Connect How did your love story begin?

He’d nearly given up on dating apps. I was a single mom trying Bumble at 42. He was only my second date—but from the moment we met, it felt different. He didn’t mention he was Deaf, but I noticed right away. What struck me was how present he was—he turned his chair to face mine, asked thoughtful questions, and truly listened. We talked for 90 minutes. When we walked away that day, we both knew: this wasn’t just coffee. This was the beginning of everything.

What is your favorite memory you've shared as a couple?

Some of our favorite memories are at parties—where we’ll each wander off, fully in our social butterfly mode, then spot each other hours later across the room like we’re falling in love all over again. We work from home side by side, watch shows together every night, and still find ways to miss each other. That moment of reconnecting in a crowd? It’s magic every time—and reminds us we’re not just partners. We still choose each other, again and again.

What would you do with $20,000?

We’d split it three ways: $8,000 to pay off debt (because adulting), $6,000 for me to spend however I want (he insisted!), and $6,000 for a much-needed getaway. We both work hard—he juggles five jobs as well as gig work for extra money and I run my own photography business—so the chance to rest, recharge, and just be together? That’s priceless. It’s not just about the money—it’s about the freedom to breathe a little easier, dream a little bigger, and keep showing up for each other.