The other passengers were caught by surprise.
“Maria, I don’t know what to say. Yes! Of course,” Nickson stated as everyone recorded the moment with their phones.
It was emotional. I kept kneeling as I put the bracelet on his arm.
Pause. Let's start this story afresh.
My mother always says that a good woman inspires a man, a brilliant one interests him, that one with beauty so intoxicating fascinates him, and the understanding one gets him.
A combination of all and a man has a life partner.
Nickson had worked so hard to sustain us since the pandemic started. He remained resilient, worked hard and even managed to start a business last month.
He was the epitome of the good guy every woman wants. Understanding, loving, and patient. Yes, he has his flaws.
But when you meet someone, you love them with all their flaws and weaknesses.
In fact, my dad says that a certain phrase, I can’t recall who it is exactly attributed to, reads, “God please grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, courage to change the things I can, and wisdom to know the difference.”
This coming Valentine's Day, I wanted to surprise him. We both had plans to settle and had agreed on when we wanted to have kids, how many, where to buy land and which type of house to build.
You know, things we women want to hear. A man with a plan and a vision.
“Can we take a break and go on a short retreat with our friends? We can go for a road trip or something. You work so hard,” I told Nick one night when we were having dinner.
“A break? I am good. We need to get those tracts of land by the year end. You can go with your friend Maria,” he attempted to shut down the idea.
But who am I? God gave us the power to convince, the power to pull strings, the infinite voice to whisper into our partners’ minds.
I always use my strengths - assertiveness and patience, always ready for an argument and persistent.
Nick gave in and we hired a 14-seater matatu, tagged along four other couples and headed to Naivasha.
While at the viewpoint for a stop-over, I interrupted the journey before we alighted to eat lunch.
“Guys, may I say something,” they all looked at me.
I pulled out a piece of paper from my jeans pocket.
Nick. You know I love you, right?
I’m just a girl, who has loved you for years
I would rather share one lifetime with you than be alone or with someone else
There is only one happiness in life: to love you and to be loved
Will you marry me?
I knelt and looked at him, hoping he would say Yes.
And he did. I put the bracelet on his right wrist and we hugged.
“Inside a matatu Maria? You really are one interesting woman,” Nick stated as our friends congratulated, smiled and the vehicle filled with love.
“That is your Valentine's gift to me, right?” He asked me.
“No, it is a pre-Valentine’s gift. On the 14th I’ll give you a big big surprise,” I told him.
“Okay, I don’t have any cash with me, but let me first also get you a pre-Valentine’s gift. I know what you have been trying to get online, a Pixie Mood Jasmine Marnel bag, a grey one in fact. I happen to know a store where we can get one in Naivasha,” he said, pulling me out of the van.
“Ohh. Yes, thank you. I see someone has been stalking me. Haaa. But, hey, no cash, no worries, there’s a Co-op kwa Jirani Agent right there, you can get cash from your Co-op bank account,” I guided him like I always do.
“Eissh!. When you hear about money and gifts, you are always agile. I had not even spotted the Co-op kwa Jirani Agent, I was like we head straight to the bank in town first,” Nick joked.
“But why should we? Yet The Co-op Jirani agents are open seven days a week till late at night, so we can transact with them any day, any time. Let's see which Pixie Mood Jasmine Marnel bag you were talking about,” I responded as we walked, his hand holding mine.