Erin in Love (Part Twenty-Five)

After Matt made the decision to take the job in Rochester, things went on as normal. We still tried to see each other as much as possible and although I would try and talk about our future (as in, when are we getting engaged?), Matt would stall and say not for at least a year.

Fast forward to December of 2004 (the talk in the park happened in the summer of '04, for those of you who want the timeline). People had been slyly ribbing us about getting engaged and it was starting to wear on my nerves. Especially since I wanted to be engaged; I was ready to start our life together and was sick of being apart all the time. And, the countdown to Matt's move to Rochester was beginning (he would begin teaching at MCC in January 2005).

As I've mentioned before, while working for my dad, I traveled quite a bit. We had a branch in Cleveland, and there were many times that I was up there to help out. The first week of December was one of those times. And, as had become the norm, I would stay with Matt and his family, which was really nice, let me tell you.

Early on in the first week of December, Matt had decided that he wanted to make me dinner that Friday. His family all had plans and so we would have the house to ourselves for a little bit, and I was really looking forward to it. That Wednesday night, we went out to dinner with his friends Will and Tab, and to the mall so Will and Tab could get their Christmas presents for each other.

Will and Matt went one way, and Tab and I went another. As Tab and I passed a jewelry shop, I made the comment that I was so tired of people asking me when we were getting engaged and that we would get engaged when we were ready. After picking up Will's gift, we met up with the boys and went to dinner and had a great time. After we got back, Matt told me that Will had asked him to meet him for breakfast the next day (they met once a week for breakfast and had already met that week). He said Will was having a hard time and needed to talk. So, even though I thought it was a bit odd (since Will had seemed fine at dinner), I said okay, no big deal.

That Friday, I went to work, Matt went to work, and I ended up getting back before he did. His family was getting ready to go off to their plans and it seemed like a long time, but Matt finally came home. I didn't seem him at first because he came in the door and went right into the mud room, so I went over to say hi and ask him how his day was and I saw that he was arranging a vase of red roses. So surprised and delighted, I thanked him for the flowers and asked if there was anything I could do to get dinner started. He was adamant in telling me no and headed upstairs to clean up.

Now, I was in one of his old t-shirts and jeans and when he came down, I realized he was taking this "romantic dinner/evening" a lot more serious than I realized. He was dressed in my favorite outfit and was wearing cologne. So needless to say, I hustled upstairs and got myself as gussied up as I could with what I had in my suitcase.

When I got downstairs, he was in a frenzy trying to cook dinner. He kept looking at the clock and muttering and running all over the kitchen. Again I asked if I could help and he again refused. I kept telling him that everything looked great and not to worry; that I was sure dinner would taste great. (He seemed really anxious that dinner turn out okay, which I thought was super sweet.)

When we sat down to eat, he sat down at the opposite end of the table from me and hardly spoke two words. I would ask a question and he would give me a short answer. And he, again, kept looking at the clock! I was honestly a bit irritated because I felt he was ruining our time together, when after we were done eating, he said he needed to run upstairs for something.

After what felt like an eternity, he came back downstairs with a CD in his hand.


"I've been working on a string quartet piece that I'd like you to take a listen to, if you don't mind." (He frequently asked me to listen to his compositions and tell him what I thought.)


"Sure, I'd love to hear it!"

"I'm going to play it for you twice. The first time I want you to listen to the overall piece. Then the second time, I want you to listen closely to all the details."


"Okay, great."

He put it in the CD player and we listened to it for the first time. I really liked it and told him it was beautiful and reminded me of 'Legends of the Fall'. It had a really nice arching melody and I liked the tones he got from the instruments.

Then, he hit play again, for the seconding hearing and came very close to my chair.


"Now, remember, I want you to listen to the details."

(Umm, WHY is he talking? I am trying to listen to the details and he is talking over the music! So annoying!)


"Uh-huh."


"I want you to imagine yourself walking down the aisle...."

I turned to him with shock and tears in my eyes and he began to pull out a ring box out of his pocket.

Then, he got down on one knee (I was still sitting at the table), opened the box and said,


"Erin Nicole Yost, will you marry me?"

I couldn't speak because the tears were so thick, but I managed to nod my head 'yes' and threw my arms around him. Then, we kissed and he put on a favorite song of ours, 'At Last' and we danced in his parents kitchen.

Then....


"So, does this mean yes? And are you going to look at the ring or not?"

Of course, I answered 'yes' immediately and took a good look at the most perfect solitaire ring for me.

That was December 3, 2004. And on June 11, 2005, I walked down the aisle to that beautiful, gorgeous piece of music he wrote just for me for our wedding.

Of course, there are more details to the engagement story (Will and Tab's role in it, and what my family had to say), but those will be saved for another time.

And there you have it. The almost culmination to our love story. Merry Christmas, everyone! :)

Blessings and love,
Erin