In the fall of 2011, we joined the local Rescue Squad- both excited to volunteer their time to help others. When we first met, we tried to "play it cool", but we both instantaneously knew that we were falling for each other. Come August, Melissa headed to Providence College in Rhode Island and Thomas headed to Marist College in New York. Throughout college, we made it work by seeing each other whenever we could and talking every single day. After graduation- we decided to continue long distance... but just made it a little bit longer!! Thomas headed to Grenada for Medical school, and Mel headed up to Massachusetts to become a Pediatric Nurse Practitioner.

Thomas continued to throw Mel off his trail as he soon revealed his intentions to propose in the Summer of 2018 to Mel's sister, Katie. Katie was ecstatic (of course after asking Thomas when he was going to pop the question since they first met...) and Thomas and Katie started planning for the ring and the proposal! Thomas was all set to propose and wanted to pop the question somewhere that was meaningful to them both. Immediately Pinehurst came to mind- where we had gone together on vacation many times and was special to Mel because she grew up going there on vacation with her family. In the late afternoon- after a day of playing golf together and relaxing, we headed to the Pinehurst Country Club and when Thomas went to "get us drinks" he came back and got on one knee!