It all started on a random Friday at the Baker Hughes office in Sugar Land, Texas. Covid was curbing but people still rarely went into the office. However, Nichol was in the office that day to ship out an in-line pH analyzer. She was running around causing a ruckus with wrapping tape and excessive phone calls. Jesse only came into the office this Friday to pack some supplies for his trip the following week to Canada. It was at this time that Jesse was walking back to the laboratory when he first passed a woman in the hallway. This woman and her colleague were walking in from lunch. As Jesse turned the corner to the laboratory, he heard the two giggling. At this point in time Jesse became self conscious wondering what the women were laughing about. A few hours later another coworker was speaking to Jesse in the supply room and mentioned a “Nichol” at which Jesse had no idea who he was talking about. The coworker then suggested an introduction. Upon meeting Nichol for the “first time”, Jesse quickly registered the woman laughing in the hallway. Jesse and Nichol started the conversation talking about chemical tank level monitors as this was Nichol’s product line and Jesse recently pitched and trialed the product when he was working in Angola. Nichol was interested in seeing pictures of the installation and Jesse was more than happy to show her his photos at his desk later on that day. Jesse handed Nichol his business card and asked for some technical data and pricing of the products. An hour later, Nichol looks for Jesse but he’s on a call. She returns to her desk. Afterwards, Jesse goes to Nichol and invites her to his desk. Surprisingly, Nichol started making small talk upon seeing Jesse’s computer background of the Penn State Logo. The conversation migrated to the great outdoors. Jesse left the office and received an email later that evening regarding the product technical data and pricing he asked for. Jesse replied with an email discussing the possibility of getting a group of coworkers together to rock climb at one of the local gyms. That evening, Nichol and Jesse would exchange a few emails until Jesse asked for her phone number.

Over the next few weeks Jesse and Nichol would communicate while Jesse was working in Canada. When Jesse had free time he would ask Nichol if she had time to schedule him in. She replied that her calendar was, “up to date” and the two would sign on to MicroSoft Teams to discuss anything but work. On September 8, 2021, Jesse and Nichol finally went on their first date in Houston to Urban Eats followed by, their now favorite cocktail bar, Julep. The following weekend Nichol got tickets to the Astros baseball game. After the game, Nichol and Jesse had their first night of dancing at the 80s bar, Cherry. Over the next couple of weeks, Jesse traveled for work to Canada and Suriname. At the end of October 2021, Nichol and Jesse went on separate trips with their friends to San Diego and ended up spending the whole weekend together. They traveled to Tijuana with her friend Carla, to visit a shelter for Honduran migrants. On one of the nights in San Diego the couple was walking to their dinner reservation where they came upon a cute fireplace at an outdoor bar with a DJ playing romantic music. It was at this moment by the Marina when Jesse asked Nichol to be his girlfriend. But it was also at this moment when Nichol said “Not yet”. A few days later back in Houston, on October 26th, Nichol made dinner for Jesse she said, “let’s give this a shot”. In the beginning of November Jesse went home for his 30th birthday. When he came back to Houston he was greeted with his aparement filled with balloons and Oreo cheesecake. The second week of November 2021 is when Jesse first met most of Nichol’s Tios/Tias and cousins. As they arrived late, the entire family stood up and clapped. Jesse had never received so many hugs and kisses as he did that day.

Throughout December 2021 Jesse was working in Norway and Nichol was traveling to Mexico and Colorado to see her friends. This was the longest time apart and they really missed each other. Jesse would wake up at 5 AM and Nichol would stay up late so that they could FaceTime each other. Jesse and Nichol planned to meet up in Doha, Qatar to have Christmas with Nichol’s parents. On Christmas Eve, Jesse and Nichol decided to go to the rooftop bar at the building where her parents reside. This was the first moment the couple was able to have alone and relax over some drinks to reflect on the month apart. At one point in the conversation Nichol was thanking Jesse and Jesse backed his statement with, “Well those are the things that we do for the ones we love.” Nichol hesitated and followed with “I love you James Jesse”. Jesse reciprocated with “I love you Maria Nichol”.

Jesse arrived very early in Qatar on Christmas Eve when he first met the Perez family. They started off the holiday making alfajores and sugar cookies. The rest of the trip they rode camels in the desert, raced the sand dunes, danced around the fire in the desert, and drank a lot of karak tea. It was on this trip that Jesse quickly learned where Nichol’s love of food came from. One of the last nights of the holiday with the Perez family was spent on a rooftop bar for New Year’s eve. Unfortunately, this was also the only day of the year that it rained in Qatar, so the party was moved inside. This did not stop Nichol and Jesse from dancing the night away into the New Year!! Nichol first met Jesse’s family in February 2022 when they booked a trip back to Pennsylvania. As soon as they landed she was in awe with the beautiful sights and fresh air. Once they arrived to the Scarborough household they were greeted with doggy cuddles and plethora of sweets and treats. Nichol had her first amish buggy sighting and experienced the best of the amish baking: pretzels. They enjoyed the days hanging out with family, playing rummy, going ice-skating, eating ice cream, exploring the wineries, and even crossed state borders to the New York finger lakes.

In April 2022 Jesse set up a video chat with Nichol’s parents to ask their blessing to marry Nichol. Jesse explained his master plan which would require them both to be in Houston later in August. Leaving the chat, Sissi and Victor started planning their trip back to Houston and keeping it all a secret in the meanwhile. Jesse started planning for his family to visit Houston in the same timeframe. He slowly dropped ideas for the two families to meet later in the year. As August came around the bend, Nichol and Jesse were excited for their two families to meet. Sissi and Heather first met at an Astros game and a couple times throughout the week for dinner. Victor flew into Houston a few days later. On Friday, August 19, 2022 Jesse had a formal dinner planned where he and Nichol had cooked dinner for the families. The families “thought" of the idea of walking to Buffalo Bayou Park to get some family photos in front of the Houston skyline. Jesse hid the ring in his sister Katie’s bag and took it out at the park when Nichol wasn’t paying attention. Jesse put the ring in his back pocket and the bump was quite obvious it wasn’t his wallet. Jesse and Nichol posed for some pictures but Jesse wasn’t happy with the spot for the proposal. Nichol’s hand slid down to Jesse’s waist and he had to quickly maneuver to prevent her hand from hitting the back pocket bulge. Jesse quickly suggested walking further to another spot where the families could take better pictures with more of the skyline in sight. The families lined up for photos first. Jesse tried to move in a way where Nichol wouldn’t be able to see his back pockets. Finally it was Jesse and Nichol’s turn for a photo. One, two, three camera flashes. Jesse turns to Nichol for a picture of a kiss. They kiss and again a few flashes from the camera. Jesse grabs Nichol’s hands and looks into her eyes. He pauses for a moment as he tries to gather his thoughts. It clicks in Nichol’s head what is happening. Both have watery eyes at this point. Jesse had a speech in his head but couldn’t gather his thoughts. He’s been excited for this moment for the past two months as the ring sat in his possession. Left speechless, he gets down on one knee and asks Nichol, “will you marry me?”. As the tears flow, Nichol says, “Yes!!”.