06 | 27 | 2026

They say the universe leaves a trail of breadcrumbs for us to follow. Long before we shared a conversation or a first dance, our families were already neighbors. We eventually discovered a coincidence that felt more like destiny: our grandmothers lived almost on the exact same street. Our paths were circling each other for years, just waiting for the right moment to finally collide. That moment arrived at a local bar, through our mutual friend, Mike. While Hillary did what she does best—filling the room with stories and laughter—Derick was the quiet observer, slipping away early for work. It wasn't a lightning bolt just yet; it was a seed planted, a "nice to meet you" that the universe wasn't finished with. Fate doesn’t usually knock twice, but for us, it stood right at the door. A month or two later, Hillary walked up to another local bar only to find a familiar face working the entrance. "Oh hi, you’re Michael’s friend!" The recognition was instant, and this time, the spark didn't just flicker—it caught fire. In June, Hillary was exploring Toronto when she received a message that would change everything: “Is it okay if Derick has your number?” With a smile and a simple "Sure!" the distance between Canada and home suddenly felt much smaller.   The moment Hillary touched back down in Nashville, they set out on their first real date – a mini-tour of Nashville! Derick was such gentleman, and he didn't let her touch a single door handle all night, winning her over with a charm that felt both effortless and sincere. We both look back on that evening as one of the best dates of our lives—the night we stopped searching because we had finally found our way home.