My Last First Kiss
By Stephanie Turner
(written for Sandy before the wedding)
On our six-month anniversary, Gage gave me a promise ring. Even before then, I knew he was the one; undoubtedly, Gage was the man with whom I wanted to spend the rest of my life. After we had dated for about nine months, Gage asked me to go ring shopping with him. He wanted me to help pick out THE RING, my engagement ring. Even though we had already discussed with each other our desires to marry, the engagement was to be a surprise. And, even though I wanted the proposal to be Gage’s doing, our big joke became a taunting of “when” it would take place.
Being the romantic that Gage was, he and I went on dates regularly. As it got closer and closer to the actual proposal, prior to each date I would ask myself, “Is tonight the night?” I would carefully chose a dress that I knew Gage liked to see me wear, or spray perfume that he favored and I would think to myself, “Is this the dress I will wear the night I get engaged?” After several dates and several nights of non-proposals, I forced myself to stop questioning when the moment would take place. With advise from my dear friend, Melissa, I had to learn to let Gage propose in his time, and I had to let myself learn to enjoy all of the dates leading up to the proposal for the tender dates they were.
* * * *
Gage and I were blessed to both be teachers anticipating summer break. As the summer approached, we began to plan and pack for a vacation with Gage’s family to North Carolina. Even though I was tremendously excited to visit the beach, I nervously anticipated back pain – as I always severely ached after traveling. Gage comforted me and promised to practice pilates or walk with me as often as needed for me to remain healthy. Keeping his promise, Gage awoke each morning ready and willing to walk and exercise.
On the morning of our first full day at the beach, we awoke to the sound of rain. Dismayed, Gage tried to cheer me up by volunteering to do pilates with me. “We can go for a romantic walk on the beach later tonight if you want,” he suggested. “Okay,” I said, always impressed with his selflessness towards my needs. Despite the teasing he received from his brothers, Matt and Jason, Gage followed along through my downward-dog and plank poses. Before we had even finished exercising, the sun was shining and the kids, Eva and Jason Junior (Gage’s niece and nephew), were commanding us to put on our bathing suits and head to the beach. We gladly obeyed.
The beach house where we stayed sat about a hundred yards back from the water yet provided a boardwalk for travel. Gage and I quickly dressed for the ocean and met his family on the sand. They graciously filled me in on the Beach House traditions, beginning with the hunting of sea shells. We shelled for hours that day. Sandy (Gage’s mother) taught me all about native North Carolina shells while Eva and Jason Jr. boogie boarded by our feet. Finally, drained from the sun and waves, we headed indoors.
Sandy and Gage’s stepdad, Chuck, left for the grocery store while the rest of us showered, got comfortable and played board games. After hours of belly-laughing over Apples to Apples, Gage interrupted the game and asked, “Steph, do you want to go on that walk before the sun sets?” Not quite ready to end game time, I hesitantly agreed then suddenly anticipated the alone-time I would get with Gage and jumped to my feet. “Sure, let me throw on my tennis shoes,” I said and went to our room. Gage followed. “Are you going to wear that?” Gage asked, referring to my gym shorts and tank top. “Yes, is that okay?” I asked. “Yep,” he answered, “I’ll put on gym clothes, too,” he replied. I was slightly confused, as Gage and I regularly walked for exercise together and I was already wearing the attire that was customary for the event. As Gage put on his shoes, I became distracted by a voice message on my cell phone. “Are you ready?” Gage hurried me. “In a minute,” I replied, noting Gage’s eagerness to leave.
To keep up with Gage’s pace, I quickened my step on the boardwalk. “Up here,” we heard Chuck call to us and we looked up. Chuck took our picture. “I just wanted to get a shot of…” he paused, “the deck.” “Okay!” I said and smiled. Gage laughed nervously and I worried he was growing agitated at all of the distractions that delayed our walk.
Once on the beach, Gage grew eerily quiet. First, I thought that he was upset with me. Next, I thought he was overwhelmed at living for a week with eight members of his family. Then, for a split second I wondered, “Is tonight the night?” yet I abruptly stopped the thought as I had so many nights before.
