Since 2013, Charles and Jessica resided a few miles from each other in various neighborhoods in Houston, including Alief, Sugar Land and Katy, but their paths would never cross, until one faithful day at the Bank in 2022. Charles had lost his debit card and Jessica was picking up her children’s ATM cards. Destiny led them to sit right next to each other in the Bank lobby, as they waited on their cards. When Charles realized that the beautiful lady next to him was there for the same purpose, he initiated a friendly conversation that would lead to an invitation to a date that would set a love story in motion.

Charles and Jessica’s first date was at Bar Louie. He made a bad first impression by arriving late... very late. However, after sharing a few drinks and calamari, they got better acquainted with each other and found that they had a lot in common. Charles left the date on a positive note by walking Jessica to her car and holding the door open for her, in true gentleman fashion. She was smitten by his southern charm, and he was entranced by her beauty and her mind. After many dates, lots of laughs, emotional exchanges, and sweet wooing (including surprising her with flowers at her job), Charles formally asked Jessica "to go steady". She accepted.

While visiting Jessica’s hometown, Miami Florida, for her cousin’s wedding, Charles had a big surprise for her. He had been working behind the scenes with her Matron of Honor for weeks to plan a surprise engagement, only after asking her parents for their blessings. On the day, he told Jessica to get pretty since he was taking her to her favorite restaurant, Komodo. After dinner, he told Jessica he had arranged a massage at the One Hotel in downtown Miami. He took her to the penthouse and opened the door to what turned out to be a dimly lit ballroom filled with her family and friends, a live orchestra, and gorgeous white rose petals and candles. Surrounded by those closest to her, he got on one knee, and behind a face full of tears, he professed how Jessica had taught him to love again. He asked her to spend the rest of her life with him. She could not resist, since the feeling was mutual. After all, he had mended her once-broken heart. In a tearful choke, she said yes! And the rest is history 🖤