My Magical Engagement (Part 3 of 3)

Jason returned bearing an ornately carved box about eight inches long- a little too big for a ring box. He knelt before me.

“I got this box while I was in India,” he explained. Jason had visited Bangalore during a previous summer. “I wanted it to remind us of how God might one day use us in that country...”

My fingers glided over the pattern of intricate flowers and vines. My suspicions for the evening were confirmed. I knew where this conversation was going.

Inside the box were three curious objects. Jason picked them up and explained them one by one. The first item was a dried saffron bloom I recognized from the first bouquet Jason had ever given me. “This,” he began, “is a dried flower from India and since it doesn’t wilt, one of its names is ‘The Eternal Flower’. I give it to you now to symbolize my eternal love for you.” I sat in a dreamlike trance as Jason picked up the next object.

It was an iron key. “I need you to hold on to this key for a little while if that’s ok.” I accepted it silently from his hand, not sure what it might unlock, but also not caring enough to ruin the mood with questions.

At last, he pulled out a small wooden box. This was it. I was at the top of the high dive and there was no going back. Jason took a deep breath. “I got this box in Chattanooga. The angel carved on it is there to remind us that God will always be with us.” Jason slowly opened the top to reveal a small gold ring bearing three tiny diamonds. Jason held my hand and gazed deeply into my eyes. “Katherine Ann Ladny,” he began. “I love you. Would you make my joy complete? Will you marry me?” The world stood still. I broke into a huge grin, took the plunge, and answered, “Yes, Jason Andrew Mitchell.”

Jason slipped the ring onto my finger and kissed my hand while I sat beaming in a joyful daze. God had been so generous with us and now He was writing a new chapter of our relationship. After a while, Jason pierced through the emotional whirlwind with an unusual question. “Do you want to go on an adventure?” he asked. Another one? I was so happy that I would have gone to the moon if Jas wanted.

“Do you still have the key I gave you?” he asked. I’d completely forgotten about it, but thankfully hadn’t lost it yet. I gave it to Jason and followed him down another bank. At the bottom rested a two-person kayak! Jason unlocked the tiny boat. “You might want to put your ring back into the box, just to be on the safe side,” he suggested as he rummaged in the hull for the life jackets. The ring needed to be sized down a bit and it would be a shame to lose it, especially before showing it to anyone! We put our things deep into the bow of the kayak, tightened the straps of our life preservers, and shoved off.

Our paddles sliced through the dark water. Occasionally a wave would hit us head on, spraying us both. The summer solstice moon glowed copper and at times I would turn to face Jason and exclaim, “I can’t believe we’re getting married!”

We rowed across the river past the sleeping sailboats. Eventually, we came upon the Annapolis pier. Jason tied our kayak to a wooden pole, helped me out, and wrapped a towel around me. My jeans and tee shirt were soaked. We were tired, wet, and couldn’t have been happier. The whole proposal had been unbelievable, and it wasn’t over yet!

Jason grabbed a basket of tea lights and another book from the hull, then left me for a few seconds to see about something. I waited on the dock in joyful expectation not only of Jason’s return, but also of a possible answer to a secret prayer.

Prior to dating Jason, I’d visited a Sunday school class that was discussing the pain of divorce. It sounded awful. I was pretty sure that I didn’t want one, but I was also pretty sure that people getting married rarely plan on getting divorced later. I had little experience and didn’t want to marry the first jerk that paid attention to me only to spend years of emotional and financial heartache extracting myself from the relationship.

So one day, I asked God for a sign to indicate the man He’d want me to marry. And the “fleece” I chose was a voluntary invitation for me to dance with him on the Annapolis pier. It was a silly request, perhaps, yet here I was; sitting a mere hundred yards from the appointed spot. To be honest, I sometimes tried to force God’s hand by asking current crushes if they’d like to dance with me there. Before we started dating, I had even asked Jason. (He declined.) To this day, no one had ever asked me.

Jason presently came back, led me to the edge of the pier, and started placing tea lights in a large square. Curiouser and curiouser! My eyes soon wandered to the book that Jason had brought with us. I couldn’t believe the title! There, on the faded red cover, read “Modern Ballroom Dancing by Victor Silvester.” I was astounded. Had my prayer been answered? Do such prayers get answered? I flipped open the front cover and inside was the following penciled inscription: “Dearest Kate, shall we dance?” I was too joyful to do anything but smile. It was as if God had just penned his signature of approval on my love story.

A moment later, Jason helped me to my feet. His left hand lifted my right into the air while his other arm encircled my waist. In my mind’s eye, I recalled the time when I was sixteen, teaching Jason how to waltz for the first time. I grinned at the memory while Jason gazed into my eyes, hesitating for some reason. Would I be teaching him again? Just before I was about to ask whether he remembered the steps, a live violin filled the air with its smooth song. I gasped, delighted!

One, two three, one, two, three…we waltzed together on the pier with Jason leading beautifully. He danced even better than I did. (I found out later that he’d taken lessons for this occasion.) The song ended to the applause of several Annapolis tourists and the engagement was now complete.

Perhaps I looked silly dancing that night in my damp tee shirt, wet jeans, and soggy tennis shoes. But I felt like a princess in a great romance, enjoying the embrace of her prince and rejoicing in the smile of her King. God had proven Himself a masterful storyteller, and I couldn’t wait for the next chapter.