Keisha Shakespeare-Blackmore, Staff Reporter

Soon after they met, they realised they had some things in common. Three years later, the two became one.- Photo by Jeffrey Marshall

They did not fall head over heels for each other at first. But soon after they met, they realised they had some things in common. Three years later, the two became one.

It all began on April 26, 2004, when Raymond Simpson began working at the Gleaner Company. On his first day, he met Monique Murray. At first, they did not talk much, but a couple of weeks later, after a few brief conversations, they realised they had similar interests. "He is a Christian and active in church, he plays the drums, sings etc.," said Murray.

They became friends and exchanged phone numbers. As time went by, they went to a few events together after work. During that period, he was interested in someone else and Murray occasionally offered her friend a few relationship tips. But that relationship did not work out. Their friendship grew and eight months later, they realised they liked each other, so they began dating.

Proposal

They dated for two and a half years before Simpson proposed on December 20, 2006. However, a year after dating, they began planning their wedding although there was not an official proposal. "One Wednesday, my bridesmaids and I went looking at wedding dresses, but I did not find any that I liked. At the end of the day, they wanted to eat crab at the usual place."

They met Simpson there and had their meal. While waiting on the bill he got up. Murray thought he was going to ask for the bill. Instead, he said, "You all know Monique and I have been together for a while now and I love her dearly."

"I was puzzled at that point because I did not have a clue what he was up to," she explained.

'I started to cry'

After his little speech, he pulled out a black velvet box and opened it to reveal a diamond white gold solitaire. "I started to cry, and I am not sure what happened afterwards because I was so stunned."

Simpson is a sub-editor at the Gleaner Company and is the son of Everton and Marie Simpson. Murray, also a sub-editor at the Gleaner Company, is the daughter of Carl and Janet Murray.

According to Murray, Simpson is a very sweet, patient and caring young man. "He is the perfect person for me," she said. He, too, believes his other half is caring and loving. "Plus, she is an awesome girl, a woman of God and she has the sweetest lips," said Simpson.

With both madly in love with each other, they joined hands in holy matrimony on August 25, at the Clifton New Testament Church of God, on Mannings Hill Road. The officiating minister was Rev. L.R. Kirby. Reception followed at C&J Caterers on Courtney Walsh Drive. They honeymooned at Runaway Bay HEART Hotel, in St. Ann.