Scott and Adia met in Nashville in February 2022 at the Ben & Jerry’s Global Franchise Conference. As first-time attendees, they both joined an introductory meeting, where Scott happened to sit beside her. He introduced himself as the manager of the Williamsburg, Virginia store, which immediately struck Adia as surprising since she worked just 20 minutes away at the Yorktown Beach location and had never met him.

After realizing how close they lived, the two quickly bonded over shared interests and future goals. Adia found Scott to be charming, mature, easy to laugh with, and very attractive. For the remainder of the conference, they were nearly inseparable. By Saturday night, when they went out together, it was clear that the chemistry between them could not be ignored.

Once back in Virginia, they went on their first date—a scenic shoreline hike along the James River, where they admired both the views and each other. After about six months of “long distance”—a 30-minute drive between homes—they decided to move in together.

Adia brought her cat, Crush, who quickly adjusted to life with Scott’s Staffordshire Bull Terrier, MJ. Not long after, they adopted two kittens, Skunk and Scout, expanding their household from four to six.

Since then, they have shared many adventures, including Mardi Gras in New Orleans, a beach trip to Montauk, a music festival in Ocean City, the Renaissance Festival in Florida, a visit to Olympic National Park, and many more. Still, they feel most at peace together in the Shenandoah Valley, where they spend time hiking, swimming in waterfalls, and enjoying nature.

Throughout their relationship, they have supported one another through life’s challenges, including career changes, illness, evolving relationships, and the complexities of growing older. Scott remains the same man Adia met in 2022—kind, playful, sensitive, intelligent, and empathetic. To Adia, he has always been the person she believed she would marry. She looks forward to the future they will continue building together, confident in their ability to face whatever comes—whether stormy or bright—side by side.