Palace of Versailles

In the evening we were picked up at the hotel by the limo, and headed out of Paris for something called the Palace of Versailles. I knew very little of European history and expected to see some dusty old ruins. Imagine my surprise when we arrived at the most beautiful fairytale-like palace you can imagine. And even more, surprised when it turned out that our dinner was at a very upper-class invite-only party in one of the palace's many gardens. I actually felt a little underdressed. I wore a very elegant floor-length black evening dress. It had wide off-the-shoulder straps with a v-line bust and hugged my waist nicely with a split from my upper thigh down the left side. I had a small black clutch that Cindy had lent me and of course my new Louis Vuitton pumps. "I should have worn more jewelry," I whispered to Cindy. "Maybe a necklace or a ring or something". "Don't worry, you look great," she said.

As we walked around and mingled, I hung tightly onto Paul's arm. "You haven't said anything about my new shoes?" I asked. Feeling a little disappointed that he hadn't noticed. "Sorry, they're fabulous honey. But you know with a smoking babe like you, shoes are not the first thing I look at." He winked at me. Such a smooth talker. I felt the butterflies tingle in my stomach. I loved it when he complimented me like that.

We eventually sat down. A fantastic three-course dinner was served, and we chatted amongst ourselves. There was another couple seated at our table, but they only spoke French. Cindy translated a little, and we had a little small talk.

Once dinner was done the guys left for the bathroom. Cindy and I kept chatting. I shared my thought about the future and a possible Ph.D. in classical music. Cindy was all for it and thought it would be an excellent choice.

"Excuse me miss?" One of the staff was addressing me. I looked up. "You are requested in the gardens." "Who, me?" I said, completely confused. "No there must be some mistake..." "No I'm quite sure it's correct," Cindy interrupted. "Come on I'll join you." We followed the man over to a different part of the enormous gardens. We reached a path that was blocked by a red velvet rope. He pulled it aside and gestured for us to enter. "What on earth is going on?" I asked Cindy. "You'll see," she said with a wink.

Lit candles were starting to appear lighting our path. More and more of them showing the way. We finally rounded a corner in the maze-like gardens and I saw all the lights leading the way to a sort of raised lookout, that had the most beautiful view of the palace, fountain, and gardens. We walked up to the railing and looked out into the evening. "Cindy? What's going on?" I asked. She looked at me and smiled. Her eyes looked almost watery as if she was about to cry. "Turn around," she said.

I spun around, and there was Paul just a few steps away, coming towards me. "Paul, what's..." I began, but he put his finger to my lips "Shh."

"Erin, since I met you for the first time three years ago you have made me a better person. We clicked so well from the start, and you are without a shadow of a doubt my best friend. Four months ago that all changed, and my life will never be the same again because of you. Just when I thought you couldn't possibly be a better friend then you already was you became even better. You opened up your life and your heart to me and gave me something I have never experienced before. I never thought it was physically possible to love someone this much, and yet every day I'm with you I love you even more. Four months ago you made me promise. You confessed your love to me at Cindy's wedding and made me promise to always love you, and one day marry you. So here I am, a man of my word, and hopefully soon to be the luckiest man alive." He dropped to one knee, pulled the box from his jacket pocket, and opened it.

"Erin, will you marry me?"

I was in no fit state to speak. The tears streaming down my face. I nodded as hard as I could and bearly managed to squeeze out a "Yes" between the tears. He placed the ring on my finger and kissed me. It was the best kiss I ever had!