It is often said that a family that plays together stays together. Meet Nakita and Dario Goddard, married for three years but together for ten.
As individuals, they both have completely different attributes – Nakita has a go-getting personality and is willing to do whatever it takes to accomplish what she puts her mind to, while Dario, who is equally as ambitious as his wife, is more laid back and does things at his own pace – but together they channel each other’s strengths and function as a single unit.
The couple tied the knot on Old Year’s night in 2015.
“My friend, which is her neighbour named Sherry-Ann, introduced me one evening after class at PomMarine and since that day I always used to tell her that I wanted to talk to Nakita,” said 28-year-old Dario recalling how the couple met.
“But I was never interested,” said 26-year-old Nakita interrupting the discussion.
Dario was a bit confused at that statement since, “We exchanged numbers the day after we met . . . . That was around the time when LIME used to have free texting from 6 p.m. to 7 p.m. and we used to flood messages back and forth.”
So it seemed Nakita did not want to admit that her husband stole her heart from their first encounter, and told EASY magazine that she “decided” to give him a chance.
“It was his persistence I guess. His friend used to encourage me to talk to him, so we exchanged numbers and something happened.
“After I got to know him as a person, I couldn’t help but fall for him; it was inevitable. But before that, I was focused on my studies.”
Sometimes, the on-again/off-again cycle is quite the norm in long-term relationships, but this was not the case with Nakita and Dario. Although they don’t always see eye-to-eye, the couple said they never got into any huge argument that caused them to fall out for a substantial period of time. In fact, Dario said the only thing he could recall his wife doing “was putting down the phone in my ear one or two times”.
As is said in Bajan parlance “Come see muh and come live with muh is two different things” and the couple, who have been living together for the past four years, attested to the adage. They explained that when you live with your partner you learn more about them and realise certain things you did not before.
“Dario loves to sleep too much,” said Nakita. “But I think that’s because I just like to get stuff done. So it’s like I don’t need to sleep as much as he does and I don’t need to take a break.
“So it’s not necessarily a fault, but it’s something I realised about him.”
Dario said, “And she can’t not do anything. For instance, I knew the interview was about us and after everything was prepared I sat down and watched TV, but she still had to find something to do.
“But the only thing I would change if I could is that she doesn’t turn off the lights.
“Sometimes when I wake up I would find the light on and during the day she turns on the light too.”
“But you don’t understand when a female is doing her make-up you have to have proper lighting,” chimed in Nakita.
The young couple’s relationship was built on a foundation of respect. Nakita said love is a key factor, but when respect is at play, partners do not cross certain boundaries and try to meet each other halfway.
Affectionately called Niki and Dari by family and friends, the two reached two significant milestones in their marriage last year. The first – Nakita gave birth to a bouncy baby girl named Legaci Goddard in November and the second – they officially launched a catering business called Gourmet Granny, which transforms Bajan soul food into artistically exquisite meals.
“Two of the popular items on our menu are conkie pie and pudding and souse kebabs. The recipes would be similar to what the dishes are essentially made of, but we switch it up and create something different,” said Niki.
Juggling a business, family and work can be difficult and the couple has found a way to make it work. Dario, a chef at the Accra Beach Hotel, and Nakita, a chef at Buzo Osteria Italiana restaurant, said planning their off days and vacation in advance was essential, as it allowed them to spend quality time together with Legaci. (SB)