A New Love I've Found (Part 6: Final Chapter)

Antonio drove out of downtown Dallas into mere countryside. "I didn’t know Dallas had a boondocks," I thought. He pulled into a gated Chateau with an oval driveway. The Chateau looked to be about 3 stories. It was the color of crème and red stucco stained the roof. I was escorted inside by the same young man who arrived with my first note this morning.

"Good to see you again Miss Mason," said the young man, "you look lovely."
"Thank you," I told him, trying to get a glimpse of the chateau as he escorted me to the courtyard. By now, the sun had gone down to rest its weary head, but it seemed strange that the clouds would be so rude to hide the stars. The young man left my side as I watched a horse run freely.
"My, what a beautiful horse," I said out loud.
"Do you like her?" asked Cedric.
"Yes," I told him, my back still to him.
Cedric walked closer to me and put his arms around my waist, "She’s a Palomino," he stated, "if you like her, she’s yours."
"What?" I turned in his arms, stunned, "she’s mine? You’re giving her to me?"
"I remember you said that you liked Palomino horses," said Cedric, "I purchased her for you. You can come here and ride her any time you want."
"Really," I said, with tears in my eyes.
"Yes," replied Cedric, "but…"
"But what?" I asked, "what’s the catch?"
Cedric laughed. "Must all men have a motive to you?" he asked.
"Well you’re the one that said but," I told him, "but in this case, yes there has to be a motive. You give me the best night of my life. I ride in an expensive car, I am given the star treatment, you made it possible for me to have a photo shoot with my favorite celebrity and you buy me a horse, so yes, you have a motive. What is it Cedric?"
"Well, I did this in hope you would say yes," he replied.
"Yes?" I asked, "To what?
When I asked Cedric to what, he got down on his knee. When he got down on his knee, somewhere in the distance fireworks started going off. "Samonica Mason, I love you. I’ve loved you since the first time we met here in Dallas last year. I’ve went over in my head a hundred times how to tell you, but I could never think of how. When I saw you at the banquet, I knew that you were destined to be my wife. I promise that life with me will never be dull. I promise to always provide you with what you want no matter how big or small. I give you my life and my soul. I am yours forever. This chateau is yours and also the Rolls-Royce. Everything that has happened today will never end. I vow to help you accomplish anything that you want. Will you marry me?"
I could not see Cedric because my eyes were blurred with tears. My love for him is truly overwhelming. "Yes," I told him, "I love you Cedric. I always have. I was just too afraid to let my heart speak."
Cedric pulled out a 24 carat gold diamond ring. He placed it on my finger, it was a perfect fit.
"This ring belonged to my mother," he said, "she gave it to me before she died. She wanted me to make sure that the woman who I gave this ring to will love me all the days of her life, just as she loved my father."
When he stood, he took me in his arms and he kissed me. When he did, fireworks went off again and this time, he did not stop. Loving Cedric is something I plan to do for the rest of my life. Only God knew that our paths would cross again and that our friendship would grow into an everlasting, unconditional love. Thank God, because of Cedric, a new love I've found.