Sue got accepted to do her doctorate at Florida Atlantic University. She would be able to stay a little longer. I thought to myself that a person could stay in the US and be a full time student for life so as not to go back to their home county. It got better. She had a job on campus as an assistant to a professor. She would get paid. They would get everything she needed for work authorization on campus. She could also work off the campus if she wanted to since she would have authorization. This would help to defer some of the cost for her Doctorate. My parents were especially happy being that they were under financial strain. My other sister was also getting ready to go to University. There was talk of her coming to join us or going to London.

I needed some hope.

I called a few of my bandoodle contacts to see what options were out there. Nothing they were offering seemed logical. They were too high risk. After been burnt a few times and hearing the other stories of people being burnt I did not want to go the “bandoodle” route. I made the calls just to “pacify” my frustrations.

There was only one thing left to do to pacify me frustrations.

Rosa had been extremely busy as she was getting ready for graduation then residency to become a doctor. We did manage to go out once in a while. We had a dinner and movie date planned. I was going to change things up.

I got off from work early that day. I bought 3 dozen red roses from a street vendor. I went home and borrowed some of Sue’s scented candles. I dressed up and was off to Rosa’ apartment. I stopped by Rosa’s favorite Chinese restaurant and got take out.

Before entering her apartment I dropped a few rose petals outside the door. I had about 15 minutes to set up.

I put some of the other petals on the carpet from the door as a trail to the dining table where the candles and dinner would be waiting.

I put on Anita Baker. She loved the Rapture album.

As soon as I lit the last candle I heard the door opening. I sat at the dining table.

Rosa opened the door with a big smile on her face. She loved red roses. I use to tease her some times and say “red roses for my Rosa”.

 “I should have known it was you. Very romantic” she gave me a big hug and kiss.

“Sit down” I pulled out the chair at the table for her.

“Baby, I thought we were going out tonight?” she asked.

“I know we were, but I want do something different. Let’s see where the night leads”

As she sat I handed her a rose from a vase I had put on the table.

“But I am not dressed up. Look at you”

“You are beautiful in anything. Just sit down and relax”

I took her shoes off and massaged her for a little. I then went to the kitchen and served her food.

“Is this what I can look forward to when we move in?” she was smiling.

“Yes”, I replied.

We ate and talked. It was one of the best evenings we spent in a long time. We were as one.

The second to last song on the album was playing. Anita baker was singing my plea to Rosa.

From beginning to end 365 days of the year
I want your same ol' love
All I want to do is share my life with you
I want your same ol' love

I looked at her.

“Rosa, I want the same ole love”

She looked away playing coy and smiling. Then she asked.

“Where are the fortune cookies? “

It was time. My heart was beating fast. We loved to play games with the fortune cookies. We would read the fortune and then at the end add “in bed”.

“It’s in that box”, I had them pack it in one of the small Chinese food containers that  they would normally put rice.

She opened the box and empty it o the table. Out came a smaller box along with the Chinese cookies.

“What is this?” she smiled.

I smiled back.

“Why don’t you open it” I asked.

Immediately she started to cry and looked away from me.

“What’s wrong, Mama?” I was trying to playfully deflate the situation. Everything was going so great up until this point. I was wondering if I should have done this today. My original intentions for tonight were wrong but I really loved Rosa and wanted to marry her.

She looked at me. She was steering deeply in my eyes.

“Are you sure you want this?” she knew what was in the box. She knew what I was doing.

With out hesitation I answered.

“Yes” With a smile on my face.

It was not going as planned. She was not going to open the box. I had to do something. I moved to embrace her but she beckoned me away. She was steering in my eyes. It felt like she was trying to read my soul.

“I am sure, Mama. I am sure”. I repeated with a whisper looking back at her.

Then there was silence. She looked away and started crying again. This time it was different. It was crying mixed with a smile. It was happiness.

“I have been waiting for this day for a long time since we started dating. A day I could say I fully trust you again.” she paused wiping her face with a  napkin from on the table.

She continued, “The day I could look into your eyes and be sure you were not marrying me just because of what you can get from me. The day when you did not feel like it was an obligation for us to get married. These last few months have been great but I was never sure.”

I was not sure where she was going. I had nothing more to say. I came with the intention to pacify my frustration with my immigration status but my true feeling of love for Rosa was on display. I really meant everything I said. It was more me than frustration.

She looked me in the eyes with a big smile and grabbed my hands from across the table. She squeezed them tightly. She opened the box and took out the ring and looked at it. She smiled.

Should I ask her the question? I thought to myself. What the heck!!!

I leaned over and grabbed her hands.

“Will you marry me?”

“Yes, I will”

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