Essence_USA__February_2018

LOVE & LIFE : BRIDAL BLISS
The couple’s children, along with the groom’s
best friend, were in the wedding party.
Mona and Nate
entered the
sweet state of
matrimony together
at 62 and 65.
Mona Terrell & Nate Wallace
“My mother told me,
‘You hit the jackpot with
Mona,’ ” Nate shares.
Mona’s mom,
Zoma, then 93,
walked her
down the aisle.
“He is the same guy I met more
than 12 years ago,” Mona says of
her husband and best friend.
As her fiftieth birthday approached, New Jersey publicist Mona Terrell prepared
to enjoy the fruits of her successful life as the single mother of two daughters.
But the universe works in mysterious ways, and six months before celebrating the big
5-0, Mona found herself seated next to a mysterious new guy at a work event.
“We met at a leadership conference. I’m a research scientist and normally don’t
attend. I happened to go because it was in my area,” admits Nate Wallace, 65, then a
divorced father of three in Pennsylvania. “When I met Nate, I’d kissed enough frogs. In
our convo we both were trying not to brag about our kids,” says Mona, 62, laughing.
“Turns out that one of his sons attended the same college as my daughter. We realized
we had a lot in common.” Having daughters to talk about was a dream come true in
itself, as a teenage Mona had been told by a doctor that bearing children would be
difficult. She welcomed her two girls, by an older partner, when she was in her thirties.
Despite an 80-mile distance separating Mona and Nate, their friendship quickly
blossomed. “It was nice to meet someone who understood the things that I was going
through, especially with the kids. Mona was even giving me dating advice,” says Nate. As
things progressed, Mona found herself eagerly anticipating their conversations, and
sharing her troubles. “At the time I was having a health challenge. No one knew, but I
decided to tell him.” After months of talking, e-mailing and texting, the friends finally reconnected
in person for dinner at Mona’s favorite restaurant in New Jersey. “I was attracted to
his spirit, strength and smile,” says Mona. “After that date I said, ‘Sorry, I can’t help you with
your other relationship anymore because I really like you.’ ” Nate accepted Mona’s resignation
as his wingman and, eight months later, asked her to be in a committed relationship.
“That was the defining difference. He asked to be with me versus letting it just morph.”
Even though the two maintained separate homes, any time spent together was filled with
love and fun. “Nate would greet me with a big smile, a hug and a glass of wine when I drove
to Pennsylvania,” she continues. “He sang love songs to me and served candlelit breakfast.”
Though full of romance, Nate wasn’t sold on getting hitched again. “I was married once
and it didn’t work,” he says. “My thing was, we’re committed—let’s just continue the way
things are.” But after 12 years, Nate had a change of heart. “I started thinking, Mona always
wanted to be married. I knew this was a woman I could grow with.” An impromptu trip to
the mall became a milestone, Mona recalls. “As we passed the jewelry store, he said, ‘Let’s
look at rings.’ I thought, Yeah, right, and sat while he looked. He found one and asked me
to put it on. We left and continued shopping. Later he said he wanted to return to the
jewelry store. He proposed to me right there. He’d had the ring sized while we had been
shopping. I almost fell out.”
Eleven months later Mona’s 93-year-old mother, Zoma, walked her down the aisle on
May 20, 2017. “From the first date, I wanted this man to be a part of my life,” Mona says.
“My grandmother used to tell me, ‘The heart is like a magnet. You get what you call for.’ ”
PHOTOS, TRAVIS BROXTON/BROXTONART.COM (5). FLOWER ICON, DIANE LABOMBARBE/GETTY IMAGES.
102 ESSENCE.COM FEBRUARY 2018