Love is a special thing. People show love through many ways from asking for your hand in marriage to simply remembering your coffee order. Some people say that love comes unexpectedly. That was the case for Mr. Cory Grage and Mrs. Amie Branch since the person they love works right down the hall from them. 

Branch is the HHS College and Career Success Adviser while Grage teaches Physical Science, Industrial Technology, Set Design, and Environmental Science. The two began dating in early 2012, a year after his divorce. 

According to Branch, though they work right down the hall from each other, they don’t see one another much at work.

“I don’t ever see him. Even when our classrooms were beside each other, I barely saw him. We used to eat lunch together, but it was never really like we stopped each other just to have conversations.” Branch said. “We each have our duties and responsibilities, so come to work and do your job.”

Branch and Grage had been friends for years before they started dating. 

“I knew Cory was my person when we bonded over similar things like food and humor,” Branch said. “I think what helped us click was that we were both just older which helped us because it was a solid foundation. It probably helped that I had known him for long too.”

It’s hard to separate their work and home lives since most things they talk about revolve around what’s happening at school and if it’s not about that it’s about their 7-year-old, Milo. 

“The best part of working together is that he’s there to help with anything I need. When we do stuff for the elementary school like donuts with Santa and I need a background for photos he’s the person I call.” Branch said, “I don’t think there’s a bad thing about working together. It would be nice to ride together but, since we both do different things after school there’s just no chance of us carpooling.” 

Both Grage and Branch said they hadn’t announced their relationship at the start. It was something that people started to realize slowly and were mainly unfazed about, though some people still get shocked when told since the two don’t share the same last name at school but do legally. 

“I didn’t expect to fall in love with my co-worker. I think most people don’t.” Branch said, “Especially if they’re a co-worker. I still feel that spark between us and maybe it’s always been there.”

Grage couldn’t agree more about that spark being there, his face smiling when asked about Branch the whole time. 

“A lot of people think I would get sick of seeing her everywhere but, I see her very little here that it’s hard to be sick of her. The only time I do is when I purposely go to see her or she needs to use my room.” Grage said. 

Grage concluded that he knew Branch was his person when he did not want to be with anyone else. He stated that he couldn’t see himself with someone else and hadn’t thought about being with anyone who was not her. 

“We don’t separate our work and home lives since it’s kinda hard but at the same time, it doesn’t rule our lives in any way,” Grage said. “There are even times when our home lives come here like Milo comes up here all the time. The two just blend but it’s never overwhelming.”.  

Grage said they didn’t announce their relationship but kept Branch’s pregnancy under wraps. It became news to everyone when the staff had to do training about the 4 E’s. There was a segment where the SWAT team came. During a procedure, the team had to put pressure on the staff. They had asked anybody who couldn’t do it for whatever reason to step out and being pregnant had Branch step out which inevitably caused them to announce the pregnancy. 

“The best part is seeing her to me. It’s a rare thing but when I do I’m beyond happy. There isn’t a downside to working together, not one that I’ve found. However, her reasoning for it being a downside to not being able to share a car to save on gas is not entirely the truth. Amie (Branch) wants me to surfer her around but mainly because she doesn’t like driving.”  He said. 

Grage had fallen in love with Branch because of who she is as a person. He listed many characteristics of her and that people just like being around her he is happily guilty of himself. 

“I expected to fall for her. Especially once I started to get to know her and realized how much I liked to be around her. I still feel giddiness around her after all these years.” Grage said.

Even though Grage had fallen for his co-worker he does not recommend it to anyone. Dating a co-worker comes with many big risks and you should only take it if you truly care for that person. 

Nikki Herman, HHS’ administrator assistant was among the first to know about the two. She has been friends with them both for nearly 25 years. She witnessed Grage and Branch quietly develop a romantic relationship and has been one of their biggest supporters ever since.

“I was friends with them before they became official and loved them both, so it was double the money,” Herman said. “I didn’t expect them to become a couple but, it made sense. It was just one of those things where they gravitated to each other from similar interests and that spark.” 

Herman said she never feels like a third wheel when they all hang out. Stating that they make everyone feel included is always a blast with them, especially when they bring Milo along. 

“I found out that Amie (Branch) was pregnant on the way to a Cardinals game. We stopped at a stop sign and she mentioned something about pregnancy so I had to do a double take,” Herman said. “I was super excited and it was cool knowing I’d have another nonrelated family member.” 

Herman believes that people never really thought twice about their relationship. It was like, ‘Okay they’re together now’ and no one minded.

“Branch is a very lucky person because Grage does everything. He’s probably one of those people who can’t sit still and is happy to do anything for her which is beyond lucky. They’re very inviting and just great people to be around.” Herman said. “Don’t get me wrong they’re annoying but in a cute way. I mean even their birthdays being one day apart is annoying. I don’t believe in soulmates but, I would say they’re made for each other.”

Even though these two share a workspace, where the romance started, it doesn’t negatively affect their relationship. Some may say that working together helps their relationship grow and improve. Grage and Branch prove to people that you can work with your spouse and have a good relationship which can be an inspiration to some. Love can be found in unexpected places, sometimes it might just be down the hall from you.