Page 95 of Lost In London

Our waiter came over, clearing our table and placing our dessert dishes before us. “I have a surprise for you.” She started whining her hips in my lap to the low drums playing in the distance.

“London,” I warned, gripping her waist.

She wore an orange flowy backless dress with no bra or panties. That’s been her favorite thing to do since we boarded - be naked as much as she could. If we weren’t out on an expedition or up talking she was taking advantage of having me to herself in every erotic way possible.

Like now… sitting right where she liked to sit with no panties on.

She knew what she was doing.

She knew I wouldn’t stop her but give her exactly what she wanted.

“Okay, I’ll stop… for now.” She winked, reaching into her clutch and pulling out folded papers. “This isn’t me buying your love but me celebrating our love.” Eyes shining as bright as the moon peered up at me. “Your heart of integrity sets you apart from any other man I know and I’m truly honored to know you. Read it before I start on a tangent.” She laughed, blinking away her feelings.

Taking the papers from her, I unfolded them and started reading. Each word I read caused the lump in my throat to grow bigger.

State of Florida

Business Registration Certificate

Business Name: Plant N Grow

Owners: Quincey Reid and London Nicole Carter

Before we left for our trip we sat up one late night talking about our future. How many kids we wanted, where we wanted to live. I told her about my all-time dream of creating a program for kids to learn the importance of gardening. How it teaches them life lessons, helps them have value for the fruits and vegetables they eat. To know that she listened with intention to bring it to life after one conversation… she is the flesh of my flesh and the bones of my bones.

“I-I…” she cleared the tears from her throat.

I couldn’t take my eyes off the papers. Our journey started a year ago from one look across the room of a restaurant. From that look, everything changed. I became captivated. Eger but patient to know how she’d fit into my life. Our yoke was pure intention. I’ve been a member of Evergreen Baptist Church since I moved to Broward County. I went to Bishop’s church every Sunday and never crossed paths with London. Andrea and I have been friends for years and I hadn't crossed paths with London. Dre has asked me on several occasions to counsel people at Connie’s House and our paths still didn’t cross until God was ready for them to.

Intention.

Everything about us has been intentional from the beginning.

When our paths finally crossed my longing turned to burning. I burned for her and to know that she burned for me…

I humbly submit all that I am. All that I have to protect, love, adore, and cherish this woman for the rest of my days.

Not much got me emotional. Not much stumped me to the point of being speechless. But knowing that she’d put together our separate life purposes to create one entity, all I could do was hug her close to my heart. My hands were trembling and my eyes became moist because no woman, my mother included, has ever celebrated me the way she has. All my life, I’ve poured myself to the point of emptiness giving to others only to hear it was too much or not good enough. I vowed to God and myself that I’d never let the ways of my mother create seeds of low self-esteem and I haven’t.

I may have questioned why I was created so uniquely different from others to not be appreciated but it all became clear since I met this woman.

“Flesh of my flesh. Bones of my bones.” Face in her neck, I breathed her in. “You are my first ministry.”

“I love when you say that to me.” Turning, she cupped my head in her hands and kissed me until we both were gasping for air. “It’s like clarity and an answered prayer in one because there was a time when I prayed that the sun would rise and set many times over before our infatuation with each other’s presence grew dull. Quincey Reid, you came in and navigated my world with ease and comfort. What makes you so special is that you always see me at my fullest potential even when I feel lower than low. You wanna know why I love watching Aladdin so much?”

My head dropped and eyes squeezed shut. Here I thought tonight would be me celebrating her but she surprised the hell out of me.

“Look at me, Quincey.” She demanded softly. My pride wanted to keep my head down because I knew when I opened my eyes she’d see me raw and sensitive. She’d have an HD visual of my heart showing every emotion I felt for her.

Sniffling, I lifted my head and stared into the eyes of beauty. “I love the movie because it’s relatable. The love and sacrifice of Aladdin and Jasmine. Not even all the riches in the world and people’s cruel intentions to break them apart could stop what was destined. You’ve opened my eyes and took me on the most beautiful resurrecting magic carpet ride. Unbelievable sights. Indescribable feeling. Soaring, tumbling, freewheeling through an endless diamond sky.” Her off-key singing sounded like heaven’s best angels.

“With you by my side, I can’t go back to who I used to be.” She kissed the wetness that tried to fall from my eyes. “I’ll chase you all around this world, Mr. Reid. We can…”

“Marry me.” I sat up straight, calming my breathing. “Marry me, London.”

I don’t know if she was in shock or what. She sat on my lap, mouth hung open, eyes wide, and not blinking. Careful not to make her fall, I looped an arm around her waist to take the cover off of her dessert. I planned for this night to have gone so differently. Me on one knee reciting my proposal that I’ve been practicing for weeks. I had a goal in mind when I booked our cruise. London would accompany me as my woman but return as my soon-to-be wife.

A custom two point five carat pear diamond crown yellow-gold engagement ring sat in the middle of her key lime pie. Her hands flew to her mouth right as the first flash went off. Glad our photographer was on standby to capture this moment. “Before you get in your head and start questioning if I got your father’s blessing, I did. While you were handling your personal matters last week I flew to New York and sat down with him and Landon.”

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