An Unlikely Office Romance That Led To Marriage

For this month's Love In A Small Town feature, we asked Patch readers to tell us the story behind their romantic chance encounters. This is Preston Bealle's story:

“I noticed my wife when she was a college summer intern in an office where I worked. She was the lunch receptionist I passed on my way to the elevator. I was 26 and she seemed very young, so I didn't ask her out. Improbably, she was back the next summer, before her senior year, and I spotted her immediately.

I asked her out and she said no, she was busy, but said six words: ‘But you can try me again,’ without which I would not have asked a second time. Out to dinner, within 15 minutes on our first date, I was thinking, ‘This girl is fantastic. I wonder if I can convince her to marry me?’ She was 21, still in college, and far from thinking about marriage. Our wedding was large and formal, on just our eighth date together. That was 39 years and three children ago. I still thank my good luck and quick judgment every day.”

—Preston Bealle

See all Patch "chance encounters" here.

For next month's Love In A Small Town feature, we want to help you give Mom the best Mother's Day gift ever. Write her a heartfelt letter to tell her how much she means to you, email it to locallove@patch.com and we'll feature it in your town's newsfeed on Mother's Day. Get more details here.

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