On August 1, Leonardo asked Chrissy out on what would be their first 'official' date, and not their occasional (or shall I dare to say intentional) meetings around the Homewood Suites. With the Italian-English dictionary as their best companion, the two enjoyed a romantic candlelit dinner at Steak Street in High Point, NC. That night sparked the beginning of an intense, deep, and everlasting love. Chrissy was confident that she had found the man of her dreams, but the road to happiness would certainly contain speed bumps.

Leonardo's job required that he return to Italy every three months, feeding the fear that one day he would not return. This fear troubled the couple, but their love was strong enough and they ultimately made the decision to stay together - whether in America or Italy. As fate would step in, the company that Leonardo works for offered him a job that would keep him in the States, but that meant leaving behind his family, country, and customs; it was the hardest decision of his life.