Historien Brooke Cottage

Our Story of Redemption and Healing

Both Chip and Quay were healing from painful divorces when Chip's sister set them up on a blind date in late June of 2004. Quay was also healing physically from a devastating head-on collision car accident in 2003 that crushed her chest, arms and legs and nearly killed her. She learned to walk and feed herself again after several months of rehab, but the accident tragically took the life of her youngest daughter Avery Brooke who was only 20 months old.

Quay was living in Indiana and Chip in California so after going on a couple dates in Indiana, they decided to enter in to a one year long distance courtship to see if they might have a future together. They got to know each other through phone calls and emails and a monthly visit. They vetted each other extensively before allowing their emotions to get too engaged, but by October Chip was convinced that Quay was the woman with whom he wanted to spend the rest of his life. In December during a Christmas visit, he secretly asked her parents if they would approve of a marriage with him and got the green light. In February he asked her to marry him in front of his entire family at a restaurant when they were vacationing in Cabo San Lucas, Mexico.

They were married on the 365th day of their one year courtship and had their first kiss on their wedding day on 7/7/2005. Quay moved to California with her two young children who survived the accident, and blended her family with Chip and his three children. It was a long time dream of both to own their own guest cottage so in 2015 they broke ground on a guest house on their property to be named "The Story Brooke Cottage" in honor and remembrance of Avery Brooke. Both put their heart and souls in to the project which showcases Quay's flair for interior design, one of her many hobbies. The Story Brooke Cottage was completed in June of 2016 and has been enjoyed by all who have stayed there since.