After dinner out, my boyfriend, Mike, and I strolled down the city sidewalk. I was scanning the streets for a pedicab—those crazy bikes with benches attached on back. I never saw an empty one when I wanted one.
“I got your mother’s ring fixed,” Mike said, pulling an envelope with a jeweler’s logo on the front from his pocket. “The one whose stone fell out.” Since Mom died anything of hers was precious. It was sweet of Mike to get it repaired. That was one of the many reasons I loved him so much.
I opened the envelope, but instead of Mom’s turquoise ring I pulled out a diamond engagement ring.
“Mike, you took someone’s diamond by accident!” I said. “We have to take this back!” Then I saw the look on his face. This ring was no mistake!
“Will you marry me?” he asked.
My initial reaction was…panic.
Mike and I had only known each other a year. We were definitely in love. But marriage was forever, and that was terrifying. “Yes!” I said. “We can have a long engagement, though, right?”
Mike’s face fell. “A long engagement?” he asked.
“I mean, I’ll marry you tomorrow if you want,” I said nervously, “or we can take our time and plan a big wedding.” We kept walking. Neither one of us was sure what to do next. Had I said the wrong thing? Marriage was such a big step. I needed time to think. But I didn’t want to hurt Mike’s feelings.
Help us, Lord, I thought.
“Wouldn’t it be fun to celebrate with a pedicab ride?” Mike asked suddenly. I was about to remind him how impossible they were to find when I heard the tinkling of a bicycle bell: a pedicab driver looking for a fare! Mike and I ran out into the street, waving and jumping up and down.
“Can you take us downtown?” Mike asked. “We just got engaged!”
A sign? Dumb luck? Whatever it was, my doubts subsided as we rode through the nighttime holding hands. The same pedicab driver was outside our wedding reception a year later, to whisk us away to our new life together.
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