An Unfinished Love Story: Part 2 "The Best Day of My Life"

Tulum was our place.

We took our first trip there together in August of 2020, just a few months into dating, and from that moment on it became ours. We went back two or three times every year. There was something about it that felt like us. Warm. Free. Easy. Romantic without trying too hard.

In February of 2022, Scott asked me to be his wife there.

We had been talking about getting engaged for about five months at that point, so I knew it was coming. I just didn’t know when or how. We arrived in Tulum on Thursday, February 24. Everything felt normal. Nothing felt suspicious. On Friday morning, we were laying on the beach and he casually said, “Hey, let’s do this Sunset Experience thing today at five.”

Being the pain in the ass control freak that I am, I immediately said no. We already had dinner plans and that would mess up the timing. What I didn’t know was that Scott was planning to propose at sunset and already had a photographer lined up to capture the whole thing. He knew if he pushed too hard, I would catch on. Instead, he pivoted and suggested we go back to our room and hang out by our private pool instead of staying on the public beach.

I agreed.

As soon as we got back to the room, I went upstairs to the rooftop where our private plunge pool was. Scott said he would be right up and just needed a minute. If I am being completely honest, I thought we were about to have some intimate time before dinner. In my head I was thinking this was perfect. We would have our time, then I could go to dinner, eat whatever I wanted without worrying about feeling bloated, come back, and go straight to sleep. It sounded like an ideal plan.

The rooftop was completely private. I took my top off, laid out in the sun, and waited for him to come upstairs. About ten minutes passed. Then Scott came up the stairs, looked at me in shock and asked, “Why is your top off?”

I laughed and said, “BB, what do you mean? I’m just getting some sun waiting for you.” I smiled at him and turned back around, assuming he would come lay down next to me.

He didn’t.

About a minute later, I could feel him just standing there staring at the back of my head. I sat up, turned around, and saw him down on one knee.

I immediately started shaking, crying, and yelling, “Oh my God. I’m topless. What are you doing?”

I don’t remember everything he said because I was in complete shock, but I remember one thing word for word. He said, “I cannot go a single day without you in my life. I love you so much, BB. Will you marry me?”

That day, February 25, 2022, was the best day of my life.

I had found my person. The man I was going to spend my life with. I was finally where I was meant to be.

A month after we got home, wedding planning began. I never wanted a big wedding. Scott didn’t either. He had lost both of his parents many years earlier, and the idea of something extravagant didn’t matter to him. We decided to elope, go on an incredible honeymoon, and celebrate with friends and family when we got back.

Neither of us was in a rush. I loved being engaged. I remember thinking how much I enjoyed that phase and how I didn’t really care when the wedding happened. We were just happy that we had found each other. Everything else felt secondary.

My mom came into town over Memorial Day weekend of 2022 and we decided to go dress shopping. I wasn’t excited about it the way most people are. It felt unnecessary. So I only invited my mom.

We went to one bridal store, The White Magnolia in Buckhead. I tried on about twelve dresses and narrowed it down to three. My mom picked one dress and insisted I try it on. It was simple. A v cut. A little draping in the back. Buttons down the train.

As soon as I put it on, I knew.

My first thought was not about how I looked. It was, Scott is going to lose his mind when he sees me in this.

I finally understood why people bring their closest friends and family to dress appointments. I had never felt so beautiful. I could not wait for him to see me walk toward him on our wedding day.

We planned our honeymoon and elopement for April 15, 2023.

Dubai first. Four nights. A private desert sunset experience. Then the Maldives for six nights at the Four Seasons Landaa Giraavaru. On April 23, we would get married in an over water pavilion. I would take a small white boat out to the ceremony where Scott would be waiting for me. It would be the first time he saw me in my wedding dress.

We chose the violin version of Cant Help Falling in Love to walk down the aisle together. We planned a private dinner, champagne toast, and wedding cake for two. Our first dance would be to You Look Wonderful Tonight by Eric Clapton, his parents wedding song. We wanted to honor them.

After the ceremony, we would go to another island in the Maldives and spend six nights at One and Only Reethi Rah. Two weeks. Just us. Newlyweds. It felt like a dream.

We could not wait for April to come.

We also wanted to celebrate with our friends. Instead of bachelor and bachelorette parties, we planned one big trip to Tulum in June. About forty of our closest friends. One huge celebration of our marriage. Because of that, I had a bridal shower on March 25, 2023. One last wild night with my girlfriends.

Scott planned a golf trip to Auburn with his high school best friends starting March 30.

The morning he left, I had my wedding Botox appointment. My injector was running late. Scott was supposed to leave at eleven. I told him I might not see him before he left. His friend ended up running late too.

I walked in the door at 11:20. His friend arrived at 11:25.

Scott was rushing around. Packing. Laughing. He looked at my swollen lips and said, “BB, you look ridiculous.” He kissed me quickly and said, “I love you.”

A few minutes later, I felt this urge to say goodbye one more time. I walked out onto the porch and said, “I love you BB. Be safe.”

He looked up at me, smiled, and said, “Don’t worry, B. I love you.”

I had no idea that would be the last time I would ever hear his voice or see his face.