Cozette and Marquis are an example of God’s “perfect timing”. We grew up in the Woodlawn (Woodmoor) community , however we were nothing more than acquaintances over the years. We attended the same community events, had the same mutual friends and went to rival High Schools (which we still debate on which one was the best). Even though we have always known of one another through the years, God saw fit to bring us together at a time when we had given up on love and were content with never having that "happily ever after" that you read about in a great love story. God reserves your blessings until you can humbly receive them, and we believe that he put us together to be a forever blessing in each other's lives. We thank God daily for his favor and this agape love.
On one of my many lunch break trips to Marshall's (one of my favorite stores) I was standing at the register when I heard someone call my name. I looked up and there was Marquis (Marshalls is his favorite store also). I was presently surprised to see him since we hadn’t seen each other in years other than on social media, so I spoke with a smile. After we spoke, I left out of the store and we went our separate ways. When I got back to work and sat at my desk, I had a Facebook message from guess who? Quis (he didn't waste any time) lol. He stated how it was good to see me and then we continued having casual conversation. He would always start the conversation with"Hey Ms. Lady".... He eventually asked me for my number and he said that we should hang out sometime. We both had very active kids whose activities took up so much of our time that we could never agree on a time to go out so we just continued to talk on the phone for hours catching up on life but that was as far as it went. Football season approached and we began to see one another on the football field often since our kids started playing in the same league. We attempted to set up yet another date night. He told me that he had brought tickets to a comedy show and invited me to attend. At this point I really started to explore the possibility of what if…….so I accepted his offer. The day came for our first date and I had plans on going to the hairdresser earlier that day, but that did not go as planned. I called to cancel but he insisted that we still go since he had already purchased the tickets, and he suggested that I just put a hat on. That was NOT happening!! there was no way I was going with my hair all over my head or wearing a hat on our first date. I truly had every intention on attending but leave it to him, I was just bluffing him. At this point we had several long conversations and he sparked my interest and the fact that I already knew him was a bonus. Since I was unable to go to the comedy show, we met one day for lunch and had great conversation over sushi. He still wanted to take me on an official date so we planned to go out the following weekend. He came to pick me up, came to the door like a gentlemen and rang the doorbell. He opened my car door and we headed to Silver Spring, MD to a club name Society. On one of our many conversations I told him I wanted to go out dancing, and he actually paid attention. We had a great time that night and we never left each other's side since that date. We sat aside Fridays as our date night, since our kid’s activities kept us busy every other day and there was not much that we did without one another. I gained a best friend for life. What I loved most is that he understood loving me, meant to love my son. My happiness became his priority....and I fell completely in love with this man. I loved his two sons as well and enjoyed traveling up and down the road watching them play sports. Just when I thought God forgot about me.......he was just preparing me for Marquis.
It was ironic how I walked into Marshalls this one day and see Co because she had been posting and liking my social media post. So when I saw her in the store, I spoke to her and she spoke back with the biggest smile. When I left the store, I checked my phone and I had more likes on my social media post. So I hopped in her DM (messages) and asked her what was up and exchanged phone numbers. We started speaking on the phone quite often but no matter how many dates I asked her on, she kept turning me down but it didn't stop me from shooting my shot. I was determined to hit one of those shots eventually.I started seeing her more often on the football field since our kids played in the same league. I shot one of my many shots and invited her out for a date. She agreed this time so, I brought two tickets to a comedy show. The day that we were supposed to go to the show, she said that her hair wasn't done because of a mishap earlier that day at the hairshop, and she wanted to cancel. I told her that I was not worried about her hair and to throw a hat on but she still wouldn't come out. Two week later, I called her one day during the day and she said that she was off so I invited her to meet me for sushi. After all her son was in school so this was the perfect time. She agreed to meet me finally. We met for Sushi and had good conversation. I told her that I still wanted to take her on a official date so we planned to go out the following weekend. She said that she wanted to go out dancing so I took her to a lounge in Silver Spring, MD called Society and she hasn't left me since. My jumper finally went through. lol.
We talked about marriage all the time, so it was only a matter of time before Marquis was going to propose. He always said he had the ring, but of course Cozette never believed him. After all, Quis had plenty of great opportunities when he took Co to a 5 star restaurant for her birthday and we got all dressed up. He was handsome in his suit and Co wore a pretty dress. There was a romantic ambiance and we sat at a table overlooking the Baltimore skyline. Co knew he was dropping on one knee before the night was over. The night ended and there was no proposal. No worries!! He must have another day in mind. Christmas came and we went on a vacation in the mountains with our sons and both of our mothers. We were on top on the mountain and there was a beautiful view of the sun setting. He asked Co's mom to take a picture as he leaned in for a kiss. This was IT.....the perfect moment in front of the most important people in our lives. But a beautiful picture and awesome vacation was all that happened. Birthday had passed, Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New years.....NOTHING lol. So the anticipation stopped Co said that it will happen whenever it happens. Valentines Day 2020, we didn't plan anything special. We just went to the movies and to the Sushi place we went to on our first unofficial date. We happen to run into our good friends Eboni and Dink at the movies (our seats were reserved right next to each other coincidentally) so we all went to dinner and enjoyed a nice evening. Once we came in the house, before we turned in for bed, while having casual conversation about our work day, he stood up and got on one knee. It was just the two of us in our Living room. No large crowd, nothing over the top, just the two of us with our children upstairs in their bedrooms. It was totally unexpected, but it couldn't have been more perfect.