It had become a tradition for Brett and Jo to take a holiday for New Years Eve. Usually the trip would take them camping somewhere.
- Somewhere
beautiful.
- Somewhere
near water.
- Somewhere
relaxing.
- Somewhere
they could walk, drink and have a fire.
- Somewhere
they'd never been before.
But
with a big trip on the cards and a new life in the UK awaiting, the 2013 new
year was going to be spent at home, saving our money, making the most of our
time with our families and friends. Jo was a little heart broken to be breaking the tradition she'd grown fond of and had been putting in
her fair share of complaints to Brett about not taking the break she so
desperately wanted.
Little
did she know, Brett's suggestion to stay at home this New Years had a lot to do
with the big question he'd been planning to ask her.
He'd
found the jeweller he wanted to make the ring.
He'd chosen the diamond and had it designed and set the way he though Jo would like
it.
He'd
sneakily mastered Jo's ring size.
He
followed Ady around the Shannon property until he got enough courage to finally
ask permission to marry his daughter.
He'd
lived off Salada biscuits for weeks so he could afford the ring and still save
for their trip OS.
Then
when preparation was complete he decided it was time. It was the 3rd of
July, they were staying with Brett’s parents in Portarlington and he told
Jo they would spend the afternoon at the beach.
Brett
then drove Jo to the 13th Beach Golf Resort. Jo, easily excited, was
over the moon that he'd surprised her with a night away and assumed she had
guilted him into feeling bad about not taking their annual camping vacation.
Brett
then suggested they head to Breamlea for a picnic. A place they had
always spoken about living one day. A cozy little area just far enough away to
be removed from the world. Just close enough to be in reach of reality.
The
beach and river run was peaceful.
The
sky was all shades of beautiful.
A magic sunset.
The
sea was having a gentle day, it's waves not too ferocious.
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So
there Jo was writing stuff in the sand with a washed up stick. Cider in one
hand. Stick in the other. Wandering aimlessly across the beach. Drinking in the
salty smell of the ocean.
Before
she knew it Brett was writing something with his own stick.
It
took Jo a few minutes to realise what it said.
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Jo
was in shock.
She
started to shake. Then babble. Then get crazily excited to the point of happy
dance.
"Are
you for real?" She said.
"I
suppose I better get down on one knee then," He said.
And
then Brett got down on one knee in the sand and pulled the ring out of his
pocket.
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