We met at a bar on Tuesday, October 4th, 2022. Nicholas had just stopped in for a quick bite and a drink, and Sequoia happened to be bartending that night. At first, she wasn’t the one serving him her coworker was since she was working the opposite end of the bar. As the night went on and things began winding down, the staff started chatting about random things, eventually landing on the topic of, “What’s your favorite movie?” Sequoia asked her coworker and began cleaning up, getting ready to close for the night. Around that time, Nicholas complimented her hair it had just been dyed a bright, bold red that very day. She replied with a quick “thank you” and kept cleaning. But then, out of nowhere, she had a sudden urge to ask someone else the same movie question and that someone happened to be Nicholas. After chatting at the bar for a bit, Nicholas mentioned he was just passing through on his way from Texas to Florida to work his first storm. There was an instant connection—honestly, love at first sight. So, he asked for Sequoia’s number. And, for the first time in her seven years working in the service industry, she actually gave it out. She didn’t get his number in return, but something told her to trust that he’d text her. A couple of hours after her shift ended, a message came through. They started talking, getting to know each other more, and quickly realized they were both eager to meet again. The only problem? Nicholas was now in Florida working, and leaving wasn't an option. Determined to see him again, Sequoia requested time off during a week that was already blocked out because so many others had requested it. But her managers, sensing something special, made it happen. She bought a plane ticket her very first time flying. Nerves were high. Her mom was especially anxious about her daughter flying out to meet a guy she'd only seen once for an hour. Brave? Maybe. Slightly unhinged? Possibly. When Nicholas pulled up to the airport to pick her up, she was a mix of thrilled and crazy nervous. What neither of them knew then, standing face to face for only the second time, was that they'd have a beautiful baby girl named Abrielle and be getting married in 2026.