When you've been disappointed in love over and over again, there comes a point when you'd rather stick your hand in a blender than go on another date. Kelly was at that point.

She'd been married to a man who spent money like crazy and even tried to obtain credit in her name. And, oh, yes, he was "rather violent."

After the divorce, she started to date a man she had known for 13 years. "He turned into a control freak who monitored my every move," Kelly says.

So, she figured it was time to give dating a rest. After about a year, some friends asked her to join them at a local pub to watch football.

She says: "Even though I was less than my normal self I went anyway. One of the regulars, but not a part of my friends, started bantering about the game with me. It seemed harmless enough. We'd gone to the same high school though he was there 10 years after me."

Alex asked Kelly out for dinner. She politely but firmly told him no. But he wouldn't accept a no. He kept after her, and she finally agreed to a pizza. The pizza led to several more dinners. And then Kelly told Alex she was moving. He volunteered to help. And then she was hospitalized. Medication she was taking was causing a rapid heartbeat.

Kelly says: "Alex broke land speed records to get to the hospital and he wouldn't leave my side until the nurses threw him out. Within a few months, he was at my house more than at his own."

They got tired of commuting back and forth, so a year ago they bought a house together midway between the two of them.

She says: "Four months ago, we found the perfect little cocker spaniel to adopt and now she rules the household and us. She's Alex's 'pretty girl' and I'm his 'little lady.' We love to watch sports together and like some of the same teams and when our favorite teams play one another it's hysterical. We love to tease and banter and trash talk."

Kelly says it was hard for her to believe she had actually found a good guy. "And not only a good guy but a very mature, responsible one," she says. "There hasn't been a day that we've been together that I haven't laughed and smiled. He would move heaven and earth for me and I would do the same for him.

"This Christmas was wonderful. We dashed from house to house for two days. His mom and I love shopping together and just hanging out when we have time. He always checks on my folks because my father is not in perfect health. He has never been mean or nasty and he's been patient dealing with me and the nightmares from my violent ex-husband. I consider him my reward for the hell that I went through.

"It's been almost two years now and I haven't had an unhappy day. I want to tell people to never give up on love because I almost did. I would have missed out on the most amazing, caring, loving, fun man I've ever met. Now we are looking at rings and who knows what the future may bring."

Did love come along when you least expected it? Send your tale, along with your questions, problems and rants to cheryllavinrapp@gmail.com. And check out my e-books, "Dear Cheryl: Advice from Tales from the Front" and "I'll Call You. Not."

Photo credit: at Pixabay