This is it...

We had been dating for 3 years yet I knew him most of my life being best friends with his sister.

It was time. Was this week-long holiday at the coast it?

A gentle drive down to the sea. Looking out the window at the forever changing scenes of the 6-hour drive and the never-ending landscapes. One thing you can’t fault South Africa for are the sights that literally take your breath away.

The hidden gems all the small towns we pass offer. The rolling hills, the Little Church of Van Reenen (how awesome would it be if he chose this as a romantic spot to pop the question) the Midlands Meander, Valley of 1000 Hills (I snicker inwardly as a I recall a news reader saying he would like to send his mother in law to spend a month on each hill) and finally the rolling waves of the ocean.

As we check into the hotel, Chris tells me that we should look at the room before we get the luggage which I think is strange but can’t argue that we do things differently. A beautiful tropically decorated room awaited us with Soul Stirring window views of what’s called the Wild Coast. Yes I think, this could be it…

On day 2 of our trip Chris tells me to meet him at 7 o’clock in one of the hotel restaurants – yes this is it… I take my time, putting on a dress I mean a “dress” it has to be it right, I do my hair, perfect my make-up actually taking the time and making an effort. Walking into the restaurant my heart is beating to fast I think I might actually pass out. Just breathe, I keep telling myself, don’t fall you’ll look like an idiot and everyone will laugh.

What a beautiful setting, fish tanks filled with tropical fish in the brightest of colours lining most of the walls, the aircon is just right – my face wont melt off afterall… Chris opens a bottle of champagne and I hold my breath as I take my fist sip, making sure there is nothing other than glorious bubbles in the glass.

Starters come and mentally I tell myself mussels in a cream sauce was a bad choice as my ring would be full of sauce… Erm no ring in my pot. Mains come and go still no ring – AAAH dessert it would have to be right? Again, not my best choice for the hide the ring game, A chocolate brownie with a decadent sauce and ice cream. How does one assassinate a delectable dessert without it looking obvious that you were looking for a “treasure” oh and how to hide the disappointment that sadly this was not it…

Our week comes to and end and it has been glorious, sun, sea, wine and of course the love of my life. We pack the cars and I say let it not end here, why don’t we stay the week-end - after all we are at the coast. Chris doesn’t seem thrilled with the idea and reminds me that we have a 30^th in Johannesburg that night and we should just leave. I swallow my disappointment and as we hit the road as I finally come to the realisation that NO this is NOT it…

Halfway home Chris makes a sudden detour and I’m like what ARE you doing, he says it’s a short cut his boss told him about. Yeah, I’m not at all sour that now he even wants to “rush” home. Did he not have as great a time as I did? What on earth. Chris then also brakes suddenly and reverses the car – okay seriously dude what’s up? He says, “there is a body in the road!!!”. There was no body in the road. He pulls into a roadside shop and says he needs to report it – I mean seriously he needs to come up with a better story. Turns out he had a weekend stay planned at another venue and he thought that he had missed the turn off, so not wanting to ruin the surprise he came up with the body in the road story…

We arrive at the new venue and go to reception. The lady at reception had her feet up and really looked  like she was wanting the day over. When Chris said reservation for the Herbert’s she literally jumped off her seat, her whole demeanour changed, and her eyes sparkled as she handed us the keys. I said to Chris as we walked out to the car that that was the strangest thing. We drove up to our chalet and as I tried to grab our bags from the trunk, Chris says no let’s look at our room. Used to this from our first Hotel it doesn’t surprise me. Chris opens the door and as I step in the sun from the sliding door window initially prevented me from seeing what lay before me. I shielded my eyes with my hand and looking down I said what is this dirt? (Sigh!!! true story) Step after step I realise NO this was not dirt it was scattered rose petals and they led all the way up to the bed with a heart of petals and a beautiful bunch of roses in the middle. I turn around and Chris in on one knee with the ring box outstretched. THIS WAS IT…

****

Turns out reception lady was in on it and had to take quite the ride into town to buy the roses and set it all up.

Chris had not yet asked my parents to he would not let me tell the world. That night at supper I would hold my hand up telling people we were engaged. Saturdays drive through the wild game park had me holding my hand out the window shouting I’m engaged. AND THEN… as we arrived home, he made me take the ring off. We launch into the recap of our holiday and Chris says nothing. I eventually go and make us all lunch and my cousin who was staying with us at the time comes in and asks for all the juicy details. I could hardly concentrate as I was trying to stretch my hearing to what was happening in the other room. My mom joins us in the kitchen and after some chit chat says – “So Chris says he wants to marry you!!!! Let me see the ring…”

It was all perfect…

                                                                                                                                                                               RK Adant