Tom and Gayle first met in September of 2022. Their parents, Pete & June Brutscher and John & Audrey Aldrich, had been friends decades prior. Tom was even friends with Gayle's dad, and John and Audrey cheered on Tom as he won the Minnesota State High School Wrestling Championship. Tom also helped Dr. Aldrich do surgery at the farm, among other things. Meanwhile, Gayle was studying piano, then going on to a publishing career in the city, while Tom worked on the east coast and in Antarctica. Little did they know . . .