Rob and I have been together since we met at his brother’s wedding in September 2001. He was a bachelor, and I think he never imaclass="text"gined his life could be changed so drastically in such a short space of time! He had a new house, which he had turned into the perfect bachelor pad, with a fantastic entertainment system and everything very minimal! First he invited me out for a meal 2 days after the wedding and since then we’ve been inseparable. We enjoyed spending all our time together and within weeks I’d practically moved in, I was at his house so much. He gave me a set of keys, after he’d had to skip work for half an hour and let me into his house when I needed something. In November, whilst having a meal with a couple of friends at a restaurant, he asked me if I’d officially move in!
On January 28th 2002 I discovered I was pregnant. It was a shock to both of us, but we had already discussed what would happen in this situation so it wasn’t a big problem, just a life adjustment. On 10th October 2002 Oscar was born and Rob was instantly the most amazing dad! He involved himself as much as he could, and took control if I was exhausted. It was a given that we would get married one day, and on the 7th of December, whilst away in a country cottage, after having wanted to ask him for ages I said, "Let’s get married". I’d asked it a couple of times before, but half-heartedly so he didn’t think anything of it. "We will," was his reply. "No, I mean it this time. Will you marry me?" He said "Yes, but I’m meant to ask you, and you’ve stolen my thunder because I was going to ask you on your birthday. In fact, the answer is yes, but it’s not official until I ask you like I wanted to!"
So I was sort of in limbo, because it was a yes, but not until he popped the question! The following week he went out on a Christmas pub-crawl with his work mates. "I’ll be home before closing, I’m not going clubbing, and I don’t want to leave you on your own with Oscar all night, that’s just not fair." I didn’t much believe him because after a few pints he forgets where he is!
At 11:40pm on 13th December he walked into the bedroom. "Told you I’d be back early, and do you know why?" "Because you didn’t want a bad hangover?" "No, because I missed you and I promised you and I love you. And I’ve been thinking all night about you, and I want to spend the rest of my life with you and Oscar. I know I’m a bit drunk, but Miranda Clarke, will you do me the honour of becoming my wife?" "But you’ve got to do it on one knee!" He scrambled to the end of the bed and kind of rolled onto the floor and he took my hand. "I haven’t been very lucky in my life, but you’ve turned absolutely everything around, and you and Oscar are my life. Everything I do has a purpose now, and I don’t ever want to be without you. I know I was going to wait until your birthday and do it all properly, but I don’t want to wait. Miranda Clarke, will you do me the great honour of becoming my wife?" Naturally I said, "yes!" "Then it’s official, on 11:57pm on 13th December I asked you to marry me and you said yes! And that’s a contract!" The next morning when he woke up he asked again, just to prove he meant it.
It wasn’t star spangled and roses, but it’s memorable, and real! And I know it’s sincere and that he loves me as much as I love him!
