Our story starts about 16 years ago. Kelsey had just moved back to Long Island to finish school at Harborfields. And James was just trying to get through school each day to make it to the 4:30 trip on the James Joseph. They ended up in the same College Marketing class with Miss Pollard. Although they cannot recall specific interactions during this time, they knew for certain that they would never forget each other. Fast forward to the winter of 2016, Kelsey was living in NYC and James was living in Greenlawn. She was home for the weekend visiting her mom. They were both invited out in Huntington by friends, and thought why not go. Little did they know this would be the night they reconnected. After many laughs and a few drinks later he saw there was something special about her. The next several years they went on to live their lives separately, seeing each other only when Kelsey was home to visit family. Her cousin, Meghann, was good friends with James. She would take Kelsey on the James Joseph and bring her on her birthday charters, which James was usually the captain of. Kelsey would always take time to say hi and see how James was doing. Afterwards he would always ask Meg about Kelsey, “How is she, is she still single?”, with hopes that something would come of it. Kelsey, still single, knew he had a crush but thought that’s all it was, nothing ever escalated. It wasn’t until Kelsey was invited toe clamming on James’s boat that he realized she wasn’t just a City Girl home for the weekend, but she loved the outdoors and was willing to try anything new. Let’s just say she was a bit nervous toe clamming at first, but James swept in to help and show her how it was done like the professional he is. She got the hang of it quick, but had never seen this flirty side of James before. From that point on he knew he needed to make a move. However, it would still be a month until he actually did. With their busy work schedules it was tough for James to find time to ask Kelsey out and tell her how he feels. But he knew they had a wedding coming up they were both attending, so Thursday afternoon of the wedding weekend he texted her to see if she was coming out to the Island early for it. It must have been fate, because she had just called her hotel an hour before to see if she could arrive a day early. That night they met up for apps and drinks, but it was different, it felt like more than just friends. Afterwards James told Kelsey he had something for her. When they got back to the hotel he finally took his shot and surprised her with the most beautiful emerald bracelet and confessed how he felt about her. She had never see this side of James. No one had ever done anything like that for her before. She saw how caring and thoughtful he is. She saw the courage it took to buy that gift without knowing how she would respond. He was really something special. From that point forward she fell hard and fast for him. Over the next few months they spent time in the City and on Long Island getting to know each other and falling more in love each day. They explored each others worlds and had the best time growing as a couple. Kelsey learned how to blackfish and James learned how to use the subway. January 2024 Kelsey moved out of the city into James’s house in Halesite and they started this exciting new chapter of their lives. Although Otter had to live with a girl for the first time in his life, he enjoyed it too. They fixed up the Ketewomoke house making it their home with a little paint and elbow grease. They got a new puppy named Bugsy, started a veggie garden and went through a much needed Kitchen renovation. Sharing these experiences really showed they made a great team. They figured out how to work together and support each other each an every day. On December 31st 2024, James got down on his knee in Montauk, NY on the cliffs at Shadmoor State Park and asked Kelsey if she would marry him! To which she immediately said yes!