In one single date, Jake had crossed off many items high on my “to-do” list. After Julia Roberts in Pretty Woman, there wasn’t a single girl out there who wouldn’t want to be whisked off to San Francisco on a date. Today had been a combination of the surreal and the comical as I too, would be watching an opera, my favorite opera in San Francisco. However, I had one up on Vivian Ward. I had dined at the best restaurant in the world.
Quickly, I picked out a dress and a pair of shoes and went in to one of the rooms to get ready. In the living room, Jake was already waiting for me with one more surprise in his hand.
He held out a little box—the kind a girl received when a man got down on one knee, about to propose to the woman he loved.
“I want ask you something. Please don’t be scared by the box. It’s not as serious as it looks.”
That allowed me to breathe a sigh of relief. Jake grinned at the seriousness of my face. He carefully watched me open the tiny box and intently studied my expression as I wondered what exactly I was looking at.
“Um…it’s stunning, but could you explain this ring to me?”
In my hand lay a white gold or platinum band with hundreds of pave diamonds set into the shallow depths of the band. There was no end to the shiny diamonds that encircled the ring. This was without a doubt the kind of ring women generally wore on their fourth finger as a wedding band if they were lucky enough to afford one of this magnitude.
“OK,” he breathed aloud, “it’s not an engagement ring, nor is it a wedding band, as you might fear. I wanted to give you a ring that symbolized our commitment to one another…no scratch that. That didn’t come out right.” His hands shook as they reached for mine.
“Emily, we’ve dated a couple of months now, and I know you’re not quite sure where we stand in the formal sense. I actually bought this ring for you after our first date. Even back then, I knew I wanted to be with you. I mean, date only you. I wanted to ask you…geez, I feel like a school boy asking a girl to be his girlfriend,” he interjected in the middle of his own explanation, “um…I would like for us to date…exclusively date. What I mean is…will you be my girlfriend?” he finally spit out.
I started with a half smile that led to a giggle. He was unusually insecure for Jake’s standards. When I didn’t answer immediately, his lips turned into a pouty frown.
“Are you going to answer? You’re making me nervous.”
“OK, so let me get this straight. You spent thousands of dollars to ask my permission to do what we are already doing now? Dating?”
“Um, yeah. Aren’t you the one that called our relationship ‘whatever it is that we have’?"
I cringed when he said that. Those were definitely not choice words.
“Jake. Aren’t we already exclusively dating? Have you been seeing other girls as well? Is that why it’s so hard to spend any time with you?” My lips curled into a teasing smile. Jake didn’t find me funny. Trying to give him more assurance I said, “I haven’t had a desire or need to see anyone else. I feel blessed to be with you.”
“I’m still unsure how you feel about me. I know I haven’t said much today, but you must know how much I adore you. You’re trusting, yet guarded; you’re independent, yet willing to follow; and your heart’s been broken, yet you’re willing to give love another try. I love all these qualities about you. It doesn’t hurt that you’re fun, funny, and beautiful as well. I wasn’t sure you felt the same way. Especially after seeing you with Max last night, I was afraid you might be reconsidering our relationship,” he confessed with some satisfaction, but still much apprehension.
“Jake. I really like you, and I want our relationship to grow. You’re right. After Max, I needed to guard my heart more than necessary. But I trust you and feel most secure when we’re together. You are the only man I want to be with.”
Even with my profession, Jake’s expression hardly changed so I felt compelled to continue. “I’m sorry you had to witness my first encounter with Max and his new girlfriend. Being such an awkward moment, I didn’t react the way I would have liked. It did affect me. I guess it hurt me more than I thought it would, even with you by my side. But, you and our relationship add so much joy to my life. I wasn’t lying when I said that you’re the only person who makes me feel entirely comfortable. I’m elated when we’re together and lonely when we’re apart. Will this answer do? I will wear this very expensive ring as a symbol of my commitment to our relationship. I would be honored to be your girlfriend.”
Lovingly, he pulled me to him and held me. He wanted a relationship with me despite all my inadequacies. We were content being with one another. I wasn’t wrong to anticipate that this trip would bring us closer. Love, hope, and joy—a generic mantra for most—took on a completely new meaning in my heart. My heart felt whole again, emancipated from Max’s chains. It was finally free to beat for someone else.