It’s a story as old as time. A kind young man and a lovely young woman both looking for a partner for a volleyball tournament. Mutual friends pretending to be helpful but secretly plotting to destroy their sad, single souls. Two days before the tournament Courtney looks to back out, citing “car brake issues.” Jeff then offers to pick her up from NH and magically all brake issues are resolved. Courtney made the drive to Manheim, PA and found Jeff waiting at the field. Jeff went for a hug, Courtney went for a handshake, and the rest is history. Two Baja Blasts later and her heart was his to chase.

If you know Jeff, you know he loves surprises. If you know Courtney, you know she can be challenging to surprise. Jeff was living in Cape Cod and Courtney was living in Ashburnham. Wanting to propose on the beach but not being able to afford flights to PR, Jeff invited Courtney to “dinner” at the Cape. Jeff made plans for a proposal, dinner, and a ferry to a weekend on the vineyard. Court made plans to get her nails done, be fashionably late, and agree to play a volleyball tournament the next morning. Not wanting to ruin the surprise, Jeff told her it was fine that she played. Jeff scrambled to secure the ring, flowers, champagne, and photographer, while convincing Courtney that it still made sense to come despite her new plans to be in Boston the next morning. They walked onto the beach together and Jeff said, “You know I love you, right?” Not sure if she was getting dumped, Courtney cried as she grew hangry and thought she would be at dinner by now. The proposal, a mere formality, as the two had spent their lives longing for the other. Parallel lines that were destined to overlap and now forever intertwined.