by ROD HARLEY
She slept most of the way to Miami but I didn’t mind. I spent the three and a half hours listening to the music on my IPod and the CD I had purchased, and daydreaming about the Bahamas.
We spent two days on South Beach partying at Gloria Estefan’s nightclub, Club Amnesia, The Blue Marlin, and Jungle Jim’s. I stole a cognac glass from Estefan’s club. I didn’t take it on purpose. I inadvertently walked out of the door with the glass, decided it would make a good souvenir, and decided to keep it. After our two-day stint club-hopping and sightseeing in South Florida, we jumped a plane for the Bahamas.
While we partied in Orlando and Miami, our time in the Bahamas was planned for relaxing. I wanted to get away from the rest of the world and spend every waking moment enjoying Toya’s company.
I rented a secluded bungalow on Cable Beach in Nassau. The only people around were the four other couples who had rented the four accompanying bungalows and the staff of the resort. Even the beach was private, only guests of the resort were allowed. My travel agent told me we probably wouldn’t run into any of the other couples staying at the resort during our stay and after scoping out the property I concurred. The closest bungalow to ours was at least a half-mile down the beach. Since each bungalow had its own housekeeping staff and all meals were delivered directly to the guests, there was no need to venture away from our spot, except maybe to take a walk on the beach which is exactly what Toya and I did.
We were strolling hand in hand barefoot in the soft coolness of the sand. It was about five forty-five in the a.m., perfect timing for us to catch the sunrise. We sat down to relax and view the dawning of a new day, taking advantage of a piece of driftwood that had washed ashore.
Toya’s skin and hair were a shiny golden brown color under the infant sun. At that moment she was more beautiful than I had ever imagined she could be. She was aglow, like a gold figurine recently unearthed from some archeological dig in Africa. Her beauty was regal.
I wrapped my arm around Toya and pulled her closer to me. Reaching into my pocket I nervously ran my thumb over the black velvet covered case. I inhaled deeply trying to calm the quickening pace of my heart. My hands were beginning to perspire as was the rest of my body, and my nerves had kicked into overdrive. I turned to Toya.
“This is our last day here in the Bahamas.”
“Yeah. At two-thirty this afternoon it’s back to reality, back to Charlotte and back to work.”
“I really enjoyed this last week with you.”
“Me too,” she returned. “I wish we could stay here on this beach together, forever. It’s a shame it has to end.” I leaned over and kissed her on the cheek.
“I know, baby, this past week has been perfect.” Toya sighed. I took a deep breath and pulled the small box from my pocket, hiding it behind my back. I stood up and took Toya’s hand in mine; she was staring at me like I was crazy. I smiled at her and took a knee in the sand in front of her. I could feel her grip tighten around my hand when I brought the black jewelry box into view. She started shaking and her eyes began to tear up as if she was going to cry.
“Toya, I remember when I asked you what you wanted from me. You told me that I wasn’t willing to give you what you wanted. I had no idea what you meant. But the more time I spent away from you, the more I realized just how much I wanted and needed to have you in my life. I was miserable, and I realized that my life would forever be miserable unless I did what I needed to do to keep you with me forever.” Toya started crying, I kissed her on the hand.
“Baby, you’ve been my best friend since we were kids. You’ve always been there for me unconditionally. I know sometimes I have taken you for granted, and I haven’t always been there for you. But I promise you from this day on, whatever it is you want or need from me, I’m ready and willing to give it to you. I’ll spend a lifetime trying to make you happy. I love you, Toya, more than I can express in words. So although this weekend has to end, this feeling I have right now, that I’ve had since we’ve been together. I want this feeling to last forever, for the rest of our lives. Toya, baby…will you marry me?”
Toya was now crying uncontrollably. I reached up and wiped a tear from her eye. Another tear rolled off the tip of her nose and fell on the sand in front of me. She exhaled deeply and looked into my eyes.
“Yes! Yes, Kalem, I’ll marry you!” She answered emphatically. She knelt on the sand in front of me staring at the ring still sitting in its case. I picked up the ring and held it between my fingers, out in front of me. It was beautiful. A four-carat, flawlessly sculpted, cushion cut diamond, set in a platinum band. I held Toya’s hand in my palm and slipped the ring onto her finger. It fit perfectly. I moved closer and embraced her. She was shaking in my arms. I felt strangely calm considering the magnitude of what had just transpired.
I sat down in the sand and led Toya by the hand, around in front of me. She sat down in between my legs and I wrapped my arms around her. Every five seconds she would hold her hand out in front of her and stare at the ring on her finger as if checking to make sure it was really there. I enjoyed watching her reaction.
I told her how I had visited Ahmad a couple of days before we left Charlotte and picked out the ring. Ahmad showed me how to determine her ring size using a tape measure and another of her rings as reference. I used Toya’s class ring, which she never wears anymore. She keeps it in her jewelry box on her dresser. Once I figured out her ring size, the only problem was getting the ring in time for our trip. Ahmad informed me that he had a cousin who owned a jewelry store in Orlando. He assured me he could have the ring finished, and sent to his cousin’s store, where I could pick it up before heading to Miami. That was the reason for dropping by the mall right before we left. Purchasing the CD was just a cover.
Toya kissed me appreciatively after I finished relaying how I had managed to conceal my activities. I had surprised myself by pulling it off. I was unsure if Ahmad would come through, but he did.
Toya pressed close to me, her head-rest on my chest. I kissed her on the top of her head and hugged her tightly. As if on cue, the sun awakened, it’s light barely visible, rising slowly on the horizon. It signaled the birth of a new day and with it the beginning of a new life for Toya and me.