Intimate Moment

It had been decided.  Robb and I had decided to get married and were busily planning our fantasy medieval wedding.  We’d visited my uncle the day before and selected THE ring;  a beautiful marquise-cut diamond alive with fire was nestled in a serpentine band of glittering jewels.  Robb jokingly tried to give me the ring with a cheesy proposal:  “And the nominees for Best Fiancee are....  Jessica Alba, Natalie Portman, Ashley Judd, and finally Jessica Winter!”  My maiden name hung drily in the air. 

Needless to say, I found this proposal unacceptable.  I told Robb he would have to do better or I wouldn’t marry him at all.  In his usual style, Robb tested out a few other doozies and botched proposals, none of which made the cut.

On our last day in Wisconsin, we planned a visit to Robb’s sister’s house in Madison.  My parents had come along because Robb and I were looking at wedding venues.  As we began to say goodbye, Robb looked deep into my eyes and I knew he was about to make a serious proposal.  I couldn’t believe he would be so brave to do it in front of my parents and his sister’s family;  for an introverted nerd, this would be quite an audience!   

I don’t remember exactly what was said, but it was something to the effect of, “These past five years have been the best of my life.  I can’t imagine a future without you.  Will you marry me? And make me happy for the rest of my life?” 

This was what I had been waiting for.  Joy fell from my eyes in a stream of lavender rain.  My mom attempted to subtly photograph the event while all the ladies in the room blinked back tears.  

“Yes.”  I replied.  “I knew you could do it.”

He slipped the dazzling platinum onto my finger and we embraced in a circle of light.  My ears could not hear the applause that filled the room.