Travels in Eire #58

“Time for a little wall walking,” Darren directed as they left the diner. “We need to work off that great meal. Are you full now?”

“I'm stuffed and a walk on the walls would be great!” Cailin followed Darren up a set of stairs that led to the start of a walk on the old walls of Derry City.

The day was beautiful. Sunny and just cool enough that they could walk at a quick pace. Every time you turned a corner there was a different view of the outskirts of Derry. One view of the Guildhall and gathering area around it. Another of the rolling landscape just outside of Derry. They would stop periodically to look at the view and talk about what could be seen.

As they approached the view that overlooked the boglands Cailin stopped in her tracks.
“Darren, do you know where this is?”

“Cailin, of course I know where this is,” Darren was quick to answer. “A couple of months ago I was passing out fliers for a concert I had arranged, and I saw this beautiful girl looking out over the edge of this wall. Right here on this spot and I asked her to come to the concert.”

Cailin blushed. This was the place on the Derry wall where they had first met.
“It's still a beautiful view, Darren,” Cailin sighed as she turned to look over the landscape in front of her. She realized that Darren had gotten very quiet.

As Cailin turned back she had to look down. Darren was on one knee. She was so taken aback that her hand went up to her chest in surprise.

“Cailin, I love you very much. I think I've known that since the beginning. I also know that I can't live without you. My life has changed so much for the better since you came into my life. I want to spend the rest of my life with you by my side, and me by yours.” There was as big pause as Darren seemed to run out of breath. “Cailin, will you marry me?”

All this time Cailin was astounded by what was happening. She knew how much she loved Darren, but she was afraid at the same time. All she could do was look down at Darren who looked like he would hyperventilate if she didn't answer.

“Darren, I never thought it would happen this way. You are the most caring, gentle man I have ever met. You always put others before yourself. It's this kind of man I want to spend my life with and wake up next to every day for the rest of my life.” Cailin took a big breath... "Yes, I would love to marry you!”

And all of a sudden there was a cheer! Cailin and Darren had been involved so much with each other, they had not noticed that they had drawn a crowd.

Darren reached over to Cailin and took her hand in his placing a beautiful antique diamond ring on her finger. He had to hold her hand still as Cailin was shaking with excitement. Darren then took her by the shoulders and pulled her close for a long loving kiss. Cailin melted in his arms. The bystanders cheered again and Cailin and Darren turned to them all smiling.

Darren turned to Cailin and smiled, “Time to call home, yours, and mine.”

The final leg of the walk on the walls was more a stroll with Darren's arm around Cailin's shoulders, stopping often to share a kiss and smile at each other.