After our short trip into San Francisco, we made our way back to the hotel to pick up our bags and continue on our way.  The CPA was being very secretive about this next part of the journey and I was getting excited.  I just knew the big moment was near, I could feel it. 

We headed towards the coast (that much I knew just by looking out my window).  In fact, this picture was taken when we pulled off on the side of the road.

We weren’t driving for very long, maybe an hour, when the CPA said to start keeping an out out for the hotel.  I asked what I was looking for and he said that it looked just like your regular hotel and pointed out a modest building as we drove by.  “It looks something like that,” he said.

Okay, I could do that.  So I began looking for a modest hotel.  I didn’t see one, instead, I saw a sign saying that we were in Half Moon Bay.  And then, I saw this:

Not quite the modest hotel I was looking for, but it will do.  By the way, it says “Ritz Carlton” on that sign, if you can’t read it.  Here, let me give you a look at the grounds, aka the golf course

With my mouth gaping open, we pulled up to the valet parking.  Young men in britches and smart looking vests asked if they could help us.  I stumbled out of the front seat and turned to look at the CPA who was grinning from ear to ear. 

He got me, he really got me.  I had no idea what he was planning but it certainly wasn’t this. 

I was in for my next surprise after checking in and when we were shown our room.  He had booked an oceanside room with a balcony. 

I know the pictures don’t quite do it justice, but it was probably the nicest place I’ve ever stayed.  It was definitely the nicest bathroom.  French doors opened up to this

and this. 

It was gorgeous, as was the view from the balcony.

We unpacked and relaxed for a bit. 

I almost didn’t want to leave the room but we figured we’d go ahead and walk around before dinner.   I was amazed at the elegant people I saw, dressed in their best golfing or dinner attire.  I was glad (and finally understood why) the CPA had told me not to wear jeans. 

We took a stroll around the outside so that we could enjoy the view.  If you look near the top of the building in this picture, you’ll see the balcony to our room.

The weather was a bit chilly because of the water and the strong breeze, so we returned to the room but only for a short time because the CPA had something up his sleeve.

He suggested we leave a little early for our dinner which was scheduled to take place at the Navio.  We began to take a walk outside, going first around the gazebo and then heading toward the sidewalk running along the cliff.

The CPA was looking a little nervous, glancing around as if to see who was there.  I couldn’t figure out what he was doing, but I was starting to get suspicious (in a good way).  Since the area was a bit crowded, he took me along the path leading away from the hotel until we were finally alone.  The golf course was on one side of the path and a 90-foot cliff with the ocean churning below was on the other.  

“Come over here,” he said, as he left the path and walked towards the edge of the cliff. 

“You mean where the sign says ‘Danger: do not leave children and pets unattended’?”   Being afraid of heights, I didn’t want to go anywhere near a place that wasn’t safe for children and pets.  I knew that one wrong move could send me plummeting to my death.

“It’s okay,” he said, “you’ll be fine.”

I slowly  made my way to his side, watching the whole time for loose rocks or unsolid ground.  Before I knew what was happening, he had his hand in his pocket.  With a smile on his face, he looked down at me and said, “There’s something I want to ask you.”

And then something unexpected happened.  This other girl, this girl who cries at things she doesn’t normally cry at, started… crying.  I don’t know what happened.  I’ve always secretly scoffed when friends told me that they got emotional when their betrothed bended on knee, as I swore that I would never do something so silly.  And here I was, blubbering like a little girl, and he hadn’t even asked me anything yet!

He pulled out a little black box, one that I could barely see through my tears, and slowly opened the lid.  There, staring up at me, was a ring with a huge rock.  (In case you don’t remember, we were having our rings made, but I had not seen the final ring nor the diamond he picked out.) 

As I tried to blink away the tears, the CPA took the ring out of the box, looked at me for a moment, and calmly said, “Nah, nevermind.”  Then he turned towards the ocean and threw the ring over the edge of the cliff into the water below. 

(to be continued…)

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