Neil and I first crossed paths during a work training session. With a charming approach, he struck up a conversation by asking if I was Marissa Gallagher's sister. Our initial meeting was brief, but it left a mark. Soon after, Neil reached out to me on Facebook. His opening question was about Olive, the quickest way to my heart, setting the tone for our budding connection. We exchanged a few messages, and he asked for my phone number, promising to call the next day. Time passed, and the call never came—a minor disappointment that I managed to brush off. Over a month later, fate brought us together at work again. This time, Neil was determined, and he finally reached out, inviting me to lunch and asking for some advice on his business. I couldn’t resist teasing him, saying the first piece of advice was to work on his follow-up skills. Our first official date took place at The Forge Restaurant in Pittsburgh. We had a great time, and the evening continued back at my place, on my back deck. As the night wound down, I walked Neil to his car and gave him a hug. When he struggled with the latch on my back gate, I went to help him—little did I know, this was his clever way to get me back for a kiss. That kiss turned out to be our last first kiss. Throughout that summer, we grew closer, discovering our shared passions for music, good food, and our beloved puppies. Our connection deepened into love, and now we share a joyful blended family with Olive and Charlie.