Rhonda's View

Howie decided to take his family and me on the charity cruise. I was getting used to sitting on the ship's deck and being served fruity drinks. I was pretty sad that today was this was the last night of the cruise. We got dressed for the captain's dinner and headed down to the dining room.

"Are you ready for the big night?" John asked Howie.
"What?!?" Howie said squirming in his seat.
"You're final show? You said that you and Pollyanna were going to something special tonight."
"Oh yeah, right. I'm always ready to put on a show," Howie winked.

Before dessert arrived, Howie and Pollyanna excused themselves from the table to go change for their concert. I looked up and noticed John whispering to Angie and them smiling at me. I just smiled back unsure of what they could be talking about.

At the show

Howie started off the show and then Pollyanna went out. After Pollyanna finished her set, she announced that Howie wanted to do something "very special." Howie walked onto the stage in a tuxedo as some of the stage crew scattered red roses all around the stage.
"There's one more song that I wanted to perform tonight," Howie said, "and its for a very special woman in my life – my girlfriend Rhonda." Howie pulled me onto the stage and into his arms as he began to sing.

Lady, I'm your knight in shining armor and I love you
You have made me what I am and I am yours
My love, there's so many ways I want to say I love you
Let me hold you in my arms forever more

You have gone and made me such a fool
I'm so lost in your love
And oh, we belong together
Won't you believe in my song?
Lady, for so many years I thought I'd never find you
You have come into my life and made me whole
Forever let me wake to see you each and every morning
Let me hear you whisper softly in my ear

In my eyes I see no one else but you
There's no other love like our love
And yes, oh yes, I'll always want you near me
I've waited for you for so long

Lady, your love's the only love I need
And beside me is where I want you to be
'cause, my love, there's somethin' I want you to know
You're the love of my life, you're my lady

He got down on one knee and pulled out a ring. "From the moment I met you, I knew that my life would never be the same. You have made my life complete and I want to spend the rest of it with you. Will you marry me?" I looked into his big brown eyes and nodded as I tried to hold back my tears. "Was that a yes? I don't think that anyone heard you?" he laughed as he held the microphone up to my face.

I couldn't speak because I was in such shock. I just nodded again.
Howie looked at the audience, "Do you guys think that was a yes?" The audience all shouted yes back to him. "Okay – we take that as a yes," he said smiling as he put the ring onto my finger.