stream my face. “Jenifer Taylor… from the moment we ran into each other, quite literally…” I can’t help but laugh, “… I knew there was something different, something astonishing and so profoundly beautiful in you that I hadn’t seen before in anyone else. You amaze me every day with your brilliance, and I want to be amazed by you every day for the rest of my life…” He pauses. “The past few days have shown me that I couldn’t be in a world where you weren’t with me. Seeing you in that hospital bed made me realize that I want you to be mine forever. So, Jenifer Taylor, will you do me the utmost privileged honor of becoming my wife?” His eyes, those beautiful blue eyes, well with tears when I stare deeply into them.
My lungs burn, reminding me to breathe. With an audible exhale, I inhale, filling my lungs. My heart pounds so fast, it fills my ears as I slightly sway feeling lightheaded.
He starts to look worried, and I realize I haven’t said anything yet.
Before another thought fills my head, I scream out, “Yes! Yes! Of course, I’ll marry you.” Butterflies dance in my stomach as I start to tremble with undeniable excitement.
He smiles so wide as he jumps to his feet, lifting me in a bear hug, swirling me around. I don’t think I’ve ever felt as elated and perfectly contented as I do right now. Aiden completes me as the saying goes, and I know in my heart that he’s my one. My soul mate, the person I’m meant to spend the rest of my life with.
My entire body tingles with pure joy, and I don’t think anything could wipe the smile from my face right now. We both laugh, and suddenly rapturous applause erupts behind me. Aiden places me down, and I look toward the path to see our friends and family standing, all dressed up, clapping and cheering for us.
Sarah and Brielle are holding hands, jumping around in a circle. I laugh as I wipe my wet cheeks.
Aiden takes hold of my hand, making me look at him as he places the ring on my left finger. I can’t control my shaking as I lean into him. Bending down, he kisses me with a passionate force in front of all our family and friends whose cheering continues. They’re just as excited as I am.
Eventually, when the cheering dies down, he pulls away just enough to rest his forehead against mine. “C’mon, baby, we have our engagement party to attend.”
“Our engagement party?” I look at him, scratching my head.
“Yes, our engagement party. That’s what I’ve been doing these past two days.”
I stare at him, my brow crinkled. “Wait! Everyone knew you were proposing tonight?” I finally reach the conclusion.
“Yes. Everyone except you.”
“But how did you know I was going to say yes?”