The next morning Adrian woke me up early. I wondered about the reason. He asked me to get ready in casuals. When I was taking out my clutch from the closet he called. “We better hurry,"
"And I love your hair like this.” He commented gently slipping his fingers through the lengthy strands of my hair. “ Its...Its so soft. I missed the feel of your tendrils between my fingers.” He sighed.
“Keep it this way. You are my Aphrodite.” Lifting an eyebrow at himI silently asked if I could speak now and he grinned at me which he rarely did.
“Where are we going?” He shook his head. When I say it is a surprise, I am not going to divulge any information to you but I will only say you will love the place. Come." He took my hand taking a step forward and for a moment I couldn't keep my eyes off him. Adrain was glowing in white sneakers, white jeans and a white V-neck sweater. The cherry-red hickey I'd given him during a round of mind-numbing sex last night stood prominently on his neck. He looked so happy, young and carefree. Every bit the easygoing, good-natured guy I had fallen in love with many years ago. I love this man...
He brought me to a large open space. Was this some kind of place for parasailing or something similar? By the time we waded through the winds and got to the balloon, it was fully inflated and righted, fighting against the strains of the men. “Wow” I couldn’t stop muttering for the excitement I nourished. My husband was a very sexy and romantic person even after having two kids.
"Ready and all yours, Adrian," shouted one of the men. Adrian climbed into the huge woven basket then turned and lifted me over as the pilot pulled on the gas lever. It was so loud I could hardly hear his warnings for me to be careful. Once we were on and steady, the men released their hold and the balloon drifted up. There was no fear, surprisingly for me though I was frightened of heights. And I couldn't help the silly grin plastered on my face. Probably it was the confidence I had on my husband that I will always be safe around him.
"Is this a better surprise?" he asked. I was grinning like a kid. "I freaking’ love you!" We were soon high in ascent, and the sun's slow descent produced a peaceful tangerine sky. My heart wasn’t even beating as hard as it normally does whenever I’m up high, maybe because my husband’s arms were wrapped tight around me? I could feel his eyes hot on my face while I oohed and ahhed over the picturesque view of Napa Valley below.
Apparently, he enjoyed watching me enjoy myself. His hands drifted up to my shoulders and turned me to face him, eyes intense and brimming with love. Taking my left hand, he raised it to his lips, kissed my knuckles, and then suddenly dropped to one knee, the untamed wind tossing his hair about his face. Oh God. Oh God. Oh God. What was he doing? "Chris," he began. "From the moment I first saw you I knew you were mine. I was bewitched, and the spell hasn't reversed since then and I don't want it to, even after our kids go married. I know we have already crossed that age and you are already mine since years but I want to give a new start to our relationship. I wanted to give you the fairy tale every girl desires and to make up for my past mistakes.. for our separation. I want to be your Prince Charming. Your Knight in Shining Armor. Your Romeo. I want to be your everything. Anything you desire, as long as it is in my power, it’s yours. We're adrift in the sky, closer to God's angels, and you are my angel. I want you to be mine not only physically and psychologically but eternally too. Please, be my wife, my spice, my life. Share my laughs with me, my wealth, my body, my soul and my heart. Marry me."
Midway through his proposal my face was soaked with tears, and my facial muscles hurt from my persistent grin. "Like you didn’t already know the answer," I sobbed. "Of course, yes." A monstrosity of a ring winked up at me. Platinum, with a rectangular cut diamond surrounded by emerald-green studs. I'll be damned... Adrian removed the ring from the slit in the black velvet case and slid it onto my finger. "Don't you ever take this off," he warned. "I want you to wear my love. Embrace my love. Boast my love. I want you to love my love." He rose to his feet and crushed me in his arms.
"I love you so hard." My tears ran amok, and the elation, joy and contentment I felt at that moment were incapable of a perfect description. I would forever remember this day. Forever. Like a lifesaver, I clung to him. "I love you too, Adrian. I’m yours. Only yours. Always." The loud gas of the air balloon, the pilot who stood a ways off, the unfriendly wind and its biting chill faded into stillness as Adrian and I locked ourselves into an undying embrace and allowed God's gentle breathing to float us away.