A warm breeze softly caressed the two sweethearts as they sat with their wine glasses and freshly-baked bread in front of them on a woven picnic blanket. A strand of golden hair released itself from Karen's ponytail and was whipped wildly around her face as it was caught by the wind. Brian reached out toward Karen and tucked the strand back behind her ear. As he did so, he gently rubbed the side of her cheek with his thumb. Her moss-green eyes met Brian's hazel ones and held them in an adoring gaze.

"It's so beautiful here, Brian." Karen lifted her glass to her lips, which were already lightly stained red by the wine. They were seated on the grassy bank of a wide river, in the protective shade of a large maple tree. The sun was shining brightly. It reflected off the water making the river's surface shimmer as though it held a thousand sparkling sapphires. The scene was postcard-perfect. Brian had chosen it specifically for the special occasion.

"Oh look Brian! A family of ducks!" Karen gestured toward the river's edge. Swimming slowly toward them was a small family of ducks. The brown mother mallard led the way toward the bank as four fuzzy-looking baby ducks followed her. "Do you think they're hungry?" Karen asked. "Probably. Try to give them some bread," Brian suggested. He needed something to distract Karen's attention so he could carry out his plans.

The family of ducks was the perfect distraction. As Karen fed some bread to the ducks, Brian reached deep into his picnic basket and carefully pulled out a single red rose. He had hidden the rose in the very bottom of the basket and had covered it up with napkins in case Karen would reach into the basket and see it. This rose wasn't any ordinary rose. It held a very special suprise. Karen's eyes lit up when she saw Brian holding the rose. "Is that for me?" she asked as she started to sit back down. "No, wait," Brian said. A quizzical look crossed Karen's face. "Stay standing, just for a second."

"What is this?" Karen asked as Brian raised himself into a kneeling position. He raised one knee up and lifted the rose toward Karen. Gently and with the care of a surgeon, Brian peeled back the petals of the rose to reveal a golden ring that shone with the light of a single large diamond. He had hidden the ring in the middle of the rose petals earlier that day. Karen gasped and covered her mouth with her hands. "Karen Holden, will you marry me?" Brian asked as he looked into her eyes. Tears of joy had begun to fall down her cheeks. "Yes," she whispered. "Of course I'll marry you." Brian stood up and wrapped his arms around Karen. A passionate kiss sealed the happiest moment of their lives.

J.E.K.
J.E.K. lives in Wisconsin, where she is studying for a degree in English. She lives with an Italian chef and her small cat. This story was inspired by true events in the author's life.