We're getting married

In the summer of 2022, Lauren was working as a corrections nurse at the Multnomah County Detention Center. After three years on the job, she had one firm rule: never date anyone from work. But fate, as it turns out, had other plans. One ordinary day, during a routine medical visit in a housing unit, a friendly conversation led to a simple exchange. An inmate asked Lauren how old she was, and then posed the same question to the nearby deputy. “I’m 25,” the deputy replied. That deputy was River, though neither of them realized at the time just how significant that moment would become. Later that day, Lauren received a follow request on Instagram from River. They shared a mutual friend: someone from Lauren’s childhood playgroup whose son had grown up to be River’s best friend. The coincidence felt surreal, and the small-world connection sparked curiosity on both sides. River reached out not long after with a message, and while Lauren was polite, she stayed firm in her stance of not dating coworkers. Still, River remained kind and respectful. He often invited her to group outings after work. Despite her initial resistance, their paths continued to cross through mutual friends and unexpected moments. Eventually, they ended up spending an evening talking and laughing late into the night, realizing just how easy it was to connect. From there, the conversation deepened. One evening, after a long shift, Lauren and River went out for what she jokingly calls an “interrogation session,” where she asked him what he was looking for in life. His response was simple: “I’m looking for a wife.” A short time later, on Labor Day, they went on their first official date. River showed up with flowers, took Lauren to a cozy Italian dinner, and then out for mini golf and drinks. It was the kind of evening that felt effortless and exciting—where something just clicked. Since then, life has been full of shared laughter, new adventures, and growing love. What started as an unexpected meeting at work has turned into something neither of them could have predicted, and both of them are endlessly grateful for.