Just as all good love stories go these days.... it started on a dating app. In the spring of 2021, Shane had quit his job for a second time to chase his dreams of being a professional beach bum. He spent his days surfing the shore of Costa Rica, reading, and filling up on the local fruit. All the while readily planning his next adventure in the fall.... Fiji. Grace had just finished her first year of graduate school at NYU in New York and was back home in Little Compton helping with her late Grandmother’s care. She was looking forward to her upcoming semester where she'd continue to pursue her Master’s degree in International Development and Humanitarian Assistance and was looking for a job working abroad. While both had future plans that took them far from Rhode Island's East Bay, the chance connection on "Hinge" sparked a summer romance that never really fizzled out. Their first date was a string of local favorites: The Art Cafe, Four Corners, and Fogland Beach, which, unknowingly to them... included Shane's groomsmen Jacob (see Jacob for the true story). Shane quickly grew to love Grace's Peace Corps dog Olive (then 1.5 year old) and spending time with Suzi and Wayne - chatting about books, gardening and the world. Grace managed to get a word in here or there too. Their summer included countless dates to the beach, Block Island, and fireside chats. But when fall came around, it was time to head back to New York for Grace and Olive. Unsure of what would happen next, they decided to just see what happened and to visit when they could.... And well, Shane would spend the next 9 months driving to Brooklyn every other weekend to see Grace in her 4th floor walk up across from Prospect Park. The trip was 5 hours door to door <3. In June of 2022, after 1 year of dating, Grace, Shane and Olive moved into their first apartment together.

After two and a half years a dating Shane had planned to propose on New Year’s Eve weekend. What better way to end the year? He worked with a local jeweler earlier that fall to design the ring and asked Suzi and Roger for their blessings. He was leaving for a surf trip to Panama with his good friend Mitch a few days later and knew he didn't want to wait any longer. Following the Christmas holiday, Grace had gone to NYC to visit friends. During her absence, Shane organized a weekend of celebrations; dinners and drinks with their closest family and friends. What he hadn't planned for was Grace getting COVID, cutting her trip short not being able to be at any of those events. He'd have to improvise. Early on the morning of the 30th, Shane suggested to Grace that some fresh air and a walk would make her feel better (a suggestion Grandma Marie would approve of). So they bundled up, got Olive and headed to their favorite beach in Westport, MA. Amidst their usual stroll, Shane skipped rocks, Grace looked for shells and Olive sniffed about. Grace walked up ahead and Shane called out "Grace, look at this". Thinking nothing of it, she turned around to find Shane on one knee, smiling and holding the most delicate soft pink ring box. Stunned and speechless she started crying. "Are you ready?" Shane asked. Grace was still crying but had started to walk back towards Shane. Once she was standing in front of him, he asked her again, "Are you ready to start the next chapter of our lives?” He waited for her to nod and catch her breath. He continued on with the most beautiful proposal speech (sorry folks that just for us to know), and concluded with "will you marry me?" At this point Grace had dropped to the sand to be at eye level with Shane. Feeding off the excitement in the air, Olive began running figure eights around the pair. Between tears Grace responded "yes!" Alone on the beach with their dog, moment was perfect.