It was an easy drive to the Phoenix metro area upon leaving Sedona. I took Lynn through downtown Phoenix, past ASU, and into the Northeast Valley. I had gotten a great internet deal on a three-night stay at a Residence Inn. For us, it was centrally located and easy access to the sights.
"I am not impressed with all the congestion in Phoenix; it is just another big metropolitan area. Let's check-in at the hotel. I need a nap; riding in the car makes me sleepy." said Lynn.
We registered and were assigned Room 667. After checking in, we found our room large, spotless, and quiet. Lynn mentioned that she needed a nap, so I offered to make dinner reservations. Little did she know, I had a surprise for dinner: a third guest, my adult daughter, Connie. It was time to meet one of my offspring.
Lynn's snooze lasted about ninety minutes. She was refreshed and full of energy. Lynn asked, "How about sex? It is always a great answer to everything."
"Not now; I set you up. Dinner reservations are at 6:45, and a third person will join us: my adult daughter, Connie. Don't worry; we will have great Mexican food, and you two will get to know each other."
Lynn was upset. "You're going to sleep with the coyotes! I have no time to get ready, fix my hair, press my clothes, or anything else."
"This is casual and nothing fancy—shorts, jeans, sweaters, blouse, or anything comfortable. I plan on wearing a hoodie and jeans."
After a tranquil afternoon, we departed for the restaurant. Lynn scoped out the people waiting to be seated.
"You won't know her; she's a clone of her mother. There she is, just like Dad—in a hoodie and jeans."
Lynn and Connie were nervous. I made the introductions, and they called us to our table. The waiter brought us menus, and I ordered a pitcher of frozen Mango Margaritas.
Connie assured Lynn that the margaritas were great and gave her the lowdown on the menu items. Everyone ordered the same: Enchiladas Del Mar. The chips and salsa arrived, and the ladies enjoyed the margaritas. They were getting along fabulously and ripping on me. This was a victory. We enjoyed the meal, and the margaritas did the trick. No one wanted dessert, so we bid farewell in the parking lot.
Lynn said, "You have the perfect daughter. She is personable, friendly, funny, and pleasant to be with. Thank you for introducing Connie to me."
I thought I was home free. My phone signaled that I had a text from Connie. There was no time like the present to read it - "Dad, you have a keeper. Lynn is super friendly and very happy with you. The two of you are perfect together."
I fell asleep quickly and rested peacefully, ending a perfect day.
On the second day, Lynn and I focused on sightseeing and learning. We visited the Heard Museum, which boasts a stunning stained glass ceiling and an extensive collection of Kachina dolls. I explained the significance of the dolls and why each one was unique. The display showcased dolls from different tribes, places, artisans, and themes. The museum was the perfect way to end Lynn's educational day.
The afternoon was time for shopping. I drove to the story Scottsdale Fashion Square Mall. Lynn gave her a map of the mall, cash, and my credit card.
"Please feel free to call me if you need help; I'll sit by the food court. You can take the elevator to the top and work down the main floor."
She was off to shop like the "Flash" in the comics. I bought a book to pass the time. This could last from one to five hours. At the three-hour mark, I got a phone call from Lynn.
"I need your help. I am on the second floor at the mall's South end and need help figuring out how to get to the main floor."
"Don't move, I'll be right there. Within minutes, I was walking up to Lynn."
"How did you get here so quickly?"
"I have been here before. Connie has hauled me here, and I've shopped here. Are you finished?"
Lynn stated, "I am done and surrender to the mall."
I laughed, "Only six bags and two shoe boxes; you had a slow shopping day. I'll be a good pack mule and help get this stuff to the car."
As we returned to the hotel, I stopped at Sonic and got some shakes and food. We decided to eat in the hotel room and go to bed early. Tomorrow would be our last day in the Phoenix area. Lynn inquired about what was on our agenda.
"We have breakfast here, view some subdivisions, go to Saguaro Lake, have a picnic, and hike to enjoy the scenery."
We visited some homes early in the morning and then drove for about twenty minutes to get to the Lake. We began our trip at the beach located at the "Butcher" Jones recreation area on the north side of the lake, which was nice but crowded. I suggested we move to the quieter Pebble Beach area. We ate our picnic lunch at shelter #39 in the Tonto National Forest. We had salads, a bottle of White Zinfandel, and a few desserts. During our lunch, we discussed what we had seen so far, shared our likes and dislikes, and discussed never having to work again.
"Do you want to hike now or a little later? I asked.
"Let's go later and walk off our lunch."
"Alright, let me suggest some hiking options. If we head Northwest, we can walk down by the Salt River. Alternatively, we can go north, a steep and challenging uphill hike. If we choose to go South, we will pass through the cactus forest, where we might get to spot some wild horses."
Standing on Lynn's left side, I pointed to the right of her field of vision to the Southeast, to a closed Forest area where they were installing a new gate. It was an easy hike with incredible scenery.
When Lynn started to say something to me, I was down on one knee, "Will you marry me?" I asked. The color left Lynn's face, her mouth opened, her breathing slowed, and she was in shock.
"Lynn, breathe! Are you Okay?" Slowly, Lynn returned to reality. I saw it in her eyes; tears were forming and about to come forth. Suddenly, Lynn started jumping up and down and saying, "Yes!" I tried to calm her down, but she was ecstatic, mumbling, crying, and making no sense. I was prepared and had a towel because I knew Lynn would become emotional. She caught her breath and settled down. I gave her another glass of wine, drank it, and composed herself. I grabbed her left hand and slipped the ring on her finger. Pandemonium went rampant again. It was nice that this area was sparsely populated.
Lynn looked at the ring and said, "Oh my, that is the largest and most beautiful ring I have ever seen. This diamond is humongous."
"I want to tell you about the ring. It is 2.04 carats, and it is a lab-created diamond. There are several reasons why I made this decision. First, it allowed me to get you a spectacular diamond. Second, being lab-created means having no flaws or imperfections and better brilliance. Finally, I own stock in the company, and this is the wave of the future."
Lynn stared at the ring on her finger, letting the sun's rays hit the diamond. The sparkle was hypnotizing her. " I am the luckiest woman on earth. I feel spoiled rotten. I love you so much."
"I intend to continue this practice and increase its frequency. Do you still want to walk around?"
Lynn shook her head, "Yes." She needed time to calm down. While we were walking, Lynn let out a primal scream and gave me the most passionate kiss.
"I knew ten minutes after speaking to you at the Break Room that you were the one for me and nobody else. You seem happy, and I hope I did everything right."
"Jacob, I love you. If my girlfriends knew about us, they flip out."
"Well, we have to go back to our hotel. I made dinner reservations at one of the best steakhouses in Scottsdale. Our reservations are at 7:15."
As we drove back to the hotel, I informed Lynn I had a suit for the occasion. She looked at me and nodded. It would be the first time I had ever worn a suit with her. I changed into an all-black three-piece suit with a vest, gold pocket watch, a white shirt with a gray tie, and hard shoes.