Shortly afterwards, Vince asked Anita to marry him and she accepted. So one Saturday afternoon, they went to buy an engagement ring at Zahringers Jewellers shop in Kingswood Shopping Centre.

"It's not likely that I'll find what I want in the right size, is it?" Anita said as they went into the shop. They looked through trays of rings and Anita found just what she wanted. It was a ring with three diamonds of the same size in a row set in yellow gold and magically, it fitted perfectly.

"It's so beautiful" said Anita, admiring the ring on her finger. "I can't believe it fits so well."

"Now, are you sure this is what you want?" asked Vince.

"Yes," Anita said, kissing Vince on the cheek, "It's exactly what I want."

They paid for the ring and left the shop. Vince carrying the package on the palm of his hand.  Anita was carrying a striped shopping bag of different colours. The 'deck chair' bag, Vince called it.  "You'd better put it in the bag, Vince" she said smiling, "It isn't very safe carrying it like that." So the precious package was placed into the stripey bag.

As it was now lunchtime they decided to go for a meal at Wetherspoons which was just a short walk along the high street. They ordered a meal each and drinks at the bar and then found a table. At the table, Vince suddenly reached for the package in the 'deck chair' bag.

"What are you doing, Vince?" Anita asked. Vince smiled and he took the ring from the package and got down on one knee. Anita started to blush.

"Anita Bowers" he said "I love you so much. Will you marry me?"

Anita laughed and said "Yes, of course I will."

Nearby customers heard this exchange and clapped and cheered at Anita's response as Vince placed the ring on her finger.

Later, Anita heard from members of the Payne family that the ring she had chosen was exactly the same as Vince's mother's engagement ring. Anita also arranged to have a new wedding ring made up for herself, using the gold from her mother's wedding ring.

                                          *    *    *    *    *    *    *    *    

Six month's after they met, Vince Payne and Anita Bowers were married.  They chose to have the ceremony at a Hotel. All their family and friends gathered around for the happy day.  Anita wore a long cream dress with a tiara in her dark hair and looked stunningly beautiful and Vince wore a smart grey suit with a red waistcoat.  Several of the family had tears in their eyes when Vince and Anita said their vows.

"Vincent Stanley Payne, do you take Anita Mary Bowers for your wife?" asked the wedding presider. When the vows were said Vince kissed Anita amidst cheering and wolf whistles by Vince's cousins, Morris being the main instigator!

An ice cream van was hired for two hours, so that unlimited ice cream was available for their guests. Richard, Anita's brother was Best Man. When he gave his speech he said 'As you know, Anita is my sister and she has always been a right pain and now she is a REAL Payne.' Everyone burst out laughing.

The Undertaker who had taken Vince's mother's funeral was invited to the wedding and also one of her carers from the Nursing Home, with whom his mother had forged a special relationship. The Undertaker was pleased to be invited to the wedding. It made a change from funerals! He sought Vince and Anita out later on, after the speeches.

"You do realise Vince, this makes it Three Funerals and a Wedding?  There's a joke in there somewhere!" he remarked.

"I didn't think of that." Vince replied.

Just then the carer came up to them.

"Thank you so much for inviting me, Vince. It's been lovely. Can I just say that when I was listening to your vows I felt a strong sensation, it gave me goosebumps. I think it was your mother's presence."

"I'm sure both of our mothers have been watching over us today." Anita said.

For their honeymoon, Vince booked a week's holiday in Port Isaac, Cornwall. The same place where the British comedy series 'Doc Martin' was filmed. Filming was, in fact, taking place the week that they were staying there and they met Martin Clunes the star of the series and asked him for his autograph. He had a dog with him at the time and he replied "Just let me take this dog for a walk and I'll be back."

When he returned he stopped and gave them his autograph.

"We're on honeymoon." said Vince.

"Well, I hope I don't jinx it then." Martin joked.

Vince and Anita settled down into married life and were very happy together. When the wedding photographs arrived on each photograph there was a little round light on Anita's face.

"Look!" said Anita, "It's a little aura. I think that shows that our mother's were there with us at the wedding and were watching over us. They wanted us to be together."

In view of the remarks others had said, Vince felt the same.

Some time later, Anita watched Vince leaving for work in his car.  It had a personalised number plate and was his company car as he worked with his brother. The registration number was 

VSP ...

'I don't believe it!' thought Anita to herself 'All this time and I didn't notice. I must tell Vince when he gets home tonight.'

When Vince came through the door that night Anita was waiting for him.

"You know I said I was waiting for a Very Special Person and that's why I'd never married?" Anita said.

"Yes, of course." Vince replied.

"Well Vince, it was you."

"Of course it was me."

"No....I mean...Oh come and look at your number plate."

She took him to the door and pointed to his car. Vince was quite surprised as he hadn't thought of it before. Vincent Stanley Payne   V S P which stands for VERY SPECIAL PERSON.

 THE END

Anita has found her own VERY SPECIAL PERSON and I truly hope that you find yours.

I hope you enjoyed this fascinating True Romance.

(A 99 ice cream is a dollop of ice cream in a wafer cone with a stick of

chocolate stuck into it.  Yummy!)