Love flies into the Honeybee

It began as a normal workday morning for Sarah Williams at this past Saturday. Owners Betsy Digiorgio and Lisa Rieves of the stylish and fun Smyrna boutique had arrived. So Williams went for the door for a quick bank run before shoppers began arriving.

That’s when romantic love blew in from Pensacola, Fla., in the form of Navy Ensign Brad Nordstrom. Williams flung open the door to find her boyfriend, who she thought was at flight school at the Naval Air Station Pensacola.

“I was totally shocked. I said, ‘Brad’s here…’hey, what are you doing,’’’ she explained.

But when she saw that he was in full uniform, the Whitefield Academy graduate and Buckhead resident knew what was coming. With her parents and one of his sisters “secretly tucked away taking pictures,” Nordstrom professed his love for Williams, got down on a knee and then upped the amorous ante so to speak.

He presented the lovely ring inside a red tulip, her favorite flower. “His dad had done the same for his mom. Her favorite was a red rose.”

Nordstrom, a Chicago native with Memphis, Tenn., roots, meet Williams at Auburn University. They were best friends for several years before taking the next steps in their relationship. Now they’re set for an October wedding date during one of his breaks from flight school.

“I guess I’m still a bit shocked,’’ she blissfully choked up Tuesday at the Honeybee. “We’re so very happy."