At first, there were three. Mother and young daughters doing just fine on their own, thank you very much. Then, things got better. There was this guy who stepped into the Zone. It was AutoZone where Veronica met James, and it went from the corporate setting to a family setting.

James, undaunted and unafraid, ventured into a household of three women – and they all four thrived. Much credit goes to Veronica who created a loving space for all of them at the start. James helped make it a home by sharing the “secret family recipes,” which are no secret at all since they can be found on the back of the packages of grocery store staples. The key to winning over two teenage girls? Bacon and egg breakfast tacos on Fridays. And, sharing great times together.

James (who the family calls “Jay”) shared his love of all things Tampa Bay, including the Tampa Bay Lightning hockey team. Gabriella has been playing hockey for more than two years. You will find the family at the Mid-South Ice House watching her play. Viviana is on the cheer team at Desoto Central High School. The family including Jay cheers right along with her.

Life was good – and then it got even better once again. James, Jr. joined the family Zone in January 2022, and it is now a Party of Five! Every good party requires music and dancing. James is trying to get JJ interested in Grateful Dead music, but JJ prefers the Tarantella, an Italian dance that requires twirling a towel over your head.

A special place for the family is the famous Peabody Hotel in Memphis. That is where James proposed to Veronica – on the rooftop with all three children present.

This Party of Five will celebrate their love on July 5th, and we hope you can join us.