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Janice, 47, and Dwayne, 48, met in 2008 at Janice’s family reunion, when Dwayne attended with one of her cousins. Janice lived in Baltimore, but the two began a long-distance relationship. It didn’t take long for each of them to recognize their soul mate, and the couple married June 12, 2009. They live in Charlotte; Janice tells their story.
See you soon: I didn’t spend much time with Dwayne at the reunion, but in August I called to wish my cousin a happy birthday and they were out together. I told my cousin to tell him hello and the next day, Dwayne and I spoke on the phone for six hours. By the end of the call, we’d made plans for me to visit him in Charlotte in October.
Many miles: When we saw each other again, it was like love at first sight. For the next couple of months we drove back and forth every two weeks. On Valentine’s Day 2009, he proposed, having already asked his son, my three kids and my parents if it would be all right.
It’s time: We got our marriage license in May and Dwayne arrived in Baltimore on June 10 and said, “Enough is enough, I’ve come to take you and the kids back to Charlotte so we can start our family together.” We drove back the next day, and on the morning of June 12, he put on a suit and told me to put on my best dress. He wouldn’t tell me what we were doing, but stopped to pick some beautiful flowers on the way uptown. We arrived at the courthouse, where three of my cousins were waiting, and were married.
A sealed deal: Dwayne and I met and were married in less than a year. It’s been five years since our journey began together, and I would do it all over again. Dwayne is truly a wonderful, hard-working man who supports our blended family. Hilary Trenda
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Email htrenda@charlotteobserver.com. Type "love story" in subject field. Include full names, ages, address, daytime phone number, wedding date, photo. To read past Love Stories: www.charlotteobserver.com/love.
