Jeremiah, Tamraka & Darrick

Jeremiah (39) - Tamraka’s Husband

Tamraka (40)

Darrick (48) - Tamraka’s Ex-Husband

Beaumont, Texas

Lucky Number Seven

For most, finding the person you’re going to marry is a long process of trial and error, dating and heartbreak. It’s also a major decision not to be taken likely. But for Tamraka, it’s something that she’s experienced SEVEN times! That’s right. Tamraka is currently married to her seventh husband, Jeremiah, and this time she not only knows it’s for real but that they’ll be together until death do them part. Her family and friends are skeptical to say the least. And why shouldn’t they be? The newlyweds were only dating for two months before they tied the knot and they’ve only been married for another two months! That’s four months total. It only begs the question: is Tamraka a serial-bride? She did tell Jeremiah on her first date that she feels like she “met her person.” Yikes!

Out of her six ex-husbands, Tamraka only considers one to be her best friend: Darrick. He’s the person that she was married to for the longest amount of time. Their marriage fell apart when she learned that he had cheated on her with 42 women (Darrick claims it was 27, NOT 42) forcing Tamraka to break off the marriage. The two have children that they have raised together and currently co-parent. Although Darrick is not their biological father, he has played a huge role in their life (the kids biological father died). Darrick stepped in and took on that father-figure role and when it comes to her kids, Tamraka makes no concessions: they come first. Period.  Darrick and Tam still “turn-up” together and he thinks nothing of seeing Tamraka waltz around in her birthday suit. The two joke with one another like old friends. Until Jeremiah came on the scene Darrick was Tam’s handy-man who also tackled her “honey-do,” list.

Many men might gasp at Tam’s marriage count, but Jeremiah has been married three times himself and has five kids of his own, so in his mind, they are pretty much even. While learning her marriage history might have been slightly surprising to him, it was her lively personality that quickly endeared her to him.

Tamraka thinks that Jeremiah is, “the one” because they’ve both agreed to some untraditional rules and values surrounding their relationship. Tamraka is allowed to go out with friends until the sun comes up if she wants to and Jeremiah also has the same freedom. They don’t question or mettle in one another’s lives. What is good for one is good for both. Both Jeremiah and Tamraka are independent people who don’t like to be told what to do (or what to think) so the solution is to give each other seemingly infinite freedom when it comes to their marriage. Jeremiah and Darrick have met several times and they have all been awkward encounters.

Jeremiah’s hands are tied when it comes to Darrick and Tam’s relationship because he’s agreed that he would allow Tam to have a relationship with him regardless of his feelings surrounding it. Jeremiah has been burned in past relationships when he’s tried to control the women in his life. The more he tried to control the more they would rebel. In this marriage, Jeremiah is unclenching his jaw and doing his best not to say anything when it comes to Darrick and Tam. Tam also feels the same way. When she’s tried to control the other person in her marriages, it’s always backfired, so she thinks that this freedom to “live your own life” while being married is the appropriate compromise.

Darrick also happens to be dating someone from his and Tam’s social circle. He is currently in a relationship with Brenda who is a mutual friend of Tam’s. The catch? Brenda is secretly in love with Tam! Brenda openly admitted to having, “spiritual, emotional and physical feelings” for Tamraka. Although Brenda’s attempts have been rejected doesn’t mean that she is out of Tamraka’s life… Tam isn’t saying anything to Darrick about Brenda’s advances to spare his feelings and to give his relationship with Brenda a chance. Tam is civil to Brenda, but she doesn’t trust her motives for dating Darrick. Jeremiah thinks that the situation is beyond bizarre, and he isn’t sure what circus he’s been cast in.

Tamraka and Jeremiah’s respective families haven’t yet met one another. So now that they are married, they need to plan an event for the families to meet. Jeremiah is from a large family (eight siblings!) and he’s close to just about all of them. Jeremiah speaks with his family daily about all aspects of his life, including personal details regarding his marriage. Tamraka hates knowing that if there’s any source of conflict in their relationship that Jeremiah will be sure to give the update to his family. It’s fair to say that both Tamraka and Jeremiah have their fair share of naysayers who don’t believe that their marriage is going to work. Tamraka does her best to ignore the haters, but it’s different for her if Jeremiah’s family is skeptical and doesn’t trust her. She knows that they’ll be thinking “She’s been married seven times. Just what are her intentions with Jeremiah?” Naturally, Tam has major anxiety surrounding a family get together.

It’s too early to tell where Darrick and his relationship with Brenda is going, but one thing is for certain: no matter what happens in either of their lives, Tamraka and Darrick are best friends forever. Who knows, maybe they’ll get married AGAIN if it doesn’t work with Jeremiah and Tamraka!