Actually, it all started at the all-school meeting before the year began. Hannah was sitting at the back table (strategically, to avoid getting called on), and Forrest showed up late—classic Forrest. They both sat at the back and didn’t talk much, except for when Forrest asked the table for a piece of gum, and Hannah, kindly, gave him one.

Fast forward a few weeks, and Hannah was working as an Educational Assistant (EA) during Forrest’s first year as a special education teacher at Westbrook. She was helping with some of Forrest’s students in second grade. At one point, Forrest told her he was going to step out of the room and said, “Let me know if you need anything.” Hannah jokingly responded, “Well, how am I supposed to do that, the bat signal?” They exchanged numbers, and soon, what started as work-related texts turned into personal texts -- talking about life, their history, and their shared love for the Huksers (which Hannah now admits was all a show to get Forrest to like her!) It became clear there was something special between them.

Forrest finally worked up the courage to ask her out. Their first date? Breakfast at Culprit Cafe. The connection was undeniable, and in January of that year, Forrest officially asked Hannah to be his girlfriend.

Since then, we’ve shared so many adventures—from navigating COVID (including two weeks of quarantining in the same room!), moving Hannah into her apartment, moving into the home we now share, family changes, vacations, animal deaths, and Forrest blowing the secret engagement. We've had some incredible times together and are excited to keep building our life and love -- and cannot wait to celebrate the next step of our life with our loved family and friends!