Jared O’Roak, left, shares a laugh with his wife, Mary, Tuesday during the recreation of their first date at Silver Street Tavern in downtown Waterville. Dinner was prepared and served at the spot where they dined 25 years ago. Jared O'Roak rented the space for two hours to surprise Mary. The couple live in Winterport. Rich Abrahamson/Morning Sentinel

Real love never dies, as was evidenced Tuesday in downtown Waterville.

At 11 a.m., Jared and Mary O’Roak, both 46, walked into Silver Street Tavern, the very place they had their first formal date exactly 25 years ago when they were Thomas College students.

Now married, Jared had told Mary he was taking her to lunch. She didn’t know where, but quickly figured it out as they approached the restaurant’s front door. But posted on that door was a sign that said it was closed from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. for a private event.

“I felt sorry for him because I knew he wanted to celebrate the anniversary of our first date there,” Mary said later.

She recalled Jared opened the door anyway and they walked into an empty dining room, with lights dimmed, curtains drawn and one little table for two in the center, set with a black tablecloth, vase of red roses, bottle of wine and romantic music playing softly from the dark ceiling, where tiny gold lights sparkled among white paper lanterns.

Immediately, the tears began to flow.

“I was not expecting any of this,” Mary said afterward.

Her husband had planned the special “anniversary” lunch ahead of time. He had spoken to Silver Street owner Charlie Giguere to ask if it were possible to rent the restaurant from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Tuesday; in other words, he was willing to pay whatever money the eatery would have brought in during those hours, so he and his wife could have it all to themselves.

Blackened salmon, carrots, asparagus, mashed potatoes and wine were part of the meal recreated Tuesday for Jared O’Roak and his wife, Mary, at Silver Street Tavern in downtown Waterville. The couple shared the same meal 25 years ago where they had their first date. Jared O’Roak rented the space for two hours, purchased roses and had classical music playing to surprise Mary. Rich Abrahamson/Morning Sentinel

Jared asked if the chef could cook up the same meal he and Mary had their on their first formal date, also March 4, 25 years ago — salmon, asparagus and carrots, and perhaps a bottle of the same wine. He also requested a table in the same spot, dressed up with candles and any other decorations the tavern had on hand.

Restaurant staff, including general manager Sarah Wentworth, did it up in style, creating an exquisite, romantic setting for the couple to reminisce. Enjoying their lunch more than an hour after they arrived, Mary got a second surprise when Morning Sentinel photographer Rich Abrahamson and I walked in. They both were gracious about retelling the story of how and when they met.

They were 18 and high school seniors on March 4, 1997, sitting in a room at Thomas College, waiting to be interviewed and defend essays they had written about why they were seeking scholarships to the college. Mary was from Houlton; Jared, from Searsport. He sat down next to her and they began to talk. There was an instant connection.

“I thought, ‘I met my best friend,'” Mary recalled. “I just loved him right away.”

It wasn’t in the romantic sense, she said and indeed, they did become best friends.

Jared recalled seeing their first meeting differently.

Jared O’Roak, right, shares a tender moment with his wife, Mary, on Tuesday while he recreates their first date at Silver Street Tavern in downtown Waterville. Jared O’Roak rented the space for two hours to surprise Mary. The couple live in Winterport. Rich Abrahamson/Morning Sentinel

“I went home and I told my buddy, ‘I just met the girl I’m going to marry.'”

They learned later that they both got full, free tuition for four years at Thomas, from which they graduated in 2001; he with a degree in finance and economics and she, in international business. They remained best friends throughout college and didn’t start dating until three years after they met.

They fell in love and in 2004, they married and now live in Winterport with their two kids, 12 and 14, and the family dog. Mary is a stay-at-home mother and Jared runs a wealth management office in Hampden.

Clearly still in love, they spoke kindly of, and to, each other. I asked what the key is to such a happy marriage.

“I think we’ve always had God at the center of our relationship, and his love is just there — you can’t escape it,” Mary said. “We both know that it’s so divine, what’s been given to us, that we don’t question it. I just feel so blessed.”

Jared O’Roak, left, shares a laugh with his wife, Mary, on Tuesday while recreating their first date at Silver Street Tavern in downtown Waterville. The couple live in Winterport. Rich Abrahamson/Morning Sentinel

Jared, visibly emotional, paused before answering, choosing his words carefully.

“When someone’s so far out of your league, you have to keep taking any chance you get to show her how much you appreciate her,” he said.

Restaurant staff stayed in the shadows, allowing the couple to enjoy the peaceful moments. Chef Mike Williams and his son, Owen, a dishwasher, said they thought Jared chose a perfect way to surprise his wife. Server Ryan Doane and Madison Evans, a server and bartender, remained behind the bar, standing ready in case the O’Roaks needed anything.

Both 21, the couple has been dating themselves about five years and got to witness Mary’s reaction when she entered the restaurant.

“It was so sweet,” Madison said. “It’s super sweet.”

Amy Calder has been a Morning Sentinel reporter 36 years. Her columns appear here Saturdays. She is the author of the book, “Comfort is an Old Barn,” a collection of her curated columns, published in 2023 by Islandport Press. She may be reached at acalder@centralmaine.com. For previous Reporting Aside columns, go to centralmaine.com