Mere days after returning from college on account of the pandemic, the lovely couple innocently downloaded Tinder to pass the time. Audrey wasn't really intending to meet anyone (and how could she anyway when everyone was supposed to be quarantined?). Mathias, on the other hand, was hoping to find an intelligent adventure buddy, someone who would enjoy reading a book outside together as much as a road trip. They matched, and what a match it was. They hit it off immediately, chatting, getting to know each other, trading music recommendations. Audrey was too nervous to tell Mathias her favorite artist was Taylor Swift, and instead the first album she mentioned to Mathias was "Delta" by Mumford & Sons. After they were done talking that night, he listened to the whole album! Their relationship remained virtual for a little while, but they were still able to make things work. Their first date was a virtual tour of the Musee d'Orsay in Paris. They spent many hours video calling and with every hour it became more and more apparent that they would need to meet in person.

They met face to face April 26 for a stroll around the McDonald Mansion neighborhood of Santa Rosa. Their date went well and Audrey even agreed to meet Mathias again! They spent the rest of that summer falling in love. Usually, Audrey and Mathias could be found at their favorite picnic spot in Annadel State Park near the Bartlett house. Their evenings consisted of sunsets, snuggling, and stargazing with periods of long conversation, as well as intimate silence. Audrey returned to Arizona to complete her last semester at GCU in September 2020 and the couple started their brief "long distance phase". While this time was challenging, both Audrey and Mathias feel like it only strengthened their relationship and confirmed how much they wanted to be together.

Audrey and Mathias had plans to go for a hike and enjoy a picnic at Umbrella Tree in North Sonoma Mountain Regional Park. This was a special location for the couple. It's where they became "official". At this point, Mathias and Audrey had discussed marriage, even gone as far as getting sized for rings, but Audrey still had no idea that Mathias was going to propose on their hike. When they got to Umbrella Tree, they were pleasantly surprised. Not only did they find sunny skies, despite a high likelihood of rain on the weather report, but they were also the only ones there! Well, the only humans (North Sonoma Mountain is also home to lots of cows that happened to be at Umbrella Tree to join us for our picnic). After enjoying their pasta salad on the picnic bench and taking pictures of the young calves with their mothers, Audrey and Mathias moved into the heart of Umbrella Tree to seek shelter from the wind and to revisit the spot where Mathias asked Audrey to officially be his girlfriend. As they relocated, Mathias slyly transferred the ring from his backpack to the pouch pocket of his hoody. Mathias sat down on a stump, thinking Audrey would sit down next to him. Instead, she went to sit on his lap. He removed the ring from his pocket before she sat down so she wouldn't feel it, but now he didn't have anywhere to hide the ring! Before she could see it, he mustered up the courage and asked her the question he had been waiting to ask her for so long. "Almost two years ago, in this same spot, I asked you to be my girlfriend. Now, I have another question. Audrey Bartlett, will you marry me?" Audrey gave Mathias a big kiss with an enthusiastic "Yes!". Now, if you've been paying attention to the story you might have noticed that she is still sitting on Mathias's lap and he didn't get down on one knee (oops!), so he asked her again on one knee, and again, she said "Yes".