In March 2021, Maranda was busy writing a book about being single in her 30s when she met David, who had recently moved back to the area for work. Their first date was at Iron Oak Post, where they shared an order of canoecumbers. By "shared," we mean Maranda enthusiastically ate them while David reluctantly took one bite before explaining that he didn't like cucumbers, dill, or many other foods.

As they listened to local comedians, they discovered a mutual love of music and spent an alarming amount of time discussing the growing peacock problem in Palm Bay. While most people were unaware of the threat, Maranda understood the truth: the peacocks were organizing, and she had to tell everyone about it.

At the time they met, Maranda had absolutely no interest in another relationship. She was fully committed to a future as a lifelong spinster and was writing a book about it. David was not particularly interested in being part of that plan, though, so they became friends instead.

Before long, they were spending nearly every day together. They grabbed lunch, watched movies, played board games, and slowly became inseparable. Eventually, Maranda made the first move, which is exactly how she likes things to happen.

A few months later, they had a serious talk initiated by David, who wanted something more. Maranda was less enthusiastic about labels, but she reluctantly agreed because she didn't want to stop seeing David. In August 2021, while getting soaked by rain and buried under wet confetti at a Green Day concert, they told each other, "I love you."

As their relationship grew, life became more complicated. When Maranda's dad became sick, David showed up in every way that mattered. He supported both Maranda and her dad through some of their hardest days and through her fathers eventual death. Around the same time, Maranda began exploring her faith more deeply. David encouraged her growth, supported her questions, and walked beside her every step of the way, even when the journey looked different for each of them.

Somewhere along the way, the woman who had been certain she never wanted to get married realized something surprising: she could not imagine her life without David in it. The two were engaged during a joint proposal in September of 2025, after much discussion and a mandatory guarantee that David would not try to surprise Maranda under any circumstances.

The truth is that David and Maranda balance each other perfectly. Maranda is dramatic, outgoing, passionate, disorganized, powered almost entirely by her emotional support water bottle and optimism, and capable of turning any simple conversation into a feature-length presentation.

David is calm, grounded, humble, and an exceptional listener. He is always up for whatever adventure comes next and has never made Maranda feel like she is too much, too loud, or too different. He will talk in whatever accent she wants to talk in, wear the themed outfits, try the new hobby, and patiently follow along as she explains a topic he did not ask about in incredible detail.

But easygoing does not mean easily steamrolled. David has a quiet strength about him. He gives Maranda room to be fully herself, but he also knows when to reel her back in, challenge her, or lovingly remind her that not every idea needs to become an immediate group project. He is also the official manager of Maranda's calendar, a role he takes seriously because otherwise there is a very real chance she would show up on the wrong day, at the wrong time, or not at all.

They are bonded by their love of music, travel, and being world-class couch potatoes. They are divided by Maranda's devotion to cats, which David tolerates because he loves her (the cats tolerate David because they have no choice) and Maranda's love for weird and strange foods, though David will now try at least a bite of anything with mild hesitation.

Together, they have proven that the best love stories often begin with friendship, a few questionable vegetables, concern over a possible peacock uprising, and finding the one person you never expected to need, but ultimately cannot imagine life without.