Sharon and I were now living together. We had already discussed marriage. We were pretty serious, pretty quickly. I remember asking her if she would consider marrying me. She didn't hesitate at all. She started to refer to me as her fiancee. We spoke about spending the rest of our lives with each other. Neither one of us was afraid of the "M" word. It just felt right. I remember thinking that whenever we weren't together that there was something really missing. It was so amazing when she would walk into a room, our eyes would always meet and everyone would just fade into the back. I guess you might say that I fell hard and fast. Moving in together was an adjustment. I know that her Mom was pretty freaked out about the whole thing. I imagine Sharon's conversation with her mom went someting like this. I broke up with my previous boyfriend/fiancee. I got together with Cesar and have moved in with him and we are planning to get married. Her mom was beside herself about it and she talked to Sharon's brothers pleading with them to talk to her. Luckily, her brothers actually liked me. Her brother Jeff had told her that I was a nice guy and that his kids really took to me. He told her that Sharon had other boyfriends before. But her mom's big thing was that Sharon had moved out of the Reseda house and moved in with me. One day she called our apartment and was talking to Sharon. Sharon proceeded to hand me the phone to talk to her. It was pretty awkward. I don't really remember what I said but I know there was quite a bit of silence. I guess Sharon wanted her to meet me and feel better about the man she chose. So that was my first encounter with Sharon's mom.
Over the course of several days, I took her shopping which was one of her favorite activities. I managed to pick places close to a few jewelry stores. We popped in and were looking at engagement rings. One of my former player's father owned a pretty big jewelry store and I took her there. At each place, Sharon was studying each and every pattern and diamond shape. She tried different ones on. I finally got her to tell me what she really liked. Although I didn't need her to, when she slipped one of them on, you could tell by her smile. It was even more radiant and beautiful than it normally was. What she liked was elegant and yet very understated and tasteful. It was beautiful. She didn't know that I had already been there and worked out a signal with the sales person. The signal was for the sales person to record what she wanted.
Later that week, I went back to the jewelry store, picked out the design and the diamond. They already had her size. It would be ready within a week. I had made up my mind that I would ask her on New Year's eve. I made reservations at Yamashiro restaurant in Hollywood. It was a Japanese restaurant with a stunning view of the city and a garden inside.
A few days before Christmas Eve, I went and picked up her ring. I was pretty excited and found a place to hide it that she would never look. I remember the anticipation and the wait seemed like forever.
On Christmas Eve, she went out with some friends during the day. When she got home, we got ready and went to Yamashiro's. Our reservation was for 9 pm. We had a table with a view of the city on the outside and a view of the garden inside. We finished ordering and I was gazing at her sitting across from me. I pointed at something so that it would force her to turn to see what I was talking about. When she turned around, there was an open box with the ring inside it. Her smile was even brighter than the diamond when she saw the ring. I held her hand and told her that I was in love with her and I had never felt anything close to that ever. I wanted to spend the rest of my life with her and I wanted to spend each day making her happy. "I know that it seems like everything is moving so fast, but it seems so right. When you find the person you are meant to be with, why wait? Will you marry me?" I asked her. "Yes, I want to marry you and be your wife. I want to spend the rest of my life with you," she answered. I placed the ring on her finger and we kissed. I guess the people around us knew what was happening and applauded. That was one of the most pivotal and important night of my life. Sharon and I were now engaged.
