Chapter Three: Georgia Peach

Hopped off the plane looking brand new from head to toe. I am all smiles and your girl was

g l o w i n g! I am filled with love and excitement ready to see my love who I haven't seen in months.

My suitcase took forever to make its way to me as I couldn’t contain my feelings at that moment. To know that I am not only in the same state but the same location as him. I was shaking! Once I grabbed my phone, I called him to let him know I was on my way to leave the airport. It was mid-afternoon and the airport was crowded. As I made my way towards the exits, there he was, standing there looking all types of handsome. There wasn’t a single soul in that airport when I saw him. All of a sudden it felt quiet and still. I saw him and I immediately recognized all the reasons why I fell in love with him. He was fresh out of basic training with a sexy farmer’s tan with his strong jawline, large nose, and a military haircut. He had lost some weight as well which made him feel oh so confident. I grabbed his arm and immediately pulled him into me.

I began to cry as I held the love of my life once again. This is what it was all about. This feeling. This is why I am here risking it all to be with him. We kissed each other and were all smiles all the way to his vehicle. He said I looked beautiful and he was so thankful I could be in his arms again. I couldn’t keep my hands off of him.

I remember before I left my parent's house, my father told me to read this Christian pastor’s book (Charles Stanley) which I threw in my carry-on, and to call him when I landed. “I’ll call him later," I thought to myself but texted my siblings that I made it safely.

We went to the hotel to drop our belongings off and spent the rest of the afternoon/evening together. He had to go back on base that night but had “leave” the rest of the weekend. I laid in bed that night feeling like a Queen. I felt safe, I felt wanted, I felt protected in his arms. My soldier who would do anything for me and loved me and all my weirdness. Finally, I felt like I did something right and God was giving me a chance to be happy despite all that I had gone through before meeting him.

The next morning, he knocked on the hotel door with breakfast in hand and some flowers. I had my hair wrapped in a bonnet but my teeth were brushed so at least my breath was all set. He stated I looked beautiful even when I woke up. We kissed and cuddled for a bit then ate breakfast. I wasn’t big on breakfast at the time so it was a bit wasteful all the food he bought but I was thankful nonetheless.

I got dressed afterwards and then headed out to spend the day together. We went shopping, to the movies and ate at a restaurant. We also talked about plans for the future and having a family.

When we got back to the hotel, we made love to each other and binged and watched our favorite shows while ordering room service. That night, he stated we needed to wake up early because he had something planned. I told him that I was not an early bird and I hated waking up early. He said oh well, we still need to wake up early. I sighed and agreed to do so.

The next morning, he kissed my forehead and told me I needed to wake up. I asked what the time was and he said it was 5 AM. “5 AM!? Why the hell are we up so early!?” I asked. He said, “It’s a surprise now get up”. I then got dressed and wore a pink maxi dress with a pair of sandals. He had a bag in his trunk that I could briefly see which looked like a blanket.

We left the hotel and he began to drive while holding my hand. He continuously looked at me while he was driving. He didn’t say a word but repeatedly kissed my hand. I asked him what was on his mind, which he said “how beautiful you are”. With the biggest grin on my face, I asked “what is so beautiful about me?”. He told me my heart, my facial features, my smile, my soul, my body, how I love and make him feel complete. I turned my head and looked down at the ground continuing to grin.

He then said he had to make a quick stop at a store. I said okay as he pulled into a business parking lot. When he came back to the car, he had a to-go bag filled with breakfast. I thought to myself “it’s five in the fucking morning! Did we not learn this yesterday? I didn’t eat at 9, let alone at five!” I smiled and gratefully thanked him for breakfast. He said, “you’re welcome my queen”.

We finally made it to our destination. It was dark and no cars around. The landscape was wide open for miles and miles. “Where are we?” I asked. He said, “the beach my love”. He got out of the vehicle and grabbed the items out of the trunk. I grabbed the food, and his hand as we walked onto the beach in the dark. “What are we doing here?” I asked. “Having breakfast” he replied. “Ohhhhhhkkkkaaaayyyyyy”, I thought to myself. “Oh fun!” I replied.

Once we got to where we wanted to stop, he pulled out a blanket from the bag he was carrying and put it on the ground. I placed the food on top of the blanket and we went for a walk. As we walked on the beach, the sun began to rise. It was a bit chilly that morning as the sea breeze was causing my sundress to wrap around my legs. He gave me his sweater as we turned around and headed back to our blanket.

The sky was pink and orange at the time and right before we got back to our blanket, he abruptly turned around and looked me in my eyes. I was a bit startled at first. “Is everything okay?” I asked. He said yes. He began to talk about our friendship, our love, and how he wanted to spend the rest of his life with me. My eyes began to fill with water as I anticipated what this was. He then got down on one knee and asked me to marry him. I immediately said yes. I was on cloud nine. I couldn’t believe I was not only a fiancé, I was his fiancé! “Since I am your fiancé now, I don’t eat breakfast this early hunny” I jokingly told him. We packed things up and headed back to the car. I had a beautiful ring on my finger, I was deeply in love sitting next to my man and I felt like a soon-to-wife. Once in the car, the radio was on and JLO's “Waiting For Tonight” was playing. It was a perfect moment that I never wanted to forget.