Love is in the air!
Sabrina Lewis, 37, from Epsom, Surrey, was flying high when her fella made a grand gesture
Passing a jewellery shop with my boyfriend Simon, 28, a sparkle caught my eye.
‘Oooh, look at that diamond!’ I gasped, eyeing a beautiful ring.
Suddenly, I cringed realising what I’d just said.
‘Very nice,’ Simon replied, tugging at my hand.
Simon had always been sensitive to the topic of marriage. I’d stopped dropping hints years ago, knew it made him uncomfortable.
I’d accepted that Simon just wasn’t the marrying kind…
Only now, in August 2017, I’d lost count of the number of friends’ engagement parties I’d gone to – some who’d not been together nearly as long as us.
We’d met five years earlier in a nightclub. I’d known after a few months that he was the man I wanted to marry.
Only it appeared he didn’t seem to feel the same way.
Anyway Simon, a floorer, couldn’t afford to buy me an engagement ring. For some reason he was always broke.
‘Where’s all your money going?’ I said, days later, when I suggested going out for dinner. He shrugged.
He looked exhausted, working all hours. I suspected it had all gone on his expensive hobby…flying.
Simon had been obsessed with planes since he was a boy.
He’d recently bought a partshare in a four-seater plane, got his private pilot’s licence.
I was thrilled when, weeks later, he suggested we fly to Le Touquet in northern France for the weekend.
‘Wow!’ I gasped, as he confidently flew the plane up into the fluffy, white clouds.
It was exhilarating, being up there with Simon. I was so impressed.
We spent two nights in France, enjoying romantic meals, walks by the beach and bike rides.
But, on our final day, Simon seemed a little agitated.
‘The weather isn’t good,’ he panicked, bundling our bags into the plane.
‘It’ll be fine,’ I said, noticing that his hands were shaking.
He’d been so confident on the way over. Why was he suddenly acting so nervously?
‘I’ve forgotten to do the cross-channel check list. Could you read it out to me?’ Simon called to me, once we were in the air.
He handed me the laminated card.
‘Hatches and harnesses, check…’ I read out from the list.
Then, I stumbled over the next couple of lines…
‘Life engagement, check…’ I read out, then, ‘Ring, check…’
And then I yelled out the last line, typed in bold, red letters… ‘Will you marry me?’ And only when Simon pulled out a little, black box, did I realise what I’d just read.
I beamed, as I saw a huge, diamond ring sparkling inside.
I was shaking with excitement. ‘Yes!’ I sobbed. Simon leant over and gave me a kiss. Finally!
On our return, I found out Simon had asked my stepdad Fred, 56, for permission to marry me. A year earlier!
Simon had sworn him to secrecy for an entire year, while he saved up for my ring.
‘It was torture!’ Fred told me. Everyone is so happy for us. We haven’t set a date yet, but we’re hoping to marry next year.
I might’ve had to wait a while for my man to propose but, when he did, he really went that extra air mile – 3,000ft up, as well!
It was so romantic and definitely worth the wait.
I’d accepted that Simon just wasn’t the marrying kind