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Secret and Not-So-Secret Engagement

Jan 21, 2020

So, you got the story about how we met, and the friendship story, and the one about our first date, and even the one about the crazy trip to Utah Lake. Now the separation/almost engagement story.

Saying good-bye to Scott after we had been dating for a month was so hard. We had spent so much time together, any moment we could get. And now we had to say good-bye. But not for long and now with amazing future plans.

Okay, let me backtrack a little because you need to know about a couple interesting events that led to a kind-of-but-not-so-secret engagement.

As I said, Scott and I were together a lot—whenever we could be. And our ward—our church group—started to notice. And they would question what was going on. Scott and I sheepishly told everyone we were dating.

One Sunday, we sat in sacrament meeting, right next to each other, holding hands. A few people noticed. I thought our bishop—our spiritual leader—saw us, but I later found out he had no clue.

During a meeting, or in the hall, or somewhere, he brought up my move to Michigan. I said, “I don’t think it’s going to be for as long as I originally planned.”

His eyes got big. “What?” he exclaimed.

I started to explain and he stopped me. “Wait. Come to my office after church. We’ll discuss then.”

So, I did just as he instructed. I showed up at his office and we started talking. He asked, “Why won’t you be staying as long as you planned?”

“Well,” I said, “I started dating Scott Comte…”

“What?” His eyes got big with questioning.

Yeah, he had no idea.

We talked for a minute about how long we have been dating. He had known Scott a long time and thought him a great guy. And then he asked, very bluntly, “Do you love him?”

“Uh,” I squirmed, “I don’t know…”

He eyed me for a minute then asked a few other questions. But he came back to that very pointed question. “Do you love him?”

“I don’t know,” I said again.

I wish I could remember everything he said that day. Whatever it was, it was exactly what I needed to finally answer his question. He asked again, “Do you love him.”

Finally and sheepishly, I answered, “Yes.”

His smile was wide. “You should find a way to tell him,” he instructed.

I didn’t have to wait very long for the right moment.

The next day, Scott picked me up from work. We hung out for a bit, and then went to Family Home Evening, a Monday-night activity held by our ward.

During the meeting, Scott said he wanted to speak to the bishop if he could get a chance. It would be his last week before going off to basic training with the military, and because he loved our bishop and respected his guidance so much, he wanted a chance to visit with him.

After the activity, I waited for Scott—he was my ride. He was in the bishop’s office for a good while. When he came out, he was quiet. But he was ready to go.

Our destination was supposed to be my car, parked at the bus stop. But he went a different way. I reminded him we needed to go get it.

He said, “I just want to drive around with you for a bit. Is that okay.”

“Of course,” I replied.

We drove in silence around a few blocks. Then quietly, he started talking about his meeting with the bishop. He spoke about how he really respected the bishop. He spoke about how he has enjoyed getting to know me. Then he said the words that made everything take off—by everything, I mean our entire future.

“I think I’m falling in love with you,” he said.

I couldn’t wait any longer. “I think I’m falling in love with you too,” I said.

He smiled. Oh that sweet, sweet smile. It’s my smile—the smile he give me when he’s thinking about how much he loves me. It’s beautiful, inviting, sexy, wonderful, mine. And it didn’t leave his face.

And when we got out of the car, he hugged and kissed me and it was so hard to leave him. But we had to say good-bye, until tomorrow.

Tomorrow came. We were still happy and in love, and we made sure to see each other.

Then the next day came, and the next day, and the next day. And we made excuses to be with each other as much as we could.

Friday, we planned a romantic fireside dessert with s’mores. We went up the canyon, found a good pit to build a fire, and realized we didn’t have a lighter. Whoops!

Luckily, a group that was leaving, lended us theirs.

Start again.

Scott built the fire. It blew out.

Oh, yeah. It was windy.

But we tried again. It lasted long enough for us to get one s’more each.

Then it blew out.

So we packed up and left.

Scott said, “I don’t want to go home just yet. Let’s head up a little farther. I want to show you this place.”

“Okay.” I was up for an adventure.

Scott’s spot was just off the road a little more up the mountain. He parked the truck and we got out. He helped me on to the hood of the car, and we laid back and watched the sun set.

As we looked out over the trees and valley below and watched the shadows play across the branches, Scott brought up marriage.

“I love you, Sara,” he said. “And I want to marry you.” He looked at me, waiting for a response.

I didn’t hesitate. “I love you and want to marry you too.”

“This isn’t an official proposal,” he said. “But I want to spend the rest of my life with you.”

It was peaceful, warm, cozy, wonderful. And I was there with the man I loved and wanted to spend all eternity with.

We stayed at that look-out a little while longer, talking about our future—kids, a home, our hopes and dream. Then we headed back down the mountain.

It wasn’t our last night, but it’s the one I remember the most.

But Scott did leave. We had a date the night before. I don’t remember what we did. But we were together. At some point, he said he needed to go home, “But could I come back really quick? I have something I want to give you.”

“Of course,” I said.

When he came back, he handed me a CD—remember those—and said, “This is my favorite album and I want you to have it, so you’ll remember me when you listen to it.”

We kissed. We said good-bye. We kissed some more.

He left.

I cried.

And we were kind-of-but-not-officially engaged. But we knew we were going to get married, and that was great, something wonderful to look forward to in the time we would be missing each other.

I listened to that CD a lot. It was great company on my road trip to Michigan.

Our engagement was kind of secret but not really. If someone asked, we wouldn’t deny anything. I told a few people. Some people had no idea but wondered. We didn’t care too much. We were happy. And while Scott was away, we spoke over the phone and Skype as much as we could. And we had a couple really good visits—more on that later.

If you liked this story, please share, and be sure to check out some other blog posts.

Thanks for visiting!

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