Welcome to our Love Story

Franklin and Shelby met at a Holiday Party...sorta. It all began when Shelby was stood up by her date moments before they were to join her friend Tracee at her Annual Holiday Fete. Dejected, disappointed, and a little salty, Shelby did what any newly single bachelorette would do...She downloaded Hinge and put her index finger to work. It only took a couple swipes before she saw him. "Hmmm, Franklin. He looks like trouble." she thought as she swiped. "It's a Match!" Meanwhile, somewhere in Riverside, Franklin was enjoying a mellow evening of Tiny Desk Concerts and Cognac with his faithful companion Hugo. Wanting to add someone special to this Dynamic Duo, Franklin let his fingers do the walking from profile to profile. "Look at that smile!" he thought upon seeing Shelby's pictures. It was an instant connection. "It's a Match!". Neither of them had any idea just how much their worlds (and the world at large) would change. They began by exchanging flirtations and memes. Setting dates, cancelling, and rescheduling. Learning about each other's favorite albums and foods. They grew closer by introducing one another to new ideas. Franklin had never experienced the magic of Soup Dumplings while Shelby couldn't tell a Bitcoin from a hole in the wall. (Full disclosure: she still can't). They experienced the same challenges that any new couple would; mismatched expectations, past hurts, and hectic schedules. However, the biggest challenge they'd face was looming. After just 3 and a half months of dating they, along with the rest of the world, were face to face with a global pandemic. Their nights out turned to nights in. Their nights in, turned to FaceTimes. Shelby couldn't risk getting her brand new niece Mimi sick. Franklin had the elderly residents of his retirement communities to think about. They became a little "pod" unto themselves, growing closer as the world around them became unrecognizable. Having been barred from teaching in person, Shelby's days were predictable: Wake up. Work out. Zoom. Eat. Sleep. Repeat. Until one day when her ten minute warm up wore her out. The next day, a five minute warm up was way too much. She couldn't understand why her energy was lagging, her emotions were a whirlwind, and the smell of her favorite dish (Chicken Tikka Masala) sent her running to the john. If you thought a pandemic would turn their world on end...wait until you see what's next. Shelby was pregnant! Eden was going to be a big sister. Franklin was going to be a girl dad times two. What came next was a roller coaster of change. It was a monumental task; getting to know one another while navigating multiple relocations, co-parenting, and an increasingly unrecognizable world. Through it all, they never lost sight of what drew them together in the first place...the fact that they're both wildly attractive. Just kidding! Through this whirlwind they clung to what they knew to be true; God set them on this journey and they were exactly where they were supposed to be...together in love.