2nd time is the charm.

Derek's version: A time long, long ago I worked at this little place called Starbucks. One day this new person, Meredith, started working there as well. I was immediately infatuated with her. Hanging out with her was effortless and we were constantly laughing when we were around each other. I was pretty obsessed with her laugh so I would purposely do anything I could to make her laugh. There was a slight problem in the beginning. I almost never saw her because I worked at night and she was an opener. Since I was a manager I was eventually able to get her on the night shift. Soon after she joined the night shift I started driving her home. She lived next to this super nice place called Snake and Jake's Christmas club at the time and asked if I wanted to get a drink after dropping her off. So of course I wanted to. We started hanging out every night after that, and were together quickly afterwards. Things were really perfect right away so we moved in together, got married, and eventually had Chloe. Meredith's version: Suffice it to say that marrying Derek again was not on my bingo card. I guess it’s your typical boy meets girl story: boy meets girl. Boy married girl. Boy has child with girl and they break up and then get back together after multiple years and has another child with girl. But looking back on how we met, it is probably fate putting Derek as my manager that led me to him. Also, my vague attempt at flirtation by stealing his Chinese food. Probably the Chinese food, his lax policy on tardiness (at least when it came to me) and his ability to make me feel like “it’s not that serious” about practically anything cottoned me to Derek in a way I could have never been prepared. How we split is [information redacted]. How we got back together is due to his patience, care, and unyieldingly devotion to his family. His hard work and tireless commitment to making amends has won me over, and we laugh through every day. Derek, getting to watch the worst possible trash TV you could imagine with you is a joy of my life. I’m excited to continue to do life with you and raise these crazy girls no matter how little sleep we get. Thanks for not being into hiking. I love you.