On a Sunday in September 2019, Derek asked Hailey out to a restaurant in the North End, which is where she was living at the time. We went to dinner, got gelato, and then sat on a bench at the end of Hailey's street for 4 hours just talking about everything under the sun (arguably about way too much, way too soon). We both haven't shut up since.

On May 3rd, 2025, Derek asked Hailey to go to Boston for an early birthday dinner celebration. He casually mentioned that we should return to the bench since we were early for dinner. While sitting on the bench, Derek told me to pull up Facebook because his Auntie Sherry (shoutout Sherry!!) had posted something on my page that I needed to see. When I looked down at my phone, I saw that Sherry had added me to the exclusive, family-only (must be at least engaged to be included) Facebook page, Macebook. If you know the Mace family, you know about Macebook. When I looked up from my phone, Derek was already on one knee. A photographer and Katelyn, Hailey’s bestie, popped out from behind the building to capture the raw moments—and for that, we are forever grateful. It’s important to acknowledge that Katelyn had gotten to the bench two hours before the proposal - before we had even left our house -to make sure no one sat there. Even the poor man who had just finished his long run on an 85-degree day. She had no problem turning him away. Everyone needs a Katelyn.