Honduras Love Story Part 2

For weeks I had been planning yesterday and distracting Rina from thinking anything was up. I have been telling her for months that I have no money and that it would be better if I bought her a ring box of promise and she carry it to work with her until I fly back to the states to work. We would laugh every time. Three days before her birthday, we went to the river with the church and were baptized together. Her one place she wants to go in the world is Venice, so I had bought her a rose gold necklace with a blown-glass piece from Moreno, Venice. It is beautiful. I gave it to her three days before, saying it was for her baptism and for her birthday. She was ecstatic! I told her that I didn’t have anything to do on her birthday, so she should wear her necklace and we would go eat baleadas (tortillas and beans). We laughed again. I bought her a new skirt and then said I was jealous at how good she would look and I bought a new shirt, all the while playing it up like it was a joke. Yesterday, after writing all of you, I put on my new shirt, freshly ironed and a put a few drops of a new perfume I bought called, Animal… GRRROUW! and I was off! Joel and I went to the internet café first because Rina would not be off of work until 12. Joel had a date with Elda’s dad to ask if he could go out with her. I waited patiently until 12 by pacing up and down the aisle of computers, and drumming on the counter. Rina called, she was gonna leave! But not at 12, at 12:30…. I paced faster! I stood at the café window staring blankly at the Bank waiting for the door to open. I was calm. I only dialed her cell number 7 or 8 times to see where she was. I told Joel goodbye a good 15 minutes before I actually left. I paced on the street corner, and then… She came out looking amazing! I caught my breath and grabbed her hand. We ran up to the bus to San Pedro and she felt good to finally know where we were going. I was hoping our one-oclock reservation would not go passed and that we would arrive before the restaurant closed.

All the way in the bus ride, I rambled about Joel and his conversation, using it to distract her. We arrived at the bus stop and jumped out. She knew the restaurant I was taking her, but had never seen inside. She gasped. The waiter was waiting at the door for us and led us to a table for two by the window with fresh flowers displayed on it. She freaked out about the price, but I told her as I ordered Sangria for us that she was worth more than any food I could buy her and that she should ask for what she wanted. I picked the restaurant for its atmosphere, and for its lasagna, Rina’s favorite food. After 20 minutes of getting to tell her what each food was, she decided on the lasagna.

We ate really well and as we were enjoying lasagna and spinach with risotto ravioli, I asked her what she thought of me when we first met. Maybe it was the wine, but she started to tell me more than I had ever heard before or knew about how she felt and thought about me. I asked her what she thought of me at her birthday, when I would eat dinner at her house, when we kissed on the bus. We were both smiling at these memories, when I asked her if she remembered when I asked permission to date her. She said of course. It was the happiest day of her life. I asked her if she remembered the promises I made to her and her uncle and she did. Then I told her I had one more gift for her, but only if she accepted it. She was shocked that I had another gift. The restaurant was enough… I pulled out the ring box and held it between us. She looked confused. She then laughed half heartedly and said “funny a ring box.” She thought it was empty until I got on my knee and said softly “Rina Iveth Melgar will you be my wife?” She immediately said no! but was smiling and I said, “will you marry me?” “No,” she said again before finishing her sentence. “No, not here, I don’t want to cry!” Relieved I said “well? Yes or no?” and will tears welling and her face blushing red, she smiled and said, “Yes Of Course!” I am not sure why, but trembling with excitement, I opened the box and took out the ring. She offered me the correct finger as I was looking at the wrong one, and I put it on. We laughed together and kissed.

After lunch we walked through the garden of the restaurant and talked and promised each other ourselves. We took some fun photos, and then she wanted to get back to see everyone and tell them about the ring! We went out to the boulevard and she began to call everyone she knew on my cell to tell them the news. Her sister Cruz, was the best call because above the traffic I could hear her in the phone screaming with delight! It was after all the calls when the bus still hadn’t come that Rina asked me if the ring was a real diamond, something rare in Honduras. I assured her it was. She was about to squeal and then hid her hand and said, “Oh my gosh, I cannot believe I am standing on the Street in San Pedro with a real diamond.” She whispered into the phone on her next conversation and then told me, “If anyone robs me today, I am tracking them down and getting my ring back.” I laughed so hard at the seriousness in which she told me.

The rest of the day we spent recounting the story to everyone we know and eating two more birthday cakes she also did not know were coming. In the end, I was up all night unable to sleep, and just feeling good about how everything went. I sent her a text message telling her how much I loved her and she did not respond. She was long asleep and told me this morning that she dreamed about planning her wedding…. It was a good day. I am so fortunate to have such a woman as her. She makes me smile and is the object of my pride. I feel so blessed to be with her. Thanks to all of you who wrote me notes wishing me luck or sharing kind words. I am so fortunate to have all of you as friends also, and cannot wait until you all can meet her. I will respond to you all individually as I get time. I miss you all and am so glad to finally hear from many of you. Have wonderful weeks and say hi if you get another chance.