Once upon a time there was a Valiant Bearded Manager of the Kingdom of Bargain Hunt Superstore who was in need of a subject to run the province of the cash registers. It just so happened there was a lovely new College Student who desperately needed some cash. She caught word of the position from her cousin who worked for the Valiant Bearded Manager. The College Student made several attempts to get an interview and was beginning to think the Valiant Bearded Manager was giving her the “run around.” However, the Valiant Bearded Manager eventually called the College Student in for an interview. And behold, she was hired because he thought she would fit into the Kingdom quite well. Over time, the two became friends along with some of the other subjects in the kingdom. About a year later, the Valiant Bearded One found a set of two small keys and decided to give her one as a sign of their friendship, but the Student wondered if it were the key to his heart. When he noticed that the next day the key was around her neck on a chain she knew that, IT WAS!

Although it was forbidden for the Manager to be romantically involved with his Subject, the two began to grow together, but had to keep their relationship secret lest they be beheaded. After courting for about four years, they learned about the things they had in common as well as those things in which they were opposites. And it is true that opposites attract! In common they share a love for pets – their five cats and others that may come along. They learned their personalities are quite opposite. He is the quiet type; she isn’t. Makyla is the butterflies and rainbows type; Jarrod is a realist. Jarrod is a lover of all sorts of music – his dream to own his own record shop is coming to pass. Makyla graduated from student to BSN and works in the NICU where she is a lover of the tiniest babies. Her dream is to become a Nurse Anesthetist, or to continue to give loving, tender care to the tiny babies. Both love family and time together. Both are artistically gifted in different ways. And both love and appreciate their differences as well as those things they have in common.

In July 2018, Makyla was enjoying a retreat at a lake house in Albertville, Alabama with family and friends. On the 11th, her friend, Eden convinced the group to watch the sunset on the dock on Lake Wheeler. As the sun was setting, Edien insisted they have some photos taken. After the photo session for everyone else, it was Makyla and Jarrod’s turn. While Edien was secretly filming the pair, Jarrod asked Makyla if she were having a good time. Next, he asked her if there were anything that would make it better. She smiled and started to walk away (thinking the photos were done). Jarrod stopped her and dropped to one knee, at which point she realized what was about to happen. In complete shock, the fair maiden realized that the valiant prince was about to promise her a permanent place in his kingdom. He presented her with a beautiful ring as a token of his love. She asked him to put it on her finger and the answer was YES! Both can’t wait to live the rest of their fairy tale in their own Kingdom together!