“What are you thinking?” I asked Gage and hoped to break the silence. “Nothing,” he replied and reached for my hand. First, Gage pulled me towards the water. Then, he tugged me back towards the sand. “What are you doing?” I asked him, teasing. “I…” he stammered, “just wanted you to be able to have a good walk on the sand,” he answered. I laughed with joy at Gage’s altruistic manners. Even though we had just walked away from the water, Gage suddenly pulled me towards it again. “Look at these shells,” he said. I was getting a little annoyed. While I enjoyed looking for shells that afternoon, I longed for some quiet time with Gage that did not include shelling. “I am sorry,” he said, reading my mind, “I won’t make you look for any more sea shells.” I laughed in response. When I looked back at the area beneath the waves where Gage pointed, I was confused. I barely saw three sea shells there.
As we walked, a family passed us. Gage hesitated and I pulled him along with our attached arms. A few feet further he paused again. “Oh look,” he said and bent down towards the sand. “Gage,” I whined, pulling him along. I realized that he did not move and I turned to face him. Before reality registered in my mind, Gage was down on one knee, reaching into his pocket. “Look at this shell,” he said, lifting up a sea shell and placing a ring inside.
“Stephanie,” he began. My mind started to buzz. My heart beat outside of my chest. My breath quickened. Then, Gage proposed. “I had a thousand things that I wanted to say to you, but all I can say right now is this,” he paused briefly, “Today has been one of the happiest days of my life. This past year that we have spent together has been the happiest year of my life. The only thing that could make me even happier is if you agreed to marry me.”
Gage’s words were bouncing around in my head. My body was shaking and I longed for his arms to hold me. Without hesitating, I moved my promise ring onto my right ring finger and withheld my left hand. With equally shaking hands, Gage placed the engagement ring on my finger. I was suddenly aware that he was still on his knee. Laughing, I pulled him towards me, but he resisted. “Well,” he pleaded, “Will you marry me?” I could not believe that I had not answered him yet. “Yes!” I shouted and he kissed me.
* * * *
Gage hugged me and kissed me over and over as we both laughed and I squealed with delight. With my head still buzzing, I asked Gage to tell me all of the details leading up to that moment, which he happily obliged. I learned about the day Gage bought the ring, the night he asked my father for his permission, the event-planning that took place revolving around the engagement with Sandy and Chuck and finally Gage told me, “We need to get back to the beach house because everyone is waiting to help us celebrate.” Yet before we began our journey home, Gage held me and we prayed, giving our engagement and our marriage to God. Dizzy with love and excitement, we turned to head back to the beach house.
When we reached the top of the stairs, where the family awaited, Gage shouted, “I would like for you all to meet the future Mrs. Gage Dodson!” His entire family was gathered in the kitchen and cheered. Gage’s older brother, Jason, greeted us through the eyes of a camcorder. The kids jumped up and down and squealed while Sandy screamed with pure joy. I immediately walked into Sandy’s open arms and started screaming along with her, joining her, too, in the tears that filled both of our eyes. Chuck and Gage threw their arms around us then Shannon, Gage’s sister-in-law, and Matt, Gage’s younger brother, wanted their turns for congratulations.
Each member of Gage’s family greeted our news with delight and then presented us with a special meal in which they all contributed. Then, over dinner I learned each person’s view of his and her part in the engagement and was eagerly welcomed into the family.
* * * *
When I awoke the morning of the proposal, I did not know that I was awaking to the day that would change my life. I did not know that I would be wearing tennis shoes, a pony tail and no make up when my future fiancé would ask for my hand in marriage. I had no idea that I would one day keep a sea shell on my vanity in which to place my beautiful engagement ring each night. Nor did I expect to fall in love with my fiancé’s family as I had with my fiancé. But when I kissed Gage for the first time, I knew that he would be the last man with whom I would ever share a first kiss.
