Two Propositions

It was Jocelyn’s wedding day and she was both nervous and excited. As she stood there, waiting for the moment when she would walk down the aisle, she thought of the first time she met her husband to be. It was at his sister Anya’s dinner party. She and Anya worked together at the same company. They had been co-workers and friends for about six years. She was Anya’s maid of honor at the wedding. She met Sacha at Anya’s engagement party. She was there with her boyfriend, Martin and Sacha was there with a date, a stunning redhead.

Jocelyn was immediately attracted to Sacha. She was drawn to him not only because of his looks but his personality. He was pleasant, exuded self-confidence and strength. He would be a friend you could count on at all times and the kind of man you would want to spend the rest of your life with.

After Anya introduced them, she spent a lot of the evening talking to him. He made her feel so relaxed. She wished that neither of them had taken a date to the party and that they could go somewhere quiet and talk. When it was time to leave, he slipped her a business card with his private number scribbled on the back. “Call me,” he muttered for her hearing only and the urgency in his voice make her pulse race.

She called him the next day and he asked her to join him on a Thames Jazz Dinner Cruise that evening. Without any hesitation, she accepted. It was a sophisticated three-course dinner and a night of jazz on board of The Millennium Diamond. After a warm welcome and a complimentary glass of champagne, they set sail down the Thames accompanied by the ChiJazz band. After dinner the band coaxed the passengers onto the dance floor to end a truly wonderful evening.

“Thank you for a truly amazing evening,” she said to him when they were standing outside of her flat.

“You’re welcome,” he said, his eyes lingering on her upturned face. Was it too soon to kiss her?

She wanted to invite him in for a nightcap but thought that it might be too soon. Should she reach up and pull his head down so that she could kiss him on the cheek?

“Do you have any plans for tomorrow?” he asked.

“Actually, I’m going to a concert with Martin.” How she wished she wasn’t, especially when she saw the disappointment on his face.

“I would really like to see you again, Jocelyn. Call me when you’re free.”

“I will,” she promised. “Goodnight, Sacha.”

“Goodnight, Jocelyn.”

She went into her flat after she watched him walk away, her heart heavy.

She went to the concert with Martin but her mind was on Sacha and the next day, she called him and asked him to have lunch with her. They had lunch at a French restaurant close to where she worked and after he walked her back to her office, they made plans to see each other again. For weeks, she was seeing him and Martin at the same time.

When Anya’s wedding day arrived, Jocelyn went alone. Martin was in New York on business. Sacha showed up without the redhead. He had broken up with her the same evening he met Jocelyn. They spent as much of the evening together as was possible and afterwards, he took her home. This time, she invited him in for a nightcap. She had barely locked the door when he spun her around and took her in his arms. They exchanged passionate kisses and then, she broke them off to take him to her bedroom where they made love. He ended up spending the night.

The next morning, she was up and had just finished making breakfast when he got up. When she saw him, she smiled brightly and hurried over to give him a hug. He smiled and leaning down, he kissed her on the mouth. “Something smells really good,” he remarked.

“I thought I would make you a nice English breakfast.”

“Thank you.” He waited for her to sit before he did. His mouth watered when he glanced down at the plate.

After breakfast, they showered and then, he left. They planned to see each other in the evening.

As she was leaving to do her grocery shopping, Martin called to say that he was back in London. He had arrived last night. He said he wanted to pop by to see her. It was very important he said. She told him that she would be there and they rang off. She wondered what could be so important.

Half-hour later, he was at her flat. “I got a job in New York.”

“Congratulations. When do you start?”

“Next month.”

“When do you move there?”

“In two weeks.”

“Oh.”

“I want you to come with me, Jocelyn.”

She stared at him. “You want me to move to New York with you?”

“Yes.”

“But my life is here.” Sacha is here. The thought of leaving and never seeing him again was unthinkable.

“I thought your life was with me.”

“This is a bit much to take in–” she said, frazzled. “I need to think about this.”

“Sure. You don’t have to decide right now. Sleep on it. I hope you will decide to come, though. You and I can begin a new life in New York.”

“I’ll think about it and let you know,” she said.

“I was going to take you out to dinner tonight but something came up. Call me.”

“I will,” she promised.

They kissed and then, he left.

That evening when she and Sacha were together, she said, “Martin’s back from New York.”

“What’s wrong?” he asked. He could tell that something was troubling her.

“Martin got a job in New York and he’s moving there in two weeks. He wants me to move there with him. I told him that I would think about it.”

For a long time Sacha didn’t say anything. Then, he asked quietly, “Do you want to move to New York?”

“No. My life is here in London.”

“You have two propositions but you can only accept one.”

“Two? What’s the other one?”

“Martin wants you to move to New York and I want you to stay here in London and be with me.”

“That’s what you meant by two propositions.”

“Yes.” Sacha looked at her. In his mind, he prayed, Lord, please let mine be the one she accepts.

Jocelyn covered his hands with hers. “I want to stay here in London because my life is here with you, Sacha.”

He was too emotional to speak so he simply smiled while in his heart, he thanked God for answering his prayer.

Jocelyn went to Martin’s flat to tell him that she wasn’t going to New York with him. He was upset and tried to get her to change her mind but she was firm. “My life is here.” She hesitated and then, she told him about Sacha.

“So, while I was in New York, planning our future, you were cheating on me with this guy?”

“I’m sorry, Martin.”

“I’m sorry too. You’re not the woman I thought you were. Maybe it’s just as well that I’m finding that out now. Go and be with your new man. I hope he’s worth it.”

She left, feeling badly but she knew that she had made the right choice. It would have been foolish to go to New York when her heart and life were here in London. After she left Martin’s flat, she went straight over to Sacha. To her surprise and delight, he proposed. He had gone to a jewelry store and bought the ring the day after she told him that she was going to stay in London instead of going to New York with Martin.

And here, she was on her wedding day. The sound of the wedding march was her cue that it was time to walk down the aisle. Heart racing but a big smile on her face, she held her father’s arm and they headed into the sanctuary. Her eyes immediately went to where her groom was standing, looking very handsome in his tuxedo.

When they were facing each other, the pastor began to speak. It seemed so surreal but she had never been happier in her life. She was right where she belonged, here in this beautiful church, exchanging vows with the man she had fallen madly in love with instead of in New York, far away from him, her family and her friends.

The pastor pronounced them husband and wife and Sacha lifted her veil, his eyes darkening when he saw her radiant face. They kissed and there was applause and Amens in the sanctuary. Then, they held hands as they left the podium and hurried down the aisle and out into the bright sunshine. They took photos and then were whisked off to the Dartmouth House where the reception was being held.

After a festive celebration with family and friends, they were off to Andaman Islands for their honeymoon. There they spent a glorious week exploring these remote islands and enjoying each other. And one evening as they were strolling along the beach, Sacha remembered this quote by Jim Elliot: God always gives His best to those who leave the choice with him. It was true. Instead of giving into his fear of losing Jocelyn, he made a proposition to her and then, he prayed and left the outcome to God. And, now here he was on his honeymoon with the woman he adored. He would forever be indebted to God.

Source: Visit London; Harper Bazaar;