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When my husband and
I first became friends, we had no idea of any differences in our ages.
I had inherited great genes, so at the age of 34, I was slim and young
looking. Louie was fun, with a great sense of play, and yet, he was
very serious about his path in life, unafraid to take on new
challenges.
There was only one
time, in the 23 years that we have been together, that I thought I might
back out because of our age difference. I got one good talking to
from a trusted friend. ???Let??™s see, Jaye,??? he told me. ???He??™s
wonderful! He loves you! He adores your children. He wants more than
anything to spend the rest of his life making you and the girls
happy??¦but, he??™s younger. That??™s a great reason to break up!??? I saw the
ludicrousness of my fears, and I never looked back
We were married in
the home of a friend, with three little bridesmaids breathlessly waiting
to call Louie ???Daddy.??? It was greater than any joy I had ever known.
Louie was a natural father. He adopted our daughters exactly two years
after the day we had met. He is faithful and loving, and the best
friend I have ever had.
At the same time,
through the years, I thought that I had missed out on that romantic
dinner by candle light, Louie dropping to one knee, holding out an
engagement ring, and begging me to marry him. We had started out
married life with a house full of kids, no privacy, and a gratitude that
children have to go to bed early.
Then began my health
problems. Where my body once was slim and strong, it soon became
medicated and plump, in all the wrong places. Where once my cheeks were
slim, there was now a layer of insulation that could make my feet
float. I walked and walked and walked, when I was well, and, yet, no
amount of exercise could bring my body back to where it once was. By
the time we had been married nearly fifteen years, one look in the
mirror was enough to send my self-esteem plummeting.
Louie was always
loving and exciting, but I wondered if I was. I??™d look at my wedding
band, as it got tighter and resized. In my jewelry box was a diamond
that we had never gotten around to setting into a ring. I mused that
surely he could not want me that much anymore.
I slipped a dozen
cards into every cubbyhole that day, watching as he joyously found and
read them. But there was nothing in the house, for me. Of course, I
didn??™t mind. We were going out to dinner, and that would be romantic.
We arrived at the black tie restaurant together, and I saw the lovely
gift bag with the card sticking out, so I knew I would not be totally
forgotten.
We ordered our
drinks, and then the meal, and we watched the sun go down into a
brilliant splendor, and Louie handed me my card. It said all the
wonderful things that always make me cry. His eyes were shining. How
handsome he was. Then suddenly he moved, and pushed his chair back.
Swiftly, out of the bag came a small velvet pillow and a small box. I
was stunned to see my husband kneel on the pillow and hold out the
little box. Astonished, I backed my chair up.
???Jaye, I love you!???
Louie declared, opening the box to expose a lovely diamond ring. ???I
know I don??™t deserve it, but will you marry me?!???
???Oh my God!??? I heard
from the waitress behind me. All eyes in the room turned their
attention to this intensely private, shy, wonderful man. The room
exploded with applause, as I sobbed, ???YES!???
No one knew that we
were an ???old??? married couple. No one knew or cared that I was an
???older??? woman. No one saw anything except our joy and our love. And I
will always remember that day as my perfect Valentine!
?© 2002 By Jaye
Lewis
jlewis @ smyth.net
**********************************
Jaye Lewis is a
writer/poet and Heartwarmer Gem, and Starfish "Treasure", who lives and
writes in the beautiful southern highlands of southwestern Virginia.
Jaye also shares her home with two of her daughters and a menagerie of
pets, including her constant companion, her mini-dachshund, Happy Dog.
Jaye and her husband Louie will soon be married 25 years, and he is
still Jaye's perfect Valentine |
