Courtney and Tanicia
'When you need a friend she's always there' says Courtney Williams, the runner-up in our Will You Marry Me? contest
Shelly-Ann Thompson, Freelance Writer
TANICIA BAILEY said on Valentine's morning she found out exactly how much she is loved by Courtney Williams who publicly proposed to her in Flair magazine.
"At work somebody asked if I have seen the paper, and I said 'no'. The person then asked me 'What's Courtney's last name?' and I said 'Williams'.
The person then brought the magazine to me and showed me the poem. It was so very heart-warming."
Williams, 24, a storeroom supervisor at a popular sports bar in Kingston, and Bailey, 23, a customer care worker have been together for a year and seven months. They also have a three-month-old daughter.
Bailey said when she saw Williams on Monday night she was at a loss for words and so just held him and, kissed him and told him thanks.
"He is not openly affectionate. I know he loves me but he is not sentimental. I didn't know he felt that way about me, honestly, because he has never said it before. I didn't know how deep (his love) was," said a blushing Bailey when she visited The Gleaner's newsroom last Wednesday.
MOTHER KNOWS BEST
Three years ago Williams' mother, Claudia Powell, moved next door to Bailey in eastern Kingston. The two became friends and Powell would often tell Bailey about her "big" son. Then about a year and a half ago Powell introduced Bailey to her son.
The sparks flew but Powell would only learn about this later. "I didn't realise that he was courting her," she explained during a telephone interview. "(It's) when it reach the middle, middle that I find out."
Still, she approved. "Tanicia is very nice. From the time I know her she is very nice, well-mannered towards me and speaks to me with respect. I wish they were together a long, long time ago they fit together very much."
Bailey says after being introduced, whenever Williams would visit they would have small talk or he would accompany her to the shop. Small talk led to movie dates and from there the duo has been inseparable.
SHE'S BEAUTIFUL INSIDE AND OUT
Williams says he proposed publicly because of his undying love for Bailey.
"I love her because she is nice, easy to talk to, and when you need a friend she is always there. She is encouraging, and she understands me." Williams' proposal poem spoke highly of Bailey's beauty:
"When we first met my entire body started a fight. My eyes said, 'what a beauty, what beautiful eyes!' And that smile..."
Williams says her beauty is inside and out.
The couple say they had discussed marriage but had not made any definite plans. However, with the public proposal they've set a December wedding date.
As the runners-up in the Will You Marry Me? contest they win a resort weekend for two.
