We were only in the Maldives for a few hours. We walked around the island, swam in the sea, and drank cold beer. And then the long flight finally caught up with me and I sank into my giant bed with a sigh of relief.
The air conditioning was great so it was chilly and fresh while I snuggled up under the duvet and fell asleep. It was a head-attacking sleep and I faded into a dreamless state.
I could have been asleep for an hour, I could have been asleep all day, and I really didn’t know when Sam started calling me from outside.
“Mon, come outside, George wants you!” Sam yelled.
“No chance,” I thought. I had George on my lap for the entire flight, so it was Sam’s turn to babysit.
I fell asleep again.
“It feels really good in here, we should go outside!”
no way. I knew it was good, but now this bed was better.
“Wow, look at this sunset, it’s really nice. You should get up early and take a picture.”
I see, I understand that. Both the blogger and sunset lover in me couldn’t resist and I stumbled sleepily out of bed. I didn’t even think about the fact that our villa didn’t face the sunset, or that there was no way Sam could see the sunset from where he was sitting.
“Can you give George a minute?” Sam said, taking George into my arms. “I brought him a new top. I bought it…I have it at home…a new top…a vest…..”
Sam wasn’t sure what to do with his new vest, which was really weird since he only buys novelty clothes for George, like football kits and rugby kits. And why didn’t he tell me this at home?
I picked George up. George was smiling at me as if he hadn’t seen me for a week.
I couldn’t help but smile back and kiss his plump little cheek.
“…new vest…” Sam was still talking about this vest.
So I picked George up and read it again.
And the rest is a little blurry.
“Mommy, will you marry daddy?”
I looked from Sam to George. Back to Sam. Back to George. George didn’t give me any answers, but this vest was a pretty big clue.
I read it again.
“What? What? Really!?”
I was sitting on a sun lounger and Sam was next to me. He was on one knee. He opened a small box and stared at me with his big green eyes.
“will you marry me?”
I was so shocked that I don’t even know what happened next. All I know is that there were hugs and kisses, there were ‘I love you’s,’ George was giggling, the cork was pulled, and there was a sparkling diamond on my finger.
And we got engaged!
I was engaged on a paradise beach in the Maldives. I’m engaged!
I still think it’s strange to say that. “I’m engaged.” As you can see, I like to say that as much as I can.
Whenever possible, I include the words “my fiancé” in any conversation. It’s like playing word of the day, but I don’t think this will ever get old.
Looking back now, I can’t believe how surprised I was. Sam and I have been together for many years. We’ve traveled the world together, had children, renovated a house, and have been dropping not-so-subtle hints for at least a year. And what’s more, we were in paradise. An absolute paradise, a dream destination. It’s the kind of place we’ve dreamed of visiting for years, and this is a story we’ll never get tired of telling.
Well done boy, it couldn’t have been a better proposal.