Our Story

This love story has a charming beginning, just like many others! Vernon and Ebony first crossed paths at Village West Marina, where Ebony works. Vernon had just kicked off a family business venture at the marina, shuttling back and forth from Los Angeles to Stockton, California.

 

One day, Vernon stopped by the front office to grab an extra key fob for property access. That’s when he saw the friendly and beautiful face of Ebony, with her radiant smile and kind, doe-like eyes. She was so helpful, and Vernon found himself genuinely drawn to her warm personality. But there was a catch—he wanted to keep things professional and, being based in Los Angeles, he hesitated to jump into any romantic pursuits. Little did he know, Ebony wasn't looking to be pursued romantically at that time either!

 

As the weeks went by, Vernon kept making those trips between Los Angeles and Stockton while gearing up for the business opening. Each visit, he would pop into the office to say hi to everyone, especially Ebony. With COVID-19 making remote work the norm, Vernon found himself spending more time in the Central Valley and at the marina. He enjoyed stopping by the front office, chatting with everyone, including Ebony, asking questions, and snagging more key fobs. During these visits, he learned that Ebony was a SoCal girl from Temecula, which was a delightful surprise!

 

One Saturday, the marina hosted a summer concert, and Vernon drove up from Los Angeles, excited to promote his business and spend some quality time with Ebony outside of work. He discovered that she loved sparkling wine —something that reminded him of the beautiful wineries in Temecula, where he had memberships. While at the concert he even had a few bottles of Wilson Creek sparkling wine ready to go!

 

Later, Ebony’s good friend and colleague Sam playfully asked Vernon if he liked Ebony, to which he happily replied, “Yes!” Later that evening, Ebony invited Vernon to the exclusive "Bobs After Dark" event, giving them the chance to chat and connect on a deeper level. They exchanged numbers, and just like that, the conversations began to flow!

 

On their first official date, Ebony whipped up a delicious dinner, and they set off on a boat for a stunning sunset dinner on the delta. They enjoyed several dates together, but one particularly memorable night stood out. They were hanging out in the park, chatting away, when suddenly the lawn sprinklers came on! With a playful laugh, Ebony dashed through them, and before he knew it, Vernon couldn’t resist following her. That spontaneous moment led to their passionate first kiss, and the rest is history!