Throwback To My Birthday & My Marriage Proposal

I decide to keep my birthday small, mostly because no one can make it. There's a presentation of the parade film, vacations are booked, all understandable but still disappointing.
Nevertheless, I had seen this coming and planned my birthday in a way that I would have a super day. On Saturday evening, I went to dinner with Vanessa and Luc at the Greek restaurant Daphne on the market in Sittard. Fortunately, Leroy could join after work. We laughed and discussed that I would like to get married... This was because my dear godson had the idea that it was time and it might happen.
Just to be clear, I know absolutely nothing.
Sunday morning at half past ten, mom and dad pick us up to go to the market in Liège. We pick up Vanessa, Luc, and the kids and continue the journey. It had been so long since we, as a family, had done something like this together, and the weather only adds to the joyous faces. The audience hasn't changed much over the years, but the stalls have evolved with the times. We score a few cute kaftans and have a drink on a square. There, I unwrap the gift Vanessa made for me, a wooden "F" with various Frida Kahlo photos. I also receive a pair of beautiful Frida earrings, and I am overjoyed. My parents had bought me a beautiful pair of glasses, but they hadn't arrived yet. My mother found that unfortunate, so she bought a card with music. It was a cheerful card with an elephant in a hot air balloon (including balloon sound) that promised a day full of surprises... I was curious.

Leroy starts acting a bit strangely, but I have no idea why. He suggests driving to Visé and having Belgian fries with mayo. Delicious, sitting in the sun on a curb. That was a long time ago! My birthday party comes to an end. Mom and dad take us to Maastricht, where we have an overnight stay at Hotel Derlon. Leroy had gifted this stay for my birthday, and I loved it!
When we check-in at Hotel Derlon at 2:00 PM, the receptionist (intern) asks when we want the champagne breakfast in the room. Leroy answers, "That was a surprise, honey, but how about 9:30?" What a great idea! I thought, "I know the surprise!" After bringing our bags upstairs, we head straight to the lobby for a drink. We try to find a spot so that we can eventually find a place on the OLV square. But there's the hotel owner, Benoit Wesly, and he beckons us over. Hours pass, and many glasses of wine later, Benoit gets up to do "something." When he returns, he tells us that he found it so enjoyable, and to wish me a happy birthday, he had a bottle of champagne brought to the room. Fantastic! I'm thrilled, and Leroy is too, though with a forced smile. He tries to contact the receptionist now, but the message apparently doesn't get through.
We decide to take a walk first and have a drink by the water at... the sun hasn't set yet, but with all our chatter, we've missed some of it. It doesn't dampen the spirits because, despite the pain I've been feeling today, we're fully enjoying ourselves. As the sun begins to set, we decide to walk back to the room, hoping for a bottle of champagne in the room, while Leroy hopes for something later.

On the room, there it is, a beautiful cooler with champagne. Leroy asks if we want to wait until after dinner. But that seemed strange to me. You don't leave champagne to "warm up." He opens the bottle, asks me to sit down because he wants to give me something else. The first thing that comes to my mind is, "Darling, more? I've already been so spoiled." He opens the safe (again) and takes out a wrapped box. Like the average woman, I can tell from boxes what kind of jewelry might be inside. So, this box was in the category of 'earrings.' A realistic option since I had also asked for earrings. But to my surprise, this earring box is a box from Jeweler Van Sloun?!? So, as I say "Van Sloun?!?" and look up, Leroy is on one knee. He tells me how important I am to him and that he wants to grow old with me. I complete him. With tears in my eyes, I say yes, of course! As we hug and give each other a kiss, Leroy wants to toast! So, we toast to our engagement! I exclaim, "I have to call my mother. Yes, really." Let's be honest; in the end, I'm still that little girl who likes to share everything with her mom!