Amber Stockton – Real Life Romance – Part 2 of 3

Shannon here: Amber Stockton shares her husband’s proposal, plus a chance to enter the drawing for her contemporary romance, A Grand Design. Answer one or both of the questions at the end of any post dated August 11 – 15 to enter the drawing. Deadline: August 23rd, 11:59 pm central time. Here’s Amber:

Most Romantic Thing Done by Spouse
By: Amber Stockton
My husband is a gift-giver by nature. He loves to bestow just the right gifts on those special people in his life, and he often purchases gifts months in advance, or is thinking about what to purchase for someone far ahead of when he actually needs to have the gift. I love all the little things he does for me to show he’s thinking of me and is listening or paying attention, even when I don’t think he is. And he’s quite charming when a gift he’s selected arrives earlier than the intended delivery date. He’s so anxious to give the gift, he gets antsy and asks if the recipient wants to open it early. Sometimes, I make him wait, and other times I open it right then.
But, by far, the most romantic moment was when he officially proposed. We had a long-distance relationship, and we’d agreed to get married via phone and instant message, as well as a brief in-person conversation from a 4-day visit he made. The real moment, however, came when I spent a week visiting him and meeting his family for the first time.
We had picked up subs for dinner and gone back to his condo. I excused myself to freshen up my contacts (the dry Colorado air had done them in!), and when I came out, the entire condo was dark, save a flickering light coming from the direction of the screened-in deck on the west side of the condo. Like a moth to a flame, I was drawn to the light, and as I moved closer, the soft strains of music could be heard. The moment I stepped out onto the deck, a string of white lights around the perimeter of the roof lit up the enclosed area.
My eyes took in everything, from the lights to the faint sounds of cars on the street below, and from the makeshift couch that had been set up, to Stuart down on one knee, holding a little box open in my direction. I gasped and covered my mouth with my hand. Then, slowly, I approached and reached out for the ring. Before I could touch it, though, Stuart took my hand in his and said, “Tiffany, will you honor me and make me a happy man by being my wife?”
My heart was in my throat, and the muscles prevented any sound from escaping. I could only nod, tears moistening my eyes better than any contact solution. Stuart slipped the ring from its cushioned nest, reached for my left hand and slipped the ring on my third finger. I looked down and stared. The ring was perfect. Just the type I would have picked out had I been able to go shopping with him. A single solitaire with smaller diamonds embedded in the band on either side of the stone. Simple, elegant, and beautiful.
The ring, the lighting, the music, Stuart down on one knee. Everything about it was wonderful. And it blew me away. I had no idea he had anything like this planned. After lamenting all the missed opportunities for him to be romantic, affectionate, or make a move of any kind, he goes and does this. Amazing! To this day, it remains my favorite gesture of his. We’ll see what he has up his sleeve to top it. (grins)
About Amber: Tiffany Amber Stockton has been crafting and embellishing stories since childhood. Today, she is an award-winning author and speaker who has partnered with Nerium International (stutas07.theneriumlook.com) in the anti-aging industry, helping others look younger and live better. She lives with her husband and fellow author, Stuart Vaughn Stockton, in Colorado. They have one girl and one boy, and an Aussie/retriever mix named Roxie. She has sold fourteen books so far and is represented by agent Sandra Bishop. You can also find her on Facebook: www.facebook.com/AuthorAmberStockton and Twitter: www.twitter.com/AmberStockton as well as her web site: www.amberstockton.com.
About the book – A Grand Design:
A fun getaway on a charming island may be just what Alyssa needs…if only she can let go of her past.
Fifteen years ago, Alyssa Denham stopped taking her annual summer trip to Mackinac Island, refusing to tell anyone the reason she avoided the island she loved as a child. Now here she is, unexpectedly on the island for two weeks with her best friend, Libby, trying to keep her secret buried.
Alyssa’s grandmother, who lives on the island, has asked Alyssa and Libby to help piece together a friendship quilt she had started years earlier. Their quest takes them to the homes of some of her grandmother’s long-lost friends, giving Alyssa amazing insight into her grandmother’s life…and attracting the attention of the handsome Scott Whitman.
Will memories of her past keep Alyssa from letting go? Or will she finally learn to trust and let God heal her fractured heart?
Answer one of both of these questions to enter the drawing:
1) What is the most romantic thing YOUR spouse or significant other has done for you?
2) What is the most romantic scene you’ve read in a book, and what was the book title/author?
Come back August 15th for Amber’s character interview!