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I had to admit, it was kind of exciting to be at the captain’s table. He hadn’t arrived yet, but my parents and Timothy were there, along with another couple.
“Hi, Val. You’re just in time,” said my mom warmly. “Let me introduce the lovely couple joining us for dinner tonight. This is Carlie and her husband Roger. They’re from Hawaii. This is my daughter Valentina, but we call her Val. Oh, and this is her daughter Abby.”
“So nice to meet you both,” I said, taking the seat near my mother. Two chairs sat empty. One was obviously for the captain, but no one seemed to know who the other guest would be.
We didn’t need to wait long, because I could see the captain approaching. “Good evening, everyone. Thank you for joining me. I hope you’re all enjoying the cruise.”
The next ten minutes we listened to Abby tell him everything she loved about the ship. I wanted to tell her not to talk his ear off, but he just smiled and humored her.
“Is it true that a captain can perform a marriage?” she asked.
“Yes, it is. Why are you looking to get married?” he asked.
She giggled and leaned closer to Timothy. “Nope. We did that last year. Now we’re having our first baby. Have you ever performed a wedding on this ship?”
“Actually, we have two employees who are to be wed later this week.”
“I am here to attend that wedding, actually. I met Betty on this cruise a few months ago. And she met her soon to be husband right here on this ship. They both work for the cruise line,” I said.
Carlie said, “I think it would make a wonderful romance story. But I can picture one even better than that.”
“Really? Tell us,” Abby said, encouraging her.
“I’m sure the captain doesn’t want to hear all about romance stories,” I warned. Most men would run from the topic.
“I know one myself. Would you mind if I shared it?” he asked.
Who was going to tell him no? No one at this table. Maybe my father. Since there was no opposition, he took that as a yes.
“This story really touched my heart when I heard it. There is a couple who loved each other so much that everyone believed they would get married. But life got in the way, they were forced to choose different paths and promises were broken. Months turned into years, and they believed they would never see each other again. But their hearts never stopped yearning for one another. Their love was stronger than time. He would do anything to prove that what he’d promised her might be late, but he had never forgotten the promise. One day, when she least expected it, he showed up,” he said.
“And what?” Abby said anxiously.
The captain continued, “He dropped on one knee and asked…”
“Will you marry me?” someone said from behind me.
I was so startled that I spun around in disbelief, knocking my glass of water onto the table. I was too stunned to care about where the contents landed.
Rick?He was here, on bended knee holding a ring with a heart-shaped black onyx surrounded by diamonds. I knew it wasn’t the ring, but it looked similar to one my grandmother had. One I had admired long ago.
My mind was spinning, and I wanted to ask someone to pinch me. This couldn’t be real. I looked back at my family sitting at the table, and they were all smiling, but no one looked surprised. I turned back and looked at Rick.
“What…what are you doing here?” I asked.
He held the ring up higher to me, “Right now, waiting for your answer. But if you want, I can ask you again.”
“You’re really here, asking me to marry you?” That was a stupid question. Of course he was. I could see the ring, but I still couldn’t believe this was happening. Dreams don’t come true. And I’ve dreamt of this moment since I was a teenager. But there was still a lingering question, had he really changed? Was he ready to settle down? Married is as settled as one can get. “Rick, I…love you….but…are you ready to come home?” He would know that I meant come back to Rhode Island. It was the only place I’ve ever called home.
“You are my home. And yes, I’m ready,” he said.
I couldn’t speak and swallowed trying not to cry. This was so unexpected, so overwhelming, and also, so freaking romantic.
“Valentina, I promised you many years ago that you would have my heart forever. That we would grow old together. I haven’t forgotten those promises. I’m just a little bit late on the delivery. Now, I’ll ask you again. Valentina Rizzo: Will you marry me, spend the rest of your days and nights with me, and let me show you what is in my heart, because it is overflowing with love for you?”
“Say yes,” I heard Abby say softly.
I didn’t need any nudging. He was the only man I’d ever loved. “Yes, I’ll marry you.”
