Kayleigh and Will met during freshman year of high school in Panama City Beach, Florida Fall of 2005 while working together at Shipwreck Island Water Park! They became friends almost instantly and dated for a while but things didn't work out. To this day, Will would tell you that he knew he was in love with Kayleigh since the day they met. Through the years they remained very close and as Will grew more into a man than the young boy she first met, things started to change as years passed by. Kayleigh will say how he was always her best friend and confidant through many of life's obstacles. Kayleigh slowly realized over time that she loved him for more than just their friendship and more like a significant other. For her, it just took a while to see the transformation through being friends that he was growing up into the man he is today. Both of them will tell you that through their being friends, they always trusted each other wholeheartedly & could talk to one another about anything, with no limitations. Will was a rock for her during her Mom's battle of cancer and surviving 3 times, with the latest being in 2015-16..Will was there when they needed him the most, in late 2016 Kayleigh's Dad had a massive stroke & they thought he wouldn't make it. Will was yet another good friend she could lean on during these times and of course, she as well during some battling times Will had through life. Kayleigh has recently(since her Dad's condition) been diagnosed among other things, with an irregular heartbeat making her at great risk for a heart attack/stroke especially since her Dad's incident. Kayleigh began to fall more and more in love with him through the friendship. As we know, sometimes the best love stories begin with the best of friendships! All in all, Will has been waiting for this day for almost 12 years. Of course Kayleigh couldn't be happier with them finding their way back to one another in the purest love. A true never ending love story..a fairytale.
Will came back to Panama City Beach(a surprise visit, he is in the military and out of state so Kayleigh had no idea but Janet, Kayleigh's mom knew all along) and proposed on Christmas Day! What an amazing Christmas present to have especially after all she and her family had gone through recently. It was such a breath of fresh air and a definite hope for their future that would come sooner than later!